Bringing back Charisma and David to Buffy from a cancelled Angel show ?

[Btvs fan]

OK so both Charisma and David have said they expressed fears they'd be out of jobs if Angel didn't work out and could come back to Buffy and Joss reassured them they could.

But realistically could they or should they. In Buffy S3 they'd already pressed the reset on both characters. B/A was back to pre Angelus days and incredibly boring and already getting mocked by the writers on the show (see Zeppo and Dopplrgangland) while Cordy had gone back to High School bitch routine and literally showed up in episodes and said a funny line then left.

From a story perspective could you have put both back in the show as regulars. It really seems hard to imagine? Cordy doing the High School Bitch routine just doesn't work in college

 

[hoponlilmama]

Interesting question.

In regards to Cordy - she may have gone down the path of Xander having to find a job because she was broke. Or if she did somehow make it into college (via a scholarship?), I think we'd see a Cordelia who is out of her depth. She may have ruled in high school, but college is a different world, and might be knocked down a peg or two. This could give an opening into her bonding more with the Scoobies.

It would mean Anya doesn't then become a regular cast member, and the same for Spike - he'd move into the occasional guest role; show up for a few episodes, cause some mayhem and then leave.

As for Buffy/Angel - I've talked about this before, but you'd have to tackle the relationship issue by looking into anchoring his soul permanently, and have him interact more with the Scoobies. The will they/won't they can be a real drag - we've seen it in so many other television shows.

Or, Angel moves into a more of a guest role. Though I'm not sure that would work for him.

 

[Btvs fan]

Interesting question.

In regards to Cordy - she may have gone down the path of Xander having to find a job because she was broke. Or if she did somehow make it into college (via a scholarship?), I think we'd see a Cordelia who is out of her depth. She may have ruled in high school, but college is a different world, and might be knocked down a peg or two. This could give an opening into her bonding more with the Scoobies.

It would mean Anya doesn't then become a regular cast member, and the same for Spike - he'd move into the occasional guest role; show up for a few episodes, cause some mayhem and then leave.

As for Buffy/Angel - I've talked about this before, but you'd have to tackle the relationship issue by looking into anchoring his soul permanently, and have him interact more with the Scoobies. The will they/won't they can be a real drag - we've seen it in so many other television shows.

Or, Angel moves into a more of a guest role. Though I'm not sure that would work for him.

Your ideas sound interesting but to nuanced for how the show was at the time.

 

[hoponlilmama]

Your ideas sound interesting but to nuanced for how the show was at the time.

How would you bring Cordy and Angel back into BTVS? Or maybe you'd pick only one of them to return?

 

[Btvs fan]

How would you bring Cordy and Angel back into BTVS? Or maybe you'd pick only one of them to return?

To be frank I'd do neither. I thought both characters had out lived there usefulness on the show.
I only really found Angel interesting on his own show and wishing he'd not been brought back in Buffy S3 anyway

 

[AlphaFoxtrot]

Okay, Angel was not Angel, it was a Buffy Spin off featuring David Boreanez. It wasn't getting cancelled, that show was getting retooled until they got it right. Charisma, well, she was disposable. You saw Season 3, right? I think the more likely outcome was for her to tread water on Buffy, until the WB found something else for her to do.

 

[Btvs fan]

Okay, Angel was not Angel, it was a Buffy Spin off featuring David Boreanez. It wasn't getting cancelled, that show was getting retooled until they got it right. Charisma, well, she was disposable. You saw Season 3, right? I think the more likely outcome was for her to tread water on Buffy, until the WB found something else for her to do.

Why would the WB care about Charisma she was hardly a big name. Hell it was Greenwalt more than Joss that wanted her on Angel.
In IWRY she angered Gellar so much because she couldnt remember her lines, she refused to work with her.
You'll notice all the Buffy/Cordy scenes are them separate. Never in the same shot

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

From a story perspective could you have put both back in the show as regulars. It really seems hard to imagine? Cordy doing the High School Bitch routine just doesn't work in college

I totally agree it would have been very difficult to bring Angel and Cordelia back in S4. I guess Cordelia could have joined Willow and Buffy in college, but what to do with Angel? He's just lurking around, helping Buffy slay but also stalking her, doing the same thing to her in college he did to her in high school? Being jealous, and Interfering with her ability to date other men and move on. Sounds terrible to me and not a good utilization of his character. Angel leaving was the best thing for him for sure.

Also for Cordelia, leaving and going to LA to pursue acting and be independent was so in character for her. Staying in Sunnydale and going to college there was something she'd never want to do.

 

[AlphaFoxtrot]

Re: Charisma; This is a network that gave Nikki Cox two series and the Mowries two series, the former , solely because she had fantastic boobs, and the latter, because twins? (seriously, if someone can explain how "The Smart Guy" a three year run?)

Oh, I'm not saying we are getting a "Charisma" show, but she might be useful as a teacher, or older sister or Dad's Trophy wife et al. Kind of like how Nicky could get steady work for about a decade until his Demons got to him. Or frankly, her career for most of the 2000s, 2010s. She's a pretty girl people recognize.

But my real point is this, nobody inside Mutant Enemy appears to like Charisma all that much, so I'm assuming someone at the Network does. I don't think she could stay part of production for 7 years without some one high up being fond of her.

 

[Btvs fan]

Re: Charisma; This is a network that gave Nikki Cox two series and the Mowries two series, the former , solely because she had fantastic boobs, and the latter, because twins? (seriously, if someone can explain how "The Smart Guy" a three year run?)

Oh, I'm not saying we are getting a "Charisma" show, but she might be useful as a teacher, or older sister or Dad's Trophy wife et al. Kind of like how Nicky could get steady work for about a decade until his Demons got to him. Or frankly, her career for most of the 2000s, 2010s. She's a pretty girl people recognize.

But my real point is this, nobody inside Mutant Enemy appears to like Charisma all that much, so I'm assuming someone at the Network does. I don't think she could stay part of production for 7 years without some one high up being fond of her.

David Greenwalt was that person. She used to call him Greenie. He pushed for her to be brought onto Angel and its significant that once he left at the end of Season 3 she was fired the next year.

 

[NotASlayer]

I guess you could have them set up Angel Investigations in Sunnydale? And have it fulfil the role that the Magic Box later did. Though bringing Angel back would have a diversified focus unless you wanted him to be involved with Buffy again.

He's just lurking around, helping Buffy slay but also stalking her, doing the same thing to her in college he did to her in high school? Being jealous, and Interfering with her ability to date other men and move on. Sounds terrible to me and not a good utilization of his character.

That made me laugh, because you have literally just described Spike. 😀

 

[Btvs fan]

I guess you could have them set up Angel Investigations in Sunnydale? And have it fulfil the role that the Magic Box later did. Though bringing Angel back would have a diversified focus unless you wanted him to be involved with Buffy again.



That made me laugh, because you have literally just described Spike. 😀

That's the thing. They could only do the will they won't they stuff with Bangel and it had gone beyond boring by that point.
Joss and Co were well aware of that too
Oz Hey Angel you looking for Buffy ?
Angel As Always

 

[AlphaFoxtrot]

Well, it probably wouldn't be the same show. Angel would be more like a co-star, and the ensemble would likely get pushed down, not unlike what happened to Quark, Keiko and Jake on DS9 after Worf joined the series. Or like one of those Scooby Doo series where Fred, Daphne and Velma left in favor of more Scrappy. That's not entirely bad, as it could free them to do other projects, which in 2000, was a very real possibility.