End Of Days.
People don’t like this episode, I think. I’m not sure why - is it too slow? Personally I quite like the slowness - the quiet before the storm. Or is it all just because of the end? See I have this thing where I always focus on the good stuff - a bad episode might have just a couple of good things to it, but they will make me like it more - even elevate the badness. By the same token, if an episode is generally good, I'm not going to let a couple of less-good things put me off the rest. Anyway - I’m saving The Kiss part for another post and concentrating on the other 39 1/2 minutes for now, OK?
We start off with the aftermath of the explosion - lots of scared, bewildered Potentials, injured and unsure. And this is where Kennedy shines. She might be annoying and argumentative, but here she instinctively takes charge: gets the Potentials rounded up, insists that they find Faith and then tries to get them all out. When they discover that there are Ubervamp(s) after them, it is Kennedy who gets them to attempt to defend themselves, and Kennedy who faces off against the first Ubervamp. She almost gets killed (what with not having Slayer powers), but she shows bravery and sound leadership. Later she seems to be very worried about Faith, and a lot more subdued around Buffy - her little stint of being in charge has made an impression I think, the same way it did on Faith.
But that bit is just the beginning though, and not typical of the episode. Most of EoD is taken up with character scenes. If the Scoobie parts of ‘Chosen’ are like snapshots of the characters, catching them just on the cusp of the future, then the scenes in EoD are all about looking back - taking a moment to see how far these people have come since we first met them, how they’ve grown and changed, and yet remained the same. Seven years is a long time - were they worth it?
And most of the time we have couples - not in any romantic sense, just people put together in scenes that are like the beginning of a goodbye. Most of the conversations are a little downbeat - thoughtful and reflective. But they reach out, connect, are there for each other because that’s what it’s all about. It's the end of the world - there's no time for holding grudges. Which is another thing I like - their connections are so deep, that even the very deep rifts that have happened over the course of the season are not enough to keep them apart. That's where The First miscalculates. But anyway, here's my thoughts on the various scenes:
Andrew & Anya
These two together are comedy gold. They play off each other so beautifully that even if the rest of the ep. sucked I’d still love it just for these two. The way Andrew suddenly makes decisions and acts on them (breaking his lifelong habit of always following), and also makes Anya feel useful and needed is wonderful. As is her line:
Anya: OK. I'll get Kennedy to watch the girls. She's tough. Imminent death won't bother her.
Which really sums up Kennedy for me... :) Anyway, I’ll get back to Anya and Andrew later.
Buffy & Xander
Buffy putting Xander out to pasture asking Xander to take Dawn away... it is such a sweet scene, healing the rift from ‘Empty Places’ and also reminding us of how long these two have been friends and all the things they have endured. Seven years is a long time, and their friendship is one of the most wonderful things about BtVS. They’ve fallen out many, many times, but their friendship has endured.
Xander: I just always thought that I would... I would be there with you... you know, for the end.
BUFFY: You will be. You're my strength, Xander. You're the reason I made it this far. I trust you with my life. That's why I need you to do this for me.
*sniff*
Willow & Giles
Their scene could almost be from any season. Willow and Giles researching... it goes *right* back to the beginning, when these two were the brains of the operation. Older and wiser now - no longer teacher/pupil, but equals. I like it in all its quietness.
Dawn & Xander
These two just spark. Xander’s humour and Dawn’s response, it just fits. I could really ‘ship these two a few years down the line.
Caleb & The First
We find out how Caleb becomes Super!Caleb... (sorry, I’m kinda beat when it comes to Caleb, what with having written two posts about him already!)
Buffy & Faith
This is such a superb scene! Buffy - who has been feeling lonely and alone all season - suddenly gets someone who understands her completely (and yes Spike was important to Buffy personally, but this part ties in with the theme of the season and foreshadows the solution), someone who 'gets' all the Slayer issues. Faith to a certain extent has *become* Buffy. (ETA: Just to elaborate on Spike's role in 'Touched'. Buffy has ever since she was called had a conflict going on inside - she was both Buffy The Slayer and Buffy The Girl, and she could never work out which she was. Spike shows her that she is just Buffy. Both sides come together for him and make a whole - and it's the whole that he loves.)
But - the B/F talk is a truly brilliant conversations, wherein they deal with their issues, as well as reflecting on what they are:
Faith: Then there I am. Everybody's looking to me, trusting me to lead them, and I've never felt so alone in my entire life.
Buffy: Yeah.
Faith: And that's you every day, isn't it?
Buffy: I love my friends. I'm very grateful for them. But that's the price. Being a slayer.
Faith: There's only supposed to be one. Maybe that's why you and I can never get along. We're not supposed to exist together.
Buffy: Also, you went evil and were killing people.
Faith: Good point. Also a factor.
Buffy: But you're right. I mean, I... I guess everyone's alone. But being a slayer? There's a burden we can't share.
Fantastically well written. *applauds*
Buffy & Spike
Ah yes. Dancing around the issues - trying to pin things down, but it’s not that easy... of course what people object to is the ‘Does it have to mean something?’ I'll get back to that in my next post, but for now can I just point out that it comes after this:
Spike: Were you there with me?
Buffy: I was.
Spike: What does that mean?
They shared something very important, they both acknowledge that. But what does that mean? It’s not the importance of the night that’s being questioned, but rather what the consequences are. Where do they go from here? Should they go somewhere? See it reminds me of another conversation. From ‘Storyteller’:
Xander: Yes. I still love you. I always will. I just don't know if that means anything for us anymore.
Anya: Well, I love you too. I don't know if that means anything either.
The Buffy/Spike conundrum is essentially the same. Was their night together a beginning or an end? Is there any point in pursuing something when the world is falling apart? Neither is sure of enough themselves to take that one last step - yet.
Andrew & Anya (again)
But to talk about Anya for a moment. I love her speech (as most people do), but what struck me recently is that she’s also had speeches for previous apocalypses (S3 and S5), and through them we can directly trace her development:
Graduation Day:
Anya: When I think that something could happen to you, it feels bad inside, like I might vomit.
Xander: Welcome to the world of romance.
Anya: It's horrible. No wonder I used to get so much work.
Xander: Well, I'm sorry I give you barfy feelings.
Anya: Come with me.
Xander: I can't.
Anya: Why not?
Xander: I got friends on the line.
Anya: So?
Xander: That humanity thing's still a work in progress, isn't it?
Anya: Are you really going to be that much help to them? I mean, you'll probably just get in the way.
Xander: Your stock is plummeting here, sweetheart.
Anya: Fine! You know what? I hope you die.
Anya: Aren't we gonna kiss?
The Gift:
Anya: No, you see, usually when there's an apocalypse, I skedaddle. But now I love you so much that instead I have inappropriately timed sex and try to think of ways to fight a god ... and worry terribly that something might happen to you. And also worry that something'll happen to me. And then I have guilt that I'm not more worried about everyone else, but I just don't have enough! I'm just on total overload, and I honestly don't think that I could be more nervous than I am right now.
End Of Days:
Anya: Well...there was this other apocalypse... this one time, and... well, I took off. But this time, I don't...I don't know.
Andrew: Well...what's different?
Anya: Well...I guess I was...kinda new to bein' around humans before. But now I've... seen a lot more, gotten to know people... seen what they're capable of, and... I guess I just realized...how amazingly screwed-up they all are. I mean really, really screwed-up in a monumental fashion.
Andrew: Oh.
Anya: And they have no purpose that unites them, so they just drift around, blundering through life until they die...which they...they know is coming, yet every single one of them is surprised when it happens to them. They're incapable of thinking about what they want beyond the moment. They kill each other, which is clearly insane. And yet, here's the thing. When it's something that really matters, they fight. I mean, they're lame morons for fighting, but they do. They never... never quit. So I guess I will keep fighting, too.
Anrew: That was kind of beautiful. You...you love humans.
Anya: I do not.
Anrew: Yes, you do. You loooove them
Anya: Stop it! I don't love them! And I'll kill you if you tell anybody.
From purely selfinvolved, to staying for her love of Xander, to staying for her love of humankind... I love that journey.
Of course I also adore Andrew:
Andrew: I don't think I'll be OK. I'm cool with it. I think I'd like to...finish out as one of those... lame humans tryin' to do what's right.
And then the wheelchair fight... *sniff* How can people not adore this episode?
Buffy & The Guardian
I know a lot of people don’t like The Exposition Fairy The Guardian, but I’m not too bothered - mostly because I love the idea that the Scythe was used to kill the last pure demon. This would suggest that it could have been used against Illyria (before they drained the power anyway). And it’s *exactly* the same trick that they pulled in ‘Becoming’ - except Whistler was funnier!
Buffy & Angel
Not going to write about the fight with Caleb - it’s not that interesting. Buffy and Angel are all about the past (like most of the episode), we even get Angel’s “God, I missed watching this.” As I said previously, I’m going to write a seperate post about The Kiss, but right now I just want to point out a law (or rule) of the Buffy verse. As impossible to get rid of as gravity...
Rule #1 of BtVS: When a couple share a really, really sweet and touching moment (usually, but not always, in bed) - one of those moments that make people melt, even though they might dislike the pairing - it is a sure sign that SOMETHING BAD IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THEM!!!! Usually one of them will end up doing one (or more!) of the following:
1) Cheating
2) Breaking Up/Leaving
3) Going evil
4) Dying
A few examples:
Surprise/Innocence: Buffy and Angel sleep together - he goes evil.
Passion: Jenny and Giles seem to be on the way to reconciliation - Jenny gets killed by Angelus.
Lovers Walk: Pictures of Xander in Cordy’s locker & Pez witch - W/X kissage.
The Prom: Impossibly cute bed scene with Buffy & Angel - he breaks up with her, before leaving after the Ascention.
Wild At Heart: Impossibly cute bed scene with Willow & Oz - he cheats on her with Veruca and then leaves.
Into The Woods: Buffy & Riley have perfect romantic evening - he cheats on her with a vamp ho and then leaves.
Hells Bells: Anya and Xander are nervous, but happy - Xander leaves Anya at the altar.
Seeing Red: Willow & Tara have wonderful day together in bed - Tara gets shot.
See? Joss is, has been, and always will be a bastard!
The end.
We start off with the aftermath of the explosion - lots of scared, bewildered Potentials, injured and unsure. And this is where Kennedy shines. She might be annoying and argumentative, but here she instinctively takes charge: gets the Potentials rounded up, insists that they find Faith and then tries to get them all out. When they discover that there are Ubervamp(s) after them, it is Kennedy who gets them to attempt to defend themselves, and Kennedy who faces off against the first Ubervamp. She almost gets killed (what with not having Slayer powers), but she shows bravery and sound leadership. Later she seems to be very worried about Faith, and a lot more subdued around Buffy - her little stint of being in charge has made an impression I think, the same way it did on Faith.
But that bit is just the beginning though, and not typical of the episode. Most of EoD is taken up with character scenes. If the Scoobie parts of ‘Chosen’ are like snapshots of the characters, catching them just on the cusp of the future, then the scenes in EoD are all about looking back - taking a moment to see how far these people have come since we first met them, how they’ve grown and changed, and yet remained the same. Seven years is a long time - were they worth it?
And most of the time we have couples - not in any romantic sense, just people put together in scenes that are like the beginning of a goodbye. Most of the conversations are a little downbeat - thoughtful and reflective. But they reach out, connect, are there for each other because that’s what it’s all about. It's the end of the world - there's no time for holding grudges. Which is another thing I like - their connections are so deep, that even the very deep rifts that have happened over the course of the season are not enough to keep them apart. That's where The First miscalculates. But anyway, here's my thoughts on the various scenes:
Andrew & Anya
These two together are comedy gold. They play off each other so beautifully that even if the rest of the ep. sucked I’d still love it just for these two. The way Andrew suddenly makes decisions and acts on them (breaking his lifelong habit of always following), and also makes Anya feel useful and needed is wonderful. As is her line:
Anya: OK. I'll get Kennedy to watch the girls. She's tough. Imminent death won't bother her.
Which really sums up Kennedy for me... :) Anyway, I’ll get back to Anya and Andrew later.
Buffy & Xander
Buffy putting Xander out to pasture asking Xander to take Dawn away... it is such a sweet scene, healing the rift from ‘Empty Places’ and also reminding us of how long these two have been friends and all the things they have endured. Seven years is a long time, and their friendship is one of the most wonderful things about BtVS. They’ve fallen out many, many times, but their friendship has endured.
Xander: I just always thought that I would... I would be there with you... you know, for the end.
BUFFY: You will be. You're my strength, Xander. You're the reason I made it this far. I trust you with my life. That's why I need you to do this for me.
*sniff*
Willow & Giles
Their scene could almost be from any season. Willow and Giles researching... it goes *right* back to the beginning, when these two were the brains of the operation. Older and wiser now - no longer teacher/pupil, but equals. I like it in all its quietness.
Dawn & Xander
These two just spark. Xander’s humour and Dawn’s response, it just fits. I could really ‘ship these two a few years down the line.
Caleb & The First
We find out how Caleb becomes Super!Caleb... (sorry, I’m kinda beat when it comes to Caleb, what with having written two posts about him already!)
Buffy & Faith
This is such a superb scene! Buffy - who has been feeling lonely and alone all season - suddenly gets someone who understands her completely (and yes Spike was important to Buffy personally, but this part ties in with the theme of the season and foreshadows the solution), someone who 'gets' all the Slayer issues. Faith to a certain extent has *become* Buffy. (ETA: Just to elaborate on Spike's role in 'Touched'. Buffy has ever since she was called had a conflict going on inside - she was both Buffy The Slayer and Buffy The Girl, and she could never work out which she was. Spike shows her that she is just Buffy. Both sides come together for him and make a whole - and it's the whole that he loves.)
But - the B/F talk is a truly brilliant conversations, wherein they deal with their issues, as well as reflecting on what they are:
Faith: Then there I am. Everybody's looking to me, trusting me to lead them, and I've never felt so alone in my entire life.
Buffy: Yeah.
Faith: And that's you every day, isn't it?
Buffy: I love my friends. I'm very grateful for them. But that's the price. Being a slayer.
Faith: There's only supposed to be one. Maybe that's why you and I can never get along. We're not supposed to exist together.
Buffy: Also, you went evil and were killing people.
Faith: Good point. Also a factor.
Buffy: But you're right. I mean, I... I guess everyone's alone. But being a slayer? There's a burden we can't share.
Fantastically well written. *applauds*
Buffy & Spike
Ah yes. Dancing around the issues - trying to pin things down, but it’s not that easy... of course what people object to is the ‘Does it have to mean something?’ I'll get back to that in my next post, but for now can I just point out that it comes after this:
Spike: Were you there with me?
Buffy: I was.
Spike: What does that mean?
They shared something very important, they both acknowledge that. But what does that mean? It’s not the importance of the night that’s being questioned, but rather what the consequences are. Where do they go from here? Should they go somewhere? See it reminds me of another conversation. From ‘Storyteller’:
Xander: Yes. I still love you. I always will. I just don't know if that means anything for us anymore.
Anya: Well, I love you too. I don't know if that means anything either.
The Buffy/Spike conundrum is essentially the same. Was their night together a beginning or an end? Is there any point in pursuing something when the world is falling apart? Neither is sure of enough themselves to take that one last step - yet.
Andrew & Anya (again)
But to talk about Anya for a moment. I love her speech (as most people do), but what struck me recently is that she’s also had speeches for previous apocalypses (S3 and S5), and through them we can directly trace her development:
Graduation Day:
Anya: When I think that something could happen to you, it feels bad inside, like I might vomit.
Xander: Welcome to the world of romance.
Anya: It's horrible. No wonder I used to get so much work.
Xander: Well, I'm sorry I give you barfy feelings.
Anya: Come with me.
Xander: I can't.
Anya: Why not?
Xander: I got friends on the line.
Anya: So?
Xander: That humanity thing's still a work in progress, isn't it?
Anya: Are you really going to be that much help to them? I mean, you'll probably just get in the way.
Xander: Your stock is plummeting here, sweetheart.
Anya: Fine! You know what? I hope you die.
Anya: Aren't we gonna kiss?
The Gift:
Anya: No, you see, usually when there's an apocalypse, I skedaddle. But now I love you so much that instead I have inappropriately timed sex and try to think of ways to fight a god ... and worry terribly that something might happen to you. And also worry that something'll happen to me. And then I have guilt that I'm not more worried about everyone else, but I just don't have enough! I'm just on total overload, and I honestly don't think that I could be more nervous than I am right now.
End Of Days:
Anya: Well...there was this other apocalypse... this one time, and... well, I took off. But this time, I don't...I don't know.
Andrew: Well...what's different?
Anya: Well...I guess I was...kinda new to bein' around humans before. But now I've... seen a lot more, gotten to know people... seen what they're capable of, and... I guess I just realized...how amazingly screwed-up they all are. I mean really, really screwed-up in a monumental fashion.
Andrew: Oh.
Anya: And they have no purpose that unites them, so they just drift around, blundering through life until they die...which they...they know is coming, yet every single one of them is surprised when it happens to them. They're incapable of thinking about what they want beyond the moment. They kill each other, which is clearly insane. And yet, here's the thing. When it's something that really matters, they fight. I mean, they're lame morons for fighting, but they do. They never... never quit. So I guess I will keep fighting, too.
Anrew: That was kind of beautiful. You...you love humans.
Anya: I do not.
Anrew: Yes, you do. You loooove them
Anya: Stop it! I don't love them! And I'll kill you if you tell anybody.
From purely selfinvolved, to staying for her love of Xander, to staying for her love of humankind... I love that journey.
Of course I also adore Andrew:
Andrew: I don't think I'll be OK. I'm cool with it. I think I'd like to...finish out as one of those... lame humans tryin' to do what's right.
And then the wheelchair fight... *sniff* How can people not adore this episode?
Buffy & The Guardian
I know a lot of people don’t like The Exposition Fairy The Guardian, but I’m not too bothered - mostly because I love the idea that the Scythe was used to kill the last pure demon. This would suggest that it could have been used against Illyria (before they drained the power anyway). And it’s *exactly* the same trick that they pulled in ‘Becoming’ - except Whistler was funnier!
Buffy & Angel
Not going to write about the fight with Caleb - it’s not that interesting. Buffy and Angel are all about the past (like most of the episode), we even get Angel’s “God, I missed watching this.” As I said previously, I’m going to write a seperate post about The Kiss, but right now I just want to point out a law (or rule) of the Buffy verse. As impossible to get rid of as gravity...
Rule #1 of BtVS: When a couple share a really, really sweet and touching moment (usually, but not always, in bed) - one of those moments that make people melt, even though they might dislike the pairing - it is a sure sign that SOMETHING BAD IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THEM!!!! Usually one of them will end up doing one (or more!) of the following:
1) Cheating
2) Breaking Up/Leaving
3) Going evil
4) Dying
A few examples:
Surprise/Innocence: Buffy and Angel sleep together - he goes evil.
Passion: Jenny and Giles seem to be on the way to reconciliation - Jenny gets killed by Angelus.
Lovers Walk: Pictures of Xander in Cordy’s locker & Pez witch - W/X kissage.
The Prom: Impossibly cute bed scene with Buffy & Angel - he breaks up with her, before leaving after the Ascention.
Wild At Heart: Impossibly cute bed scene with Willow & Oz - he cheats on her with Veruca and then leaves.
Into The Woods: Buffy & Riley have perfect romantic evening - he cheats on her with a vamp ho and then leaves.
Hells Bells: Anya and Xander are nervous, but happy - Xander leaves Anya at the altar.
Seeing Red: Willow & Tara have wonderful day together in bed - Tara gets shot.
See? Joss is, has been, and always will be a bastard!
The end.