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.

Lorne's song makes me sad.

The ending really was perfect, the more I think about it. Gunn, even if he's going to die in 10 minutes, goes out doing what he was born to do -- street-fighting demons and dusting vamps. For Spike, this isn't like "Chosen," where he was the only one who could wear the amulet and therefore actually had no choice -- in that alley behind the Hyperion, he had a choice to turn tail and run, or go out and kick some demon tail, all fist and fangs. For Illyria, this must have been as close as possible to the world she remembers from the time she actually was a god -- nothing but demons, waiting to be fought and conquered.

And Angel? He goes out fighting the good fight, dealing with the demons because That's What You Do. That's what *he* does -- in the end, Angel is back to that world of black and white he's so comfortable with. Demons bad; MoG good. (It's *not* that simple, of course; never is, but as Lilah said to Angel, he lives as though the world were the way it should be, and the fight in the alley *is* Angel living as though the world were the way it should be -- black and white, good and bad.)

Now I'm rambling.

And I don't even think this story "has to" end in death. It just has to never end.

I am so with you, Cindy. I just played the finale for my daughter. She was all into it until the end. When the credits popped up she said, "that's it?" She wanted the final battle. I couldn't get her to understand there is no final battle, the fight is all that matters. Her comment, "that's it, I'm no longer an Angel fan." Ha..ha.....ha. I told her it was a moot point and she said she wouldn't buy the DVDs! Yoiks. Very harsh. But, in a way I can understand her. At her age I wanted clear cut answers, yes-no, black-white, live-die. I hated the way GWTW ended, I couldn't handle the uncertainty. Now, I can see that life is all about uncertainty and it's the taking the next step into that uncertainty that makes life worth living, that gives us courage. At some point, I suspect my daughter will realize that, too.

Rack me up as another mark in the "perfect ending for the show" column.

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...

Not just Vail. Everything it's hit in earnest except Hamilton has gone down for the count after the first or second blow, both pre- and post-"Time Bomb." Angel himself (he of the skull thick enough to play tag with grenades) on at least three occasions I recall.

I watched Hero for the first time a few a few days ago. I was 'ok' with the ending of the final when I first saw it but now after Hero its perfect. While I want more stories I can't think of a better ending.

I do feel a little blessed that I have quite a few episodes I have yet to see (I am a late Angel convert). I at least have new episodes (well new for me) to help with my pain.

I at least have new episodes (well new for me) to help with my pain.

Ooh, envy. What great, classic episodes do you get to see for the first time?