Which brings me to CoE and its reception. It wasn't written as a finale, although it was written as something that could exist as a finale if need be. And, I suspect, it was viewed by a lot of the audience, especially the American audience for who the structure of the way Torcwhood has aired is a much more radical departure than what they are used to, as something that was a finale. Which really, really, impacts reception. Because seriously? Our show is over and it ends in defeat? No wonder people are angry!

I preferred it as a show finale than a season finale to be honest. Overall I'm not that crazy about COE because there are just too many things that don't work for me and the more I see it the less it works, but I could live with it as a finale for the show, espcially if I think of it as tragedy and Jack as moulded to be a tragic figure. They tend to end unhappily. I don't really see them handling the aftermath of S3 in a way that won't end up being unsatisfying for me and their track record doesn't fill me with hope and I know that'll ultimately colour my viewing of the new season and the characters and I'm not sure I want that.

I haven't seen the Buffy finale since it ended, but I remember disliking the season, but liking the finale and finding it fitting.