Buffy dies yet again!

Good, hopefully she'll stay dead this time. Not that I dislike the character at all, but rather that it's the right way for the show to proceed. Have her killed off two-thirds of the way through the season and only pop up in flashback, dreams, mystical visions, LSD trips etc.

Let the Scoobies show that they've grown up over the last seven years and are perfectly of saving the world without relying on ninja cheerleaders. If season 8 should happen then it should be about what the show has always been - normal people fighting evil not because they're superheroes or have some pre-ordained destiny, but because it's the right thing to do, they can fight back even though they're not superior to the walking happy meals being preyed upon, the difference is that the scoobies have chosen not to be victims. I'll stop repeating myself now...

So what they mean is that she's thinking of leaving the show at the end of this season, which we already knew. The 'Killing Buffy off' thing is just sensationalism - SMG wouldn't have a say in how her character is disposed of.

I think it's far too early to be deciding what they should do after S7 - we need to see what happens first.

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by Sarah Michelle Gellar
"It's important for me to go out on top. I don't want to be part of a show that runs for eight years only for people to say 'That should have ended years ago."

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But Sarah... People have been saying for years

I think Buffy's possible fates may well have been decided already, I'm sure Joss has had a flexible master plan for a while seemingly with possible series endings at S1, S3, S5 (just in case the show got cancelled and say, had to switch to another network) and the often rumoured official ending at S7. I wouldn't be surprised if maybe he's sketched it out for her and she's going along making it sound like her idea, but then I'm judging her on some less than favourable 19th or so hand sources I've come across.

If the charater was to die... again (episode title along the lines of Third time lucky anyone?) It would have about as much dramatic impact as, well a cute yellow feather from a little duckling floating gently onto a big fluffy velvet cushion, the only impact would be the slightly mentally unstable fans unable to cope with the fact that their heroine really is dead this time. :yawn:

The show might be able to carry on without SMG as long as the other main characters remained, but I wouldn't see any of the other major players continuing. I'm pretty sure Nick Brendon has said he's done after S7, Tony Head (who knows I love him (hello Dave) ) is already involved in other projects.

"Faith the Vampire Slayer" seems like an obvious spin off show, and far more titilating an idea than "Dawn the Vampire Slayer" (which I'm also betting will be featured as an ending to allow the possiblities of a sequel), but I think the most intriguing possibility from a British perspective is the rumoured Giles based spin off. Maybe with Faith working in a strip club in Oxford or something?

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by MonSTeR
(episode title along the lines of Third time lucky anyone?)

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*snigger* sounds good to me

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by MonSTeR
but I think the most intriguing possibility from a British perspective is the rumoured Giles based spin off.

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Yeah, if the it ever gets filmed *sigh*

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by MonSTeR
Maybe with Faith working in a strip club in Oxford or something?

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Ooh yeah, maybe we could sign up as extras?

Its fairly obvious to me the directio they are taking it. If you didnt know, next year, Sunnydale High will be rebuilt, and Dawn will go there, and she will be given male and female buddies (basically like Buffy Willow and Xander in the beginning).

This seems definitely preemptive, and they are angling for Dawn to be the cetre of the show. My personal prediction is that at the end of the S7 'slayer power' will somehow transfer to Dawn. I think they will persuade SMG to have a limited involvement in S8, possibly instructing Dawn how to be a slayer.

They could then either just kill off buffy, have her kidnapped for convinient end of season return a la Mulder, or possibly head off into the sunset, as theres no way a notorious slayer-whos-not-the-slayer-any-more could survive all the attention.

Oh jeez, I hope not, I think the audience will slump for sure if that happens It's already past it's best I think,although this past season was a lot better then several previous efforts, but it will surely die if they go that route.

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by Wobag
Its fairly obvious to me the directio they are taking it. If you didnt know, next year, Sunnydale High will be rebuilt, and Dawn will go there, and she will be given male and female buddies (basically like Buffy Willow and Xander in the beginning).

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This seems the logical step to me, it brings the show full circle.

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by Wobag
This seems definitely preemptive, and they are angling for Dawn to be the cetre of the show. My personal prediction is that at the end of the S7 'slayer power' will somehow transfer to Dawn. I think they will persuade SMG to have a limited involvement in S8, possibly instructing Dawn how to be a slayer.

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I agree, I think "Dawn the Vampire Slayer" is the obvious choice, especially from a financial standpoint (7 more seasons anyone?) If an eighth season was to get the go-ahead (whether it will or not I don't know, anyone know if this has been confirmed yet?) then starting again from the beginning is really all that's left.

I have high hopes that this could breathe some life into a show I've thought has been seriously lacking for years now, I've always thought the earliest episodes were the best, and if this recaptures this feeling then it'll be great. If it doesn't the show will become even more of a self parody than it already is !!!

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by Wobag
They could then either just kill off buffy, have her kidnapped for convinient end of season return a la Mulder, or possibly head off into the sunset, as theres no way a notorious slayer-whos-not-the-slayer-any-more could survive all the attention.

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There is a Watcher's retreat... In the Cotswolds...

That aside, I think ending the whole thing with the power transferring to Dawn and Buffy either dying, retiring, going AWOL, becoming one with the first slayer, whatever would be the most logical step now.

I think a great final finale would wrap things up very nicely. If it's as good as ST-TNG's "All good things" then I'd be a happy MonSTeR. If, given the number of previous characters set to return, I wouldn't be surprised if it did bear resemblance to that episode

(Edited by MonSTeR 08/08/2002 00:09)

(Edited by MonSTeR 08/08/2002 00:10)

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by Callum
Good, hopefully she'll stay dead this time. Not that I dislike the character at all, but rather that it's the right way for the show to proceed.

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I have to agree - the first time Buffy got killed off by the Master was quirky as she came back with more strength. But I did think that the 2nd time was extremely cheesy in the whole *saving the world and my sister* thing (plus the fact that due to unnecessary spoilers from mags etc it was obvious she was coming back at that point - so where was the point in killing her!

I would have liked to see more of the show with the robot - thought it had a better personality at that section of the show Would love to see more Faith, but I don't think it would happen with Eliza getting film roles.

I'm not desperate to see Buffy killed again, but over the years its been stated that *slayers are lucky to live to a certain age* and a cat only has so many lives (or friends) ... if SMG leaves the only solution would be to kill her with a huge bang.

Although, then the old debate comes in about whether the show title will change, who will the main character be etc etc. I think the show could still work without buffy, but technically if Buffy is a killed a new slayer won't be chosen because the line now falls with Faith

At the Caritas event it was rumoured that Nick Brendon had signed for 10 series total - but I can't see a Xander show working unless he suddenly gets bitten by a super spider

Looking forward to seeing the developments unfold in the next season

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by Pegasus


At the Caritas event it was rumoured that Nick Brendon had signed for 10 series total - but I can't see a Xander show working unless he suddenly gets bitten by a super spider

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Or maybe using his DIY and carpentry skills, Xander could get his own TV show within the TV show "Home Improvement" style ?

i really hope it doesn't end up as Dawn the vampire slayer

shes okay as a supporting star but as the main feature of a series.ick.

i'd like a Faith spin off though, she was way more interesting than Dawn. I don't think Buffy dying would get much of a reaction, i want it to end happily, even if it means she leaves the others behind...i want a happy ending damnit.

Seeing as Faith is the "active" slayer anyway, it would make more sense to follow that line rather than confusing things with a probably very lame "transfer of power" type thing to Dawn.
What would Dawn have to offer anyway? We've aready had the whiney/moany bit with Buffy, do we want to go all through that again with Dawn? I certainly don't.

I think a Faith storyline would have a lot more to offer, much more of a clean slate to work with, it'd be easy to make it nice and dark too, I suppose it's all down to Miss Dushku and her schedule..

Hasn't Joss said that he S7 is going to be much more positive and upbeat; that he wants a sense of closure in this season hence the return of Sunnydale High, the Master at some point and Glory for a few eps.

But I'm not so sure re-inventing the series again by basically having Dawn with her two scoobies will work.

And Eliza has been convinced to do a few eps for S4 Angel that her heavy schedule will allow but I'm not sure that she will want to commit to another television series to a full 22 ep run now that she's trying to work on her movie career.

Perhaps it would just be best to let the series die at the end of S7 and then do a couple of movies before calling it a day...

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by Whistler
Perhaps it would just be best to let the series die at the end of S7 and then do a couple of movies before calling it a day...

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Well 7 started becoming Star Trek's end point ... maybe its a new tradition

It seems pretty obvious that they are going to use Dawn more this season and sit Buffy and the gang into more adult roles (Buffy working at Sunnydale High on top of the hell mouth = Giles working at Sunnydale High). I think this *could* work very well, for Season 7 anyway. Alot of the problems with Season 5 and 6 came from the main cast maturing into adults... now they (hopefully) have done that, they can fit very well into Watcher type roles.

If they continue after Season 7 with Dawn as a Slayer, Willow would make a brilliant Watcher for Dawn, and i seem to recall somebody saying in another thread, Xander has the scope to become a very good rock for the group, what with his job security and 'big brother' type role to Dawn.

Of course, what they *should* do is end Buffy at Season 7 and concentrate on giving Angel 2-3 more kick ass seasons.

Personally a show with Dawn as Slayer would be confusing at the very least. I think Faith would be better in the long run. However since Eliza apparently has a busy schedule then how about killing Faith off as well and introduce a new Slayer with a new supporting cast and the lot. Completely reinventing the show form the ground up with no baggage whatsoever. It'd make more sense in the long run.
A nice blank slate for the writers (hell they could hire some new writers to freshen things up too) to work with. Also a nice way to attract new viewers. The entire concept of the Slayer allows for this reinvention and i'd be dissappointed if Joss and Co. did'nt consider this option as a way of continuing the Slayer mythos.

I vote Faith! But Eliza Dushku wouldn't do it

I would't say never, Eliza's film career hasn't done all that well recently, and Joss has been talking to her recently anyway..

In the FHM interview with SMG they mention last season 8 is in production. So maybe she ain't leaving.

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by Vinnie
In the FHM interview with SMG they mention last season 8 is in production. So maybe she ain't leaving.

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Haven't read the interview, but it sounds to me like they really meant Season 7 - I can't imagine they've shot more than a few eps of that, and I'd be very surprised if UPN have already committed to another season already.