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by Jennifer Alpeche Published: May 15, 2003
As the next-to-last episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, “End of Days” (7.21) was sad to watch. The episode itself had a sort of feeling of finality to it, as the show’s end was definitely being set up. From Faith and Buffy talking about what it means to be a Slayer, to Xander and Buffy saying a sort of goodbye, to Buffy and Spike talking about what might be. There was a sadness to the episode for myself, one that has been building for the last few. Last week in “Touched” (7.20), we saw people reaching out to one another, holding on. Spike and Buffy spent the night wrapped in each other’s arms, not saying a word, just being together. This, after he poured his heart out to her and gave her the sweetest pep talk ever. She called out to him and asked him to stay, to hold her. When she did so, it was what the couple’s fans had been waiting for, but it was also a sign that we must be close to the end. Why? Because the writers wouldn’t give us such togetherness if it wasn’t. They seem far more interested in keeping them apart. So all signs point to the end. We knew this was coming, but still. I find myself thinking about the what-if’s and if-only’s. And it all comes down to Time. Wishing there was more of it. Wishing it was used differently. Thinking back on a certain scene, a particular moment when everything could have been different. Sort of like those “Choose Your Own Way” books and you wonder where the other path will take you, but darn it, the page is missing. In this penultimate episode, it starts out with Faith in the tunnels with the Potentials. Picking up right where Episode 20 left off, Faith is set to open up a box. When she does, a bomb ticks down to its last seconds, and she tells the girls to get down, but too late, it explodes and they are thrown. Buffy meanwhile, is also searching but unlike Faith, is successful in her bid. She finds a weapon embedded in a huge rock (echoes of King Arthur). Caleb had tried to get it out previously, but without luck -- as it was only to be wielded by her (Spike found this out in “Empty Places,” 7.19). Seeing it before her, Buffy is drawn to it. Somehow knowing it. Caleb shows up behind her and tries to make a crack, but she turns and pulls the weapon from the rock with ease, disappointing him immensely. Wanting to fight for it, he is held back, the First appearing and telling him to let her go. (As we know, the First likes to wait. A lot.) No time for games, Buffy leaves with the weapon, excited to get to the girls. Somehow she knows they are in the tunnels and rescues them. Faith is badly hurt. When they return to the Summers’ home, all is forgiven. The ousting of Buffy that took place in Episode 19 is hardly mentioned. Buffy does not seem to hold it against them and while I wish that they had talked about it a little, perhaps that is the point, that right now, there isn’t time to hold grudges. She knows they are sorry and I think she is too, for putting them in that position, to make that choice. The episode basically deals with them finding out more about Buffy’s new weapon. Described as a scythe, the weapon is one of power, even making a kind of magical sound as it slices through the air. Buffy was able to kill three ubervamps in the tunnels with ease. It seems to serve the same purpose as a stake for the hard-to-kill ubies. A powerful weapon for her, Faith, the Potentials. When Faith holds it later (as she recovers from her wounds), she comments that it feels like it’s hers. Looks at Buffy and then adds, “I guess that means it’s yours.” The weapon is clearly meant to be wielded by a Slayer, so Faith does qualify. Earlier Willow had tried to feel its power, but was unable to, as powerful a witch as she is. She commented that it must be a Slayer-thing, highlighting the fact that Faith and Buffy admit to later. This is why Caleb, with all of his borrowed strength, could not pry it from the rock. So the scythe is researched by Willow and Giles, as they promise Buffy to find out all that they can. Later Buffy has a sweet talk with Xander, as he pledges his supoprt to her, and she tells him she trusts him. (In this episode, there are these moments between Buffy and all of those who turned against her -- including a letter to Dawn -- which might be the writers’ way of saying “I’m sorry” for all involved.) Later, we learn that Buffy had asked Xander to take Dawn away from all the danger, wanting to save her, which he does, even though he really wanted to stay with her and fight. But Buffy wants both of them gone. Safe. And because he knows what it means to her, he agrees to do so. Dawn of course has other ideas, and by episode’s end, it is clear that she and Xander will make it back in time for the battle. In a way, not that much happens in this episode. It prepares us for the finale, giving each character a moment to shine. Anya, who has been very distant and seemingly resentful of Buffy, is given her moment as well, a moment when she lets her guard down and allows her true feelings to show. Only Andrew is present to hear them, but we are as well and that’s a good thing. All the characters this season have acted at some point or another, different, and it’s positive that we see them return to their roles and their true voices. As for Spike, he has two scenes in the entire episode, and one is more of an appearance than a scene. He is the final shot. And seeing him watching Buffy and a surprise visitor in Angel, can’t help but break one’s (a Spike fan’s especially) heart. In this episode, people let their emotions out, and in the end, his is absolutely worn on his face. No words are spoken, but we can feel what he must be going through. James Marsters and Sarah Michelle Gellar share a scene about halfway through “End of Days” that is very tender and touching, and highly sad, because it speaks again to what is lost with the end of the show. For these two. Will they have a chance? I mentioned earlier about the First loving the waiting game, but for Spike and Buffy, the writers seemed to be very much a fan as well. Again, to think back on the season, knowing this is it, the last one, I wish the writers could have given a little more. Though I believe that this season has seen Spike and Buffy in love, I always knew that a happy ending was not in the cards. Not on Buffy. No way. That said, when the writers give us moments like in “Touched” when he confesses his love and she asks him to stay, and they spend the night just holding on, or like in “End of Days” when he tells her his feelings and she is close, thisclose, to saying the same -- how could they not be together? Why weren’t they? For James and Sarah, their scene in this episode is one more for their fans to cherish -- even though the last scene of the episode takes away from it. Again, the writers unable to give I suppose without also taking away. Not to be forgotten, the baddies. The First and Caleb have their own sharing -- both with words and power. When Buffy meets up with Caleb at the end, he is recharged. Even with the scythe in hand, Buffy has a hard time with him. He fights her casually, but his arrogance is his downfall. He thinks he will win before actually doing so. Buffy is also charged with confidence though, given by Spike, her friends, and an old woman whom she meets right before Caleb shows up. A woman who tells her the history of the scythe and the importance of her success. “End of Days” was a good episode. Perhaps the individual moments were better: Spike and Buffy’s conversation, Willow and Giles researching together, Anya and Andrew getting medical supplies, Xander and Buffy’s talk, Caleb showing up and asking “near or hear.” As a whole, it was solid. Given that this was the second-to-last episode though, I suppose it could have been more, but I’m so depressed over the series ending, I think every episode is getting rated a little higher. However, the Spike and Buffy scene alone, as was the case in “Touched,” sends the rating up a notch. Actually for “Touched,” if it didn’t have their scenes, I can’t imagine how low that episode would’ve rated for me. So here we are. Only one episode left to go. I definitely feel the sadness. I’m missing it already and despite news this week that part of the Buffy family will continue on (James Marsters on Angel!), my heart is still heavy. Not only because the series is ending, but again, because of what was lost, and knowing that this is the end, there is no way of ever getting those scenes, those moments, that you had wished for -- always thinking that they were possible so long as the series continued on. Overall rating: B Next episode: The finale, “Chosen”, on May 20. |
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