Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Season 7 [DVD] [1998]

Having been hopelessly addicted to Buffy since Season 1, and having religiously watched every episode in sequence (which to date has cost me a fortune in videos and yet which has been worth every penny), I absolutely couldn't wait for Season 7. Having viewed it, I can sympathise with those viewers who found it less gripping or appealing than Seasons 2 or 3. By Season 6, Buffy is no longer a teenager and with maturity has come self-doubt, depression and a bleak view of her future - this theme continues in the early episodes of Season 7. However, as the season progresses Buffy's view on her purpose in life becomes clear once more, and she emerges as a true leader - no longer the lone warrior, who fights alongside her friends but without ever really trusting them to take control - but a leader who has the presence and abilities to bring out the very best in those around her. This is particularly evident in the character of Willow. While Sarah Michelle Gellar does a great job as Buffy, Alyson Hannigan is a truly exceptional actress who knocks the socks off her fellow cast members - no mean feat among so many talented actors. There is one particular scene which illustrates this to perfection. After Xander is injured, Willow goes to comfort him in the hospital, at first by chatting lightheartedly about his condition. She then gradually comes to a full realisation of the seriousness of the situation and begins to break down.. until finally, when Xander can bear it no more,she chokes back the tears. Alyson's reactions here are pretty damn perfect and she was not the only one crying when I watched it! I can honestly say that for true Buffy fans, this little scene alone, which lasts no more than a couple of minutes, and which does not move the plot forward particularly, is comparable to the very best of Buffy ... and that is probably the best compliment I can pay!

After the shockingly poor quality of most of season six, I was expecting season seven to be an equally huge disappointment. Season six had convinced me that the show should have died a graceful death at the end of season five, and I wasn't expecting to have my perception changed during its last season.

Season seven starts slowly, perhaps a little too slowly - but it builds to a fantastic and very satisfying climax. The progression from 'Sunnydale as normal' to the apocolyptic tenseness of the last few episodes is excellently paced for the most part. Really for the first time, we get to see the effect of the world-shattering importance of Buffy's work on the rest of the population. The stark emptiness of Sunnydale at the end is very effective, which contrasts sharply with the limited impact previous apocolypses have had on the 'ordinaries' of the town.

Seasons that followed the third have sometimes suffered from a lack of focus - in the first three seasons the High School was the center of the whole thing and the series concentrated on the high school experienced as viewed through the lense of supernatural phenomena. Other seasons have lacked this solid base of experience. Season seven deals with this by providing Buffy's house as a claustrophobic nexus - the hustle of the household acting as a counterpoint to the desolation of the town.

While the season has some weak moments - particularly relating to glaring plotholes and dangling storylines - it mostly serves as an excellent ending to Buffy's story on our screens. Episodes like 'Conversations with Dead People' and 'Storyteller' manage to transcend the plot and provide genuine insight into the characters involved. Spike's progression from demon with a chip to Angel-Lite has a cathartic conclusion, and the finale, while vaguely unsatisfying in certain respects, provides the closure that a series of this nature desperately needed after season six.

An excellent effort, and a fine way for Buffy to find her much needed rest.

If your not familar with the story arc of this final series of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, it basically delves into the story of the slayer with Buffy's latest nemesis, the origins of evil, 'The First', hoping to eliminate the legacy of the slayer. With potential Slayers being killed the world over, they begin showing up at Buffy's where their only hope is to form an army against 'The First' and its minions.

As usual, Buffy never looked so good on DVD, with superior picture quality and sound, and in the usual letterbox format not seen on the US versions of Buffy.

The extras include the usual commentaries but this time four of Buffy's star contribute to some of them. These are Danny Strong (Jonathan) and Tom Lenk (Andrew) for 'Conversations with Dead People', James Marsters (Spike) for 'Lies My Parents Told Me' and Nicholas Brendon (Xander) for 'Dirty Girls'. I thought it was great to get these actors' insight into the making of these episodes.

The featurettes are a lengthy overview of Season 7 which is normal to a Buffy DVD boxset, interviews with some of the potentials, Joss Whedons' 10 favourite episodes, a featurette on the study of Buffy at University, a featurette entitle 'It's always been about the fans', an outtakes reel and an easter egg which is the 'previously on Buffy' montage seen in Season 5's 'The Gift' altho I was sure clips from ALL seasons have been integrated into it. I thought this was a really nice idea and addition to the set.

You really can't go wrong with this DVD set. The episodes were great, fair price and the extras are fantastic (and keep you entertained that little bit longer). For me, the much needed reappearance of Eliza Dushku as Faith made this season that little bit more likeable :-)

And so we salute Buffy, but hope that before long we might see a Sarah Michelle Gellar Buffy Movie...