Buffy series finale (spoilers)

[Cheiromancer]

The series ends on a good note, with a generation filled with Slayers. My prediction, however, is that after this generation they simply die out instead of continuing the line...at least until Fray.

That would constitute a victory for the First; a heads-I-win, tails-you-lose kind of scenario. Either the line is maintained, in which case the First kills off all the potentials, and then the slayer; or the line is not maintained, which means it expires after a generation. An entity which has existed as long as the First can afford to be patient.

Did you notice that all the potentials are young women? Why are there no grandmotherly slayers? Does the "potentiality" go away after adolescence, or what?

 

[John Crichton]

Did you notice that all the potentials are young women? Why are there no grandmotherly slayers? Does the "potentiality" go away after adolescence, or what?

Good question. It can be assumed that Slayers don't last very long and that there have been many dead slayers over the years. IIRC, Buffy has lived pretty long for a slayer. And she has only been doing it for 8 years or so. That, and an older slayer doesn't seem like she would be a very effective fighter so she would be killed off pretty quick...

 

[Piratecat]

Want a little bit of geeky glory? They keep calling Buffy's weapon a scythe, but it clearly isn't. It's an axe - but with a spear head on the bottom. So what the heck...?

A quick trip to your friendly Player's Handbook clears up the mystery. What you're looking at, ladies and gentlemen, is a Dwarven Urgosh.

Damn, I need to get out more.

 

[John Crichton]

In defense of the show, Angel did call it an "axe-thingy."

 

[Cheiromancer]

Good question. It can be assumed that Slayers don't last very long and that there have been many dead slayers over the years. IIRC, Buffy has lived pretty long for a slayer. And she has only been doing it for 8 years or so. That, and an older slayer doesn't seem like she would be a very effective fighter so she would be killed off pretty quick...

Well, if all previous potentials had gone on to become slayers, they might have been killed off. But I would have thought that most (or at least some) potentials were never actually called. They should have gone on to live normal lives; at least some of them should reach old age.

 

[Pielorinho]

What is this "alternate script" floating out on the web? (search for trogdor + buffy on google, it will come up). I assume it is a false script that Joss leaked to throw people off the trail, or possibly one of the "fake" scripts written to keep the ending in suspense?

I read somewhere that it was fanfic, pure and simple -- somebody got some leaks about the finale and parlayed the leaks, plus equal helpings of speculation and wish-fulfillment, into the "alternate script." It apparently never saw Joss's hand.

Too funny, Piratecat!

Daniel

 

[John Crichton]

Well, if all previous potentials had gone on to become slayers, they might have been killed off. But I would have thought that most (or at least some) potentials were never actually called. They should have gone on to live normal lives; at least some of them should reach old age.

It's never said how one becomes a potential slayer so I'd say there is really no clear answer. However, my reasoning before is based on simple survival: A less than capable slayer wouldn't last very long at all. It is possible that there are a bunch of middle-aged and older women out there that were once potential slayers. I'm also going on the slayer legend of the slayer being a girl, which is a young female. Maybe they have an expiration date?

 

[Vocenoctum]

That would constitute a victory for the First; a heads-I-win, tails-you-lose kind of scenario. Either the line is maintained, in which case the First kills off all the potentials, and then the slayer; or the line is not maintained, which means it expires after a generation. An entity which has existed as long as the First can afford to be patient.

Did you notice that all the potentials are young women? Why are there no grandmotherly slayers? Does the "potentiality" go away after adolescence, or what?

I'm not sure, but didn't it say in the show that now all potentials would be born as full slayers?

 

[John Crichton]

I'm not sure, but didn't it say in the show that now all potentials would be born as full slayers?

I think that any potential slayers currently alive would have active slayer powers. There wasn't much said of the unborn...

 

[zyzzyr]

I read somewhere that it was fanfic, pure and simple -- somebody got some leaks about the finale and parlayed the leaks, plus equal helpings of speculation and wish-fulfillment, into the "alternate script." It apparently never saw Joss's hand.

Daniel

Well, I am uncertain of the timing of the script ... I was under the impression that it was "leaked" prior to airing.

HOWEVER, the "alternative script" is about 99.9% identical to the actual show script. A few lines are added, and a few changed around (Anya says one thing instead of Andrew), but for the most part, it is identical. Including the non-dialogue bits.

I doubt that it was "simply fanfic" - someone had to have had a copy of the actual script, or a copy of the show, and wrote out the dialogue. It's possible they then altered a bit to make themselves happy, but it definitely began with the original.