[scottevill]

I think they're fantastic so far. Not sure I agree they're "what would've happened in Season 8," because if Season 8 had been a possibility, they never would've destroyed Sunnydale. But it does have elements of the spin-offs that didn't materialize (Slayer School, the Faith series--which is the next big storyline) writ large (since budget is no longer a factor).

I absolutely bought into it from the beginning: these are the same characters and relationships in a different format... not some licensed tripe.

I think the thing I'm liking most is the way Whedon has resurrected the whole Xander/Buffy thing. Good googly moogly, please let them end up together!!

Though if they do one thing in this project, they have to resurrect Tara--which Whedon wanted to do in Season 7, but Amber Benson wasn't into it. (And, besides the opportunity to do Nick Fury jokes early and often, I can't think why Willow hasn't found a way to restore Xander's eye by now.)