I wanted to thank you people who pointed out all the ways the presence of Anne worked in the episode (a bunch of people mentioned this, but I've forgotten whom): it evokes the early seasons of the show, and she restates Angel's epiphany to Gunn, and Gunn gets back to his roots: character development and mission statement simultaneously, a lovely bit of work.

But I also like it because whenever I see Anne, I remember that she's named after Buffy, and that who she is now is very significantly modelled after Buffy. Anne always modeled herself after the strongest figure to come along; Buffy was the first one who told her she had to be strong for herself. So Anne was, and she also learned how to protect others, following Buffy's example.

And this is -- for me, who loves Buffy-the-character so dearly -- a wonderful and subtle way to deal with her influence in the finale. She's not there because it's not her show; her influence is there, because Anne wouldn't be there without her, and neither would Angel or Spike; and none of the rest of them would be there without Angel. And this is one of the things I love best about the Jossverse, which is that the good characters do lives on after them and has effects and influences far beyond their intentions or realizations. That the heroism or compassion or courage or grace people exhibit in casual ways are so empowering to others. Because what made Buffy a hero to Anne was not just her strength and her quick way with an axe, but her willingness to be drawn into fighting to protect others, despite her initial resistance.

And it's a lovely bit of synchronicity both that "Anne" takes place in LA, and that Buffy in "Anne" was the most like the pre-Buffy Angel AtS eventually developed: hurt, withdrawn, self-hating, brooding -- and drawn out by the necessity for heroism, despite herself.

It's a very minor element of "Not Fade Away," but I like it very much.

Wes was most likely searched before he was allowed to have the 'sit down' with the wizard guy. So a knife was all he could safely bring besides magic. He need to get the guy off guard.

Okay, this I can see.

Yeah, or his sleeve swords would have been a hell of a lot better than the little fold-away knife he had.

I was fully expecting a sleeve-sword to pop out when they showed his other hand when he was being gutted.

Am I the only one who thinks Wesley wasn't actually planning to die? Or part of him wasn't, anyway; though part of him found it a relief.

The impression I got from the last scene with Illyria was that he was broken, but starting to grieve in a healthy way and not an obsessive one. That they were, in their own weird way, becoming friends. Or he was thinking of her as a friend, and she was imprinted on him like a baby duck/passionately in love with him and completely bewildered by it.

I wouldn't say it's the same thing as Wes deliberately taking Vale down with a weapon, but it is his saving grace/his destroying insanity in taking on Illyria as a pupil that brought Illyria to Angel's side and made Illyria kill Vale.

I was fully expecting a sleeve-sword to pop out when they showed his other hand when he was being gutted.

Or, you know Wes, stab BEFORE quipping. You'd think Wesley would have stolen a copy of the Evil Overlord guide during his time at W & H.

OtherKate, if you see this, would you mind posting your wonderful TWoP post over here so I can bookmark it? Yes, it is that good.

In my mind, the gang isn't dead. They're stuck in an infinite time loop where they're continually fighting, hanging on the edge of death, but still fighting, and they fucking love it.

Angel killed Drogon. ::gulp::

I was a little disappointed that there was no fallout from this, though I did appreciate that he didn't try to lie about it. Guess he learned from Gunn.

I wonder if we were supposed the think that Fred was in some way imprinting on Illyira. Her reaction to Gunn, her worrying about Wesley to come find him, her grief over Wesley all seemed based on Fred's feelings, but were expressed in Illyria's fashion.

And hey, the black guy made it 'till the end (mortally wounded, but still)

I was glad they got the baby back from the Fell Brethren.

t sigh

My dead gay show. My dead boys. All they would have had to do is kill Connor, and it would have completed my Trifecta of PAIN.

Lindsey's story ended at Dead End for me.

Lorne is clearly a raspberry beret.

I knew Wes was dying from the opening. Not spoiled, just knew. I also knew Lorne was going to kill Lindsey.

Loved the Big Damn Tragedy at the end. Anybody else flashing on Blake's 7?

I kept thinking what the next season would have been like. Wesley gone, Lorne (I think) written off the show, Harmony probably gone. So it's Angel, Gunn, Illyria. Reinforcing the idea that people who stand next to Angel are killed by the collateral effects.

I loved Spike kicking ass while holding a baby.

Sorry to interrupt the wake, but....

Has anyone posted links to these yet? Show's body isn't even cold and there goes Fox, selling stuff.