The most believable rumour I've heard is that Willow is the season's Big Bad, her love of the black arts gets a little too black and it consumes her echoing the XMen's dark phoenix sage. In the season finale she's too powerful for Buffy to stop any way but the final way and Buffy ends up having to kill her own best friend.

This also seems to tie in with the "one of the regular cast leaves" rumours that are flying round the net.

The latest one I've heard is that it's Anya, going back to her demon ways after Xander dumps her and teaming up with the irritating nerd trio.

By the way, am I doing this spoiler thing right - leaving about 3 lines so it doesn't show up on the latest posts thingy? Or do we not have that any more? (I can't see it, but I've only just got on here!)

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by CleaBy the way, am I doing this spoiler thing right - leaving about 3 lines so it doesn't show up on the latest posts thingy? Or do we not have that any more? (I can't see it, but I've only just got on here!)

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Since Wobag and MonSTeR aren't using it, I presume spoiler space isn't necessary.

Anyway, having just watched ep 15, it's still not clear who the 'big bad' might be, and only 7 episodes to go!

Definitely not Willow - she seems to be on the road to recovery, with even a prospect that she and Tara might get back together.
The Troika - well, Warren was looking like a possible candidate last time they appeared, definitely heading towards the bad, but probably not powerful enough to do it on his own.

Clearly things are going to be a little different this time round. Clearly something has to happen for the season finale, but I don't think there's going to be anything like the 'traditional' Buffy big bad.

Oh, and if any of the regular cast members are leaving, it has to be Spike.

(Edited by In a State of Dan 05/03/2002 22:48)

Clea, not necessary to do the spoiler space thing here. We needed it before because there was that 'toays posts' thing that showed the first couple of lines of the post as a preview. New site doesnt do it that way

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by In a State of Dan
(quotes)

Since Wobag and MonSTeR aren't using it, I presume spoiler space isn't necessary.

Anyway, having just watched ep 15, it's still not clear who the 'big bad' might be, and only 7 episodes to go!

Definitely not Willow - she seems to be on the road to recovery, with even a prospect that she and Tara might get back together.

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I know what you mean about the time running out. I'm beginning to think that the Willow thing might well have been bogus, but it's an old one and I've still not heard anything better on the spoiler/rumour grapevine.

Anyone any guesses about S7 yet

A willow dark magic relapse could be quite interesting.
I think that whatever happens is either going to almost break Buffy again (mentally) or make her a lot stronger.

Spike seems to be running out of further usefulness and so in order to not drag it on (like has happened before), a departure in the near future by him would be advisable, in my opinion.

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by MonSTeR
(quotes)

I know what you mean about the time running out. I'm beginning to think that the Willow thing might well have been bogus, but it's an old one and I've still not heard anything better on the spoiler/rumour grapevine.

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Don't think the Willow thing was bogus - but it's entirely possible that either UPN have leaned on them because of the whole witchcraft thing, or that Joss saw that stuff had leaked and so changed direction to catch everyone out. So either way, it might mean the original plan has changed (remember that has happened a couple of times - Maggie Walsh was meant to last longer but the actress got another job, Spike was meant to die mid-season two, but was too much fun to kill, etc.)

i've just been on a site and they had a coupla spoilers about the end of s6 posted:

they said that 1) Spike was gonna go africa to get his chip out
2) tara was gonna die in some sort of bus thing
3) willow was some dark magicky person who causes the bus thing...

however i don't think it's very likely about the Spike thing...i mean we know now he can hurt buffy so i doubt getting the chip out will be top priority for him....Tara could die but the way they descirbed it was that Warren was doing something to a bus..or Willow was (?) Someone could die in the season finale and i'm betting it will Anya or Tara..i don't want Spike to die
ok i'm gonan find the site again and post what they say, cos i'm not making a lot of sense

can't find the site i was on but the Buffy Stake and Cross spoiler section has this:

"NEW! (Repost) Sadly, the Scooby Gang member who is fatally wounded is Tara. She is accidentally killed by Warren. Willow tries to bring her back, but is unsuccessful. As a result, Willow is guided by her rage into dark magic. She consumes every possible element of it that she can and seeks the necessary revenge on Tara's killer. At her hands, Warren suffers terribly and is killed"
and
"The big bad of the season? Willow. Sure, Warren can easily be considered the big bad up until episode 20, but Willow quickly takes his place. And since Warren doesn't survive ep 20... there's no telling what she can do in later eps. After losing Tara, she loses all reason to stay away from magic. Although initially, she does a very good deed, she is later blinded by the desire for vengeance. No one (and as you'll see, nothing) is able to stop her."

as well as this about Spike:

"Spike shows up in Africa where he puts his life on the line to get the chip out. He meets with a demon and confidently agrees to take on whatever challenges the demon offers as long as he gets the chip removed if he wins.

With so much danger surrounding the gang, Buffy takes Dawn to stay with Spike, but instead encounters Clem crypt-sitting for the vampire and learns that Spike left Sunnydale for a while."

If this is true, it sounds like it would make for some really good episodes.

Could Buffy defeat Willow's magik?

Would Buffy kill Willow if it was the only way to stop her?

Interesting stuff

This does have the ring of truth about it, it does make sense that spike should go away for a bit, the agenda needs changing there, of course one of the missions he promises to carry out is bound to concern the slayer...

Well if it had to be anyone i guess im glad its tara, nothing against her, but she was simply the character i cared about least. And it seems it wont be a pointless death, it will kick off a very intersting story.

With Giles in England, Spike in Africa, Willow who knows where, Anya with Xander(?) but living where? we may go into season 7 with a feeling of characters being scattered.

yeh the charcters may be scattered but at least we'll be more likely to have more interaction between willow/xander/buffy...the original core of the group...

i doubt however that Willow will be killed by Buffy, which begs the question...how will buffy stop her? this could be potentially where Oz comes into it
i am hopeful

I just read a slightly different version, basically Willow almost kills warren , but stops herself, Buffy Kills Rack who is bad, but actually human. This starts her faithesque gravitation to the darkside in s7. Willw mean while ends up with no magical abilities, and in hospital, personally i prefer your version, Rae

I've read those spoilers and rumours.
IMO I don't see why anyone has to die this season.

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by ROMBA
I've read those spoilers and rumours.
IMO I don't see why anyone has to die this season.

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Budget cuts ?!?!?

i'm not sure if i like the idea of having an evil buffy :S
but i suppose we will have to have faith in Joss that he will do the right thing for the program and of course the viewers.

don't think i'd like a buffy evil version...it's too alreayd done witht he whole faitht hing and sort of with Amy and willow this season. evil buffy = big no!

Possible, more detailed spoilers...some of it ties in with what has already gone before:

1)Tara is killed by Warren.

2) Willow goes dark. She tries to kill Warren but resists the urge. Rack however does it for her, because he and Warren are after the same evil goal.

3) Willow falls completely to the dark side. She becomes a spellcasting power conduit for Rack and is kept in a hallucinatory state of bliss. In this state, she lives an ideal life with Tara.

4) Buffy goes on a Slayer quest and is guided by a spirit in the image of Tara. She learns that Giles did the dirty work for her in killing Ben/Glory.

5) In order to save Willow and to stop Rack, a spell is cast to purge all of Willow's spellcasting abilities from her physical being. This shocks her into a catatonic state.

6) With the help of the Troika's technology, Buffy kills Rack -- her first human kill. This causes her to start falling towards darkness (i.e. Faith).

7) Willow is put into the hospital in the end.

8) Dawn is taken away from Buffy and put into foster care. She and Buffy have a tearful good-bye before the cops take Dawn away. Buffy: "I'm so sorry, Dawnie -- I failed you...."

It's all good

Ooh
That sounds cool

Actually anyone have any ideas on how long Buffy will go on for?
Will S7 be the last, or can they squeeze a few more out of it?

(Edited by Stoo 24/03/2002 22:08)