Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV Series) Chosen (2003) User Reviews

The last episode of a magnificent show

[katierose295 · 9/10 · 10 September 2006]

And so we reach the last episode. I love BTVS so much that it's always hard to watch "Chosen" and see Sunnydale fall. Honestly, this isn't the best season finale that the show produced. But, it does wrap up the show, sending Buffy into the future and adulthood. You really should see "Chosen" if you're a fan of the show.

"Chosen" picks up right where "End of Days" left off. Angel's come to Sunnydale to help Buffy. After Buffy kills Caleb, Angel gives her a magic amulet that may be the key to stopping the First. Only a Champion can wear it and Angel volunteers. Buffy says no, that he should go back to LA and prepare a second front. Then she heads home and gives the amulet to Spike. (It's kinna like the opposite of what she did with the ring of Amara back in season four's "Harsh Light of Day".) Spike is touched that Buffy think he's a Champion and the two of them spend the night together. When the First shows up to taunt Buffy, it inadvertently gives her an idea. She asks Willow if she can use the magic ax to turn all the Potentials into full blown Slayers... Right away. Willow promises to try and they make plans to attack the Hellmouth.

Their plan is to (1) Have Willow pull magic from the ax, (2) Attack the Hellmouth with an army of Slayers and (3) Station the weaker people like Anya and Andrew, etc... in the school hallways to fight and UberVamps that escape the Hellmouth. Everything goes well at first, but then the First begins really fighting back. Slayers fall. Anya dies. Spike's pendant begins to glow and suddenly he's in a pillar of light. (Interstingly, now Spike's "gleaming" just like Dru said back in "Fool for Love.") Buffy rushes towards him, but Spike won't take the pendant off. He knows what it does. It going to close the Hellmouth. The other Slayers hurry out, while Buffy takes hold of Spike's hand and tells him that she loves him. Spike smiles and responds, "No you don't, but thanks for saying it." Then he orders Buffy to run. Buffy escapes as Sunnydale collapses into the Hellmouth. Giles asks what happened and Buffy answers, "Spike." Dawn asks what they should so now. Buffy stands next to the crater and realizes that she's not the sole guardian of the world anymore. She smiles slightly as her life stretches out before her.

There are some really great parts to this episode. I love Angel and Spike's "sibling rivalry." Angel jealously complains about Spike's switch to the White Hats, "Everybody's got a soul, now." While Spike tapes a little drawing of Angel a punching bag. Spike's an excellent artist. He drew some great portraits of Buffy back in season five. But his cartoon rendering of Angel has Xs for eyes and jagged, pointy hair. I laugh every time I see it. Buffy actually does pretty well appeasing both vampires, giving Angel a moving, "I'm still cookie dough. I'm not done baking, yet" speech and handing over the amulet to Spike because she sees him as a Champion. It's nice. And Spike and Buffy's last moment together, where she grabs his hand and fire shoots out, is just beautiful. Also, I love the scene with Xander, Giles, Andrew and Amanda playing Dungeons and Dragons. Anya is asleep next to them and Xander just reaches over and ruffles her hair. He really does love her. And, in the end, I think it's important that Anya and Spike were the ones to "die" saving the world. They met the Scoobies as demons, and left them as Champions. When Xander asks Andrew what happened to Anya, Andrew makes up one last story so she'll be remembered as a hero. In the end, Anya and Spike weren't really humans... They were better.

If Spike actually died in this episode, I would be furious. He's my favorite character. Luckily, he's resurrected over on season five of "Angel" as a very unhappy "ghost." If you're going to follow Spike over there, I really suggest that you see "Angel" seasons 1-4 first. It'll make the show easier to follow. But, just once, watch Spike's first moments of "unlife" over on "Just Rewards," directly after you watch "Chosen." His utter disorientation at suddenly being in LA is completely understandable. I felt kind of freaked out myself when I saw the episodes that way.

On the down side, is it just me or were Buffy, the Potentials, the ax, and everything kinna pointless? Angel brought the magic pendant to town and Spike closed the Hellmouth with it. Ultimately, that's what won the battle, not creating Slayers and killing a bunch of UberVamps. Spike and Angel saved the world... Again. And, why did Anya die and Kennedy live? That's incredibly unfair. What were they thinking letting Anya try to battle UberVamps? She doesn't have any special powers. One of the Slayers should have been with each "normal person" team. Also, Spike should have been dreaming about cheese, not cool whip. It would have tied back in with season four's "Restless." Finally, Xander and Dawn shouldn't have been joking about the mall in the final scene. After Spike and Anya died saving the world, it comes off as insensitive, not funny.

My favorite part of the episode: Buffy, Xander, Giles and Willow standing in the school right before the final battle, as the camera circles around them. They fall back into their familiar camaraderie, listing all the things they want to do the next day. Then they slowly break apart, Giles repeating his "The world is doomed" line from season one's "The Harvest." And Xander, the first Scoobie to meet Buffy back in "Welcome to the Hellmouth," is the last one to break away from her now. The Scoobies are the heart of the show and I get misty eyed every time I see that scene.

"Buffy did it first"

[elliest_5 · 9/10 · 15 May 2018]

You know that special place in hell for people who talk at the movies? I've often risked ending up there when watching films or TV, because there are times when I just can't help interjecting: "cool plot device, but Buffy did it first".

There are loads of things that BtVS will be remembered for and I don't think anyone doubts its place in pop culture history. The grand finale of the series (as well as the episodes leading to it) always receives mixed reviews and I do see that there are details that people (fans) can pick apart and grumble about. It is, however, another one of those "Buffy did it first" moments and a major one for that matter.

I'm talking, of course, about the concept of sharing the slayer power and giving up the uniqueness of the heroine's position as "the chosen one". It's not just a brilliant way to deal with the season's arc, it essentially ruptures the monomyth cycle - i.e. the prototypical "Hero's journey" (look it up, if it doesn't ring a bell). And since this happens in a story that has otherwise been a most typical example of the monomyth, this twist becomes even more significant. It is incredibly empowering to watch, not only for a female viewer, but also for any person who has felt powerless or insignificant in the face of adversity. It may just be seconds in the whole epic finale, but those scenes of girls all over the world receiving their power are totally chilling.

The final episode may have got some things wrong but it got this one thing very, very right.

[Besides, it kept the gang together until the end, it defeated an epic scale of evil, it gave two major anti-heroes the chance for complete redemption and it blew up Sunnydale, still ending on a hopeful note, which is what I call a success].

"Let's just say I'm... a friend"

[masteroidul · 9/10 · 21 January 2010]

Crisis averted. Buffy saved the world. Again. Or... NOT?:) I won't begin by stating the obvious: what happened in the last two episodes of The Grand Finale of "Buffy...". I'm sure you've all seen it. I'm also sure 80% of you even saw "Angel". I will, however, tell you a secret. The key of this finale lies in one tiny episode in "Angel" called "I will remember you". For all those that don't read the lines but only look at the funny pictures (to quote Xander), I suggest a short flashback.

Angel became human again... for a day... WHY did he throw it all away? Because he went to the Oracle. He wanted to know why the Mohra demon said the end of the days has begun. That soldiers of darkness were coming. (Does that ring a bell to you?) He wanted to know what happened to the Slayer when these soldiers came. And the answer was "What happens to all mortal beings. She will die". And then Angel pleads for her life. He offers his life instead and they accept. They swallow the day as if it never happened and he remains a vampire and Buffy walks out on him.

What was the purpose of this sacrifice? It was Buffy's life. Her guaranteed success in the final battle against the Primal Evil. He TRADED his future with her for her life. That is WHY Buffy didn't die in the end. The stabbing was no accident. She was SUPPOSED to die from the wound. But she got up, continued fighting and even managed to run across building rooftops so as to escape the shock wave.

It was, also, not a coincidence or a trifle for the screenwriters to include Angel in the last 2 episodes of Buffy's finale. Angel was the one who orchestrated this battle from my viewpoint. The man who pulled all the strings from the shadow. He was the one who "rehabilitated" Faith, gave the amulet to Spike and also made sure Buffy would live. He was not worried. When Buffy was fighting Caleb, he sat aside and let her "do her thing". He even jokingly taunted her "You are SO gonna lose!" because he knew she was going to be fine. Angel left because there was no need for him to stay – everything was assured. I love the way he's still the old Angel – the one who discretely guides Buffy's destiny and looks out for her. These episodes, as most Buffy episodes, are charged with subtext.

Anyway, the battle went on as we know it and the righteous were separated from the unworthy. Anya (former demon) and Spike (also demon) died. All the others lived. Even the unimportant ones like Andrew or the Principal. It kind of makes sense...

I'll tell you what I liked about this ending. I liked the scene where Buffy and Angel are talking in the graveyard and watching them is a white statue of... an angel! (Bet you didn't notice) I liked Faith when she proposed Chao-Ahn to be the leader, on the grounds that "It's hard to lead people into a deathtrap if you don't speak English". I liked the bracing music and the Matrix moves. I liked how the "Welcome to Sunnydale" sign collapsed into the crater in the end.

What I didn't like was Spike's exaggerating "the best night of his life". And how the screenwriters turned him into a cheap, EXPENDABLE Angel copy-cat (I wish he kept to his former, soulless self. He was a great character when he was with Dru). I also hate how Willow could reverse "a thousand generation" rule (there can be only one Slayer) but somehow couldn't remove a simple curse like the gypsy prophecy on Angel. I also hate Dawn, who promised to be a great weapon and power source but, in the end, turned out to be nothing but a frightened little girl. I hate the whole idea of "shutting the mouth of hell once and for all" equaling to collapsing it (Why fight the Uber-vamps when you can simply bomb the place and be done with it?) I hate how Faith ended up with the Principle and how quickly Willow replaced Tara.

I also want to "congradulate" whoever dressed Buffy and Dawn in these 2 episodes for making them wear high heels in such combat scenes. It just looked ridiculous! Buffy seemed to be out on a date instead of "hack and slash" mode.

In the end, I want to point out another thing that nobody considered in these comments, and that is that this fight was NOT a complete success. Buffy could defeat the raging army of Uber-Vamps but she could NOT destroy the Primal Evil. She won a battle, but not the war.

The future for Buffy looks promising. She sees "fat grandchildren" at some point in her life. She basically confides in Angel to wait for her until she feels ready. And his answer is "I ain't getting any older". What more of a happy ending could you ask for?:)

Perfect

[lancer-48856 · 10/10 · 5 April 2022]

I think this was a perfect finale for the series. I loved the throwback to the first season, everything coming full circle and how it still leaves you wanting more.

A fantastic ending to an epic show

[laurazell · 10/10 · 28 December 2019]

This show has its ups and downs. There are goofy parts with sub-par special effects and Buffy's pants are difficult to relate to at times. The CGI revolution happened during this show and you can watch it happen throughout the series. With all that in mind, the series finale is pretty remarkable. Most series finales leave at least a portion of viewers unsatisfied (Lost, Sons of Anarchy anyone?). With the first couple viewings I felt the same about BTVS. Then I realized how clever the finale is. There really aren't any sub-stories left hanging (there are lots of implications and open-ended plots).

I hate that Anya got axed (she's one of my favs) . Faith finds some stability (thank goodness!). Spike comes full circle in his character. Willow's GF survives but is kinda annoying but Willow's basically over Tara. There are sweet references to the first season. Angel shows up and keeps the door open for Buffy and Angel in the future. Dawn is no longer whiny and annoying.

Honestly, I'm not sure what else you could ask for in a series finale. This show is seriously under-appreciated in a larger context and Joss Whedon needs serious counseling for his clear problems with relationships (why does no one in his shows ever get a happily ever after?). I love this show and the ending is pretty perfect.

Fitting finale to the best show ever!

[Joxerlives · 10/10 · 13 July 2012]

And so it ends....

The Good; It's all wonderful. Two favourites, Vi slapping Rhona and Dawn saving Xander.

Women good/men bad; The Shadowmen created only one Slayer so that they could control her but now Buffy and Faith share their power with thousands of girls worldwide.

Kills; see IMDb Buffy FAQ

Recurring characters killed: 19-goodbye Amanda, my favourite Potential. Goodbye Anya, a bit character who became a huge part of the Buffyverse. If Joss had killed Buffy, Will, Xander and Giles or Faith the fans wouldn't forgive him and if Dawn died it would be no victory for Buffy. We expect Wood or Andrew to die but instead he defies our expectations and kills our beloved Amanda and Anya, we paid for our victory.

For me it would still have been a victory as long as Dawn made it, that would still mean the good guys won. But I'm so glad that Buffy and Dawn get to walk off into the sunset hand-in-hand with most of their Scooby friends/family following.

In total this means on Buffy we lose one regular or recurring character killed every 8 eps or so, was any other show ever so ruthless in killing off it's main cast? To all those who played their part and gave their lives for the greater good and those they loved.

Jesse, Flutie, Jenny, Kendra, Larry, Snyder, Professor Walsh, Forrest, McNamara, Joyce, Katrina, Tara, Quentin Travers, Chloe, Molly, Jonathon, Miss Kitty, Amanda, Anya

And as for Spike...?

Total number of scoobies: thousands!

Dawn the bashful virgin; 10 finally understands about Kennedy's pierced tongue.

What the fanficcers thought; Lovely one called The Circle where after the final battle Dawn finds the letter Amanda left for her, telling her that she loved her, that Dawn is to have a long and happy life and that Amanda will wait for her in heaven. It ends with Dawn kissing the letter then burning it, explaining to Faith that it's the only way she could think off to get her kiss to Amanda.

All time favourite has to be The Last Scooby where an elderly Dawn is the last survivor of the Sunnydale gang, a contented grandmother surrounded by her numerous, loving family. She dies in her sleep and is reunited with Buffy, Joyce and everyone she ever loved in heaven, everyone young and beautiful again and in each other's embrace forever. But is she the last Scooby? Who is the white-haired, immortal witch crying tears of sorrow and joy over Dawn's peaceful body? Also a nice one speculating where the actors will be ten years after the show, James Marsters having joined a monastery, Emma Caulfield in prison, Michelle Tractenberg a presidential contender with Britney Spears as her running mate, Amber Benson on CSI;Nebraska etc 'Where are they now? And if you need a happy ending to every Buffy/Angel darkfic ever try 'The Final Fanfic'

Questions and observations; There's another (presumably inactive) Hellmouth in Cleveland where alternate Buffy was based in The Wish. Dawn refers to herself as Watcher Junior. Despite all his self-doubt over the years Buffy entrusts Xander with Dawn, the most precious thing in the world to her.

When Buffy and Spike hold hands and their fingers catch fire it's reminiscent of their discussion of love in season 6 when she dumps him, she tells him that their love would burn until there was nothing left. But Buffy finally breaks away here from their destructive love and goes off to see the world, the endless road ahead which Buffy looks down after the bus stops then looks back at the crater as the Sunnydale sign falls into the wreckage. For the past is history and the future promises great things for them all.

How lovely that the last words we ever hear spoken on Buffy are by our wonderful Dawn.

So Buffy defeats the First Evil, destroys the Hellmouth and shares her power with thousands of girls all over the world, forming a Slayer army to annihilate the forces of darkness. She and Faith can now share the evil fighting responsibilities and look forward to having grandchildren and dying in their beds as happy old ladies. She smiles her enigmatic, hopeful little smile...

OR Buffy has destroyed Sunnydale and defeated her demons, sealing the Hellmouth forever, sharing her power with thousands of girls, overcoming herself in the form of the First. Faith tells her from now on she has to live like an ordinary person. "What are we going to do now Buffy?" asks Dawn. Buffy smiles her enigmatic little smile...

...and wakes up in the asylum we see her in during Normal Again, her sanity restored after 7 years. To Hank and Joyce's delight she embraces her normal existence once more, struck by how much her imaginary Sunnydale Scoobies closely resemble her friends from Hemery High, all of whom are still alive as the events of the Buffy movie were all part of her fantasy. She enjoys a long, happy, successful life, writing a series of bestselling fantasy books/TV shows/movies based on her delusion. And calls her children (and Hank and Joyce's beloved grandchildren), Dawn, Rupert, Faith, Willow and Alexander.

OR Post-Chosen Sunnydale Buffy can live more normally again and Asylum Buffy in a parallel universe is no longer driven crazy by her visions of the Slayer so she too becomes sane again after 7 years and gets on with her life, still only 23.

Whichever way, she makes it, our girl makes it, good for her! Marks out of 10; 10/10, the fantastic last ep of the best television series ever. We shall never see it's like again At the end Joss thanks us for watching his show. No Joss, thank you for making it. And thank you everyone here for discussing it with me, it's been a real pleasure

BRILLIANT way to end the show

[buffysummersapologist · 10/10 · 8 April 2023]

"Chosen" is a fantastic episode that perfectly portrays the themes of empowerment and unity that Buffy the Vampire Slayer has always championed. The episode features Willow Rosenberg, played brilliantly by Alyson Hannigan, finally activating the power of all potential slayers, which leads to an epic battle against the Turok-Han, the most powerful of the vampire demons.

The fight choreography in this episode is truly impressive, with every actor involved delivering a powerful and emotionally charged performance. Sarah Michelle Gellar's portrayal of Buffy, in particular, is outstanding, as she delivers a stunningly powerful and emotional final scene that perfectly captures the essence of the character and the series as a whole.

The activation of the slayers is a brilliant metaphor for female empowerment, as it shows that women can come together and harness their collective strength to overcome even the most formidable of foes. This is a message that has always been at the heart of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and "Chosen" delivers it with a striking and unforgettable impact.

The ending of the episode, and of the series as a whole, is a perfect way to conclude the beautifully crafted story of Buffy and her friends. It brings together all the themes and motifs that have been present throughout the series and ties them up in a way that is both satisfying and emotionally resonant. The final scene, with Buffy standing alone and looking out over the world she has saved, is a bittersweet moment that perfectly encapsulates the journey that she has been on.

Overall, "Chosen" is a powerful and emotionally charged episode that perfectly captures the essence of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It is a fitting conclusion to the series, and a testament to the brilliant writing, acting, and directing that went into making this show a true masterpiece of television.

Season 7: Much better than its reputation

[ametaphysicalshark · 15 April 2008]

The first thing that comes to mind when discussing or describing season 7 of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" is that its reputation is a direct result of fans not being pleased with some choices made rather than the actual quality of writing. Sure, this season is uneven, but its highs more than make up for its more uneven sections.

The main criticisms of season 7 are centered on the middle section of the season, when the potential slayers start showing up. I don't know if any of these episodes are bad, exactly, but they're not incredibly good and do slow the pace a little. I imagine they would have been frustrating on television, but they're only mildly annoying on DVD.

Season 7 doesn't begin spectacularly well, but there are enough gems to make it very strong overall: "Same Time, Same Place", "Selfless", "Sleeper", and especially "Conversations With Dead People", which is easily one of the best episodes of the entire series. Following "Sleeper", the season dips, as has been noted by others. My issue with people consistently claiming this is one of the weaker seasons (which it most certainly is not) is that the opening and closing sections are so good they cancel out the six episodes in the middle of the season that everybody complains about. Virtually everything from "Lies My Parents Told Me" and forward is brilliant, especially the series finale, which is miles better than "The Gift" as far as I'm concerned.

Drew Goddard enhances the writing team, and all his episodes are great. The rest of the writing crew do a good job as usual as does the core cast, as do(warning! Blasphemy ahead!) the actresses who play the potentials, who aren't nearly as annoying as say... Adam or Glory. All in all this is a really excellent season of television that is easily among the better seasons of Buffy, although not as good as seasons 3 or 6.

As a final note: who didn't like having Faith back?

Season average based on all episodes: 7.63/10

Ranking of seasons with average rating:

1. Season 3: 8.23/10

2. Season 6: 7.86/10

3. Season 7: 7.63/10

4. Season 2: 7.10/10

5. Season 5: 6.86/10

6. Season 4: 6.36/10

7. Season 1: 5.33/10

Series average: 7.05/10

Rating as a whole: 8/10

Ten Stars

[funkyle91 · 10/10 · 30 September 2019]

A great way to end a great series. If you are watching the episode for the first time I suggest you watch the entire series from Season 1 to the end.

PERFECTION !!!!!

[gabrieletaurino · 10/10 · 14 October 2019]

Perfect ending for a perfect show. Buffy will always be on of the best series of all time. The series finale perfectly closes this beautiful series. Buffy it's the perfection.

Perfect.

[lecoffey · 10/10 · 20 November 2020]

I feel out of all the finales I have watched for long running TV shows, this one will always be my favourite.

Well written and satisfying. All the characters got the send off they deserved and while some didn't survive this episode, it highlighted that people are lost in war and the sacrifices that they were willing to make for the greater good.

I also loved the final line asking what is next? For Buffy and the fans. I think it's safe to say that Buffy's warming smile into the unknown was shared with the audience.

Great end to a great and groundbreaking show.

Satisfied.

[tomwarne-53094 · 10/10 · 12 September 2019]

I liked that ending. Only thing I didn't like is how spike and anya's deaths were kinda brushed off as if they were nothing. Still a pretty good end to this amazing show. I really liked the way it ended with the whole town of Sunnydale being destroyed. So I'm not sure if I want to read the comics as I feel I don't need to. Was better than season 6 and 4's season finale which was great. 9/10

Clever, but not necessarily saving the best for last

[AlsExGal · 7/10 · 31 July 2015]

Joss Whedon's series finale, is mediocre when compared to shows from other seasons that he has written that did not have the importance that this final episode should have had, with a couple of exceptions. I did think that Whedon found a clever way to set Buffy free to live a normal life without her having to abandon her duties. I also liked the scene the day of the final battle with Buffy, Willow, and Xander, the original scoobies, having a conversation reminiscent of the closing scene of "The Harvest", which was the second part of the two-part premiere from season one. As they carry on their superficial banter about shopping, Giles repeats the same line that he said in this same situation in "The Harvest" - "The world is doomed." This was a real treat for long-time viewers and did indeed bring us "back to the beginning" - which was the theme of season seven.

What I really REALLY did not like? The fact that Anya shows bravery she probably never even knew she had, paid the ultimate price, and Xander - who at one time only recently claimed he loved her and wanted to marry her - just seemed to shrug the whole thing off having been distracted by the idea of going to the mall. Not a nice epitaph or a very loving tribute from any of the Scoobies for the poor girl.

The Final Letdown

[mabbott10 · 5/10 · 25 July 2006]

Season 7 - the final season, stumbles to a close and while the show will be missed, this finale left a bad taste in my mouth. So much is wrong with this episode - from the impromptu intro of the Guardian and the scythe to the unnecessary deaths of two major characters. Then the fact that one ubervamp came close to killing Buffy but now, we have the whole gang of Scoobies blithely hacking away at a horde of them. The entire resolution feels like it was hastily patched together with little thought given to all that had come before. This resulted in a lot of wasted opportunities throughout the season.

However, the last 10 minutes are as good as any of the previous season finales and, had this not been the final season, it may not have been quite so disappointing. Willow's spell and the battle with the ubervamps are well done but ultimately, the inability to kill off the seasons big-bad, a plot device that was unfortunately built into the story arc, under mimes the hoped for finality of the story.

Finally, Buffy's run on the tops of the collapsing buildings, after having been stabbed, has to be one of the dumber ideas in the series history.

One of the best ever series finales

[ossie85 · 10/10 · 3 January 2023]

Angel returns with a weapon, and he and Buffy reunite! But they are interrupted by Caleb, who Buffy kills for real this time. Buffy finally realises something, that she is going to win. The gang come up with a plan to stop The First's army, while Spike prepares himself with Angel's amulet. The final battle begins.

Why It's So Good - Series finales are always hard - particularly for an iconic show - and this passes with flying colours. It remembers what it is. It is respectful of characters. It is exciting. And it is just darn great.

Watch Out For - Spike's drawing of Angel, Giles saying the world is definitely doomed, Principal Wood surprising Faith.

Quote - " You know, I started it. The whole having a soul. Before it was all the cool new thing." - Angel.

The series finale, that finally lived up to expectations.

[m-47826 · 9/10 · 14 July 2021]

This is why I can't say Buffy The Vampire Slayer, is a bad show. It's not. Some seasons may be. But only because of things that didn't feel right. I was hopping mad, watching previous episodes. The amount of characters assassination, was giving me a headache. But I thought there had to be some logic behind. And I was right. This finale episode, sorts out the season flaws and shortcomings, in one fell swoop. All the bickering and starry-eyed girl stuffs, were mocked, to show this was not at all what it was about. And I loved that. The show back to its natural form. The one we knew and loved, since day one. With something more, that wasn't there until now. Closure. I'm not mad some characters I loved, died. While others I hated, survived. It's the showrunner's choice to make. But having principal Wood as one of the survivors. After being given such a bad name, was my personal cheering moment. This, and Buffy implying Angel might be the one (not a starry-eyed girl stuff, just logical writing...) were.

Season 7 is the weakest season, in all aspects. It is dull, with very few good episodes, and storylines. But binge watching the series again, after all these years. Was very educational. It made me realize how the turn of the century, was very important for TV. And clearly foreshadowed the dumbing down state, we're currently forced to live in. And why it was the time so many great popular series, decided to end. RIP good TV.

The End of an Era

[Samuel-Shovel · 6/10 · 3 April 2019]

In "Chosen", with Caleb now out of the picture, Buffy makes a plan for the final battle. She uses the Scythe and Willow's magic to give Slayer-power to all the Potentials. They open the portal via the seal under the high school and bring the fight to the First Evil. The Slayer group starts killing Ubervamps and Spike uses the medallion to sacrifice himself and turn into a powerful beam of light, destroying the portal and all the masses of Ubervamps. The Slayers flee on a bus, just escaping in time. Anya dies fighting off an Ubervamp. Principal Wood gets stabbed in the gut but survives. The group contemplates what's next now that the world is full of Slayers and the weight of the world is no longer solely on Buffy's shoulders. They look over the destroyed town of Sunnydale as the series ends.

First off, I really like how Joss dealt with Buffy's post-show future. Allowing the world to now be full of Slayers gives her hope for a semi-normal life which is a lovely thought. I think it's a neat idea. How we got here however left a lot to be decided.

Take this episode for instance... I don't understand Buffy's plan. Why did they have to wait until they were face to face with the Ubervamps before Willow starts her spell? What happens if something goes wrong?

And the battle ends up being a bit pointless since it's Spike's medallion that ends up defeating the First Evil. Anya sort of dies for nothing and no one seems to sad about it. Xander's back to cracking jokes 3 minutes later. A bunch of Potentials don't make it but oh well right? The only finale felt a bit rushed and not as important as some of the better season finales. You'd think this one would carry some serious weight but maybe the cast and crew were over it by this point... A bit of a lackluster way to finish the show's run off if you ask me. However, I've really enjoyed the ride.

An insulting Anti-climax

[maveric-romeo · 2/10 · 30 January 2007]

This episode should have been carefully thought out, several times and with careful consideration to the fans and the heart of the series.

I almost wish I had never seen this last episode. If you haven't, it could be an alternative not to see it and just imagine the end you would like to see instead.

Long before I saw this last episode, I was a bit afraid that the writers might use up most of the episode's runtime on the final battle.

In my opinion, the final battle should have taken up maybe 50% of the episode. So that the last 50% could have been used to clear things out and to round up a good and satisfying ending to this great series.

Instead, my worst fears got answered, and then some. 90% involves the final battle, 5% is left for some social substance before the battle and 5% at the end, after the battle.

Of course, it's not all bad. There is -one- scene in it that is nice. The scene is of course when Buffy and Spike are talking at the end of the battle, and Buffy reaches for Spike's hand, their hands embrace and a magic flame bursts out from their hands, in my interpretation; "the flame of love". This is also where Buffy finally tells Spike: "I love you". And I'm almost crying of joy and the intensity of the moment, only to get a "slap" in the face 2 seconds later, when Spike replies; "No, you don't... But thanks for saying it".

I could not believe my ears; Buffy finally admits that she loves him, and then Spike replies that she does not and is only trying to be nice, giving me the impression that Buffy might be lying. Then he tells her to go, she goes and eventually Spike begins to die/burn up and finally dies.

Not only was his rejection of Buffy's sincerity in her love for him a painful anti-climax, having been built up for so long and we, the fans of their relationship, had been waiting impatiently for, for so long, but he dies as well! Then we have the completely unnecessary death of Anya, which I could have been able to accept if Spike had survived, answered something different to Buffy, and they had ended up together.

But now, this was just something completely unnecessary. To me, the characters of the principal and Willows new girlfriend, Kennedy, would have been much better candidates for the obligatory deaths in a battle of this magnitude.

Xander is also very indifferent when he hears of Anya, the love of his life's death. This is also somewhat of an anti-climax.

At the end, when the survivors are standing around, looking at the big hole in the ground, not much is cleared out.

I was devastated when the episode ended. I was angry, sad, disappointed, frustrated and I felt a bit empty and deceived. This is not how I wanted to feel the night of December 24:th.

Now, in retrospect, I have been able to interpret Spike's reply in a different way. I believe he told Buffy that she does not love him, just because he knew that he would die and he wanted her to leave so that she would not die as well. He also wanted her to be able to love somebody else, and not love him. So she was sincere and he knew that.

Not as bad as people think

[abandonthought10 · 7/10 · 20 February 2009]

Had this been just another season finale of Buffy it wouldn't be judged as harshly as it is. But because it is the series finale people were probably expecting a lot more. Overall it does end the series nicely and once again Buffy and her friends save the world which is what we were all expecting to happen.

There are some really nice moments in this episode. It is kind of nice to see Buffy and Angel together again. Things are always so complicated between them its nice to see them just have a conversation. And if you see Angel season 5 "The Girl in Question", Angel does mention the cookie dough speech again.

I also like the Principal Wood/Faith relationship. I think they go well together. Its nice to see Faith have someone.

The last scene with the Scoobies before the fight is really nice. There hasn't been much Scoobie time this season so it was a great moment.

And of course the last scene between Spike and Buffy. We've been watching their relationship grow over the last three season and this is an amazing ending to it. It's great to hear Buffy finally tell Spike she loves him. We knew she had feelings for him and there have been hints that she loved him before. She's mentioned the word love with Spike before like "You always hurt the ones you love." I think the reason he said no you don't is because he knew it wasn't the same way he felt about her. Like she'd said in the cookie dough speech, she wasn't really ready to love someone in that way.

But like other Buffy episode there are parts that don't make sense/are weird/ are just silly. One of them being Caleb's line "You ready to end this...bitch!" This line is just so ridiculous and the way he says it just makes me laugh.

Also Buffy tells Angel to get a second front together. But who is he going to get? Over on Angel, Cordy just gave birth to Jasmine and is in a coma, his son went crazy and he just took over Wolfram and Hart. Angel, Wesley and Gunn aren't going to be much of a second front. Sure Lorne could sing high pitched at the Ubervamps but he won't be much help in the way of fighting and Fred isn't much of a fighter. The only reason Angel could take down the big bads on his season finale was because he had Spike, Illyria, Lindsay and even Connor to help. I don't think he would have helped much with the second front, he might as well have stayed and helped Buffy.

Another is why wouldn't Willow just do the slayer spell on the axe right away? Then they would know if it worked and Buffy could have the axe for the whole fight. And all the gang would be there to stop Willow if she went all crazy again.

I feel like this episode had a great mix of action, romance and fun. The fight scene was pretty cool. I mean the potentials did hold their own until Spike's necklace kicked in. I liked how they managed to get some funny lines in like "party in my eye-socket and everyone's invited!"

I think the episodes weakest part was the last scene. The Scoobies always joked around at inappropriate times but this just seemed really unnecessary. People had just died and they're talking about the mall. It seems like they could have found something a little more important to say at that time.

But overall I think it did a good job of wrapping up the series.

Not good.

[sexualturtles27 · 2/10 · 23 March 2013]

When I watched the season 7 season finale, i was prepared for it to be great. The episodes leading up to it were perfect(except for her kissing Angel, and Angel being back), with Spike and Buffy finally finding a mutual love for each other. Just sleeping peacefully in each others arms was a scene I LOVED. However, i was not satisfied with the ending. Here's some of the things that I liked/didn't: (dislike1)I didn't like how they killed off Spike in the end. I don't care if he comes back in Angel, I wanted him and Buffy to be together and they never ended up like that. If he talked to her at the end of Angel, or they made SOME kind of hope of them being together, this review probably would have went a lot differently. (Like1)Anyway there was one thing I liked. I liked how they took the power from the axe and gave it to all the potentials to make them full out slayers. (Dislike2)However, it disappointed me again. If they had Buffy's power, why did they die so easily? She didn't die in the 7 years she was a slayer, so why did they die within five minutes of being slayers? (Like2)Also it was pure perfection when she gripped Spike's hand and told him she loved him. It didn't really bother me how he didn't believe her because even though he didn't say it, I think on some level, he did know that she loved him, and more than ever before.

(all dislikes from here on out) I completely hated how after they killed off Anya and Spike, they still talked about going to the mall. If I was Buffy I would've staked them all right there. Plus, Spike could've been saved. She said there's still time he could leave, and he could've. He destroyed the most of them, making it so that they could all get out safely and the Hellmouth still would've closed, protecting and saving everyone while making an ending everyone would enjoy. And the thing I probably hated the most (after Spike died of course, if you hadn't guessed) was when Buffy smiled at the end. The love of your life just burned and exploded and died and all you did was run away. I would've ripped that effing necklace off his neck and flung him up the stairs. And not to mention, the love of your best friend's life just died, and you're just sitting there smiling. Nobody was crying or anything. Some people were teary eyed, but none were crying. I wouldn't have left the hell-mouth without Spike, and if I were Xander,I wouldn't have left the school without Anya's body. I mean she could at least have been buried. Dawn didn't go looking for her sister she just ran on the bus. The she frantically looks out the bus windows and I'm just like "seriously?" you're the one that ran away and left her to die. This was the worst ending I've ever seen or witnessed. It was insensitive, smiling and no crying, and killing off favorite characters. Why not kill off the principal, who nobody liked anyway. All in all, this was awful and a disgrace to Joss Whedon.

A Reasonable Ending

[qwikpix9 · 7/10 · 3 April 2007]

Having rewatched the show again from beginning to end I now have a much greater appreciation. The ups and downs they faced, and the way the characters changed over the years was a true highlight.

However, a few things bothered me in the series finale. Sure it was sad to see Spike and Anya die but the almost ridiculous getaway of Buffy was one of the main things that spoilt it for me. After having empowered all these new slayers, leaving a legacy behind to take over, I think it was finally time that she died with some grace and stayed dead this time! I think it was the right time for her to go and it would have made the ending much more poignant, not least because the almost selfish joking at the end, which was in my opinion very crude, might have been avoided in favour of some more sentimental reflection over the times the friends had shared, and ultimately lost.

As others have stated the continuity also left a sour taste and the lack of satisfaction when the ultimate evil never even surfaced as a physical enemy. I don't know if this was some attempt at a metaphor for defeating the evil within ourselves but it did not really do justice to the season badie. In the end the enemy was really just the uberVamps and perhaps Caleb, and most of 'battles' with the first, which could have been interesting routes of self conflict and evil were mainly dismissed throughout the season.

Nonetheless it was a reasonable ending to a great and well loved show.

Awesome season, but the worst finale of all for Buffy

[epoen08 · 2/10 · 26 September 2009]

OK. To begin with, I just watched all of Buffy recently. I never watched it on TV because when the Buffy movie came out, I hated it (of course, a lot has changed since then). That being said, I gotta admit that I was very stunned to find out how enjoyable it actually was. I even began to get Willow-y when I talked at times haha. Season 7 was much darker than all the others, but I liked the way it was going, especially in the final few leading up to the finale. You can tell that the writers had practically given up by this episode or run out of ideas or something. The weren't giving nearly as much as they had for all of the others. I had a lot of problems with this episode, but one thing I did like was the Spike and Buffy scene (even though I never wanted them together, esp after he turned stalker-y and built a mannequin and a sex-bot, sniffing her undies...etc) I didn't understand why the spell had to turn all potentials worldwide into all out slayers when the major battle was in the school. Which also brings up another question... Why did the spell have to be performed at the school? Why not have done it at home instead of putting Willow and her girl in danger? I didn't think about it til today, but someone brought up another good point on this message board... Buffy was nearly killed by the uber-vamp two or three times... and she's got 8 years or so experience on the "new slayers", but they were killing the slayers with no problem. I was also rooting for her sis to be a potential which could've led to a very different ending, probably even better, a lot better. Its not that we are criticizing the show for it being the finale. All of the other endings were far better (even the one with the dream sequence). 5 was the best ending when they planned to end it the first time. What happened?

Like "The Gift", only weaker.

[pulikd · 7/10 · 14 October 2022]

"Chosen" held in a high esteem should not be surprising. The last episode on a beloved show has a big final battle, sacrifices and, basically, is "out with a bang", but is it really great? Unfortunately, no, it isn't great, fortunately, it is still good.

The episode is well-paced and has enough time for all it wants. And it isn't just big dumb action fun. Our heroes prepare themselves for the final battle and go where they want it to be fought so they can have a strategic advantage to compensate for their lack in numbers. Plus, they do involve some much needed magic. And some of them will not be coming back, and someone may as well tear up in front of that screen. Spike has come a long way. When he first appeared on the show, he wanted to kill Buffy, and he was a monster, and now, so much later, with so many events to have influenced him, he's in love with her, and now dies to save her and pretty much everybody everywhere. He may have been a monster some time ago, but he is a hero now. When Buffy sacrificed herself in "The Gift", they all cried, but none looked as devastated as Spike when seeing her dead body. Now that Spike sacrifices himself, there isn't a body to even see. And there isn't anyone to cry for him but Buffy herself. That is an interesting comparison to "The Gift", by the way.

There is a lot of devastation involved in the end, and those visuals don't all look good. The idea of there now being a great many vampire slayers all over the world isn't brilliant. Come to think of it. There are now plenty of girls with basically the strength of ten human individuals out there, and what if some of them are even worse than Faith when she was the villain here? The life of a vampire slayer is insanity proven by what Buffy has had to go through, and it would be interesting to see some new system presented to fight the vampires, but that would be innovative and complicated, and it wasn't done. The screenwriters don't want you to see a revolution, they just want a big fight and to be done with it. Speaking of the big fight again, "The Initiative" exists on season seven, and they could have been useful here, but again, no.

The Hellmouth has been closed now, and that is good. The Hellmouth has been very significant throughout the whole show, and now, it has been finally dealt with for good. But there is a detail that undermines the accomplishment. You see, Giles says there's another one in another place. So, the Hellmouth wasn't unique, it wasn't special, and closing it wasn't really a special thing to do then, right? A slight detail you may as well miss, but it is a disadvantage and it does weaken the episode. Also, the shot of our heroes looking at where Sunnydale was minutes ago, before falling through the ground, that was a good shot, make no mistake, but it also has a detail that weakens it. That sign that says "Welcome to Sunnydale" falling in a comic way during such a moment. That was misplaced. Again, just a detail, but it is there and there's nothing you can do about it. Finally, Buffy gets stabbed through the side with a sword and it does not influence her fighting, running or jumping. Unlike what a similar, but a smaller wound did to her once on season five. I'm glad Buffy's alive and well, I'm glad most of the heroes are, I'm just saying the finale could have been even stronger. It needed to be more careful, precise and daring. But it's just good, not more.

The series finale -- the final nail in the coffin

[skay_baltimore · 1/10 · 14 August 2010]

Angel brings a folder and a spiffy magic necklace to Buffy. Buffy appoints Angel as the backup/final line of defense should she and her minions fail in Sunnydale. It's clear from the first few minutes that this is going to be a long, pointless episode. And in that regard...it doesn't disappoint. The necklace is the perfect representation of this episode and the series as a whole -- it's a cheap, gimicky little trinket.

In truth...BtVS has been a silly little series from the outset. It did manage some moments of brilliance, but more than anything else it pandered to its intended adolescent audience. The bigger problem is...it looks as if it were written BY adolescents, instead of FOR adolescents. The series got completely lost along the way...and in the process, it lost whatever redeeming qualities it might have managed to eek out over the course of 7 seasons. There's just so much of Buffy's pouty expression, forced smiles, and preachy melodramatic diatribes issuing forth from her oddly formed mouth that one can take.

BtVS has always been about relationships. But there's the rub...every single relationship in the series is a disaster. All of the background static involving lame demon battles could hardly hide the fact that when all is said and done -- the only thing that BtVS really did was plaster one ridiculous relationship after another in an endless parade of glorified nihilism.

Buffy = COOKIE DOUGH/not finished baking? Maybe that plays well with the teenie bopper crowd...but the series was weak and continued to get weaker as it crawled towards its inevitable cataclysmic demise.

As far as this specific episode...the essence is contained in the following line, which Buffy delivers to the group: "Right now you're asking yourself, 'what makes this different? What makes us anything more than a bunch of girls being picked off one by one'?" The problem lies in the answer contained within the question -- they ARE nothing more...than a bunch of girls...attempting to conquer primordial evil. And not even the most freewheeling feminist Utopian mumbo-jumbo can seriously suggest otherwise -- the BtVS fan base notwithstanding.

"Chosen": Good guys (and I use that term somewhat loosely) fight bad guys. Spike uses the magic trinket brought by Angel. Buffy gives uninspiring speeches. Willow does big magic with the ax. Good guys win/save the world. Spike and Anya die -- and believe me...they were the lucky ones. Anyone consigned to have to live in Buffyverse faces a future much worse than death -- an eternity stuck in Joss Whedon's adolescent nightmarish dystopia.

"Chosen" has none of the brilliance of LOTR in its final battle of good vs evil. That's because Whedon is no Tolkien. Willow the White is not even in the same galaxy as Galdalf. It takes more than tricks and gimmicks to create alternate worlds and sympathetic heroes. Unfortunately, the people talking into Whedon's ear -- telling him how great he is -- don't seem to know the difference. Instead of an epic battle, "Chosen" is nothing but an epic fail.

Now...before I bid my final farewell to BtVS...I would like to thank katierose295 for all of her thoughtful, detailed reviews. I can honestly say that while I did not agree with all of her points, I did read all of her reviews, and found them to be most helpful. Furthermore...I think I can sum up the essence of her reviews in 4 words: "I REALLY LIKE SPIKE".

(...fade to black. Finis)