LAST EVER.

[Begin Spoiler for "Not Fade Away" — Highlight to view]

And something of a let down. Although, really, I'm not sure what I was expecting. Grander, I think. I was expecting something grander. Or maybe I was expecting the show not to end, or something. At any rate, this didn't really feel like a season ender, let alone a series ender. I don't know if that's because of the episode itself, or the way I've been watching them. Or maybe that's the way they planned it. I don't know. I wanted bigger, stronger, faster!, EXPLOSIONS! Okay, maybe not explosions. But ... I don't know. There were some really good things, which I will get to, but ...

The one thing that pissed me off to no livable end: If Angel signs the prophecy, it's void? What the holy stupid fuck no it is not! That is the most retarded thing I have ever heard. I am merely going to have to assume that the Circle was lying, and Angel is dumb and bought it. Because, seriously, what the fuck? If it were that easy, we wouldn't have had any story from Season 3 onward. "The father will kill the son"? Wesley could have been like, "Oh, hey Angel, there's this prophecy that you're going to kill your son, but you can just X it on top, it's no big deal." This one thing causes me HATE.

But everything else was pretty good. I loved everyone's last days. Except Lindsey's, because his contained Eve. I can almost understand how if you've only seen a few episodes late in the season, you could sort of like Eve. Because she doesn't talk very much or try to do anything. I'm in favor of that. It's just the memory of what came before that makes me content that she died. Oh, but speaking of that - Lorne knew how Eve was going to die, yes? That's what we're lead to believe? So, in theory, he'd also know that the building was going to come crashing down, right? You think he'd have ... mentioned that. Or thought about it. Or maybe he didn't actually know what building it was.

But, man. Lindsey's swan song. Now that is a well-written death. That ... was ... excellent. And I like Lindsey! But that ... was ... excellent. Lorne ... damn.

It's Anne! A nice surprise. It's Connor! An even nicer surprise! (Or, rather, not really a surprise at all, since he was listed in the guest credits.) I'm sorry to all my dear friends who thought maybe he, like, didn't get all his memories back? Yeah, I never thought that. And the line that gave it away was "There's nothing he can show me I haven't already seen." I mean, what other meaning could that have? Anyway, I love New Connor. He's a little quieter and more thoughtful than happy brainwashed Connor, and he still kicks ass. And his hair is longer! The hell with Faith or Willow, I'd like them to start working on a Connor spinoff, like, for serious. Even though I'm reasonably sure I'm the only person who would watch it!!

Wesley's day is exactly what you knew it would be. You know that's what he'd be doing. Oh Wesley. I really, really, really liked his last scene with Illyria. I really liked Illyria. (Although: "This is a mortal wound." "Aren't we all?" is the stupidest line of all the lines that were ever stupid. What??) But Wesley, he's a'dumb. He's a little old man, Wesley! You should have just snuck up behind him and whacked him on the head! It apparently makes him explode like confetti. Why'd you have to try an out-magic the dude? You should have known how that would turn out. Although, I guess it was preferable to dying in a melee like everyone else probably did. Anyway, though, it's all acceptable if only for Illyria morphing blue as she's punching forward. I bet they blew the final remainder of their effects budget on that, but man ... it was worth it. That was cool.

I. liked. Spike. I ... feel dirty writing that. But seriously? I liked Spike. And not a moment too soon!

I liked that Gunn got to kill a whole mess of vamps.

I liked everything that Harmony did. I was also fine with her rehash of Graduation Day, because I was all in to connecting it thematically to the episode, because that's when Harmony made her final stand against an onslaught of evil forces, and she lost. I'm glad she got to exit.

I ... am unsure how I feel about Adam Baldwin. His threat never really materialised, and he was kind of unnecessary. He really just kind of ... annoyed and distracted. And gave Angel a powerful enemy to fight before the ultimate culmination of events.

That ultimate culmination being: "Hey guys! Let's all go and get in one good last battle, and then we'll meet in an alley where we'll be corned by an army of darkness." "Cool!" The army of darkness was kind of ... lame, though. I mean, it wasn't Helm's Deep, if you know what I'm saying.

But, all in all, well played. This ending ... it didn't feel like an ending. Which, again, is probably the point. But I demand closure!

Now I am sad.

[End Spoiler]

Now everyone can go ahead and talk Angel at me all they want! I cannot be spoiled!!