Some of this may be recaps because of my overall End of Show review.

This show needed Faith to come back.

I loved ousting Buffy from the group. In part because I found myself fed up with her adamant “my way or the highway” stance.

And the truth is, this show was always about the fact that what made Buffy different from other Slayers was the steadfast loyalty she inspired in people around her. She was never totally alone, even though her Slayer-ness made her feel isolated from everyone around her.

Xander in the hospital broke me. The loss of his eye wasn’t a total shock (non-spoiling spoiler) but was more of an “Ah, that’s why Hal wore an eyepatch” moment. I realized there hasn’t even been a crisis situation involving Xander in which he didn’t make jokes. And it was therefore so meaningful that he wasn’t. And then when he and Willow tried to make the jokes and couldn’t manage - it killed me even more.

The way Buffy is at this point in Season Seven is where I wanted her to be in Season Six. In Season Six they told us she was isolated but never showed us. All of that focus of her dealing with her post-death trauma was dealt with in her relationship with Spike. The only effect it had on her friendships was that she lied to them - about Spike. But seeing Buffy dead inside to everyone - so much more interesting.

But gosh - I really wish they were using Anya in some deeper way. Part of me wishes she had died at the end of Selfless. With the exception of boinking Xander, not much has happened with her this entire Season. Bummertown.