Imagine the final battle we saw the beginnings of in light of everyone in downtown L.A. suddenly becoming super-powered Blue Meanies and joining the fray.

Huh. Interesting. Sound like any series finale you know?

And you're welcome, Tep. 'twas my pleasure.

This is actually the post that I wrote up right after the finale aired, so my apologies if you've already read it on TWoP or on my LJ. Blame P-C! Also, I was running on pure emotion so it's kind of corny and there is a lot of swearing. I like to swear.

I have to say that I think this was the fucking perfect ending for this show. Seriously. I could not be more pleased with the last scene. Even the monsters were scary, and loud, and creepy, mostly because they were shot in the shadows.

The MoG? All dead. Doyle, Cordy, Fred, Wes, Gunn (in 10 minutes, I believe her and he seemed to know it too). That's five down. The five will be a sacrifice and all that jazz. But, Angel knows Connor still lives. And that's all he needs. I couldn't be happier that at the end of this journey, the love he has for his child is what is at the core of his will to continue. As long as he knows Connor is alive, they can't beat him. That shit, is beautiful.

Connor coming to save his daddy? Oh god. I've never loved him more. I knew he would help. I just knew it. I wouldn't have bought it if he hadn't. And he's grateful. It's all so lovely.

Gunn was so fucking cool in this episode. The eject-o stakes? Nice call on the shout out to City of. His strut into the campaign office? Tussling with some vamps again? Meeting up with Anne? Just wonderful. Perfect last hour for Gunn.

Spike reading his poetry at the bar? Fucking awesome. I thought it was such a great way to stay true to what is still at the heart of William, with the Spike bravado thrown in there. Bloody lovely.

Wesley. This really broke me. I suspected almost all season that we'd see the end of Wes, but I totally wasn't ready when it actually happened. I mean, it's Wesley. And I couldn't care less about Fred/Wesley, but I got really choked up when Illyria changed into Fred. It was such a wonderful callback to Lie to Me. Just gut wrenching and so very human. I am going to blame Joss for the "my love" line since I think he's corny like that. Even so, the scene was great. Loved watching Illyria as Fred turn around to confront Vail and then turn back into Illyria as she struck. Rocked.

Lorne. I guess that Angel told him to shoot Lindsey, since Angel seemed to be aware that Lindsey wouldn't be returning. Perfect that Lindsey's last word was "Angel". Fitting.

Angel. I just love this guy. I don't even think I can really gather my thoughts about him right now. His signing away his shanshu caught me off guard, but I had no doubt that he would do it. It's not about the reward, it's about the fight.

We were told in Amends what his story would be about:

Strong is fighting! It's hard, and it's painful, and it's every day. It's what we have to do. And we can do it together.

The premise was held up many times, one of the most noteable being in Epiphany:

If there is no great glorious end to all this, if nothing we do matters -- then all that matters is what we do. 'Cause that's all there is. What we do, now, today.

This is not the show where we will see a glorious end. Or any end at all.

This is the show where heroes gratefully accept an imperfect father's love and continue on for him, make another useless fireball even though they know they're dead in the water, keep playing the annoying game, keep packing the boxes into the truck, make the next 10 minutes memorable, finally get themselves a good brawl, wanna slay the dragon.

This is the show where the final line is "Let's go to work"? It sure fucking is.

In fact, I think I would be really, really annoyed if this story was continued in some tv movies or whatever. I like this ending. I want to have a thousand of its babies.

KATE!

Glad you brought it over, and I'm always happy to read it again.

Kate, I'm right there with you on most of that, except the movie, etc thing.

In the Universe where Angel lives, there are other stories to tell. I agree with you that any movie should not be his story, but if he becomes a player in someone else's story, that seems natural to me (if, you know, done well).

In the end, in this 'Verse, I think we get both. I'd love to see the story of what I call the Fray-inducing-event. The big final fight. But I know that Fray happens, that the fight continues, even if it's done as far as a given set of soldiers know, it's not done.

A moment to share my brain-worm:

For each time he falls he shall rise again
And woe to the wicked.

eta: FTR, I just caught up.

I'm all with you, OKate. Loved the finale, felt it couldn't have ended any other way. Cried at the right times, but didn't feel bad that it ended. Actually, I felt proud. Proud of the MoG, proud of the writers. Proud to have loved my dead gay show. May it live in DVDs forever.

I just noticed that there isn't nearly as much swearing in there as I had originally thought there was.

I could deal with the story being continued in movies, but it really depends on how it's done, I suppose. I'm just so satisfied right now that I'd hate to lose that.

I could deal with the story being continued in movies, but it really depends on how it's done, I suppose. I'm just so satisfied right now that I'd hate to lose that.

I understand this in a very deep place, although I can't say I'm opposed to movies somewhere off in the future. But right now, I need to believe this story, the way I needed to believe the end of The Gift. And I don't even think this story "has to" end in death. It just has to never end. The fight never ends. You fight as long as you live. Am starting to repeat myself (from spoiler thread) so will shut it.

In my mind's eye I can see Angel, Spike, Illyria and Gunn clearing the first wave of attackers -- including the dragon. It's the second wave, and the third wave, and the wave after that -- that would have been the test. I think Gunn would be the first one to fall given his injuries.

Here's a fanwank: I always thought that Wesley did Illyria a favor with the power drain he executed. It actually made her A) somewhat stable and B) an effective fighter. By the end she wasn't an off-kilter walking apocalypse. She was able to direct her destructive powers on particular targets. The time manipulation ability was a defensive tool. I think in her present state Illyria can sit and trade blows with multiple enemies at real-time or slightly better than real-time speed-- in the case of Vail, there was no need to trade blows...

I have had this on-going project, which is a CD of music sung on the show, so I was very interested in the song Lorne sang during his day. I think it gives interesting insight into what people were saying about him earlier, and other people were posting lyrics, so here's them:

If I ruled the world
Every day would be
The first day of spring
Every heart would have
A new song to sing
And we’d sing of the joy
Every morning would bring

If I ruled the world
Every man would be
As free as a bird
Every voice would be
A voice to be heard
Take my word
We would treasure each day
That occurred

My world would be
A beautiful place
Where we would weave
Such a wonderful dream
My world would wear
A smile on it’s face
Like the man in the moon
When the moon beams

If I ruled the world
Every man would say
The world was his friend
There’d be happiness
That no man could end
No my friend
Not if I ruled the world
Every head
Would be held up high
There’d be sunshine
In everyone’s sky
If day ever dawned
When I ruled the world
If I ruled the world

Definately a guy with no stomach for the fighty fight.

Also, btw, a great song to end the CD with. Much better than "You Are My Sunshine".

It just got said again, but I don't think it can be said too many times: "Let's go to work..."? Perfect last line for this show, because that's what these folk did when they were doing what they were supposed to be doing. Cordy comes back for a farewell? She gets some things done. Connor's last visit with dad (that we see)? Helping him get things done. Damn, I love this show. I wan't more, but I don't need it and will be satisfied if I don't get any more.