On Giles, I would never have doubted it was really him (my "freaked out" Giles) if so many here didn't keep insisting it wasn't. But on rewatch, knowing absolutely it is Giles, he seems more Giles-like each time (at least from the "squeaky shoes" story on), and I have fewer problems with him.

Okay, I'm just going to pretend that I wrote all of what follows, because it is what I've been thinking (without the, you know, putting it together coherently part):

And now it's over. Sunnydale is gone. I'd thought for years about how Joss would end it, but he exceeded all my expectations. Every major theme of the show was resolved - Buffy learned how not to be alone, Willow managed to resolve the power/evil struggle of this year, Anya faced down her two greatest fears, Buffy and Angel resolved the relationship, Giles found a role again. And, of course, Spike's transition from trickster to champion was complete. BTVS was never just about Buffy, so it's right that the finale wasn't. Most of all, it brought the metaphorical core of the show - girl power - back in the best way I can imagine. if Buffy began with a victim turning predator on a horror level (darla), it ended with hundreds of girls all over the world feeling their power. It ended with a revolution. He also brought in every riff and running gag the show's ever had - Bunnies, inappropriate Xander, Spike as comedy Angel retread, flip comments at the gates of Hell, the deadly serious dialogue/silly game bait and switch.

I kind of agree, she got some more baking done with him. And yet Spike still believes she doesn't love him?

Yeah, or at least, knows that her level of love for him isn't the passionate love he has for her, but more of a muted friendship with a history sort of deal. Which is why I think that a: he wasn't lying, and b: that it was a selfless act on his part to give her the freedom from any acute mourning, to let her find her own path.

Is it wrong that I want the entire town of Sunnydale and all its occupants to get sucked into the hellmouth, closing it forever

Heh. I do think it's kind of interesting that they've been openly evacuating Sunnydale for the last three weeks or so and yet none of us really picked up on what that likely meant.

Okay - I think it's very funny (in a fun way) that Plei, candy and I all think there was most likely the sex, are all cool about it, and all dreaded it since the end of Seeing Red.

eta

it was a selfless act on his part to give her the freedom from any acute mourning

This was also my take on Spike's, "No you don't."

I *loved* it that all the potential Slayers were activated. Somewhere, probably in Cleveland, a mugger is going to go after what he thinks is an easy mark and is going to get his ass kicked by an 87-year-old (who aged out in the late 1930's) in really cute orthopedic shoes.

And somewhere, probably also in Cleveland, there is a two-year-old Slayer. Horrors.

And somewhere, probably also in Cleveland, there is a two-year-old Slayer. Horrors.

Oh deena... what is Raptor Girl up to this morning?

I dunno - I thought Willow won the Awful Outfit award for the episode. Though it's a shame she didn't get to wear one last bad hat. I guess Vi took that role.

My big overall regret for the *season* is Giles. He is to Season 7 what Aeryn Sun was to Season 4 of Farscape. Maybe they ran off together before their respective seasons started.

Okay, I'm totally on board with this concept.

Ken - GBH was a 1991 UK series by Alan Bleasdale, starring Robert Lindsay, Lindsay Duncan and Michael Palin. It was about a left-wing Labour council leader in a Liverpoolesque city and his decline into madness. It was just one of those perfect short run TV shows, and I'd recommend it to anyone. It just sums up the '80s in Britain.

Oh, and they didn't have The Sex.

I, too, believe that Buffy and Spike had comfort sex on the eve of the battle, and I find myself feeling surprisingly OK with this, despite myriad objections I've harbored about their getting back together in any kind of physical sense. Because of the extraordinary circumstances they were in, and because of the subtle way it was implied. Just the long wordless look across the room, then quiet fade-out to black. I loved that.

Okay - I think it's very funny (in a fun way) that Plei, candy and I all think there was most likely the sex, are all cool about it, and all dreaded it since the end of Seeing Red.

I wish Joss had written all B/S scenes from S6 til now. I would've been OK. The other writers just don't get it right IMO. I really think Joss is THE best writer of the relationship stuff. Not too schmoopy, they are more like real people and he makes it fit with the characters. I felt more emotional truth with B/S in Chosen than I ever have.

I am so grateful for that because my bitterness is vast.