Weakest Finale?

[Clare]

I noticed in last month's Hot Topic that some people think that Restless isn't a good season finale. What do you think?
Do you think that it is a good finale or do you think that Primeval should have been the finale of Season 4?

[partcynic]

I loved Restless, it's not my favourite episode of S4, but in my top 3 for that year, all written by Joss. It's a really good avant-garde episode, beautifully filmed with wonderful cinematography. More importantly, it's also perhaps the most thoughtful episode of the entire show, detailing exactly where each of the characters are mentally at that moment - Xander's dream is especially good at detailing his position, and gives him more development than almost all of the final three years put together. Plus, we get a glimpse what a 'pure' Slayer is like, and see how Buffy has the chance to be so much more, all of which combines to make it top-notch for me. I have to admit being really thrown by it when it originally aired, but repeat viewings really bring out its greatness.

[cyclica]

Its pretty much the final 'metaphor episode'. The first 4 years were full of them, but seasons 5, 6 and 7 didn't have any except for the whole magic=drugs thing. Its like they used up all their good ideas in that one ep. Every time I watch I notice something I didn't notice the last time (or at least I did the first 20 times I watched )

I think the reason people don't like it isn't the ep itself, but the fact that its shown after the plot was wrapped up, in primeval. But like I said in the otehr thread, I loved having one extra episode, it was a great surprise, and it revealed a lot about the characters. It also showed a lot of foresight, predicting the plot of later seasons, like joss and the others knew what the next few years' shows would contain.

[jennf10]

This episode was more of a teaser for season 5, then an end to season 4. For that reason alone, I think it was not as well received.

Plus, it came after killing the Master, killing Angel and blowing up the high school. ANY finale in season 4 was going to suffer in comparison.

[Flawless Faith]

It was just a boring episode to me as the finale. It could have gone in season 4 during the season, but I thought Primevil was much more entertaining and maybe with a little more at the end, it would have been a perfect finale for the season.

Out of all the finales, its the one I watch the least. I was pretty surprised when I heard that Restless was one of the best episodes so I was looking forward to it. I must say that it didn't live up to all the talk that was going on about it.

[skcbuffy87]

Partycyninc couldnt of said it better!! I though the episode was brilliant. The whole dream sequence and how you got to look inside the characters mentally and see what they were going through and thinking. I also think it set up events that you would see in the upcoming seasons. Its definitely one of my favorite episodes!

[tommy]

'Restless' is a cool fun episode to watch, but I think it was crap to be used as the season finale. They should have just left it at Primeval and had Restless happen earlier in the season.

[coco]

I liked restless, i thought it was a good episode to wrap up the season with. primeval would have been a good season finale too, but i like the fact that Joss decided to go with Restless rather that Primeval for the season finale.

[hellfire]

Restless was innovative, and it was Joss at his best. I liked the curveball--Primeval was a bit of a let down for me.