Season 6 Wrap-Up
I pretty much loved this season. There are a few things that I felt could have been different to make it even better, but overall, I liked it. I like how human and raw all of the characters are on this show. TV is an escape, yes, but I never fully believe in a story unless I get to see the characters in pain. If they never are, it just doesn't seem real to me. I also identified quite strongly with a lot of Buffy's feelings this season, which made it even better for me.
Willow
One thing that I think this season could have done better is explaining why Willow got addicted to magic. Yes, I'm sure it felt great, and maybe that's all a normal person needs, but it seems contrary to Willow's character. I think that the show could have done a better job at teasing out all of her insecurities and past failed romances, and certainly a better job of explaining why she would manipulate Tara in such a way. In terms of getting addicted to drugs, I can see other characters doing it much more easily than her. Spike, yes. Xander, yes. Buffy, yes, Dawn, yes. But with Willow, I was never entirely sold on her dabbling. There was a huge opportunity there, and I don't feel like it was fully seized.
I also felt like her succumbing to evil was overblown. It was sad to me that she left Tara's dead body alone on the floor to go and wreak havoc. Dawn sat next to Tara's body for hours because she couldn't bear to leave it alone - and Willow desecrates it by doing exactly what Tara wouldn't want, what drove Tara away in the first place. Much like not feeling fully comfortable with her addiction, I find it unsettling (and yes, I know I was supposed to, but "unsettling" in such a way that I don't think the script had entirely brought me to this place) that she didn't have much of a problem being a violent bitch to Anya, Dawn, Buffy, and Giles - really, only Xander is close enough to her to make her stop? I don't know.
Don't get me wrong, I loved watching the havoc, and also her scene with Xander, watching her screaming, crying, yelling at him to stop - wow, hello emotion. Just...not sure everything fully gelled for me.
And lastly with her....holy crap, her torture of Warren was twisted. LIEK, WHOA.
Giles
OMG GILES! I love watching Giles kick ass! I love that his bad-ass conversation with her at the beginning of the season meant something! I missed him a lot this season, and I hope he sticks around for season 7. Giles! So much love. Although, it was kind of ridiculous that most of what he did was bleed on the floor and tell Anya that Xander is a big hero so that she could get all doe-eyed. Meh!
Buffy
Hers was my favorite character arc of the season, and my only complaint was that she got over everything a little too quickly in that grave. She and Dawn realize the world didn't end, and she bursts into happy tears, okay. But that cliched conversation with her sister about how she wants to "show her the world" was almost making me roll my eyes. I guess I liked other season finales better, in terms of how Buffy overcame her pain, like season 2: Angelus is being a bastard, and all, "Take away your friends, blahblah, and what's left?" Buffy: "Me," and she catches the blade in her hands and throw him backwards, and it's just so....YAY!!
I liked evil!Willow laughing at her when she tried to convince Willow to live in this world - Willow knows exactly how bleak Buffy's outlook on life has been, and it really is laughable that Buffy would try to convince someone else to live. I guess that's why I wasn't sold on Buffy's apparent change of heart. On the same day, it's laughable for her to convince someone else that the world is worth saving, and then that it's something worth sharing and being excited about? I guess I don't buy it that disillusionment goes away so easily. Maybe it won't; I haven't seen season 7 yet.
I did like the touch of having Buffy's leaving the grave being such a contrast to the first episode of the season. Now, she is with Dawn, in daylight, surrounded by nature, and happy.
Spike
His hotness improves with bruises, cuts, dirt, and a lack of a shirt. :D
Other Stuff
I love Andrew and Jonathan.
I find it interesting that Buffy is the only one who had a problem with Warren dying - Anya, Xander, and Dawn all seemed totally okay with him dying for killing Tara, even if they didn't want Willow to go evil.
I wanted a little more of a reaction from the Scoobies about Tara's death. I feel like aside from Willow, only Dawn really expressed her emotions about it.
I really loved the use of the Prayer of St. Francis at the end of the episode. Catholic squee aside, I feel like it was very appropriate for the place at which the characters find themselves at the end of this season. Acknowledging the pain and anguish that exists everywhere in the world, but asking God to make you His instrument to make it better. Very beautiful, and a very appropriate idea for both Buffy and her friends.
I will probably be waiting to start Season 7 until I can finish up Season 3 of Angel (I have watched through "Loyalty," or episode 15).