Spoiler Slayer

Don't Mind Me, I'm Just Improvising

Although there are writers posting at the Bronze, I'm going to wait until they get archived before I post it here (as usual). It also looks as if there might be some more info coming from Angel X and others this weekend.

Since there really isn't much new otherwise, I'm going to take a moment to cover some thoughts that crossed my mind with all the recent spoilage. The best way to do it seems to be by character, so let's get started...

Xander: I think it's interesting that Dawn feels that Xander is feeling sorry for himself. In a way, this makes me wonder if the Xander/Anya issue has been resolved at this point. Xander seems to feel that he's dropped the ball, which would likely point back to the wedding. We know that he's already thinking that from 'Normal Again', but there seemed to be some hope. Since it's likely the couple has talked since that time, I think that a split seems very likely (though Anya would seemed to have worked out her desire for vengeance at this point).

Dawn: I don't like the exchange between Xander and Dawn about Spike, especially her reaction. That was not a throwaway scene, and it makes me wonder about the spoilers floating around about Dawn staking Spike at season's end. Even though she has had a crush on him in the past, we know that she can turn on him in a heartbeat (I Was Made To Love You). Then again, in order to stake him, he would have to be around.

Spike: Which I don't think is going to be the case. Everything I've seen or heard points to Spike being out of the country through the end of the season (or at least until the final few scenes). Which I take to be a good sign about his character. It's very rare that a regular on a show, is suddenly given a multi-episode arc which is completely independent of the events of the main story. While it is still tied to it (he's doing it for Buffy - one way or the other), it's going to focus solely on Spike. If that does continue into the first few episodes of next season, it's going to be even more interesting.

Willow and Tara: Here is the hard one, because I'm not fully convinced that we've seen the last of Tara. However, I should qualify this a bit further. Contracts, Options, and Status aside, one way or the other the show is going to lose a witch. But can it lose both? This is where it gets tricky. If Tara doesn't return, but Willow is redeemed, you lose both magic-users in the group. If Tara does return and Willow is redeemed, you're back to the awkward relationship where one can do magic and the other can't. Strangely enough, the one thing that would make sense would be Willow sacrificing herself to bring Tara back. Although you would lose Willow, Tara could step into her shoes. Not that it's going to make anyone happier. But unless there is a 'reset or reversal', I think we're going to be looking at a whole new Scooby Gang no matter what.

Anya: Another tough call, though I've made it pretty clear that I can't see a scenario where her death would be needed to do a 'reset or reversal'. Either she casts a wish and stays a demon forever, or she cancels a wish and stays a demon, or she smashes her necklace and becomes a human again. All of which are possible, but none of which would require her death. The best option, if Anya is going to leave Sunnydale, would be for her to return to her life as a demon. No death, just a sad farewell.

Buffy: Poor Buffy, she would have been 'better off dead'. But then again, has she ever had a year that wasn't full of angst, tears, and death. One can only hope that the reference "It's always darkest before the dawn", pertains to Season Seven. Speaking of which, just to jump back to Spike for a moment. Doesn't the entire secret admirer, mooning over the girl from afar, sound way too much like William?