Glory's(Gloriana) Reminder: Original version of what was later
a single forum post after being an 8 part WB Talk post back when
there was wild speculation about what happened in the Buffy
season finale.

Plot Deception and Misdirection in the Buffy Season Finale
by Glory ( Gloriana)

SUMMARY: Since Joss Whedon said publicly that Buffy was dead
and rotting in her grave, but would be back in her body (not a dupe
or other dimension body) in the UPN 2-hour season opener (or later?),
obviously what we saw was plot deception designed to pave the way
for a must-see Season 6.

This post is an evolution of a number of posts made on WB Talk
5/23-28/01 exploring what was real and what was plot deception
by Joss Whedon in the Buffy season Finale.

As near as I can determine, the Finale (Gift) took place over one
night in two main pairs of plot threads that came together in the
climatic battle at the tower. Dawn was apparently a captive of Glory
the day following her capture, and the Finale lasted from early
evening of the that night until dawn (appropriately) of the following
morning:

1. Buffy & Spike threads

- Buffy has returned from her morbid catatonia to formulate a plan
  with inputs from the others, primarily Anya.
- Spike has found the box at Doc's with info that gives them the time
  of the ritual (Tara leads then to the location).

2. Glory/Ben/Dawn threads

- Ben has accepted Glory's deal for immortality and Glory is in control
  of the ritual plans.
- Dawn is convinced that Ben is a monster worse than Glory.

3. VIEWER FACTS

The major fact that the viewers know is that Buffy is dead, confirmed
by Joss Whedon. This is a plot deception for resolution later, based on
some facts known to the writer (Joss wrote & directed the Finale,) but
not to the viewers.

Ben appears to be dying, but we do not see this to the end. Joss says that
Glory is dead. Viewers are left to speculate if this is another plot
deception, like Buffy's death, also.

4. OTHER OBVIOUS PLOT DECEPTIONS

Several other plot deceptions that created viewer surprise were usually
understandable, in hindsight, by actions as far back as the initial
appearances of the Dagon-sphere, the enchanted  troll hammer and the
Buffy-Bot.

This indicates either pre-planning from the beginning or, at
least, wise use of prior episodes to build on. History seems to indicate
Joss Whedon plans plots far ahead, at least in major content, with
details that may be flexible.

There were posts that said that multiple endings were shot for the
Finale. It is possible that some of the plot deceptions are actually
continuity artifacts of that.

Since Joss both wrote & directed the episode, they are probably
deliberate. Although someone on one of the forums had a huge
list of sloppy continuity errors in the first few seasons,
including clothing/shoe errors. If the Buffy-Bot clothing issues
are really sloppy continuity in such a high-profile episode, then someone
is really asleep at the wheel.

However, this does not materially affect the information presented here.

5.  BUFFY/BUFFY-BOT PLOT DECEPTIONS

5.1 THE BOT

The Bot was wearing the pink top and a black leather jacket
with brass-like button decorations from around the collar down both edges
to the waist, when found in the cellar by Xander/Anya. The Bot's hair was
loose and flowing.

The next time we see the Bot she is insulting Glory & tossing the
Dagon-sphere to her.

But she has changed clothes. She is now wearing an almost smooth
white top, a different leather jacket with no decorations and with a full
collar. Her hair is pulled back like Buffy's was in the Magic shop all the
time before the others followed Tara and Buffy said she'd be with them
shortly. The smooth white top & black body suit visible at the neckline
are also Buffy's clothes.

Backtracking to the arrival at the tower, the "Buffy" that tells Willow
she's up, is wearing the same clothes the Bot has when she appears
in front of Glory about a minute later. This implies that Buffy may
have separated from the gang following Tara at some point and
obviously entered the area separately.

Q. When did they change clothes and tie up the Bot's hair ?

- Obviously this plot deception was leading up to the dramatic moment
  when Glory beheaded the "Slayer" and was astonished that it was a robot.

- But this indicates a lot of action took place out of sight of the viewers'
  version of the plot. The Bot also was programmed with information that
  only Buffy or Dawn could have provided (blurry superspeed from the campus
  encounter or the slaughter of hundreds of knights in less than 30 seconds
  when Dawn was taken thru Willow's barrier by Glory).

5.2  BUFFY

The real Buffy appears with the troll hammer after the Bot is beheaded by
Glory. But she has changed clothes also. She is wearing a wide-ribbed white
top with gray pants. Her hair is now loose and flowing.

Q. What's the purpose of all the clothes changing ?

- Once the Bot is beheaded, viewers realize what is going on. Both could be
  naked and we'd still know. (One trivial response that is not relevant, but
  true, is that Buffy's stunt double in the gray pants has a bigger butt than Sarah
  does).

- From that time until were see the body of Buffy, there are no more hair or
  clothes changes.

6. GLORY/DOC/DAWN PLOT DECEPTIONS

Ignoring the concept that "Buffy and Glory made a deal"  before  the Tower
Battle for the moment, since that seems to infuriate some, there are still a couple
of bold plot deceptions that warrant discussion.

6.1 GLORY

The most obvious and glaring is that Glory was bleeding BEFORE she morphed
into Ben and was apparently then smothered by Giles, in RIPPER mode.

 Let's see if this makes any sense:

- Glory was teleported several thousand feet over Sunnydale, fell to the
  ground and was unhurt.
- Glory ran thru a campus interior wall to chase Buffy/Dawn and was unhurt.
- Glory was hit by a fuel truck going 20-30 MPH and was unhurt.
- Glory took a crossbow bolt at 10 paces and it bounced off.
- Glory took a crowbar to the head and she was unhurt.
- Glory only had a memory of Ben being hit by Dawn's chain. She was unhurt.
- Glory killed hundreds of armed and armored knights in less than 30 seconds
  while apparently dragging Dawn along. Glory was unhurt. - Glory and Buffy fell several stories from the tower and both got up still
  trading insults.

So Glory is physically unable to be hurt while in her form, per Gregor,
Giles, the Council and all the prior episodes. Granted, particularly with magic,
she weakens, but bounces back in seconds, as occurred at the tower.

Q. So why is she bleeding from her mouth and nose ?

Ah, you say, the combination of the hole from Willow's retrieval of Tara's
mind, plus the enchanted troll hammer, was too much for Glory.

- Review of the entire fight shows that Glory recovered quickly and beheaded
  the Bot with little effort. The troll hammer was the only thing that allowed Buffy
  to battle Glory to a draw. It only moved her around, and did not make her bleed.

- I was quite surprised to discover that Glory was completely un-bloodied
  and still insulting Buffy, until after she was hit by the wrecking ball and pushed
  thru the far wall into the very room with the writing desk where Dawn had been held
  captive.

- Backtracking, there is no signal to Xander as to where Glory is to hit her
  thru the outside wall with the wrecking ball. In fact, Buffy actually pushes
  Glory to the wall area and the ball is already on its way, based on Buffy's
  facial/eye movements. It looks suspiciously like Glory and Buffy are setting
  up the this event together.

Q. Since the wrecking ball is not magical, how can it make a perfectly
    viable Glory suddenly be bleeding on the face, considering that she
   is invulnerable  in her form ?

6.2 DOC

- Earlier, how did Spike make the non-obvious deduction that the box held
  something important ? Was he just bluffing ? It was a bit convenient, though.

- Earlier, how can the Doc survive a broadsword to the chest ?

- How did Doc get to the top of the tower to bleed Dawn, while the base was
  guarded and Buffy & Glory were fighting on it ?

- How did Doc gain 'blurry super speed" for his attack on Spike on the
  tower?

- Why does Doc call Dawn 'kid' (a term Glory used when first meeting Dawn) ?
  Previously, he called her girl, or pretty little thing.

- Why does Doc start off the tower platform on his own & not try to stab
  Buffy  ?

- Why does Buffy merely assist Doc off the tower with her left hand
  fingertips and make no attempt to hit him ? Why does she never take
  her eyes off Dawn the whole time ?

6.3 DAWN

- Dawn never stops bleeding, yet the portal, which is open for about 3
  minutes, closes after Buffy dives in.

- Both Giles & Glory went to great pains to explain the whole business about
  how it would stay open (with all the others), to Buffy and Dawn, respectively.
  Dawn's death would have closed it, Glory specifically told Dawn.

- No amount of "Buffy as a template for Dawn" can explain why the portal
  closed for Buffy while Dawn was still bleeding. We are not being told
  something here. Buffy could open her veins and bleed to death on the
  tower and it should have no effect on the portal.

  Only Dawn is the Key.

7.0  Theories to be bantered about:

-Joss will open the UPN season with Buffy falling and show her body,
then the screen will flash:

   "Three Hours Earlier"

....and we will see what really happened.

7.1 Wild Theories----

The "Deal" concepts are based on the magic/mojo spell that Glory had
somehow acquired that mindwarped those who saw her/Ben morphing.

The assumption is that it might be used to make people see what is not
there, like Tess does on Roswell:

Deal-1(more likely)-

-Buffy & Glory made a deal and what we saw was magic cloaking (Glory
was disguised magically as Doc, & vice versa), after the wrecking ball hit.

Comment on 'cloak': This was the word Glory used for the first time that night
in complaining that the 'cloak' between her and Ben was weakening. This is a
peculiar choice of word for the writer to use. Usually the writers tend to repeat
terminology from episode to episode, regardless of which character says it.
Not this time. 'Cloak' is simply the Buffy word for Roswell's Tess'
'mindwarp'.

Buffy and Glory got thru the portal, leaving Buffy's body behind. Buffy's
motive was her being tired of the world and perhaps that was what
Glory demanded as a price for Tara & Dawn.

Deal-2 (less likely, but simplicity itself)-

- Buffy was magically cloaked as Glory after the wrecking ball hit and
  Glory, magically disguised as Buffy, went up on the tower, comforted Dawn
  and dove off into the portal, closing it, shedding her Buffy disguise as the
  body we saw. Again, a secret deal between Buffy & Glory that is a win-win
  situation for both, but prevents the gang from stopping "Buffy's" apparent suicidal
  plunge, which is actually Glory on her way home. By this theory, Ben would have to
  be magically uncloaked as the real Buffy after Giles thinks he kills her/him.

  This assumes that Doc can actually perform the ritual, and leaves lots of loose
  ends noted earlier that seem to have no purpose.

Time Travel

- Time travel to unravel the threads and produce an entirely different
  ending where Buffy doesn't die. This is probably unlikely. Buffy's is
  primarily a linear universe.

- There must be others that meet Joss Whedon's stated  limits and might be
plausible. It's just hard to make them fit between the events broadcast and
Joss' conditions, and still make sense.

-Glory(Gloriana)

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deceptions - end
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