Weren't they 2 weeks out of sync the other way? Angel had already finished when this episode was aired (in America at least, though maybe not here), so he didn't leave LA during his series at all.
by Vinnie
The problem with the Angel cross-over is the shows are two weeks out of sync which means that Angel must have left his show 2 or 3 weeks ago. Which means he would have been under the influence of Jasmin. But he didn't seem to act as if he was all happy. And There was no mention and no absense in Angel so I don't see how he fits into the Buffy story, except as eye-candy.
'Buffy' Ep21: "End Of Days" ... and everything was going so well
I find it hard to put into words just how disastrous this episode was; it’s more than just a poor instalment, because coming at this point, the pivotal moment for Buffy after a season long buildup, it’s downright devastating to the plot and the series as a whole.
However did Joss manage to make such a hash of things? I remain completely baffled and frustrated, but the fact remains that he has, and spectacularly so.
Let’s get the positive out the way first; Joss isn’t directly responsible for this debacle, that ignoble credit goes to Jane Epstine and Douglas Petrie, two apparently skilled writers who must’ve been taking some serious gear when they somehow managed to pen the sorry excuse for a script, and Martia Grabiak, quite possibly the single worst director I’ve ever had the displeasure to watch on Buffy. This raises the immediate question why Joss didn’t write and direct the episode, considering that it’s the penultimate instalment of the entire series, but for some reason he didn’t, and this is the result. And what a result.
Honestly, it was crying out to be a brilliant episode; all the ingredients were there –apocalypse, enchanted weapons, unstoppable villains and tons of potential for angst and drama – but they’ve been squandered on the one of the worst-paced pieces of hackery imaginable. A Skoda where we needed a Porsche, soap opera where we needed cinema. It all starts well enough with a massive explosion from last week’s bomb, but shoots rapidly downhill from there. Caleb lets Buffy go with the weapon on the instruction of the First, who then swiftly saves Faith and all the Potentials (who’ve miraculously survived the explosion) from the Uber Vamps … the thousands-strong hoard now reduced to three dodgy S&M wannabes who are dispatched without Buffy breaking a sweat. And then, for most the remainder of the episode, we’re stuck in Buffy’s house. Yep, that’s right, the penultimate episode of the series, and we have to endure one turgidly written exchange after another, barely seeing Caleb or the First (the one scene where they appear is excellent and over in an instant). And we get a nice surprise of Xander knocking Dawn unconscious and driving her away on Buffy’s orders (Dawn subsequently tasers Xander and heads back), but mostly, it’s just trite, tedious, nauseous dialogue from characters who are suddenly wholly out of character. By the time I watched Anya and Andrew stealing supplies from the abandoned hospital for “the coming fight” we’re already supposed to be in the middle of and end up in a wheelchair fight, I was screaming at the screen like a docker with touretts. Why had Joss let these bunch of two-bit armatures handle the first part of the grand finale? I was watching them cackhandedly trash the entire season before my eyes.
Eventually, we got a confrontation between Buffy and Caleb, who kills an ancient mystic Buffy is conversing with, but it’s directed with all the panache of an EastEnder’s brawl, on a tiny and cheap-looking set. Angel appears out of nowhere, which works, then Caleb is defeated and killed with ease, which doesn’t. Caleb wasn’t even armed, for pity’s sake! The shock ending, with Spike watching on as Buffy and Angel kiss, being goaded by the First, is about the only good thing to come out of this rotting dungheap of a show. The writing stank, the directing stank, the budget looked non-existent and no exposition or closure of note happened. Nothing really happened until the last ten minutes, and then it happened badly.
Half the finale has now been needlessly piddled away, leaving Joss a mere 45 minutes to do a job that should already be half done. I pray he can achieve it (and if he’s any sense, fire everyone responsible for this episode), but these dismal 45 minutes may just have wrecked Buffy’s entire final season.
So a big congrats to all the sorry suspects!
(Edited by Byron 14/05/2003 06:21)
However did Joss manage to make such a hash of things? I remain completely baffled and frustrated, but the fact remains that he has, and spectacularly so.
Let’s get the positive out the way first; Joss isn’t directly responsible for this debacle, that ignoble credit goes to Jane Epstine and Douglas Petrie, two apparently skilled writers who must’ve been taking some serious gear when they somehow managed to pen the sorry excuse for a script, and Martia Grabiak, quite possibly the single worst director I’ve ever had the displeasure to watch on Buffy. This raises the immediate question why Joss didn’t write and direct the episode, considering that it’s the penultimate instalment of the entire series, but for some reason he didn’t, and this is the result. And what a result.
Honestly, it was crying out to be a brilliant episode; all the ingredients were there –apocalypse, enchanted weapons, unstoppable villains and tons of potential for angst and drama – but they’ve been squandered on the one of the worst-paced pieces of hackery imaginable. A Skoda where we needed a Porsche, soap opera where we needed cinema. It all starts well enough with a massive explosion from last week’s bomb, but shoots rapidly downhill from there. Caleb lets Buffy go with the weapon on the instruction of the First, who then swiftly saves Faith and all the Potentials (who’ve miraculously survived the explosion) from the Uber Vamps … the thousands-strong hoard now reduced to three dodgy S&M wannabes who are dispatched without Buffy breaking a sweat. And then, for most the remainder of the episode, we’re stuck in Buffy’s house. Yep, that’s right, the penultimate episode of the series, and we have to endure one turgidly written exchange after another, barely seeing Caleb or the First (the one scene where they appear is excellent and over in an instant). And we get a nice surprise of Xander knocking Dawn unconscious and driving her away on Buffy’s orders (Dawn subsequently tasers Xander and heads back), but mostly, it’s just trite, tedious, nauseous dialogue from characters who are suddenly wholly out of character. By the time I watched Anya and Andrew stealing supplies from the abandoned hospital for “the coming fight” we’re already supposed to be in the middle of and end up in a wheelchair fight, I was screaming at the screen like a docker with touretts. Why had Joss let these bunch of two-bit armatures handle the first part of the grand finale? I was watching them cackhandedly trash the entire season before my eyes.
Eventually, we got a confrontation between Buffy and Caleb, who kills an ancient mystic Buffy is conversing with, but it’s directed with all the panache of an EastEnder’s brawl, on a tiny and cheap-looking set. Angel appears out of nowhere, which works, then Caleb is defeated and killed with ease, which doesn’t. Caleb wasn’t even armed, for pity’s sake! The shock ending, with Spike watching on as Buffy and Angel kiss, being goaded by the First, is about the only good thing to come out of this rotting dungheap of a show. The writing stank, the directing stank, the budget looked non-existent and no exposition or closure of note happened. Nothing really happened until the last ten minutes, and then it happened badly.
Half the finale has now been needlessly piddled away, leaving Joss a mere 45 minutes to do a job that should already be half done. I pray he can achieve it (and if he’s any sense, fire everyone responsible for this episode), but these dismal 45 minutes may just have wrecked Buffy’s entire final season.
So a big congrats to all the sorry suspects!
(Edited by Byron 14/05/2003 06:21)
28 Replies and 7472 Views in Total. [ 1 2 ]
I hope its not a spoiler if I say you're right. Watch and all will become clear!
by PictureOfFlowers
(quotes)
Weren't they 2 weeks out of sync the other way? Angel had already finished when this episode was aired (in America at least, though maybe not here), so he didn't leave LA during his series at all.
I enjoyed this ep. I thought the scenes between Buffy and Faith and Buffy and Spike were needed and crucial when heading towards the final episode.
Leadership can be very lonely when you feel totally responsible and scared of getting people killed in battle. Did Giles prepare Buffy for this in all the training he initially did with Buffy. Judging by the lack of regard he had for her interest to be held by anything "academic" and her airhead attitude I bet not. So with no training and a rather longer period as Slayer than expected its no wonder she had insecurities, superior/inferior complexes and screw ups. But for Faith to realise the enormity of the burden Buffy had carried was apt and timely.
It was also good to see Buffy finally try to talk about her feelings and a relationship(with Spike) instead of bottling it all up as usual until it reached crisis point.
What I din't like about the ep. was the introduction of "a Guardian". Where the hell have the guardians been for 7 years!!???? Why introduce a new character and then kill them 5 minutes later?
And where was the super weapon when Buffy had a God to fight?? I suppose fighting the sum of all evil might be considered even worse than a God, so the scythe was only rolled out now.
Buffy seemed to be on the end of a trouncing by Caleb until Angel arrived. He had to appear sometime for closure but he looked as if he was stoned or something. What a stupid smirk. He seemed totally out of character. Big disappointment.
When would Angel turn up and be all hey im funny sarcastic guy then eat the face off buffy, when u think back over their previous cross overs and the awkwardness it just didnt seem right. Maybe it was just me but think about how his charecter is now in 'Angel' and that behaviour wasnt really in charecter, probably just me overthinking though.
by Whistler
(quotes)
Really?? Seemed like Angel to me
I thought that too. Although as I don't watch Angel I wasn't sure if there was some big happy ending or something that would make him act differently.
by Eve
When would Angel turn up and be all hey im funny sarcastic guy then eat the face off buffy, when u think back over their previous cross overs and the awkwardness it just didnt seem right. Maybe it was just me but think about how his charecter is now in 'Angel' and that behaviour wasnt really in charecter, probably just me overthinking though.
Wanna start a new thread about it then?
by Barbara
wow. It's over. I'm numb.
This is last week's ep
I don't think I heard that...What happened?
by Tycho
I liked the bit about Misskittyfantastico
I give that ep 6 out of 10, wasn't bad but it wasn't one of the strongest.
I finally got to see this last night and i enjoyed it. I liked how Angel came into it, but i agree with the consensus, it was kind of strange.. not really keeping in with his character per se as he was in Buffy and in cross overs. I thought he was a First decoy because he seemed almost blurry in the way he was shot.
(Edited by Keenangel 15/06/2003 11:26)
(Edited by Keenangel 15/06/2003 11:26)
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