I'm not of the "anti-Buffy" crowd, but I don't think a Buffy appearance is necessary. If they did it just to do it, the perfunctory nature would be obvious. Angel's appearance in the last 2 episodes of Buffy make dramatic sense (and, dammit, I loved the cookie dough speech!) and, in fact, set the stage for Spike's return.

Still kind of raw from the news, though.

Chris in Virginia | February 17, 20:26 CET

I actually want a Buffy/Angel ending. According to SMGfan.com, Sarah is wrapping up her movie, The Grudge, in mid March. Would she be here in the states then to film the last episode of Angel??? Any thoughts? I think it would be wonderful if they could keep her a secret and surprise...last episode.

Coll | February 17, 20:46 CET

i think its possible.............but who knows............i really want it though........it needs to be cleared up

norman | February 17, 20:52 CET

She definitely should do it. It wouldn't cost her anything to do it and would create a lot of goodwill among her BUFFY fans. I think that we have been expecting a certain ending that her presence requires. It will be really wrong if she doesn't do this. I followed her to BUFFY because of her appearance on All My Children. However, if she doesn't do this then it may make me rethink my patronage of her projects. David B. is right. She should not just walk away from the Jossverse and not think about the fans she left behind.

kdeweb | February 17, 21:00 CET

I'm going to keep positive on this one. I believe that Sarah may surprise us and be there for the end. This end is part of her character's end/future also...I'm sure she would want to tie it up for the sake of the story and for her fans. Like I said...thinking positive...which is a big thing for a pessimist like me!!!

Coll | February 17, 21:10 CET

How about the very last scene of the final episode be Angel opening up a package he got in the mail, and it's a plate of chocolate chip cookies.

And then you hear a horn going "Wah wah wah".

fade to black:

Executive Producer
Joss Whedon

(this is why I'm not in Hollywood)

prufrock | February 17, 21:13 CET

Prufrock, I just spewed my drink over my keyboard, thanks. Ha.

witless | February 17, 21:17 CET

Prufrock -- awesome. Laughworthy as hell. Thank you.

phlebotinin | February 17, 21:20 CET

I wouldn't mind a Buffy appearance, as long as she's not depicted as Angel's penultimate reward or his penultimate anything for that matter, ie, as long as she doesn't eclipse Angel and his story.

there's always DB's idea: Angel becomes human, walks outside and gets hit by a bus.

jeebs | February 17, 21:48 CET

I hope SMG will be there for the final episode. I mean, it is the final episode of the Buffyverse (*sob*) and it's only fitting that she'd be there. Hopefully she'll see that and will reconsider. I know Angel is a stand alone show but he was created from Buffy. If not, there's always Prufrock's idea :) hehehe....Loved it!!

lala | February 17, 22:01 CET

I don't think SMG's appearance is at all necessary on Angel. She hasn't been a part of ATS in the same way that DB was to BTVS.
I think it would be much more fitting to Angel's story to have Charisma Carpenter/Cordy return for the last episode.

Jangelus | February 17, 22:24 CET

I don't wanna see SMG on Angel again. Save her for a possible future movie.

Kris | February 17, 23:22 CET

If you were SMG would you walk onto a set where you have contributed to the firing of the cast and crew?

vpecoraro | February 17, 23:24 CET

vpecoraro Sarah had nothing to do with the firing of the cast and crew. The WB would have only wanted her guesting so they could boost the audience during sweeps and therefore get more ad revenue for whatever show is replacing Angel in the same time slot next year.

Simon | February 17, 23:41 CET

I'm glad that SMG is not making an appearance and i also don't think she owes anyone a thing. She did 7 wonderful years and has put her stake away and moved on. Good for her.

Also, i will absolutely gag if they smush in a B/A ending. Buffy and Angel are entirely different people, they hardly know one another any more, were never there for one another during their huge life moments since they split, and all balks of TWU WUV 4 EVA aside, it would be a a huge step back in character development. I think Buffy and Angel have each moved on and that the cookie speech was a concoction of Joss and ME's to dangle the worm in front of the Bangel fans again.

This show is about Angel and i certainly don't need Buffy to be pushed in as Angel was in the final ep of BtVS in order for it to be satisfying. I would love an ambiguous "love" ending for both shipper groups, BA and BS, (which leaves a definite openeing for future movies) and mainly have Spike and Angel(and the FG) winning the good fight and snarking away with one another off into the sunset. Kinda Casablanca-esque.

[ edited by syd on 2004-02-17 22:06 ]

syd | February 17, 23:50 CET

As the First Evil said to Spike, "That Bitch!" No, I'm just joking. I actually don't feel that it would be appropriate for her to come back this season, although next year would be perfect...too bad it's not happening.

Invisible Green | February 17, 23:58 CET

I don't understand the anti-Buffy sentiments. Buffy is a part of Angel's journey so I think it's only fitting for her to be included when he reaches his destination, so to speak. Without her, he'd still be living in the shadows in NY eating rats. Anyway, an actual Buffy appearance may not be necessary but would probably create a bigger impact. Regardeless of how Joss decides to end the show, a mention of where B/A stands only makes sense.

Come to think of it, the 'cookie dough' conversation may have very well been a set up for a B/A reunion in the end, after all.

Silent Night | February 18, 00:16 CET

I think the whole article is a little 'jump the gun'. I bet no one has even asked SMG to reconsider since the cancellation announcement. So obviously, there are 'no plans' right now, but that doesn't mean anyone's even approached her again, yet.

Rogue Slayer | February 18, 00:19 CET

There is no anti-Buffy sentiment, it's anti-B/A ending sentiment. I can never understand this B/A forever faction. Um, did no one move on from their first love? Yeah, Buffy sent Angel onto the right track, but they have been far from being involved with one another for 5, count 'em, 5 years! Angel's journey has long since been NOT about Buffy and i sincerely hope that it does not regress like that. It would cheapen all the progress Angel and Buffy have made in their lives, or the loves they have moved on to.

The cookie dough speech was, in my opinion, a last ditch effort and certainly not foreshadowing. I'm rather glad SMG has decided not to become such a plot device and left her closure at the hellmouth.

[ edited by syd on 2004-02-17 22:49 ]

syd | February 18, 00:29 CET

Well IF Buffy appeared I trust Joss would do something good with it. Not just the 'here's the prize waiting in the wings' / 'here's Buffy to save the day' options. I do agree it's not necessary though. AtS has plenty of characters and plots of it's own to go out with a bang.

But on the other hand there could be a nice sense of closure to it, as well as some balance. Angel was there at the end of Buffy, Buffy could be there at the end of Angel. It depends on what they do with it.

But really, it's been pretty clear Sarah never had any intention of coming back as Buffy and I doubt this changes anything for her. Hey, maybe it'll be a big surprise but I doubt it. Still think it's less than nice to the shows and the people but they can do fine without her.

On a purely personal note I think Buffy treated both Spike and Angel rather shoddily at the end, keeping them both on a string, so I would be happy to see neither of them end up with her. Could be funny.

Buffy - "Guys! Guys! I'm back!!!"

Angel - "Uhm, that's nice."

Spike - "Yeah, that's great, luv...but eh we're kinda playing poker now. Send us a postcard from Italy huh?"

Buffy: "But...but...I'm Buffy!!"

Angel - "You sure are. Anyway Spike, I see your 5 and raise you 3."

Spike - "Pff you're bluffing mate. I'll see you."

Buffy - "But don't you guys wanna know who I choose!?"

Angel - "Read'em and weep! Full house! Aces over jacks!"

Spike - "*Snicker*. Royal Flush mate, pay up!"

Angel - "How can you have the ace of diamonds!? I have the ace of diamonds! I told you no cheating!!"

Spike - "What you're REALLY pissed about is that I just cheat better than you!"

Angel - "Grrrr..."

Buffy - "Guys? I'm wearing leather pants again.......guys........? I'M COOOKIES NOW!!"

Angel - "Ok, new game, but this time *I* shuffle!"


Hehe, sorry, I'm in a mood. Ignore me.

[ edited by EdDantes on 2004-02-17 23:16 ]

EdDantes | February 18, 01:13 CET

The TV Guide link really doesn't have any new information. I think they're going on the couple of month old statement from SMG that she won't be on Angel this season. Personally, I would only want to see a Buffy appearance if it fit with the whole story arc, assuming there is one by the end of the season. Angel's appearance in Buffy Season 7 seemed too tacked on.

David Nabbit | February 18, 01:19 CET

"I can never understand this B/A forever faction. Um, did no one move on from their first love?"

Exactly. While the idea of ending up with one's true love is appealing to a lot of people (I mean, it is a sweet and fluffy ideal if your first love really was that good), I think it happens pretty rarely in real life. On television, it's over-romanticized to the point of being annoying. It's a component of so many teen dramas. I'd rather not see Buffy & Angel adopt the cliche when the Buffyverse ends.

Kris | February 18, 01:44 CET

I wouldn't mind seeing SMG appearing but I can't see how it would be anything more than a publicity stunt and wouldn't really have anything to do with the story Joss has been pursing all year

garda39 | February 18, 03:06 CET

Please forgive me if this has been suggested before (years-long lurker, first time poster) but *if* SMG did appear, why is there an assumtion that it would have to affect the current storyline? It would not be entirely un-Joss-like to have her make her appearance in a series of flashbacks.

And, really, I don't think any of us really want all of the plot-lines to be resolved. I recently became a Babylon 5 fan and one of the things I liked most about the ending of the series (after a "brief" five years) was it left me with a ton of stories that I could take anywhere I wanted in my head. You wrap it all up with a bow and you lose that.

Cyrano | February 18, 07:54 CET

It would not be entirely un-Joss-like to have her make her appearance in a series of flashbacks.

You know what might be interesting? If Angel has flashbacks to the time when Buffy and Angel met up after she came back from the dead in season 6. Then we could find out what really happened!

Although, I don't see how it would fit into the current story unless something is brought up to remind Angel of it.

I think more than Buffy, I'd like to see Willow or Faith (or Giles or Xander) show up on the show. That would be lots of fun!

Sigh. Still can't believe it's ending. I think I'm holding on to some denial.

electricspacegirl | February 18, 08:12 CET