Buffy: Graduation Day Part 2 (3.22)

The end of Buffy part one. The high school years have come to a close, recurring characters are killed, Cordelia and Angel appear as regulars for the final time. The decision to blow up the school was a grand, apocalyptic and ultimately fitting end for these episodes. Buffy left Sunnydale High with a bang, embracing her destiny and defeating evil in the most spectacular way she could think of. Watching all of the Sunnydale High graduating year come together to fight off against the Mayor was visually stunning, a real war against the machine. Here are a bunch of kids who join together not only because they know it's the right thing to do, but because they trust Buffy, and they know that she's a strong leader. It's a really, really great closer.

The epic feel that Joss Whedon created last episode continues here, notably with that awesome moment where Buffy allows Angel to feed on her. It's a vivid scene, full of sexual imagery and violence. The look on Buffy's face during that beautiful zoom-out is of both sexual release and abject horror, themes that pretty much reflect the entire Buffy and Angel relationship. But even outside of that scene, the epic tone continues. I don't believe there's any scene more horrifying than that chilling moment where the Mayor, completely destroyed over Faith's comatose state, attempts to smother Buffy in her hospital bed. Similarly, the closing battle, especially the grand sweep of the camera as Angel, Wesley, Percy and their 'team' are revealed to be waiting in the wings, is ridiculously well-executed. Adored Cordelia finally staking a vampire, and the deaths of Larry and Harmony were surprisingly heartbreaking. Poor Larry. Poor big gay Larry.

Buffy and Faith's shared dream is a masterclass in surreal ambiguity. It allows not only to explore Faith's vulnerability once more, it also reflects the shared connection between the two women. Buffy and Faith are the only women in the world who can understand that sense of 'calling', and it's a deeper feeling than they may realize. The '7-3-0' talk is a lot of fun. Can you imagine what it would have been like for people at the time, desperately trying to work out what the hell it meant? More on that in season five...

Elsewhere, Cordelia and Wesley's awkward first kiss was hilarious. It's so that thing where you think you're mutually into somebody, only for there to be no real spark in the end. I really liked Wesley. He was dumb and annoying, but I loved his interaction with pretty much everybody in the cast. And Cordelia, as always, was great this year, if a little underused. At least she was able to flourish on Angel. Finally, Angel's goodbye scene was so touching. No words, just a shared understanding with Buffy of what he needs to do. Aww.

I'm of the opinion that season three is the greatest Buffy year. While it sometimes lacked the emotional sucker punches that made the Angelus arc last season so breathtaking, there was a consistency to the characters and to the story arcs this year that made nearly every episode a masterpiece of sorts. Buffy was never more adorable, Willow and Giles came into their own, Faith kicked all kinds of butt, the Mayor creeped the hell out of me, and Graduation Day brought the house down. There was a maturity and a strength to this season that became unparalleled. I adore this show. A+

Credits
Guest stars Harry Groener (Mayor Richard Wilkins III); Alexis Denisof (Wesley Wyndam-Pryce); Danny Strong (Jonathan Levinson); Larry Bagby, III (Larry Blaisdell); Mercedes McNab (Harmony Kendall); Ethan Erickson (Percy West); Eliza Dushku (Faith); Armin Shimerman (Principal Snyder)
Writer Joss Whedon Director Joss Whedon