Chemistry

[white avenger]

We've all commented at one time or another about the "chemistry" between two characters/actors, and how it makes their relationship so much more believable. But what, to you, does that really mean? Is it the relationship between the two actors, their individual skill at portraying their characters, the way that the story is written, all of those, none of those, or what?

I personally think that what we perceive as "chemistry" between two characters is a combination of the skill of the actors and the material that they have to work with much more than how well the two actually got along off stage.( As great a team as Abbott and Costello were on stage, they were never friends in real life. Remington Steel and Laura Holt were always hot on the show, but Brosnan and Zimbalist could never get along when they were out of character.)

So what defines the chemistry between the two characters in Spuffy, Bangel, Cangel, Twillow, or any other ship that you might care to name? The skill of the actors? Some bond of friendship that they have that reflects in the characters they portray? The great scripts? Or something else?

 

[TheChosenTwo]

I think it's the skills of the actor. I always thought Aly and Amber must have been best friends in real life, but he heard they couldn't stand each other. I think most actors can keep work and private very good apart.

But Sarah and David had fantastic chemistry and were friends in real life... so I'm not sure.

 

[PrincessBuffy16]

First part of chemistry for me is actors ability to show how much he/she means about his/hers partner. To show us that love, to make us feel.

The second part is their relathionship in personal life. Good actors can separate their work from personal life, but it's nice to know that people who are part of your favourite couple good friends or something more.

 

[Wesley]

That is a great question WA. It has to be skill of the actor I imagine. For instance, if you look at a lot of the 'ships' that exist I blame it on David Boreanez being such a good actor. The guy could create a level of chemistry with practically any character he interacted with. 'Angel' clicked with Buffy, Spike, Wes, Cordy, Doyle, even Gunn, Fred, Willow and Xander. The guy could act opposite Wilson the Volleyball and someone would be shipping Wilgel by the end of the episode.

I was talking with a friend about this the other day. I think it's because he's such a womanizer/sexual person he probably has a natural charisma that puts people at ease around him.

 

[luckystar]

For me it is a mixture of everything, but mainly it is all about the actors and the mutual respect they have for each other. Some of the best chemistry in my opinion comes from people that happen to be close off screen to however, but when you have a good script in front of you it is up to the actors to give it justice and with Joss's amazing words in front of you it would be hard not to portray it good!

 

[Bungle Jerry]

It's Kyrumption. Or however you spell that.

 

[sosa lola]

My problem with chemistry that it's very subjective. I can think of two characters who have a lot of chemistry, but another fan won't think so. Perhaps actors' relationships with each other in real life does reflect on their chemistry while playing those characters, it's obvious that Buffy was closer to Xander than Willow in S7 -and at that time it was rumored that SMG and AH weren't getting along, but SMG and NB were still friends to the point that they asked Joss to pair Xander and Buffy together, not to mention SMG complaining about Xander having no role in Chosen.

 

[BuffyElevated]

For me, chemistry is all about the acting. Even though two actors may not like each other IRL sometimes their acting skills mesh in such a way that when they slip into a role, they play off the other person and work with them to speak and move as if it were the most natural thing on earth. Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey couldn't stand each other when they were cast to star in "Dirty Dancing", but once the cameras were rolling, they created magic together.

 

[dan k]

My problem with chemistry that it's very subjective. I can think of two characters who have a lot of chemistry, but another fan won't think so. Perhaps actors' relationships with each other in real life does reflect on their chemistry while playing those characters, it's obvious that Buffy was closer to Xander than Willow in S7 -and at that time it was rumored that SMG and AH weren't getting along, but SMG and NB were still friends to the point that they asked Joss to pair Xander and Buffy together, not to mention SMG complaining about Xander having no role in Chosen.

Your point about Aly and Sarah not getting on during season 7 does seem to make sense considering how Buffy and Willow's relationship developed in season 7.

Although you could say that was deliberate because of Willow's actions in season 6.

 

[Thursday]

Acting is very important, but don't underestimate the power of the script.

SMG and James Marsters had absolutely great acting/chemistry in Something Blue (I mean they were the best thing in that episode), but some people don't ship Spuffy because they don't approve of the circumstances under which it happened. It was the writer's who chose to Buffy be depressed and use Spike; it was the writer's who, well, decided to begin the relationship by bringing down the house.

 

[Skytteflickan88]

Great chemistry on screen is for me when two or more actors interact successfully, and take and give, and make the characters react of each other. Kind of like tennis, they shoot, you take and throw it back, you don't let the ball fall. They're not acting in their own bubbles, they clash, they react to each other. The characters could be angry with each other, in love, annoyed, avoiding, whatever.

I have a hard time describing it, since I don't often think "Wow, that's great chemistry" or notice when it's not there. But I could see sparks (not that kind, gutterminds) between DB and JM in Angel season 5, and maybe it was the script, or directing, but there was something there that I don't think were there in season 2 of Buffy. Better acting? Or better communication?

Actors who don't just read lines to each other, but actually seem to have a bond with that other actor(s) while the camera's one can create/have chemistry.

But what do I know, maybe it's just coincidence. The right actors on screen at the same time, with characters who
play off each other well could be it.

I've seen characters have good chemistry in one scene, and not in another. Could be the actors having a bad day. Like when they're suppose to finish each other sentences, but there's that long pause, that ruins it. I've seen DB on Bones on minute have good chemistry with Deschanel(or whatever the "Bones"-actresses' name is) then there's ... less chemistry.