awww...really nice ode to buffy in this morning's austin american-statesman. nice little collection of articles, really. no spoilers, don't worry:

main story

the buffy ABCs

the music of buffy

Ted, the end of your essay got cut off.

So when the gang got the Bringer to talk, all the Bringers (and by extension, the First) knew what the plan was going to be and they could set up a trap at the arsenal.

That really puts a different spin on the bomb.

OK - Now I'm hearing MY ANGELUS to the tune of MY SHIRONA.

Joining Cindy with the shaky fist.

But I agree with those who say that doesn't mean he would ever want to Sire her-he is in love with The Slayor, not a demon version of The Slayer.

I think he may have learned his lesson with Mom there.

Ted watches the same show I do. I hope he gets back to put up the last bit! Also {{Ted}} know that vibes along with prayers and good thoughts for you, Joanne and your loved ones are headed your way. I was going to send you a note, but no profile addy.

Right or wrong I glaze my eyes over the complaints. I am loving every moment of the end of this show. It is working for me. I'm grateful. Go team ME for providing me my favorite television entertainment for so many years.

She's saying that the Bringers have a hive mind. If one Bringer knows something, they all know something. So when the gang got the Bringer to talk, all the Bringers (and by extension, the First) knew what the plan was going to be and they could set up a trap at the arsenal.

That also puts a different spin on Giles slicing the Bringer's throat. Because a few (or maybe more than a few) people thought it looked like he didn't want the Scoobies et al. to know any more; but with this explanation, it makes it seem that he didn't want the Bringer hivemind to know what the Scoobies were planning.

But the fact that it had to be explained in an interview with the writers? Sloppy writing. It could have been explained with one or two sentences, which would also have served the purpose of making Giles look more like old!Giles, the Giles who actually knew stuff.

I can see Giles picking up on the "we" completely. I feel much better about this, although I am somewhat surprised that I didn't get this myself. This may be something that comes out in the t sobbing again last episode. Clearly I need to rewatch.

Will someone edit those links, please? My screen is maximized and I still have to scroll sideways (uphill, barefoot, in a snowbank, in the middle of January, at midnight) to read all the posts.

Cindy, done.

Blessings on you and your house. I really wanted to read ted's post. And of course now, I realize I could have if I just loaded the page starting with his post. So I've whinged for nothing. I feel like my kids.

Ted, the end of your essay got cut off.

Oops-thanks Daniel.

The end (there wasn't much more):

Does watching-and indeed participating in- Spike's struggle spark other feelings? Probably; she isn't in love with him, but Buffy is intimately involved in Spike's path to redemption, and intimate feelings can be hard to keep in clear channels. Certainly Spike's feelings for Buffy threaten to spill over into sexual desire. And that is the FE's last hope-that it can play on the emotion of jealousy to bring Spike over even now.

Personally, I think the FE will fail. As with Xander stopping Dark willow last year, I'm confident the last episode will confirm one of BTVS's main mission statements-Love can redeem.

Laura-thanks for the vibes!

Will someone edit those links, please?

ooops! sorry, didn't realize that could/would be a problem. thanks for fixing!