And so it is done....
Jan. 25th, 2009 08:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
chrysalitronI finally - after over six months of somewhat obsessive viewing, at least for me - have finished the entire series of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
I had seen an episode here and there, and found it enjoyable, but never sat down to watch it regularly. In hindsight, I'm kind of glad that I did wait and watch the whole series back-to-back. There are so many inside jokes in each episode that harken back to earlier events.....that, for me, was probably the best part. Well, that and Giles.
Less than ten minutes ago, I turned off the DVD on the final credits of Chosen. I'm not going to lie - I cried. In fact, the only television show that I have cried more at was Dawson's Creek. (The series finale? Jack and Jen? She was his SOULMATE....but that's another crying jag for another time). And you know what it was that got me? Xander and Anya.
If you'd asked me over the course of the show who my favorite character was, I would have said Giles. And in Seth Green's tenure on the show, Oz would have gotten an honorable mention. Honestly, though, that's not to say I didn't love many (most) of the other characters. I even enjoyed the villians. (Was it possible to not be even SLIGHTLY amused by Glory?) But there was a character that snuck up on me throughout the course of the show. Sure, I liked them, but they weren't my absolute favorite.....right?
That character was Xander. Of course he had his moments. His freak-outs over Buffy's love life ALONE merited a few eyerolls. But out of all the characters, I would say that Xander had the biggest heart. When he left Anya at the altar, I was furious with him for hurting Anya (another character I loved), but within seconds of viewing his crushed and devastated face......well, all wasn't forgiven, but did I want to give him a hug? Of course.
The final season, in particular, was great for Xander. There was the speech he gave the Potentials, about trusting in Buffy. And there was the quiet talk he had with Dawn, when she realized that she wasn't a Potential. Throughout most of the series, Xander always felt like he was lacking. He wasn't special like the others - he wasn't a slayer, or a witch, or a werewolf, or a vampire with a soul. He was just.....Xander. The guy who falls for insect women and mummies and demons. The guy who didn't go to college. He had nothing to offer.
Except of course he did. Comic relief, sure. But more than that, he believed in Buffy. He believed in Willow. And that belief in them kept them going many times. Hell, Xander's belief in Willow stopped her from ending the world. He was smarter than most people gave him credit for. And it took close to seven seasons for him to realize that himself.
I knew that Anya died. I was already spoiled for that. And as the moment grew closer, I began to dread it. Not only because I loved Anya myself.....but because I knew Xander still loved her, and I knew how crushed he would be by her death. The tears started when everyone was running from the school, and Xander was frantically calling out to Anya, not realizing her body was mere feet away from him. But what really did it - what unleashed the actual CRYING, as opposed to the tear rolling down the cheek and all - was him questioning Andrew about her. "That's my girl." GAH.
Of course there are more things I can get into. The redemption of Spike that took place throughout the series. Dark Willow. Buffy having to kill Angel. (Okay, I cried a good deal at that one, too). That time that Giles dressed up like a wizard. Andrew - a character I came to adore even if he killed Jonathan. But for now, I'll just leave it at that.
.....and now, on to Angel. Expect another update in about six months!
I had seen an episode here and there, and found it enjoyable, but never sat down to watch it regularly. In hindsight, I'm kind of glad that I did wait and watch the whole series back-to-back. There are so many inside jokes in each episode that harken back to earlier events.....that, for me, was probably the best part. Well, that and Giles.
Less than ten minutes ago, I turned off the DVD on the final credits of Chosen. I'm not going to lie - I cried. In fact, the only television show that I have cried more at was Dawson's Creek. (The series finale? Jack and Jen? She was his SOULMATE....but that's another crying jag for another time). And you know what it was that got me? Xander and Anya.
If you'd asked me over the course of the show who my favorite character was, I would have said Giles. And in Seth Green's tenure on the show, Oz would have gotten an honorable mention. Honestly, though, that's not to say I didn't love many (most) of the other characters. I even enjoyed the villians. (Was it possible to not be even SLIGHTLY amused by Glory?) But there was a character that snuck up on me throughout the course of the show. Sure, I liked them, but they weren't my absolute favorite.....right?
That character was Xander. Of course he had his moments. His freak-outs over Buffy's love life ALONE merited a few eyerolls. But out of all the characters, I would say that Xander had the biggest heart. When he left Anya at the altar, I was furious with him for hurting Anya (another character I loved), but within seconds of viewing his crushed and devastated face......well, all wasn't forgiven, but did I want to give him a hug? Of course.
The final season, in particular, was great for Xander. There was the speech he gave the Potentials, about trusting in Buffy. And there was the quiet talk he had with Dawn, when she realized that she wasn't a Potential. Throughout most of the series, Xander always felt like he was lacking. He wasn't special like the others - he wasn't a slayer, or a witch, or a werewolf, or a vampire with a soul. He was just.....Xander. The guy who falls for insect women and mummies and demons. The guy who didn't go to college. He had nothing to offer.
Except of course he did. Comic relief, sure. But more than that, he believed in Buffy. He believed in Willow. And that belief in them kept them going many times. Hell, Xander's belief in Willow stopped her from ending the world. He was smarter than most people gave him credit for. And it took close to seven seasons for him to realize that himself.
I knew that Anya died. I was already spoiled for that. And as the moment grew closer, I began to dread it. Not only because I loved Anya myself.....but because I knew Xander still loved her, and I knew how crushed he would be by her death. The tears started when everyone was running from the school, and Xander was frantically calling out to Anya, not realizing her body was mere feet away from him. But what really did it - what unleashed the actual CRYING, as opposed to the tear rolling down the cheek and all - was him questioning Andrew about her. "That's my girl." GAH.
Of course there are more things I can get into. The redemption of Spike that took place throughout the series. Dark Willow. Buffy having to kill Angel. (Okay, I cried a good deal at that one, too). That time that Giles dressed up like a wizard. Andrew - a character I came to adore even if he killed Jonathan. But for now, I'll just leave it at that.
.....and now, on to Angel. Expect another update in about six months!