I totally thought she was really dead. And I was very sad, but not as wiped out as I was after Joyce died. I thought it would be possible that either SMG would return, but not Buffy, or Buffy would return but not SMG.

I knew Buffy was coming back, so I didn't mourn. But Jenny and Tara got me to mourn, and Joyce's death hit me harder than any fictional death since before I was in kindergarten. It's rare that entertainment can make me well up (usually only when it's a story about tragedies that befell real life people), but you'd have thought one of my own relatives had died the way I was crying during "The Body."

Me too Matt.

A neighbor was watching with me (shed' been watching buffy with me a bit) and she couldn't understand why I was so upset.

I could just say, "Buffy's Mom died!" I even called Mom afterwards and told her I loved her, just because I could.

Jenny and Tara's deaths were shocking but still related to vampires and slaying. But Joyce's death was shocking and I think hurt more because it was so normal.

And the episode was so well done. The lack of music and the quiet of the house. Then Buffy goes outside and opens the door and there's the sound of kids playing (I think, or birds) it was kind of jarring for me and a hint of normal and happiness amid Buffy's grief it just felt like an intrusion.

SMG did a really good job. I can't remember but I think I was pulling myself together when Buffy says "you can't touch the body" and the look on her face when she realizes what she's said.

I have a hard time rewatching it.

I remember at the time being shocked, because I had read that somebody would die in the finale, but I never thought it would be Buffy. And then, because the show was leaving the WB, the network put together a "thank you to Buffy for five great seasons" (or something) right after the credits and I actually had a week or so where I thought the whole move to UPN might've been a fake out and the show was over and Buffy was dead.

And I didn't mourn, because I think The Gift had a great ending - and the idea of her dieing in service felt kinda right. It was sad and lovely - a proper hero's death. I still would prefer that ending to the mess that the show became during its last season and a half. Even thinking of seventh season now makes me slightly bitter.

Sky TV ruined the ending of 'The Gift' by showing the tombstone in previews. I believe I was too pissed off to worry about much else. But I assumed she'd be back.

Season five's ending would have been a superb final ending to the series. I love the twist of season seven's end, and I think it resonates with everything the series communicated and stood for - but you could absolutely stop watching at 'The Gift' and it would feel complete.

I was moved (Spike, Willow, wah) but I didn't mourn. I agree that Joyce's death was far more disturbing. The Girl has only watched 'The Body' once - she says she could never deal with it again.

And then, because the show was leaving the WB, the network put together a "thank you to Buffy for five great seasons" (or something) right after the credits and I actually had a week or so where I thought the whole move to UPN might've been a fake out and the show was over and Buffy was dead

I thought the exact same thing. Buffy's death was a huge shock. I don't think I mourned because by the time the shock was gone, I knew she'd be back. I knew Joyce wasn't coming back and I still mourn for her.

I didn't personally mourn for Buffy, but I was deeply moved by the other character's pain. The same thing for Joyce's death. I certainly would miss her, but watching the pain of her survivors was much more upsetting for me.

I didn't start watching Buffy until season 6 and was getting caught up with all the other seasons on FX at the same time, so nothing was a surprise. Still, The Gift gets me every time. I, too, would have been perfectly happy for the show to end there; it seemed suitable and fitting. I'm guessing I would have mourned Buffy if it had been the end; she was a character I highly identified with and I still miss the damn show, every day.

I didn't really identify with Buffy, but I wish I could have. Buffy was kind of everything I wasn't in school. I identified most with Willow(Oh, and William in "Fool For Love")

There's identify with, and there's want to be. I was Xander. I wanted to be Faith.

Edit: Or would have done, if there'd been Buffy in high school. Why wasn't there Buffy in high school? Would have helped! (Blimmin' Dawson's Creek was all there was.)