Howdy. Just leaping over for the first time from UnAmericans, because season 7 just finished a few days ago, here in New Zealand. I have spent those few days reading some 3000 posts you guys have written since Chosen screened in the US (puff, pant), just so I know what you all thought. Neglecting my children while doing so. (The Australians have two or three episodes to go, I think.)

A few thoughts:

My season rankings: 5 3 4 2 6 1 7. I agree totally with Wenda a few weeks back who said the best run of episodes was Blood Ties through to Tabula Rasa. Yes, yes, yes. (I'm right with you on the whole ``using'' argument too, Wenda, though perhaps the rules get a bit bent the night before an apocalypse.)

I was only converted to Buffy in November last year and watched S1-6 more than once between then and April. So Season 7 is the only one I have watched on a proper weekly basis. In NZ we never get gaps and reruns in the middle of a season -- it all just runs straight on. Anyway I was in love with the show and prepared to give series 7 my all. But was desperately disappointed for many of the same reasons expressed here. Only three episodes really redeemed it for me -- Conversations with Dead People, First Date and Chosen. The finale I cannot even rewatch yet (only showed here last Wednesday) because I'm afraid of getting all weepy and pathetic again.

On one level, Chosen brought everything together and made emotional sense to me in a way the rest of the season failed to do. On the other hand, I actually don't like the idea of a ``hero's journey''. I much prefer Buffy when she's trying to be normal and be the slayer at the same time. Setting her up as the big leader in a big apocalypse just leaves me cold and the First Evil didn't work for me as a metaphor or a Big Bad. And I hated Spike ending up as a big sacrificial hero -- hated it with a big hatey hate hate. Hated him having a soul. Thought he would have made the perfect consort for the slayer as an evil boy trying to be good. He was JUST what she needed on a deep and visceral level, and I find it hard to forgive Buffy and the writers for not seeing that. And I'm a sensible girl, not one of those mad fangirls who threaten writer's lives, but I find David Fury quite disingenuous -- it was his episodes that made me love Spike the most.

Aside from these gripes, finding BtVS has been a huge thing for me, and reading -- over the last few months -- years' worth of your fascinating, brilliant, absolutely spot-on, irritating, highly-educated, super-informed, totally wrongheaded and bizarre thoughts on this strange and wonderful TV show have been an enormous pleasure.

though perhaps the rules get a bit bent the night before an apocalypse

Oh GOSH yes!

The night before an apocalypse the guy who seems to live on my stoop had better hide if I get home and haven't scored yet.

I'm right with you on the whole "using'' argument too, Wenda, though perhaps the rules get a bit bent the night before an apocalypse

(Stifles knee, which won't quite quit jerking.)

t puts hand on Plei's knee.

It writes itself.

Must. Not. Slash. Jess. And. Plei.

I'm shocked, shocked at the very suggestion! You people, with your sick minds...(and your sales).

But what else could you expect from a bunch of low rent, no account hoodlums like us -- hoodlums! Yes. I mean us and our friends, our whole sexes, throw us all in the sea for all you care, throw us in and wait for the bubbles. Buffistas, with our groping and spitting, all groin no brain three billion of us passin' around the same worn out urge. Buffistas. With our… sales.

an evil boy trying to be good

the argument can be made that a vampire without a soul would not care to try to be good, but another argument can be made that ChipNoSoul!Spike was doing just that. Watching someone restrain an impulse to do evil for the greater good is fascinating for me. CancerMan on X-Files was a compelling character to watch, because he was evil with tendencies to do good deeds--for a price, sure, but there were flashes of altruism that threw the whole character into a different level of complexity.

Aside from these gripes, finding BtVS has been a huge thing for me, and reading -- over the last few months -- years' worth of your fascinating, brilliant, absolutely spot-on, irritating, highly-educated, super-informed, totally wrongheaded and bizarre thoughts on this strange and wonderful TV show have been an enormous pleasure.

I'm so glad we can share it with you, Kassto. And hello, since I haven't been in UnAmericans in some time.