Similar to the last episode from season 2, and aware of it, with Buffy herself even comparing the current crisis to the older one in a dialogue, and immediately and rightfully mentioning how the two scenarios may be similar, but they are also different. And that difference is clear. The ending here may be as devastating, if not more, than the one in "Becoming: Part 2", but "The Gift" accomplishes it in a different way. What may be viewed as a drawback here is how "The Gift" relies heavier on visual effects, and even though they may be decent or even good, they are visual effects, and certain elements may come across as cartoonish. Thankfully, such are very few and occupy very little screen time. Not a problem, really. What could also be viewed as a drawback is the pacing of the episode. Not the whole episode, though, just the very ending of it. It could and probably should have been somewhat slower to give the audience, or should I say fans, a bit more time to absorb the pain from what they just witnessed with their favorite characters. The material itself, the idea itself, and the execution in general, all up there on the quality scale, no doubt, but the episode ends a bit too fast. It could have used more care.
Those details may be worth taking one star off, but not more. Season 5 has been rich and powerful, and here, with the final fight about to be fought, the finale unfolds. Our heroes are preparing. They need a plan, so they do come up with one. Only we, the audience, don't get to see the whole conversation they are having now. Some of it is left off screen so there are surprises during the fight. A smart move from the screenwriter, for sure. Our heroes are all different individuals with different characteristics or unique abilities. And they are going to work according to what they are good at, everyone doing a particular job with all of them, ultimately, working as one. They've been through a lot. Some of them may not be in their best shape. Some may be exhausted after all they've had to go through on the season. And this particular fight cannot be easy. But is anything ever really easy at all in this life?
