Article Joss: "They're going to hate you"

Moscow Watcher

Moscow Watcher

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From Marc Blucas' new interview:


Strangely, I have been re-watching "Buffy" and had just gotten into season four when "Necessary Roughness" began. Perfect timing, huh?

I'm surprised you still want to talk to me. Back then, I was so green. I was a business major in college and had no concept of what I was doing. Today, I can't watch "Buffy" because I just cringe. I suck so bad in it. I got really lucky to have the opportunity, but I genuinely had no clue what I was doing.

Playing Buffy's first post-Angel boyfriend probably didn't help. Did you get a lot of hate mail?

I have more people hating me from "Buffy" than I do liking me. That's the truth. But that's fan-based, due to the story line. It's just like, you have two people that are tortured lovers and who are supposed to be together forever. And then Mr. Happy-Go-Lucky comes in and is like, "I'm her new boyfriend!" There's no amount of positioning Joss [Whedon] could have done. It could have been Brad Pitt in that role and I don't think he would have been universally liked. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe it's just me they hated.

Well, Team Riley sprung up when you punched that douche-y Parker square in the face for bragging about his conquest of Buffy.

They did everything they could to set it up in a way that I could potentially be likable. And that was one of the moments. Ah! And when things are bad, Riley can fly in and deck 'em!

It's all good now, though, right?

Now that it's been ten years, the fans have obviously lightened up. But early on, man "¦ I was even warned. Joss and everybody said, "Don't go online -- they're going to hate you." I was like, "Okay." So of course I got online after my first episode and I'm like, âOh my god, they hate me." And they're like, "Yeah, we told you they're going to hate you."
 
I do feel bad for him. I actually like Marc Blucas and think if Riley's character had been written better most fans would've accepted him. I've seen him in a few movies and have enjoyed his performances. But Joss doesn't take enough responsibility for Riley not working and blames it on "people not being able to get over Angel".

Look at Willow and Tara. Oz was a beloved character by the fandom and then exists the show with virtually no warning. Then Joss makes Willow do a 180 and turn gay (even if their were no subtle hints beyond vamp Willow's comment in Doppleganger) and yet fans grew to accept it and love the character of Tara because she was so well written.
 
L
LindsayH
I agree. I absolutely LOVED Willow and Oz together, but grew to love Tara as well.
It's interesting. Sometimes people can't seperate between the character and the actor who plays it. Not his fault that people hate him. He didn't write the character. He simply said and acted what it was written for him. I guess that's a risk you take when you become an actor. Especially if you're a regular on a series.
 
Moscow Watcher said:
Joss and everybody said, "Don't go online -- they're going to hate you." I was like, "Okay." So of course I got online after my first episode and I'm like, "Oh my god, they hate me." And they're like, "Yeah, we told you they're going to hate you."
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I laughed at that part! 😀 But seriously, I can't believe how many people dislike him. The character wasn't so bad at all. He just could have used more backstory and development, imo. Like he mentioned in the interview, the fact he was taking Angel's place with Buffy probably didn't help his case with a lot of fans. Oh well...
 
PassionBecoming
PassionBecoming
[No message]
Four years ago Bookishwench wrote an interesting essay Andrew, Riley, and Kennedy: What the Heck Was Joss Thinking? She did great research and analysis of fandom reactions to these characters.

~~~~~~~~

I wonder if people would react similarly if Riley would've been played by Christian Kane (who also was a contender to the role). Could he create a darker, more controversial Riley who'd 've potentially been more interesting choice for Buffy's love interest?

I also can't keep from wondering if Joss intentionally coupled Buffy with a character who was supposed to be hated - because Riley was conceived as a transitional phase in Buffy's journey.
 
Tome
Tome
I was expecting a neutral POV but the essay clearly sided with the haters. Sad :(
brinkster130
brinkster130
^ I agree with what Tome said....that a pretty one sided essay.
Did you guys read the rest of the article? God, he is the cutest thing ever!

Can you think of another actor who could take you in a game of one-on-one?

Look, as I’ve always said -- and please quote me on this, because any other version of this quote is going to make me sound like an arrogant bastard -- in the world of professional athletes I am a slug, but in the world of actors I am a phenomenal ****ing athlete. That’s my direct quote! [Laughs]
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He also goes on to say that he doesn't drink alcohol or do drugs.

I'm really liking him in Necessary Roughness. Callie Thorne is awesome, they're a really good fit.

And yeah, I know the weaknesses of the character on BtVS. But I honestly don't get the hate. Well, I don't get the hate for any character. It's a TV series for godsake! I love it as much as the next Whedonite, but I don't get all worked up over it.
 
brinkster130
brinkster130
he is the cutest!
Moscow Watcher said:
Four years ago Bookishwench wrote an interesting essay Andrew, Riley, and Kennedy: What the Heck Was Joss Thinking? She did great research and analysis of fandom reactions to these characters.

~~~~~~~~

I wonder if people would react similarly if Riley would've been played by Christian Kane (who also was a contender to the role). Could he create a darker, more controversial Riley who'd 've potentially been more interesting choice for Buffy's love interest?

I also can't keep from wondering if Joss intentionally coupled Buffy with a character who was supposed to be hated - because Riley was conceived as a transitional phase in Buffy's journey.
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Christian Kane would've been good, but I think Marc did a great job with a poor character. Tara was a transitional character too, and so was Anya and they both worked.
 
VisionGirl said:
Did you guys read the rest of the article? God, he is the cutest thing ever!



He also goes on to say that he doesn't drink alcohol or do drugs.

I'm really liking him in Necessary Roughness. Callie Thorne is awesome, they're a really good fit.

And yeah, I know the weaknesses of the character on BtVS. But I honestly don't get the hate. Well, I don't get the hate for any character. It's a TV series for godsake! I love it as much as the next Whedonite, but I don't get all worked up over it.
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After that quote I really want to see him go one on one with James Lafferty. 😀
 
Taake
Taake
there could be oil of some sort involved... :D
Aw, poor Marc. I feel bad for him now. I didn't know people had hated him that much. I like Buffy/Riley!
 
Aw. I love MB. I think he's adorable! and also a little bit hilarious. I'm not the hugest Riley fan here but I do like a lot of things about him.
 
Things like this make me feel bad for bashing actors I don't like. LOL Because it reminds me that they're real people and it's not their fault they are playing characters I can't stand (i.e. Vincent playing Connor). Poor Marc! I always loved Riley and never understood the Riley hate... I wish people wouldn't have gone so hard on him.
 
Wow, I have to hand it to the guy for stepping into a role, being told that you would be hated for it, and sticking with it. He seems like a genuinely nice guy. 🙂

I obviously adore Riley Finn and to be honest hearing things like this and reading things like the essay Moscow Watcher posted only make me like the guy more.

---------- Post added at 11:17 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:13 AM ----------

Kean said:
After that quote I really want to see him go one on one with James Lafferty. 😀
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That is something I'd love to see! 😀 I wonder who would win...MB is the better player but JL is much younger.
 
T
TheFirstSlayer
[No message]
Wesley Pryce
Wesley Pryce
[No message]
I started reading that essay, and...no. No thank you.

Heck guys, I don't even hate Kennedy (or Dawn, or Connor). Kennedy can be annoying (doubly so in the comics than in season 7 for me), but more in relation to Willow than on her own. On her own in season 7, at least she was willing to fight, which was more than could be sad about the other whiney Potentials. Even in season 8, I don't mind her when she's working with Satsu. The Killow relationship is just...not good. Willow settles, Kennedy is uber-jealous (especially after Buffy's fling with Satsu).
 
Looks like Mark Blucas is a sweetie. He has been obviously fighting an uphill battle on BtVS. I was indifferent to his character when I watched season 4, because there was no intrigue in Riley. It was obvious from the very first episode that he has been there as Buffy's new boyfriend. I always thought that it was a thankless role - but I never hated him. When I discovered online fandom in 2001-2002 I was shocked by the level of Riley-hate.

I just find it a bit disturbing that Joss was so sure that Riley would be hated.
 
Moscow Watcher said:
Looks like Mark Blucas is a sweetie. He has been obviously fighting an uphill battle on BtVS. I was indifferent to his character when I watched season 4, because there was no intrigue in Riley. It was obvious from the very first episode that he has been there as Buffy's new boyfriend. I always thought that it was a thankless role - but I never hated him. When I discovered online fandom in 2001-2002 I was shocked by the level of Riley-hate.

I just find it a bit disturbing that Joss was so sure that Riley would be hated.
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Yeah, it was almost a self-fullfilling prophecy. Because then he wrote him so that he definitely would be hated!
 
VisionGirl said:
Yeah, it was almost a self-fullfilling prophecy. Because then he wrote him so that he definitely would be hated!
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I disagree. I can't think of a single thing Riley did that warrants the sheer level of hate that he gets.

It seems to me that the only thing that Riley had going against him was a heartbeat. It makes me wonder if the writers were talking about Buffy or the audience with that "...monster in her man" comment.
 
BuffyElevated
BuffyElevated
[No message]
Kean said:
I disagree. I can't think of a single thing Riley did that warrants the sheer level of hate that he gets.

It seems to me that the only thing that Riley had going against him was a heartbeat. It makes me wonder if the writers were talking about Buffy or the audience with that "...monster in her man" comment.
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Well, I do totally agree. Although his associating with the vamp-whores didn't help.
 
VisionGirl said:
Well, I do totally agree. Although his associating with the vamp-whores didn't help.
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No, it didn't. But compare that to some of the things Angel, Spike, even Xander, have done and the Riley hate is completely disproportional to his "crimes".
 
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