If you think about it the first three finales = OT Star Wars

During my latest rewatch I've realized that the first three seasons of Buffy truly read like the OT (Original Trilogy) Star Wars films.
Prophecy Girl = A New Hope because the villain of the day is defeated and a ragtag group of friends and heroes are formed (the Scooby Gang formation is a lot like Han, Luke, Leia and Chewie turning into a group).
Becoming Part II in season two = Empire because you have Buffy on the run being hunted by the police and then she gets expelled from school and then you have Angel trapped in hell (much like Han being frozen in carbonite) and the downer ending (in a three-act story the second act is always the darkest)
As for Graduation Day Part II, you have the big finale where there's a huge battle at the end and the Scooby Gang has help from unlikely/comical allies (her graduating class) much like the Rebels were aided by the Ewoks and then you have the school getting destroyed (much like Death Star II is destroyed) and all the loose ends of the first three seasons are tied up. If Buffy never continued past season three, it would definitely be very Star Wars-ish and as a fan of both universes I have to say well played Mr. Whedon. Well played :)

I may be love's bitch but at least I'm man enough to admit it. -Spike