I put off viewing Buffy's series finale for a few days because series finales are a bitch. They're like an execution, only instead of gassing a serial killer, it's cherished TV buddies that get put down for all eternity. No more dusting vamps, or diving off of towers, no more resurrection spells or waiting for an invitation before crossing a threshold.

My journey with Buffy is over, but it was a sweet ride while it lasted. I have to say that I preferred S7 over S6, but I think S5 will remain my favourite because of the sheer awesomeness of "The Gift".

I didn't realize that The Trio were going to be such a presence in S7. I couldn't stand them in S6, but I must say that I came to be a fan of Andrew in S7. The best thing that ever happened to him was being apprehended by Willow and brought to live in the Summers house. Andrew was essentially a good kid who got mixed up with the wrong crowd and he redeemed himself nicely as the series drew to a close. I also credit Andrew with the funniest moment of S7 (for me) when Anya was lecturing the Potential in the basement and yammering about having breakup sex with Xander. Andrew, taking useless notes and illustrating on the fly as Anya speaks, quickly scribbles 'breakup sex' on the drawing board beside her. The absurdity of that moment in front of the Potentials, and in the face of such imminent danger, had me laughing out loud. And, much to Andrew's credit, he picked up a weapon and fought the evil uber vamps (without any benefit from Willow's spell) in the final battle. I'm extremely grateful to the writers that they left Warren and Jonathan out of the last few episodes.

I wasn't always a fan of Anya, and I didn't care anything about her and Xander's marriage plans, but I admired her a lot for sticking around to fight at the end. She died a horrible and lonely human death, but she took one for the team, and I hope they found time to remember her sacrifice before heading off to the mall. Odd that the one who seemed most moved by her death was Andrew. Xander kind of shrugged it off quickly and no one else even asked about her. Maybe she should have got out of town when she could if that's all the thanks she got.

How did Giles end up losing his mojo? He used to be a role model and a mentor for the Scoobies, but somehow he lost his way. I think it goes back to "The Gift", when he suggested killing Dawn. He was never the same after that and in S7 he was as much a hindrance to Buffy as a help. Plotting to kill Spike and being part of the mutiny that kicked Buffy out of her own house. C'mon, Giles, this is Buffy, the vampire slayer, YOUR slayer, and your getting in her way like this?

And, on the subject of killing Dawn, suddenly Buffy decides Dawn is expendable if it means saving the world???? There is no way in hell that Buffy would allow that to happen. Dawn, IMO, was 'the gift' from S5. Buffy would die again rather than see any harm come to Dawn.

I wasn't a hater of The Potentials, but I have to say I didn't like Kennedy zeroing in on Willow. Willow moved on from Tara way too soon for my liking. I wouldn't have shed a tear had Kennedy succumbed to an Uber Vamp in the end.

Dawn and Spike. Whatever happened to those two? Ever since that motorbike ride at the beginning of S6, they barely exchanged 2 words for the remaining 2 seasons. I liked them together in S5. I thought Spike was at his most likable when he was given the responsibility of looking out for the Niblet. Gotta say I love that Andrew 'dawned' Dawn's football helmet for his ride with Spike. Nice touch.

It wasn't that long ago that Spike recounted for Buffy the story of how he killed the 2 slayers, and yet when Principal Wood tells Buffy that his slayer mom was killed by a vamp, it doesn't occur to Buffy that he's talking about Spike? I found that very strange.

What was this rubbish about Xander being 'the seer'? The writers set it up with that 'you're extraordinary' speech he gave to Dawnie and then Caleb mentioned it before poking out X's eye. Xander was just a schmuck who meant well, he wasn't any seer.

One of the Potentials must have been a hairdresser, because everyone's hair changed from minute to minute. Spike was all slicked back one minute, and then all home-permed the next. Dawn's hair is perfectly straight in the house and then she jumps in the car a minute later sporting the whole crimped look. Spike said "it's always about the blood", but I think it was always about the hair.

I'm glad I spent 144 episodes with Buffy. It's sad to have to let go, but I still have one more season of "Angel" before I leave the Buffyverse once and for all. BtVS was a great series, full of ridiculous, impossible situations, but Whedon and company managed, at one time or another, to manipulate every kind of emotion out of me and that's what I watch these shows for. I want to laugh and cry and everything in between and I certainly did that with Buffy and her friends. Well done to all concerned.

BTW, I watched the Paleyfest Buffy Reunion, and while the Q and A itself was kind of a snooze, I really appreciated the photos that came out that session simply because it brought together actors that played such an important role in the series and yet never met on screen. So we have pics of Cordelia with Dawn and Tara and I think that's really pretty neat (or nifty as Willow might say). Not only that, but that event brought Cordy and Tara and Anya back to life, which also lent to the warm and fuzzy vibe. Pity that a few key players were not at that reunion.

So Buffy empowers all of the potentials, giving them back the power they were born with. Now they have the choice to do whatever they want with that power. They can become Slayers or they don't have to. You ask who wouldn't use that sort of power and maybe very few wouldn't. But I must say that living a life constantly at battle with creatures who want to kill me doesn't sound like a life I would particularly care for. I'd rather use my Slayer strength for opening tightly sealed jars or maybe building a house.

I think Whedon is trying to suggest that these women now have access to the power they were born with, and they may use that power however they choose, whether it's slaying vampires, playing softball, or standing up for themselves.

Now having said all that, I really don't like this episode as a series finale. Buffy had a half-assed plan and Spike had to save them all? BULL.SHIT.

I know that watching it makes my heart lift but at the same time it bothers me.

I'm all for tapping your inner power and I admire the work that you do.

It is addressed in Season 8 where we see rogue slayers as well as the slayers who fight the good fight with Buffy.

I still get verklempt just talking about the scene where the girls get powered up. I work on the issue of refugee and immigrant women's rights and building on their inner strengths, so that scene of potentials tapping into their inner power really speaks to me.

To me the choice isn't about being super-powered or not, it's about being in control of yourself. You potentials (and every other woman/girl?) no longer rely on anyone else to define your destiny - the choice is "be who you want when you want". I know that doesn't quite marry up with the montage during the empowerment but it makes more sense to me that way. I have problems a-plenty with the finish of S7 but I'm not so bothered by "the choice."

No, I asked [Buffy creator Joss Whedon] to kill me, so there was no problem there," said Caulfield, "I wasn't expecting him to kill me in a…um…scene, I thought I'd get, I dunno, a little bit more love. No, but I wanted to die, I thought it would be poetic.

I thought she'd get a little more love too.

Buffy Season 8 addresses the issues arising from Buffy's 'empowerment spell'.