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Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 7 (New Edition) [2006] [2002]

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Hmmmm.......
Review date: 2007-11-19 Rating: 8 out of 10

I find it hard to make up my mind about season seven. Ultimately I think it's a series that promises much but just falls short of greatness. It's obviously light years better than six, but it can't touch the high points of two and five.

It's the structure that's most dissatisfying. 21 episodes of building up to the big final showdown between the 'potential slayers' and ultimate evil The First, and then the end comes so quickly that you are left thinking 'is that it?'. Several of the earlier episodes could very easily have been compressed, and that would have left room for a less rushed finale - giving a decent send-off to the two long-standing characters who die, for instance. One of them, a regular for years, is barely acknowledged, which leaves a bad taste. The rush also reduces David Boreanaz's return to a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo.

Bad guys are a problem, too. For much of the series The First is really just an abstract concept, which can only hang around in incorporeal form making threats. The introduction of a flesh-and-blood enemy, evil 'priest' Caleb, makes things much more frightening (and he is brilliantly played by Nathan Fillion) - but he doesn't show up until five episodes from the end. It would have been so much more interesting if he'd been in from the beginning of the season. Other than that, there are the Bringers and the ubervamps, which are both frightening enough but, as wordless monsters, not particularly interesting.

On the positive side, it's nice to have Faith back, James Marsters is great as the newly-ensoulled and suffering Spike, and Dawn is finally starting to earn her keep. Bringing Andrew back added some comedy, even if he does get too much time. In fact, the series as a whole is much funnier than the grindingly depressing series 6, and scarier, too; while the end, despite the rush, is suitably spectacular (bar some dodgy CGI to remind us that this is TV, not film).

In the end, the season as a whole is good enough to rescue it from series six. That left me wishing they'd just left Buffy in the ground at the end of five; after seven, I'm glad they didn't. I think.

Reviews

Not bad, but not a fitting end.
Review date: 2007-07-07 Rating: 8 out of 10

I was gravely disappointed with season 7. The stand alone episodes vary hugely in quality (from the phenomenal Selfless, to the atrocious Him) and the season arc suffers from some very annoying potentials. Yes, I do mean Rhona or whatever her name is.

Some of it is fantastic though! Giles comes back for the vast majority of the season, Michelle Trachtenberg is finally working for me as Dawn, Andrew (Tom Lenk) is back and so is Eliza Dushku as Faith! Even Angel makes a brief appearance!

This season is about going back to the beginning (as brilliantly emphasised by the closing season of episode 1 with all past Big Bads appearint to Spike as The First) and for the most part it works.

Best episodes: Selfless (about damn time Anya had her own epiosde!), Conversations with Dead People (even if we did have to put up with Azura Skye instead of Amber Benson), Storyteller (hilarious).

Things that didn't work: Principal Wood and Spike's trigger (boring)

So then we come to the final episode Chosen.

I have very mixed opinions on this. I love White Willow, I love the final scene between Buffy and Spike, and I LOVE the little call back to the pilot when Buffy, Xander and Willow walk away talking about shopping and Giles mutters "the world is doomed".

However, I don't like that Anya dies. Joss has stated that he couldn't consider it a happy ending if anyone we cared about died. Ok, a bunch of potentials die but they are for the most part annoying, Spike dies but it had already been announced that he was moving on to Angel so that didn't really pack an emotional punch but hang on, I care about Anya! She's been there since season 3, she was always one of my favourite characters and to kill her in such a blink-and-you'll-miss-it way really made me angry.

That said, this is a good season with some great charcter work for all the gang.

Best bit by far: Finally Buffy mentions that "Kick his ass" comment from Xander in Season 2 and Nathan Fillion as Caleb is obviously having a LOT of fun

Some problems, but a worthy ending for Buffy
Review date: 2007-03-05 Rating: 8 out of 10

It's all about power for this final season of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, which sees a return of sorts to Sunnydale High School, a brand new facility where Buffy is working as a councillor. Our 'big bad' for the year is The First, a vague evil power bent on destroying the world with its army of uber-vampires. To further its goal, The First is attempting to end the slayer line by wiping out all of the 'potential slayers' (girls waiting for their turn to be called into action), and these potentials will prove to be a vital part of the ongoing story.

Bad points first. Almost every episode this year serves the larger narrative, meaning there is a lack of strong individual episodes. None of the episodes are bad, but this season, unlike any other, demands to be watched as a whole. Another problem is a tendency for people to act out of character. Buffy, in particular, is very changeable, being a stern general one minute and a mopey girl the next. Additionally, Buffy is betrayed not once but twice this year, and both times it feels like something the characters we've come to know would never do. Alongside these problems, season seven is overloaded with characters. Far too much time is devoted to former Trio member Andrew and the many potential slayers, while regulars like Dawn and especially Xander are relegated to their smallest and least useful roles to date.

On the good side, this year sees James Marsters earn himself the 'most oustanding' award as Spike. Marsters is called on to play every possible iteration of the character, and whether he's crazy, lovelorn, wimpy, murderous, supportive, or just his plain old dryly sarcastic self, Marsters is always excellent. Helping to elevate Marsters's work is Spike's more mature relationship with Buffy, which turns out to be oddly affecting. It's not love exactly, and it's certainly not the idealised hearts and flowers of Buffy's fling with Angel, but they give each other some much needed strength this year, and the relationship feels more genuine and moving because of it.

The biggest positive of the year, however, is final episode Chosen, which more than makes up for any flaws evident throughout the year. It lives up up the old adage that endings should be surprising yet inevitable, adheres beautifully to the show's theme of female empowerment, and provides a perfect finish for Buffy's story.

This season, then, is a flawed but effective conclusion to Buffy's vampire and demon fighting adventures, and is essential viewing for all fans.

Def The Best Series Around
Review date: 2006-11-18 Rating: 10 out of 10

Wow! Couldn't believe this series! How many shocks and twists? Def the best series of buffy around. Joss has proved that after the lame season 4 he can pull it bak with the best 3 seasons of buffy eva. This one being the best. Fave eps? Help, Conversations with dead people, Him, Potential, Storyteller, & of course the brilliant finale 'Chosen'. First Class!!!!

Love it! You're gonna cry!
Review date: 2006-09-14 Rating: 10 out of 10

This series is that best by far, you are sooo going to love it! The final series, it ends with a bang (and a half!), going in a direction that is totally unexpected! Snappy plot lines and new characters, along with apprearances from some old favourites, make this last ever series of Buffy the very best. Watch it, love it, you know you want to!

Product Details/Specifications

Actor(s):
James Marsters
Nick Marck
Nicholas Brendon
Sarah Michelle Gellar
Danny Strong

Recording label: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
EAN: 5039036018630
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 6
Format: PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2006-05-08
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 899 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2002
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: English (Original Language)

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Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 7 (New Edition) [2006] [2002]

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