That's it, with the second to last episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer airing last week, there is only one left, and then it is all over. I'm sure most of you out there who don't watch the show, know that the end is coming, but what you probably don't know or can't understand is the mass appeal of this show. From school girls, to school librarians, freaks with tattoos, to investment bankers there are millions of Buffy fans and I'm going to try and tell you why and take this time to say goodbye.

A little over 7 years ago, after a mildly successful movie, the concept of Buffy, The Chosen One came to the small screen. The idea itself was fairly similar to the movie concept; The Chosen One, a young woman, would be charged with defending the earth from vampires. However, what became very clear after the first season of the television show, Joss Whedon the show's creator had something else in mind. Not only would Buffy, The Chosen One, do battle with vampires, she would also protect the earth from virtually any threat that would come her way, week in and out she would fight demons, ghosts, vampires and everything in between.

Buffy in the first season was a highschool freshman who had just moved to this strange new town, Sunnydale. As time would show Sunnydale was not your average small town, situated on an ancient opening into Hell, the "Hellmouth" Buffy would have her hands full. Also in the first season of Buffy we met her life long friends Willow and Zander. Now I will get to each of them later in this article, but for any of you who've been watching for a long time, remember how young the cast was in that first season? Sarah Michelle Gellar looked like she was twelve and Willow was the young computer nerd we would all come to love.

I never really watched a lot of the first season, while I was interested in the show, it was missing something for me. That all changed with season 2. Angel, a vampire with a soul had by this time become Buffy's boyfriend. This is very important in the history of the television show. Angel, who had once been one of the most evil vampires ever, had destroyed almost an entire race of gypsy's. The one gypsy, who survived his attack, put a curse on him, restoring his soul.

Now, he was a vampire, who had a soul, this was something unheard of. By returning his soul, Angel became good, he could no longer kill to feed, AND more importantly he had tremendous guilt for his actions when he was evil. This is what brought Buffy and him together. Angel who now fought evil, trying to redeem himself after years of needless killing and violence immediately had a connection with Buffy. Buffy for her part, had no choice but to fall in love with Angel, thrown together both fighting to save humanity week after week, they were made for each other.

The catch 22 of the curse that was put on Angel, was that if he ever found true happiness, if he ever was truly happy, he would immediately lose his soul again, and revert to his evil persona Angelus. In what can only be considered genius writing, after Buffy finally sleeps with Angel and loses her virginity Angel turns into Angelus.

Angelus is pure evil, like no other he hated the Slayer. Season 2 deals with Angelus unleashing a great evil that will kill the slayer and Sunnydale along with it. As the finale draws near, it is revealed that the only way to stop this impending evil is to kill Angelus. In one of the best season finale's I have ever seen Buffy and Angelus face off in a sword fight. Just as Buffy disarms Angelus and is about to plunge her sword into his heart, something happens. Willow who had been trying to reverse the spell that Angel was under succeeds. Just as Buffy goes to kill Angelus, he speaks and reveals that he is indeed Angel returned and does not remember anything that has happened in the last months. However despite being returned to his true self, Buffy must still kill him. His blood has opened a portal to Hell and unless he is killed a great evil will come through to earth. Buffy had no choice. She closes his eyes, tells him there is nothing to worry about, and as tears roll down her face plunges her sword deep into his heart killing him and closing the opened portal.

Now ladies and gentlemen, THAT is television. That is how it is done. I have no problem admitting that as I watched that episode I balled my head off.

So tomorrow night, this incredible television show is coming to an end. I've only given you a small sample here of the superiority of this show. For 7 years, every Tuesday night millions would tune in and watch this fantastic show unfold. We witnessed Seth Green as the always lovable Oz, who would turn into a werewolf during full moons. We watched as Buffy died, a few times, and new slayers were dispatched in her place. We watched as Faith struggled with her abilities and ultimately failed and fell to the dark side. I mean I defy any of you to watch season 3 and 4, where Buffy and Faith do battle time and time again. Shows like Alias and La Femme Nikita wouldn't be on television if Buffy hadn't blazed the path first.

One of the things that will be addressed in the season finale is the love triangle between Buffy, Angel and Spike. For those of you who don't know, Spike is also a vampire. And due to some fantastic adventures he too has a soul and he too is in love with Buffy. The interesting thing here is some people want Buffy to end up with Spike and some with Angel. That is if she lives through the finale at all. I think it has to do with how long you have been watching the show. I know there are people who feel that Spike and Buffy belong together due to recent things that have happened to the both of them. But honestly if you feel that way, I don't think you could have watched Buffy and Angel together. They BELONG together, anything that Spike and Buffy have been through is merely a scratch to what Angel and her went through. Not only the things I mentioned above, but plenty of other adventures as well. Like early on when Angel had his own show, Buffy and Angel had 1 day together. A day where Angel was not a vampire, a day where she wasn't a slayer, and they spent the day in perfect harmony living their lives. However at the end of that show, Angel finds out that he has to choose, stay with Buffy and remain human, or go back to being a vampire. The thing is, if he chooses to stay with Buffy, he will no longer fight evil, and there is a war coming, and without him on the side of good, humanity may fail. He has to choose between Buffy and the fate of humanity, he of course chooses to fight for humanity.

With all of the superhero movies out now and the seemingly never ending of superhero movies yet to come out, this was a show that was portraying these types of characters and stories in an adult fashion years before anyone else. Hats off to Joss Whedon, you created an entire universe, you've written some of the best shows on television, and despite any traditional awards, have changed the landscape of modern TV.

And now a couple quick goodbyes.

Zander/Nicholas Brendan
One of the few characters without any super powers, or any unnatural ability. Zander was always the character I could sympathize with. We watched you lose your virginity and get your ass kicked time and time again.

Willow/Alyson Hannigan
Probably THE best character created for this television show. We watched your first love, with Oz, and we watched you fall in love and ultimately lose Tara. From the computer nerd who giggled at the thought of boys, to the Ultimate Witch who killed Warren You did it all, goodbye Willow.

Buffy/Sarah Michelle Gellar
Goodbye Buffy. It's time for a rest, you were brought back from the dead by your friends and in my opinion haven't been the same since. Sarah, I know that right now you are tired of this role and there seems to be some hostility towards Joss, but please remember in 10 years whether your movie career has taken off or not, you will always have 8 years of your life that you were Buffy. Millions of people around the world know who you are because of this show, that's not something to forget.

So no matter how good or bad tomorrow's series finale is going to be I will be sad. I hope that as time passes Buffy The Vampire Slayer will be given the respect it deserves. People will marvel at the little vampire show that could, that entertained millions, and spawned an entire universe.

Goodbye Buffy we'll miss you!

DOWNS

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