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Ripper: The Trinity is complete
Journalist Matt Mcgoven wrote an interesting essay about the reasons why the next Buffy Spin-off should be about Giles. |
Heres my deal. I Love Television. A Hell of A Lot. I always have, chances are I always will. But what television show can you love more than 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer?'
This cultural phemonenen ran for seven years between 1997 - 2003, and although many characters passed into and through the Slayers life, there were four characters who remained central and crucial to the show. Buffy herself, Willow, her Wiccan crayon-breaking lesbian friend, Xander her loyal fighter and Giles, her Watcher. The show also spawned 'Angel', a five season chronicle of a vampire with a soul. This often brilliant series ended in 2004, meaning that fans of the universe (or the Buffyverse/Whedonverse as it has been referred to) have been without a Slayer show for the last year, with next year certain to being no reprise of the Slayer. Fans have been talking about different possibilities of continuations of the Buffyverse; the rouge Slayer, Faith Lehane; Spike the British Vampire who fell in love with Buffy and Illyria, an ancient deity who took over the body of one of 'Angel's' lead characters.
However much I would clamber to see all of these series, (with the character of Faith being a particular favourite of mine, and whom I may further peruse at a later date) there is one character who appeals to me as somebody with spin-off credentials, as well as making logical sense in the continuation of the Slayer story. Rupert Giles, Buffy's mentor, father figure and Watcher.
So why, as well as being an interesting character to explore in more depth would Giles be the logical choice?
In my view, if you are telling the Slayer Story at its most basic and cut down there are three elements that remain constant: The Slayer, The Vampire, The Watcher. The Slayer will always be here to fight the Vampire, The Watcher will always be there to guide over the Slayer, train her and assist her against the forces of darkness. Thus far there have been two series; one focusing on the life of the Slayer, one focusing on the unlife of the vampire. The next logical step, the next perspective to look through is that of the Watcher. And it doesnt hurt that Rupert Giles is one hell of a character.
Its been seven years since the bumbling librarian first appeared on our screen. Typically British, he dissaproved of the American culture and the undisciplined way in which Buffy carried herself during training. Boy, he changed. By the end of the series run, Giles was older, wiser, suave and much more dangerous. Rupert Giles became a murderer to save the world, killing an innocent, one life for millions, doing what Buffy the Slayer could never do. He had put his own life in danger several times, aided Buffy in several devasting apocalypses, witnessed the horrific deaths of friends, yet lived himself (including several close calls). Our last sight of Rupert Giles was standing looking over the hole where the town of Sunnydale used to be, surrounded by the few survivors of Sunnydale's final battle. His future looked uncertain, what he and the rest of the fighters would do now, (the series last line being "Yeah Buffy what are we going to do now?") and a possible spin-off series would be fascinating; seeing what a middle aged man will do now when a major goal he had been fighting for, had been beaten.
The result would be interesting. After spending such a long time with the youth of today in the Cultrally different America, how would Giles settle back into Britain with people of his own age, fighting smaller but alone battles, segregated from the world that he had spent so much time in, the last seven years? I hope to offer my opinions this next week so if you would be so kind to join me then, then please do, and feedback would be greatly appreciated. My email is quite simple matt_mcgoven@yahoo.com
Episodes for Reference:
*'Welcome to the Hellmouth' (1.1) Written by Joss Whedon
*'Hallowe'en' (2.6) Written by Carl Ellsworth
*'The Dark Age'(2.8) Written by Rob Des Hotel & Dean Batali
*'Band Candy' (3.6) Written by Jane Espenson
*'Helpless' (3.12) Written by David Fury
*'Graduation Day Prt 1" Written by Joss Whedon
*'A New Man' (4.7) Written by Jane Espenson
*'Checkpoint' (5.12) Written by Douglas Petrie and Jane Espenson
*'The Gift' (5.22) Written by Joss Whedon
*'Grave' (6.22) Written by David Fury
*'Lessons'(7.1) Written by Joss Whedon
*'Chosen'(7.22) Written by Joss Whedon
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Buffy the Vampire Slayer, its characters, and the Buffy logo are the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, the WB Television Network, and Twentieth Century Fox. Angel-The Series, its characters, and the Buffy logo are the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, the WB Television Network, and Twentieth Century Fox.Other Series, their characters and logos are property of the proper right owners.
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