How did Emma Caulfield end up as such a prominent character?

[DagonSphere]

When Anya first appeared, she was just a one-off, fairly underdeveloped “monster of the week.” But the show brought her back, and she ended up landing several comedic moments very effectively before eventually becoming a series regular. Based on that initial appearance alone, I’m not sure I would have seen the full potential of either the character or Emma Caulfield.

What do you think led to her return? Have the writers or Emma ever commented on that decision?

 

[NotASlayer]

From what I heard, Anyanka/Anya was originally intended to be a two and done character, so the original intended actress turned down the job. I have also heard comments that Emma has some of the best comedic timing in the series, and I guess that helped.

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

What do you think led to her return? Have the writers or Emma ever commented on that decision?

I have never heard why they kept Emma on, but my guess it probobly came about in a similar way to what happened with James? Fans loved Spike, so the the writers figured out a way to keep him around. With Emma, their decision to have her get involved with Xander guaranteed she'd be around for a while.

 

[AlphaFoxtrot]

Yes, sheer talent and will to power on Emma's part. You have to remember, Season 4 was chaotic enough, and had to have terrible focus group responses, so if you were a part of the series that worked, they were probably keeping you. I'm also guessing she was willing to wear any piece of clothing the network wanted her to, based on her completely off the wall fashion sense.

 

[NotASlayer]

I'm also guessing she was willing to wear any piece of clothing the network wanted her to, based on her completely off the wall fashion sense.

Her S4 clothes in particular made me wonder "WTH is she wearing?" (and the outfits I could track down were not cheap). I also suspect that when she became part of the main cast in S5, her contract had her be agree to show more skin than the other main female cast members.

 

[BuffyElevated]

I think Emma's comedic timing and ability to deliver those blunt lines without coming across as a straight up bitch helped fans to love her, kinda like Cordelia when she was on the show.

 

[AlphaFoxtrot]

It's really jarring, when you consider the "homeless vagrant" look she wore in early season 4. (Granted , this is the Buffy verse, which has an LA with homeless camps filled with attractive white teens) Anya/Emma is arguably the most attractive actress on the series, but it really doesn't come through in those episodes.

As a general reminder, the WB's business model relied heavily on fashion product placement. You see your favorite actress wearing something you like, you can go to the mall the next day and buy it. It's a win win, Buffy gets to wear fashionable outfits like the character should, the Network gets much needed money. However, if you were dressing a character whose clothing was supposed to signify something, like the character is supposed to be from a poor family or something, it would have to be annoying.

 

[NotASlayer]

It's really jarring, when you consider the "homeless vagrant" look she wore in early season 4. (Granted , this is the Buffy verse, which has an LA with homeless camps filled with attractive white teens) Anya/Emma is arguably the most attractive actress on the series, but it really doesn't come through in those episodes.

As a general reminder, the WB's business model relied heavily on fashion product placement. You see your favorite actress wearing something you like, you can go to the mall the next day and buy it. It's a win win, Buffy gets to wear fashionable outfits like the character should, the Network gets much needed money. However, if you were dressing a character whose clothing was supposed to signify something, like the character is supposed to be from a poor family or something, it would have to be annoying.

The "homeless vagrant who shops at D&G look" 😀 https://www.shopyourtv.com/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-season-4-episode-8-anyas-patchwork-pants/

 

[KaitKat]

I think it’s a combination of Emma’s comedic timing coupled with the fact that in season 4 several characters had left so we had room for new ones.

 

[thetopher]

The writers liked the actress, basically.

Some other stuff was a happy accident; Emma's comic timing, the idea of a suddenly immortal being struggling with 'new' concepts such as love, mortality and finding their place in a world they don't really understand.
It gave the writers to tap into themes that also resonated with all the other characters, but from a different perspective, a non-human perspective.


Those are probably the best aspects of how her character was used on the show but she doesn't really have much of an arc. Or purpose in a couple of seasons it seems. I think those harm her character overall.

 

[NotASlayer]

Those are probably the best aspects of how her character was used on the show but she doesn't really have much of an arc. Or purpose in a couple of seasons it seems. I think those harm her character overall.

I think one issue was that her knowledge was at plot breaking levels when she used it. Including knowing more witchcraft than their designated witches. So it tended to get forgotten after S5 in particular.

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

It's really jarring, when you consider the "homeless vagrant" look she wore in early season 4. (Granted , this is the Buffy verse, which has an LA with homeless camps filled with attractive white teens) Anya/Emma is arguably the most attractive actress on the series, but it really doesn't come through in those episodes.

Also, it could be argued that Anya's poor fashion choices were in character, since she was a thousand year old demon, who likely had no idea, or didn't care about current young adult fashion trends.

It's funny, I was watching Buffy with my boyfriend the other day, and asked him who he thought was the most attractive actress, and he said Emma! But he hadn't seen Julie yet (who I argue is the most attractive).

 

[ILLYRIAN]

Safe to say, it was that Emma knew how to act, when paired against Sarah M. Gellar she could give a performance worth watching. She was a demon not like Julie Benz. Sarah M. Gellar needed quality demons to make her character of the Chosen One seem even better. That is the one possible reason the reboot failed, that Nova failed to fill the shoes left vacant by SMG.