Female Power! or Not?

Whedon wrote Buffy the Vampire Slayer with the intention of using it to empower women. He made the lead a strong independent female teenager who continually saved the world from things only her line of women could fight; she is the ideal feminist. At least, that’s what she is supposed to be. So why is Buffy all decked out in sexualized clothing? Why is she so entirely dependent on her male relationships?

Whedon really tries to drive home the feminist message in this final episode of BtVS. He makes the point blatantly in several scenes throughout the episode. For instance, when Buffy is explaining her plan she says in reference to the first Watchers, “They were powerful men. This (points to Willow) woman is more powerful than all of them combined.” Buffy wishes to overthrow the male structure of her world and replace it with an army of female heroines. He follows Willows successful empowerment of all those women with several scenes of women finding their inner strength and standing up to prove it.

EXT. BASEBALL DIAMOND - DAY
A young woman stands at the plate staring at the pitcher, waiting to bat. She looks a little nervous.
BUFFY (Voice Over)
From now on, every girl in the world who might be a slayer...
INT. HIGH SCHOOL HALLWAY - DAY
A young woman breathes heavily as she leans on her locker for support.
will be a slayer.
INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY
A young woman is lying across the floor, having fallen out of her chair.
Every girl who could have the power...
INT. DINING ROOM - DAY
In a Japanese-style dining room, a young woman stands up at family dinner.
will have the power... can stand up,
INT. BASEMENT - DAY
A young woman grabs the wrist of a man who's trying to slap her face, preventing him.
will stand up.
EXT. BASEBALL DIAMOND - DAY
The girl at the plate changes from nervous to confident, smiling as she waits for the pitch.
Slayers... every one of us. Make your choice. Are you ready to be strong?

So why do the writers counter the very theme (if we can even still consider it a theme with so many counter points made) that spurned the entire idea for the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series? The final act of battle, the act that wins the war and saves the entire world, has nothing to do with Buffy; in fact, no women at all are involved. It is Spike, Buffy’s current male support, who saves the day in this grand finale. I don’t understand what they were trying to do. If the writers went through so much trouble to culminate the show by driving home the idea of female power, then why is this episode’s savior not a woman?