Watched the one before Restless this morning (and of course, had to see the end, so was late for work). Even season 4 had some good stuff. I still remember Jack Esteve (someof you may remember him from days of yore) calling me and screeching "That kicked fucking ASS!!"

Primeval.

Even though the Initiative storyline only half-assed worked for me, I adore this episode. I adore it, because of the Enjoining spell. I so hoped some sort of resolution to the S7 problems would have a tie-in to that spell. After all, that's what woke the First Slayer for Restless.

I have many favorite episodes, and in most ways, Primeval isn't any of them. But that spell, for me, is emblematic of the series as a whole.

Yes, I remember waxing very poetically about it the next day.

Yes, Primeval is nowhere near being on my list of favorites, but I love the spell. The spell at the end of Chosen didn't get me nearly as much. Although, much love to the baseball girl.

Somewhere I think someone was addressing the annoyance of Buffy's "epiphany" at the end of S6. I just never thought it was a real epiphany. First of all, it was incredibly cheesy. Secondly, it was based entirely around wanting something for Dawn rather than Buffy wanting to live for herself. It seemed like she was projecting, to me. Finding something to latch onto that had nothing to do with her own wants or needs. I actually thought it was one of those moments where you think you see the light at the end of the tunnel, but you don't actually find your way out. Honestly, I think Buffy was depressed all the way until Chosen when she ran for her life across those buildings. That was the moment when I finally saw a woman who wanted to live.

Honestly, I think Buffy was depressed all the way until Chosen when she ran for her life across those buildings. That was the moment when I finally saw a woman who wanted to live.

I'd go further. It's the final shot, where she smiles because Sunnydale is gone, she doesn't have a destiny and she's not the one girl in all the world who alone will stand against the blah blah blah. that's why, even though GD2 was a better end to the show, I love Chosen - the show ends with the weight of the world being lifted from Buffy's shoulders. I never thought Joss could give her a convincingly happy ending.

annoyance of Buffy's "epiphany" at the end of S6

Me! (/mememe)

I just never thought it was a real epiphany. [...] incredibly cheesy. [...] wanting something for Dawn rather than Buffy wanting to live for herself.

Yes! Exactly how I felt, except worded far more eloquently. It just didn't seem likely that this was her recovery from depression - thus my grousing.

I actually thought it was one of those moments where you think you see the light at the end of the tunnel, but you don't actually find your way out. Honestly, I think Buffy was depressed all the way until Chosen when she ran for her life across those buildings. That was the moment when I finally saw a woman who wanted to live.

I'd go further. It's the final shot, where she smiles because Sunnydale is gone, she doesn't have a destiny and she's not the one girl in all the world who alone will stand against the blah blah blah.

Thank you. This makes so much more sense to me than anything I've been thinking since "Grave" aired. And frankly, I wanted to love "Chosen" but was kind of disappointed in the last scene - I wanted Buffy to have one last line, one perfect quip to end the series on (although I can only imagine how impossible that would be to write). But it did feel like the ending of "Chosen" was Buffy finally realizing she wanted to live, and could finally do so. That run across the buildings had a great rush to it. Thank you for un-breaking my brain! :)

Oh, that reminds me of one of my Buffy pet peeves.

You people seem smart and hip and cool: PLEASE tell me that you like Restless.

I've read exactly one issue of the Buffy magazine, where they rated the Buffy finales, and it very very much annoys me that Restless had by far the worst rating. I think Restless is easily my favorite of the season enders, even it isn't the arc-completion ep.

In fact, Restless is my fourth favorite episode, sometimes fighting with hush for third, depending on the day.

We LOVE Restless.

Not that I can speak for all of us, but we do. Damn it.

Thank you. Now I feel as if I belong.

Mmm, Restless. I just want to wrap that episode around me like a fuzzy blanket-- it's so lush, with the imagery and the music and the insights we get into how the characters tick, and the psyches that have been built up over four years. That's the episode where they step over the line from characters to people. Love it.