Season Seven
“I remember Joss sitting down with us when we did our state of the Onion discussion where we kind of looked at where we were as the season was ending and what we wanted to look forward to in the next season,” recalls Drew Greenberg. “And I remember him saying Okay that got dark. It got dark for everybody. I think I’d like to maybe give a little hope now.”
“We had a few things in mind with season seven,” said Whedon. “One, everybody was tired of being depressed, including us. Two, this was the last season. Three, let’s get back to where we started. Let’s go back to the beginning. Not the word, not the bang, but the real beginning. And the real beginning is girl power. The real beginning is what does it mean to be a Slayer? And not to feel guilty about the power, but having seen the dark side of it, to find the light again.”
The announcement of the show’s ending happened between the 16th and 17th episodes of the season with an Entertainment Weekly cover of SMG. However, not everybody was notified.
”The day that the Entertainment Weekly cover came out -- that was the day we all found out 'Buffy' was over. I was devastated. I was just very shocked," -Alyson Hannigan
Joss: “The fact is most of the cast not only knew it was the last year but were very glad of it. However, some of the crew did not know, which was totally my bonehead mistake. The actors did know and they kind of sucked up some energy from the crew. They just felt an official announcement should have been made before it was on the cover of a magazine, and they’re not wrong. I just was like, “we’ve known this from the beginning of the year.” It was just about paying respect.”
“I definitely feel like we left before we jumped the shark. It really felt right and was the right time. People were glad to be out of the dark pit of despair, so that’s good. Everybody was very positive about the final year, so it felt like a good time to say goodbye. I actually feel we could have gone on. There were fresh ideas. I do think that it would have been harder and hard to make it feel like we weren't treading over the same territory, but do feel like we could have gone on." -Marti Noxon
In Season Seven of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, themes of darkness and hope are explored as the series comes to a close. Joss Whedon, the creator, emphasizes a return to the show's roots, highlighting the essence of 'girl power' and what it means to be a Slayer. This season marks a significant shift, as the characters transition from despair to optimism, showcasing the importance of empowerment and resilience. The creators and cast, including Drew Greenberg and Marti Noxon, discuss their experiences during production, emphasizing the positive atmosphere surrounding the finale. They reflect on their emotions upon learning about the show's conclusion, with Alyson Hannigan articulating her shock when the announcement was made through a magazine cover. The feedback from both cast and crew illustrates their desire for a respectful conclusion to a beloved series, ensuring that it ended before reaching the point of exhaustion. The insights shared by the creators give fans a deeper understanding of the challenges and triumphs encountered during the final season, reinforcing Buffy’s legacy as a show that tackled complex issues while empowering its audience.