Overview of S7E22: Chosen
In this episode of One Girl in All the World, Ashley and Kimmy recap the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series finale, “Chosen” — a high-stakes, emotional, and widely loved ending to the show. They break down Buffy’s final battle against the First Evil, the activation of all potential Slayers worldwide, Spike’s sacrifice, and the destruction of Sunnydale. Along the way, they praise the episode’s callbacks, powerful speeches, and satisfying finale energy.
Episode Summary
The final battle begins
- The recap picks up right after Buffy and Angel’s kiss, with Angel returning to help against the First Evil.
- Buffy finishes Caleb in a brutal fight, literally splitting him in two.
- Angel brings Buffy an amulet meant for “a champion,” and Buffy eventually gives it to Spike, affirming that he is a champion too.
Buffy and Spike
- Spike is jealous after seeing Buffy with Angel, and the hosts joke through their awkward confrontation.
- Buffy and Spike share a quiet, intimate moment before the battle, including sleeping side by side in the basement.
- The episode leaves their relationship intentionally open-ended for much of the hour, which the hosts describe as effective and bittersweet.
Willow’s spell and the Scythe
- Buffy realizes that the key to winning is not just strength, but not being alone.
- Willow performs a massive spell using the power of the Scythe.
- The spell awakens every potential Slayer in the world, turning them into active Slayers.
- The hosts strongly praised this sequence as one of the best moments in the entire series.
The Hellmouth and the collapse of Sunnydale
- The group heads into the Hellmouth for the final confrontation against the Ubervamps.
- Buffy, Faith, the Potentials, and the remaining Scoobies hold the line while chaos erupts everywhere.
- The First taunts Buffy while appearing as Buffy herself, but Buffy rallies and fights back.
- Spike’s amulet activates, unleashing a devastating burst of sunlight that wipes out the Ubervamps and begins collapsing the Hellmouth.
- Spike dies in the process, after helping save Buffy and the world.
- The group escapes on a school bus as Sunnydale collapses into a crater.
Key Moments and Takeaways
Best scenes the hosts highlighted
- Buffy’s final speech about choice, strength, and calling every potential Slayer.
- The montage of girls around the world awakening to power.
- The quiet original Scoobies moment with Buffy, Willow, Xander, and Giles.
- Buffy telling Spike, “I love you,” and Spike sacrificing himself.
- The final shot of Sunnydale destroyed, confirming that the town was truly gone.
Emotional and thematic points
- The hosts felt the finale beautifully centers female power, unity, and choice.
- Buffy’s realization that she does not have to do everything alone is treated as the emotional core of the episode.
- Spike’s death is framed as a full redemption arc.
- The destruction of Sunnydale feels like a symbolic ending to the entire series.
Host Reactions and Commentary
What they loved
- They called the episode “perfect” and gave it a 5/5 stake rating.
- They loved the season-one callback with the original trio walking away together.
- They praised the music, the pacing, and the emotional payoff.
- They were especially moved by the Scythe/Slayer activation sequence and Buffy’s speech.
What they wished for
- They noted the finale could have used a few more meaningful deaths to really raise the stakes.
- They wished there had been a moment of apology or emotional closure for some of the unresolved tension between characters.
- They also pointed out that some relationships, like Buffy/Giles and Buffy/Dawn, were still strained by the end.
Favorite Quotes / Lines
- “Are you ready to be strong?”
- “If you get killed, I’m telling.”
- “The earth is definitely doomed.” — a callback they loved
- Buffy’s cookie-dough metaphor, which they found cute and fitting
Final Verdict
The hosts consider “Chosen” an excellent series finale: emotionally satisfying, thematically powerful, and packed with memorable callbacks and payoff. Their overall reaction is overwhelmingly positive, with Buffy’s final speech, the global Slayer activation, and Spike’s sacrifice standing out as the defining moments of the episode.