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.
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.