DISCUSSION; Finale(desperate attempt to see the glass as half full)

[JDMeans@xxxxxxx]

Everybody sing along now, "Tell me, Where Do We Go From Here..."

Okay, you guys know the drill

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Okay.

Can't say as I'm overjoyed with the finale, but considering that they didn't
have as much buildup as they did last season (Note to Marti Noxon; This is
why you need a good season long villain!), it could have been a helluva lot
worse. I read a speculation a few weeks back that they were gonna hit the
ever-popular reset button at the season finale. Either that or have Willow
stay nutzo and make her next season's Big Bad!

Now, as for the future, allow me to speculate.

Willow is going to have her work cut out for her next season, to regain the
trust of her friends. She's gonna have to start pretty much from square one,
perhaps living in her own apartment, away from Buffy for awhile. Will it be
easy? No. Will it be impossible? Again, no. It'll be a hard ride, but in
the end, I feel that the three friends will bond again. This season was the
breaking down, next season will be the rebuilding.

The Willow we all knew and loved is gone, changed forever. On the plus side,
I believe that the Evil Willow of the last few days(the love-child of Marylin
Manson and Wednesday Addams?) is also gone, and good riddance! I for one
look forward to seeing what kind of woman she becomes. Nietzche said that
whatever doesn't kill us makes us stronger, and from what she's been through
these last few eps, I suspect that she'll be much stronger. Her innocence is
gone, but innocence never lasts anyway. Hopefully, she'll learn from her
experiences, and truly become the voice of reason and the stability that the
Scoobs will need. And once again she'll be deserving of the title of
'Buffy's Best Friend'.

I think the situation with Willow is that, in the end, she will repent her
actions, the way that Angel did in season three. He grew from the experience
of being Angelus, and the PTB gave him a second chance. In past episodes,
the good or evil in a person was largely decided by their attitude, as much
as their actions. Willow's cold attitude over her actions over the last few
eps doesn't speak well for her, but her breaking down in Xander's arms at the
end might. Her humanity restored, she repented her actions, mourned Tara's
death, and also mourned the loss of her friendships with Buffy and Xander.
Compare that to Faith in 'Bad Girls'; "No, you don't get it. I. Don't.
Care!". She later repented her deeds, and even accepted a jail sentence.
Willow knows that she's gonna have to repent, but I think she's gonna pull
through. She won't be the same, but I still have hope.

Now, the one thing that has me worried is Spike having his soul restored.
Uh, I liked this storyline better with Angel. And I don't know if I like
Joss repeating himself like this. Worst case scenario; he and Buffy fall in
love and live happily ever after. In which case, I will turn off my
television and never watch the show again! I recall an interview with James
Marsters, he said something like, "I always thought that Spike was a nasty
sod even before he was turned." Somehow, I don't see him simply turning over
a new leaf and everybody being okay with him again. At least I hope not.

Just my thoughts. Here's hoping that next season, they remember the value of
a good villain!

Kirayoshi