DakaraJayne patreon

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Reaction 7x22

🕑 Added 2024-02-09 17:01:24 +0000 UTC

Comments

MonsieurFlynn

There's a lot to be said for the end of a show like Buffy and its finale, but I'd just now like to just take a closer look at one thing no-one seems to be talking much about. End scene, Buffy off the roof of the bus. She hugs Dawn; the mystical sister gifted her and that she loves more than anyone else now. She's obviously also happy for every one of her friends, allies and fresh new slayer that made it (although especially so Giles, Xander and Willow). Then she answers Giles question with her last dialogue of the show in one name as explanation; Spike. She walks towards the crater left behind of Sunnydale, crosses her arms and stand there alone. Sure. In the end she'll smile as it's pointed out that she no longer are the only chosen one (doubled by Faith, but still), and that they are now many with the power to keep up the fight and she can live as a person. Still, before that smile she knows all this, but she's still alone on the edge with her friends and allies behind her enjoying their mutual victory. Alone, because she's the only one there mourning Spike. While her friends might acknowledge his sacrifise later on, she knew they didn't understand her love for him. And they certainly never gave him the same acknowledgment as they did with Angel, as in trusting him and consider him part of the team. Not to mention Giles and Wood trying to kill him, Xander's strong objections and so on. So despite it all, she's alone in that grief. The others will mourn Anya and the new slayers falling, but not him. Obviously she's also the only one who knew just how far he had come (in addition to us viewers). He helped training the potentials, following leads and was in the fights, but only when alone with Buffy would he really show his heart and bare his soul, and she's the only one who knew just how much he had motivated her and lifted her up throughout the long fight against The First throughout season 7. So that's how I like to think of the ending of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Her standing alone at the crater that is his grave, holding herself together with arms crossed as she acknowledges and remember the vampire that loved her so much he'd go to the end of the world to endure unspeakable trials to regain his soul for her. The vampire that let her off the hook with the last lines of dialogue he gave her as response to her own declaration of love. He who would do anything to be worthy of her, and when he finally won her over he would willingly make the ultimate sacrifise for the greater good. There's something to be said about that as far as love goes, as far as good conquering evil, and as far as redemption and it never being too late for anyone. I like that as far as messages goes, but to be completely honest; I just like to imagine Buffy always carry his memory as a piece of her heart, and that he would forever live on through her. That if you live on in just one heart, you've made an everlasting difference in the world.... and it doesn't hurt if you saved the world in the process. (I obviously look around Angel s5, the comics and whatnot. Buffy ended on the the edge of Sunnydale's crater, and to me so did Spike)

Bryan Harrington

Dakara, sorry I'm late to the comments, but I have been crushed for time over the last several months and wanted to relax and watch out the end of the series with you. You have been my favorite reactor to the series, thoughtful, but also willing to let your emotions out. I watched when it was broadcast, and loved it then (have the original non-hi-def DVDs) and have rewatched too many times to count. Still love it, but also love to see it through fresh eyes, which you (along with a few others) have helped me do. Absolutely think you should try to do a series where you watch other reactors response to "Hush" or "The Body" or "OMWF" or "Seeing Red" or the Finale. It is your chance to see it again through fresh eyes and I want that for you, and selfishly, I want to watch it too.