Had he survived, I don't know what would have happened.

I think this is why the end contented me so.

Because really? There's only new stuff to learn. All the old stuff was dealt with, or satisfied. Enough, anyway.

I was thinking about this this morning. I know that none of our guys (for this example, thinking those standing on the precipice looking back on sunnydale*) needs to work through their relationship(s) anymore. There's nothing unresolved there.

They'll be there, or not, for each other. But they're all ready for new (and shiny) things.

I think that's why I don't need to see how that plays out.

(And in typing that I just realised how very much a dale it now is. Extreme dale at that.)

Yes, Julie, I think that's why I feel good about it, too.

I also think it's likely Buffy and Spike had sex that last night, and I'm even okay with that. This time last year, that thought had me considering not watching the show.

Your dale comments made me a little sad. I haven't been sad at all, which is a complete surprise to me. I was sad in anticipation, but not once we were finished.

I also think it's likely Buffy and Spike had sex that last night, and I'm even okay with that.

I don't. I think that's why Joss went out of his way to note in the script that they didn't get sweaty, and they also had the all-night touching, holding, best-night-of-Spike's-life. It's his tapdance around the attempted rape.

I don't. I think that's why Joss went out of his way to note in the script that they didn't get sweaty, and they also had the all-night touching, holding, best-night-of-Spike's-life. It's his tapdance around the attempted rape.

I agree with all that wrt to the cuddling scene. Dude, Joss didn't just tap dance, he used jazz hands. But later, after Buffy's been outside and Spike's been gazing at the amulet, there's that final shot at night. Buffy re-enters the basement and they face each other across the room. We flash to the next shot, and it's morning, and we're looking at the school bus. The evil genius found a way to have his cake and eat it, too.

I agree with all that wrt to the cuddling scene. Dude, Joss didn't just tap dance, he used jazz hands. But later, after Buffy's been outside and Spike's been gazing at the amulet, there's that final shot at night. Buffy re-enters the basement and they face each other across the room. We flash to the next shot, and it's morning, and we're looking at the school bus. The evil genius found a way to have his cake and eat it, too.

I agree-- that scene can play any way one wants it to...

I agree-- that scene can play any way one wants it to...

If I didn't see it, it didn't happen. That's my position and I'll stick to it.... unless, Joss comes here and says it did happen.

Kidding, Cashmere!!! ;)

For those of you who are doing the subtext thing, that fade to black is awfully slow.

Buffy re-enters the basement and they face each other across the room. We flash to the next shot, and it's morning, and we're looking at the school bus. The evil genius found a way to have his cake and eat it, too.

Completely concur that Joss created a space for everybody to project the fantasy of their choice. But he can also wave those jazz hands and say, "What? I didn't have Buffy fall into the arms of the guy that tried to rape her."

Yes, Hec. I think they did though, and that surprises the heck out of me.

For those of you who are doing the subtext thing, that fade to black is awfully slow.

Does that mean something? (I'm asking seriously.)

I agree-- that scene can play any way one wants it to...

As can the entire series. How else to explain that BTVS was a favorite of The Nation AND The National Review; The American Prospect AND The Weekly Standard.

We flash to the next shot, and it's morning, and we're looking at the school bus. The evil genius found a way to have his cake and eat it, too.

Ahh the sacredpreschoolbussex scene.

I like that if they did, we didn't see it. Partly because, for me, it wouldn't have added anything either way. And partly because, without the context of anyone else (or everyone else) getting their leg over it would have stuck out like a .. erm.. sore thumb.

Showing such a scene would have made it more than it should have been (had it been.)