<Big Sigh> Well, Best Buy crashed my computer. So, I'm stuck using this one at work. Ergo, no pictures this time around. I apologize.

If the final episodes follow with this same intensity, then we're in for an exciting ride. I think my jaw spent more time on the floor than it did chewing dinner (which I ended up eating cold after the show was over).

Lots of one on one interaction. It seems as if the SG has a lot of issues with each other. ;0)

Buffy vs Giles:

Wow. Um. Wow. Apparently, this is a showdown that's been in the making for a good while. As we've seen before, Giles is completely out of touch with his Slayer and her ability to handle adulthood. He still sees her as a child. This is all disconcerting to Buffy, as she has been forced to "grow up" in the last 7 years, and most of that was brought about by Giles' abandonment of her in the 6th season. She's doing, in her eyes, a knock-up job in rallying the troops and positioning her people to potentially win this war. Giles does not agree.

Buffy finds out her former Watcher, the same one who once deceived her by injecting `depowering' drugs into her ("Helpless"), is once again deceiving her by stalling her during Spike's execution. (Make no mistake. That's exactly what it is. Execution without trial.) And, in the end, we see a scene reminiscent of the last scene in "Crush" as she shuts the door on Giles, effectively shutting him out of her life.

Bad move, Giles.

Spike vs Wood:

It's no toss-up who the good guy is here – who we're supposed to be rooting for. (Or, I could be biased. Who'd a guessed?) At first, I thought highly of Wood turning Spike into his demon before killing him. `Cuz, sure, the vampire is the one whom Wood has been hunting all these years. But it's really the coward's way of dealing with the situation. He can't bare to face the MAN before him and drive a stake through his heart. He can't face the man who just recently saved his sorry life in an alley. So, the principal makes it easier and releases the monster. No moral quagmire there. It was just self defense! Well, if I liked him before, I certainly don't now.

Buffy vs Wood:

Now, you can't possibly tell me that Buffy hasn't matured. Here, she's been betrayed by a team mate, two actually. Rather than working to fight the enemy, Wood is fighting within the ranks. But Buffy doesn't ream him a new one. She empathizes with him – tells him it's okay to be angry. But she then reveals, in no uncertain terms, that harming Spike is not permitted. Not only will Spike kill him next time, but she will allow it. Wow. A big statement from the protector of innocents.

Anya vs Buffy:

LOVED the get out of jail free card comments. Sure, I was pissed at first, as Anya was describing Angel right there as opposed to Spike. Spike has actually had to prove himself time and time again in order to earn Buffy's allegiance. But, seeing Anya realize that she herself has been given the great gift of forgiveness, after killing several frat boys was a great scene full of meaning and humour.

Andrew vs Fred:

A little jealous there, buddy? Yeah, you can't get the same reaction out of Willow that this "Fred" can.

Spike vs Mother:

This is one of the best ways to tell William's story, I think. He loved his mother in life, and it carried over in death, despite the demon inhabiting his body. His mother, on the other hand, not so much. What does that say about my favorite vampire? Why has he kept his ability to love so deeply? This is one unique guy, here.

Miscellaneous Comments

- Let me start off with, I love James Marsters. I think he's the most talented actor out here today. But…I really didn't like the way he played William tonight. I can't put my finger on it, but he just seemed like Spike pretending to be William. Maybe it didn't help that it wasn't the same wig as he wore previously as William. And it certainly didn't help that he looked so…old in those scenes. But you have to admit that the accent was just not right. It was Spike's accent. And we know from "Fool For Love" that William purposely changed his accent to the one that Spike now uses. So, in summary, I didn't buy his portrayal of William. In FFL, I fell in love with the human, and in LMPTM, I fell out of love with him.

- Ironically, the two who were trying to kill Spike, actually cured him of the trigger, thereby making him safe…the exact thing they wanted from the beginning.

- Giles, during his speech to Buffy, brings up Angel leaving her and has the gall to say it was the right thing to do. Then, he disses Spike saying he doesn't have the sense to leave for her own good. Is Buffy really supposed to think poorly of Spike for being the only man in the history of Buffy's life to actually stay with her on her say so? Is Giles that dense?