A hero who isn't also a martyr is just a cardboard cut-out, really. And Buffy?? *g* This 'friend'ship is going to be interesting.

Oh, I could speak for hours on Buffy (and, believe me, I have). She got me through one of the darkest times in my life.

I admire anyone who's not afraid to say what he thinks, and who doesn't speak in sound-bytes.

Oh, yes. And I agree with him so much. Frodo was so going after the Ring. I love that moment - it's so tragic and epic and yet so incredibly small. The music and the fire and the blood and his hair. Just the anger and need and then that loss. And he takes Sam's hand before the Ring melts, which, to me, is a moment of triumph - that he's able to pull himself away from the Ring when it's being destroyed.