Colleen Gleason is an evil genius, and I love her for it. Not only did she play into my deep love of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which I consider to be one of my all-time favorite t.v. shows evah, she also managed to create a wonderfully effective way to extend the characters' journey to get to their HEA. I believe the series was all the stronger for it.
However knowing it was going to end, I totally dragged my feet about reading the fifth, and last, installment. It was also very evident even before this book who Victoria would end up choosing as her man. This didn't bother me, but I was pretty much in the other camp through most of the series, and was saddened that my guy didn't have a happier ending. Don't get me wrong - I totally got why Illa Gardella chose the man she did, and I know a huge number of fans couldn't have agreed more, and rightfully so. He was probably the more perfect foil for her, and had the strength to accomplish the most difficult tasks, ones that ended up breaking my heart, but had to be done for the good of the world (and to make the series even more effective). Victoria, or maybe I should have said her heart, chose wisely.
Of course that doesn't mean I wanted the other guy to suffer. I genuinely loved him. He was my favorite from the beginning, but it was clear that he would not be the one that stole Victoria's heart. It's hard to put into words exactly why, but there was just something missing in the connection between him and Victoria. In the end he still made a great sacrifice for her, but he wasn't quite the hero Victoria deserved. Yet instead of becoming less worthy of her throughout the series, he became moreso as his love for her grew. And that was one of the reasons it was so sad to see him lose, because he is a very worthy hero, just not Victoria's hero. It's like if you take strawberry and vanilla ice cream - together they taste really good, but not quite as good as chocolate and vanilla do. Strawberry and vanilla is still a good combination, but just not as perfect as chocolate and vanilla. Of course if you don't like these flavors, it's a moot point, but I think you know where I'm going with this.
So. The last book is over. Victoria vanquished the evil and finds true love, although their lives will never be easy, as Victoria is THE vampire slayer and evil never dies (at least not according to those "Halloween" movies). But, really, that's IT? No more? I remember a visit from Colleen last summer where we talked about the idea of contemporary Venators. Why couldn't someone from Victoria's lineage come to the states? Wouldn't that be wonderful? I'm thinking it would be. Colleen, can you get on that?
Which series did you hate to see come to an end?
Labels: Colleen Gleason, Gardellas
posted by Stacy~ at 5/03/2009 10:47:00 AM
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