Magui
Scooby
Magic, Mystery & the Unknown
A transcription of the Xpose #85 interview with Steven S. DeKnight, writer and producer of Angel. He talks about what might have been and comments on the cancellation.
transcribed by Setje
Bryan Cairns interviews Steven S Deknight
As we bid a fond farewell to the nearly departed fang gang, we take a look at the key events surrounding the series' end "“ rubbing hips with movers and shakers from both sides of the camera"¦
As Angel's fifth and final season comes to a close, Bryan Cairns asks the show's writer and producer Steven S DeKnight what might have been.
THE 250-YEAR-OLD Vampire Angel may be immortal but, unfortunately, his show is not. After five successful years of waging the war against evil, the Buffy spin-off is being staked, beheaded, and thrown into the sunlight "“ or, in Hollywood bigwig terms, cancelled.
"It's one of those things where it's a surprise but not a surprise," reflects writer and producer Steven S DeKnight. "We were surprised because the show was going so well. When we heard the news, we were coming off Smile Time and were shocked because we thought we wre doing really good shows. On the other hand, we saw the writing on the wall and the fact the show barely came back last year.
Our numbers are up but not significantly enough. Plus, the WB is really excited about Dark Shadows and nobody thought they'd do two Vampire shows. You don't want to believe it but it is kinda obvious."
It's not like Mutant Enemy didn't go down kicking and screaming thought. In the wake of last season's Jasmine-Beast-Angelus-Cordelia-Connor year long epic, Angel was retooled to be more Big Bad free, with stand-alone episodes that would be new viewer friendly.
"The road more travelled would have been bigger stories," offers DeKnight. "It's tough because if we did that our numbers wouldn't have gone up. We would have the same fans and kept them happy. I don't know if it would have made a difference. Ultimately, it's not about the quality of the show or the stories. It was based on ratings and needing a time slot."
Still, The WB gave enough notice so that creator Joss Whedon could wrap up any plot points and go out with a blaze of glory. So to cram everything in, what existing scripts were chucked or recycled?
"The answer is ohhh"¦ nothing" replies DeKnight. "Joss had planned the end of the season to work as a series or season ender, depending if we were picked up again. If there is one thing that's different, it is episode 20, which Drew Goddard and I wrote. We took the time to do a light hearted romp that normally at that point we wouldn't have done. We felt it was the last time to give Angel and Spike a chance to be out together and have some fun."
Fun? Aren't there more important things to deal with, like where the heck is Buffy? There's still the whole Slayer/Angel/Spike triangle to resolve and Angel star David Boreanaz did make a pit stop during Buffy's darkest hour. Where's the mutual love now?
"It's very unlikely," speculates DeKnight about a Sarah Michelle Gellar cameo. "One of the reasons is with her schedule, it's very difficult to lock her down. Also, we would have loved to have Sarah on the show but to bring Buffy back now in the last couple of episodes kind of takes away from the people who worked so hard on the show. It would have to be about her and not our characters. They would have to be pushed to the side and that would disservice not only the actors, but the characters themselves.
"However, there will be a lot of discussion," he says. "But do you really want Buffy to pick somebody? I don't."
With co-executive producer Jeffrey Bell apparently in another office sweating over Angel's last stand, DeKnight acknowledges any member of the Fang Gang could soon be joining Cordelia and Doyle on another plane.
"The grim reaper is always hanging around Team Angel," he teases. "At this point, I have no idea if or who is going to die but if there's a big battle at the end, chances are somebody is going to get it."
When asked if he had any parting thoughts or words for Angel fans, DeKnight paused before concluding. "For all the people contributing to the Save the Angel Campaign, save your money because the show is over. It's not coming back to The WB, UPN, or Fox. The machinery is being dismantled as we speak. And thank you very much for your support. The fans have always made Buffy and Angel what it is and we never forgot that. We're so appreciative of the response we got for this show. It's amazing to me that it came back by the skin of its teeth for five years and we consider ourselves very lucky to have done this final season.
Side bar
DeKnight to remember
WITH ANGEL'S CANCELLATION, viewers are hoping all their questions will be resolved beginning with why Wolfram & Hart handed over their company to the Fang Gang.
"It's been hinted at strongly if not directly said," teases DeKnight. "But there will be some more revelations, some stuff to clarify and expand, and maybe some new players we didn't know about. We're not going to tie up everything in a neat package. It won't quite belike Buffy. We may look at some loose ends with Illyria and Nina the werewolf."
"There will be a new Wolfram and Hart man introduced, played by Firefly's Adam Baldwin. Some past villains may be appearing. There might be a light hearted trip over seas squeezed in. There will be some old and new faces and a wonderful yet to be written series finale."
When asked what the most rewarding part of writing for Angel was, DeKnight's response is immediate and sincere.
"Geez, there's so many things but above everything else, its meeting the wonderful people I work with," he concludes. "It's such a cliché to say we're a family but we really are. We enjoy each other's company and there's so much laughter and good times here. More thant the job, more than the show, I'm going to miss these people tremendously."
When the decision was made to reunite historical love-rivals Spike and Angel for the fifth season, you could almost here (hear?) the fans clucking in anticipation.
Our David Richardson tracks down their alter egos James Marsters and David Boreanaz to find out just how much fun was had "¦
WHEN NEWS THAT Spike was crossing over to Angel broke, unfortunately before the peroxide-haired Vampire's act of self-sacrifice in the Buffy finale, many viewers deliberated on how the character might fit in.
Thankfully, we now realize that he doesn't "“ and that's what's fun.
Joss Whedon, always a storyteller who is impossible to predict, has brilliantly forced Spike to be an outsider to even Angel's dysfunctional "˜family' at Wolfram & Hart. Initially summoned to LA as an incorporeal figure, who seems only to arouse the sympathies of physicist Fred, Spike suddenly gained his earthly form by surprise in Destiny, part of the scheme devised by Angel's long-time foe Lindsey McDonald.
Consequently there are two vampires with a soul in the world, both of them champions, and both competing to fulfil the Shanshu Prophecy and to become Human.
It's fascinating twist that has formed the backbone of the show's fifth season, and one that will hopefully reach fruition in the show's 110th "“ and final "“episode.
"˜I'm having more fun than I've ever had in this universe," says Marsters of his experience of the series. "I had a lot of fun over on Buffy, but I'm having even more fun on Angel."
Marster's introduction has been just one element of a larger shake-up, which was envisaged as an attempt "“ sadly unsuccessful "“ to stave off the threat of cancellation.
With the loss of two popular characters and Angel's move to the lair of his enemies at Wolfram & Hart, a destiny was set in motion that will ultimately demand a heavy price before the season is out.
"The writing has been really good this year," enthuses Marsters.
"The way that a TV show is going to succeed, ultimately, is if the lead character becomes more interesting season to season. You might be able to squeeze out a couple of extra good shows with your secondary characters, but if your forget about your home turf and abandon your lead then your show is going to fail, no matter how good your supporting cast is.
"They made some really daring choices about impelling Angel, having him made a decision that could possibly be a devastating mistake for him and everyone around him. That's inherently dramatic."
For leading man David Boreanaz, now the only original cast member left on the series since Charisma Carpenter's departure (which culminated in the touching belated swansong You're Welcome), the fifth season has been a pivotal year.
"We've taken it into a new level," he believes. "This year, being in the law offices of Wolfram & Hart, has changed our perspective, and how we relate to each other."
The presence of Spike has been an important part of that dynamic, providing a welcome opportunity for Marsters to explore aspects of his character that have become somewhat redundant in recent seasons of Buffy. The Vampire has travelled a long journey of discovery since his role as the Big Bad of Buffy's second year : deprived by The Initiative of the ability to kill, softened by his feeling for The Slayer, Spike would ultimately grow from an immoral serial killer to an unexpected force for good. But this transfer to Angel has brought further changes.
"I've been having fun kind of going back to the original Spike, which is really a weird thing to say because the character has got a soul, which would have made me think I'd be going in a whole new direction. But I'm enjoying not being whipped anymore. I can do what the character did originally, to go up the lead of the series and say, "˜Hey you're going to die. You're a fool' and just be the grist in the wheel that way.
"I'm enjoying myself and this cast like never before. I feel like they've really great people and I enjoy going to work every day, and that's probably showing in the work too. I'm just a happier guy."
It's a contentment shared by Boreanaz, who has been afforded the opportunity to expand his repertoire "“ not only in terms of performance, but in taking on an unexpected role behind the scenes. Soul Purpose, a tale largely comprising extraordinary fantasy sequences, became the actor's directorial début "“ to be fair it wasn't the show's greatest script, but he acquitted himself magnificently.
"I enjoyed the opportunity," he affirms. "I was very fortunate to be able to have the opportunity and Joss graciously accepted the offer and said, "˜Yeah, sure, you can do it.' It's pretty bizarre when you're directing and then you're acting in it, and you're trying to remove yourself from it. But these (actors) are fantastic, they know what they're doing, the notes were minimum. They come in, hit their marks, they're professional.
"And I allow them to grow creatively and allow their space to almost make it as a whole rather than an individual show. I let their wings fly creatively, and I want to keep that energy alive. I wanted them to enjoy what I was going through."
Speaking for the other cast members, who had to adjust to the fact that their co-star and friend was now in charge, Marsters has only kind words.
"Overall David was absolutely fabulous as a director," he insists.
"He had a confidence about him that normally first-time directors lack. He was so confident, so we all relaxed.
"I finally asked David on the last day, "˜You must have read a lot of books and everything about directing?' He's like "˜No.' I'm like "˜What are you just acting like you know what you're doing.' He's like, "˜Yeah!' And I'm like? 4It4s really working dude, keep it up!'
"People from the crew came up to me, saying, "˜Can you please lobby the producers to have David back?' I think he was fabulous."
At the time of going to press, just six episodes of Angel remain. It's certainly been a turbulent year : after a strong start, some fans voiced disappointment with the show's direction, alarmed by the move away from more arc-oriented stories. Little did they expect the sudden announcement from The WB that declared that the network loved the series, but they were going to cancel it anyway. And, as is the way of these things, since the end for Angel became nigh, so the show has suddenly started delivering, with stories like Smile Time and A Hole in the World standing as the series at its most inventive, powerful and cutting edge. It may be a long time before we see the like of the show again.
For now, the series endures on DVD and in re-runs, ensuring that it will be remembered. But what would Boreanaz like the show's legacy to be?
"In 10 or 20 years, I think people will look at it in a different light to Buffy," he muses. "It's a broader show. It's a larger show. It takes place in a major city. The characters are much different.
"I think this show will be really interesting in 10 or 20 years' time; I think people will way, "˜Wow, they did some fantastic things." It will live on definitely."
Season five newcomer Eve has a whole bag of tricks up her sleeves. Steven Eramo meets her alter ego Sarah Thompson to set about demystifying the mysterious beauty"¦
At the start of Angel's fifth season, the Vampire and his team of demon slayers joined forces with the evil law firm of Wolfram & Hart. A mysterious and beautiful young woman named Eve was sent by the office's Senior Partners to act as liaison between them and Angel Investigations. Our heroes were unaware that Eve had her own hidden agenda and together with her lover, Wolfram & Hart's former "˜golden boy' Lindsey McDonald, plotted Angel's downfall.
Even Sarah Thompson, who portrayed Eve, had no idea what her duplicitous alter ego was up to.
"The biggest challenge in playing Eve was not knowing what the overall story arc of the character was going to be," says the actress. "I gleaned as much information as possible from script to script and asked questions of the show's producers and the directors of each episode. Other than that it was pretty much a guessing game. I honestly didn't know when I started on Angel that Eve was going to turn out to be evil or end up being Lindsey's (Christian Kane) significant other.
"So it took me a while to figure out who this girl was. Of course, knowing now what I know about her, I'd describe Eve as someone who was very much in love with and in many ways idolized Lindsey. She was willing to do anything to please him in order to prove that she was worthy of his love. That said, Eve was still a very strong woman. She was intelligent, witty as well as sarcastic and loved to push people's buttons, all of which was fun for me to play."
Of all Angel's colleagues it was Spike who first picked up on the fact that there was more to Eve than meets they eyes. "It didn't take long for Spike to sense that my character was a threat, whereas everyone else saw her as more of a nuisance," notes Thompson.
"There were even a couple of scenes between Eve and Spike where he said to her, "˜I know what you're up to,' and she pretended not to understand what he was talking about."
Despite her character's uneasy relationship with Spike, the actress has nothing but praise for the actor who plays him. "I love working with James. He's such a gifted actor and fully invests himself in his character as well as his scenes and is a true joy to work with. I feel the same about the rest of the Angel cast. It's both rewarding and exciting when you're surrounded by such a group of tremendously gifted professionals."
Angel audiences are made privy to Eve's and Lindsey's scheming in the fifth season episode Destiny.
"At that point I had a feeling that Eve was probably evil," says Thompson. "The writers had been pushing the storyline in that direction so I was kind of expecting it. What did surprise me was Christian Kane's re-introduction into the series. I didn't find out about it until I showed up to do our first scene together. They didn't want anyone to know that he was coming back, so in the script his character was referred to by another name. The thing is Christian and I have mutual friends so we've know each other for years. When I walked into the make-up trailer that morning and saw him sitting there I said, "˜Oh, my God, are you playing my boyfriend?' That was a complete shock for me but a very pleasant one.
"I don't know how many people are aware of this but the scene at the end of the story where you find out that Lindsey is Eve's boyfriend wasn't shot at the same time as the rest of the episode," she continues. "It was a secret scene and we did it about a week later. I remember walking into my trailer one morning and finding an envelope marked "˜confidential' and "˜for your eyes only' lying on my couch. I openedt and there were the pages for the scene between Eve and her-then unnamed beau. I'd never worked on a series before where things were kept so hush-hush. I couldn't say a word to my family, friends or my boyfriend.
Even the rest of the show's cast didn't know exactly what was going on. They'd ask me about it and all I could think was, "˜If I tell them I'll get fired.'"
Side notes in Xposé
They Said What ?
David Boreanaz "As heavy as it may be or as light as it may be, it's not a negative. It's a good thing!"
The star of Angel provides an unexpectedly Zen-like outlook on the show's cancellation (source: Nine MSN)
Good Month
David Boreanaz
While Angel's return is looking increasingly remote, Joss Whedon evidently hasn't forgotten his leading man, with Boreanaz lined up to play the villain in the upcoming Firefly movie, Serenity.(YES!!!!!!!)
Source
A transcription of the Xpose #85 interview with Steven S. DeKnight, writer and producer of Angel. He talks about what might have been and comments on the cancellation.
transcribed by Setje
Bryan Cairns interviews Steven S Deknight
As we bid a fond farewell to the nearly departed fang gang, we take a look at the key events surrounding the series' end "“ rubbing hips with movers and shakers from both sides of the camera"¦
As Angel's fifth and final season comes to a close, Bryan Cairns asks the show's writer and producer Steven S DeKnight what might have been.
THE 250-YEAR-OLD Vampire Angel may be immortal but, unfortunately, his show is not. After five successful years of waging the war against evil, the Buffy spin-off is being staked, beheaded, and thrown into the sunlight "“ or, in Hollywood bigwig terms, cancelled.
"It's one of those things where it's a surprise but not a surprise," reflects writer and producer Steven S DeKnight. "We were surprised because the show was going so well. When we heard the news, we were coming off Smile Time and were shocked because we thought we wre doing really good shows. On the other hand, we saw the writing on the wall and the fact the show barely came back last year.
Our numbers are up but not significantly enough. Plus, the WB is really excited about Dark Shadows and nobody thought they'd do two Vampire shows. You don't want to believe it but it is kinda obvious."
It's not like Mutant Enemy didn't go down kicking and screaming thought. In the wake of last season's Jasmine-Beast-Angelus-Cordelia-Connor year long epic, Angel was retooled to be more Big Bad free, with stand-alone episodes that would be new viewer friendly.
"The road more travelled would have been bigger stories," offers DeKnight. "It's tough because if we did that our numbers wouldn't have gone up. We would have the same fans and kept them happy. I don't know if it would have made a difference. Ultimately, it's not about the quality of the show or the stories. It was based on ratings and needing a time slot."
Still, The WB gave enough notice so that creator Joss Whedon could wrap up any plot points and go out with a blaze of glory. So to cram everything in, what existing scripts were chucked or recycled?
"The answer is ohhh"¦ nothing" replies DeKnight. "Joss had planned the end of the season to work as a series or season ender, depending if we were picked up again. If there is one thing that's different, it is episode 20, which Drew Goddard and I wrote. We took the time to do a light hearted romp that normally at that point we wouldn't have done. We felt it was the last time to give Angel and Spike a chance to be out together and have some fun."
Fun? Aren't there more important things to deal with, like where the heck is Buffy? There's still the whole Slayer/Angel/Spike triangle to resolve and Angel star David Boreanaz did make a pit stop during Buffy's darkest hour. Where's the mutual love now?
"It's very unlikely," speculates DeKnight about a Sarah Michelle Gellar cameo. "One of the reasons is with her schedule, it's very difficult to lock her down. Also, we would have loved to have Sarah on the show but to bring Buffy back now in the last couple of episodes kind of takes away from the people who worked so hard on the show. It would have to be about her and not our characters. They would have to be pushed to the side and that would disservice not only the actors, but the characters themselves.
"However, there will be a lot of discussion," he says. "But do you really want Buffy to pick somebody? I don't."
With co-executive producer Jeffrey Bell apparently in another office sweating over Angel's last stand, DeKnight acknowledges any member of the Fang Gang could soon be joining Cordelia and Doyle on another plane.
"The grim reaper is always hanging around Team Angel," he teases. "At this point, I have no idea if or who is going to die but if there's a big battle at the end, chances are somebody is going to get it."
When asked if he had any parting thoughts or words for Angel fans, DeKnight paused before concluding. "For all the people contributing to the Save the Angel Campaign, save your money because the show is over. It's not coming back to The WB, UPN, or Fox. The machinery is being dismantled as we speak. And thank you very much for your support. The fans have always made Buffy and Angel what it is and we never forgot that. We're so appreciative of the response we got for this show. It's amazing to me that it came back by the skin of its teeth for five years and we consider ourselves very lucky to have done this final season.
Side bar
DeKnight to remember
WITH ANGEL'S CANCELLATION, viewers are hoping all their questions will be resolved beginning with why Wolfram & Hart handed over their company to the Fang Gang.
"It's been hinted at strongly if not directly said," teases DeKnight. "But there will be some more revelations, some stuff to clarify and expand, and maybe some new players we didn't know about. We're not going to tie up everything in a neat package. It won't quite belike Buffy. We may look at some loose ends with Illyria and Nina the werewolf."
"There will be a new Wolfram and Hart man introduced, played by Firefly's Adam Baldwin. Some past villains may be appearing. There might be a light hearted trip over seas squeezed in. There will be some old and new faces and a wonderful yet to be written series finale."
When asked what the most rewarding part of writing for Angel was, DeKnight's response is immediate and sincere.
"Geez, there's so many things but above everything else, its meeting the wonderful people I work with," he concludes. "It's such a cliché to say we're a family but we really are. We enjoy each other's company and there's so much laughter and good times here. More thant the job, more than the show, I'm going to miss these people tremendously."
When the decision was made to reunite historical love-rivals Spike and Angel for the fifth season, you could almost here (hear?) the fans clucking in anticipation.
Our David Richardson tracks down their alter egos James Marsters and David Boreanaz to find out just how much fun was had "¦
WHEN NEWS THAT Spike was crossing over to Angel broke, unfortunately before the peroxide-haired Vampire's act of self-sacrifice in the Buffy finale, many viewers deliberated on how the character might fit in.
Thankfully, we now realize that he doesn't "“ and that's what's fun.
Joss Whedon, always a storyteller who is impossible to predict, has brilliantly forced Spike to be an outsider to even Angel's dysfunctional "˜family' at Wolfram & Hart. Initially summoned to LA as an incorporeal figure, who seems only to arouse the sympathies of physicist Fred, Spike suddenly gained his earthly form by surprise in Destiny, part of the scheme devised by Angel's long-time foe Lindsey McDonald.
Consequently there are two vampires with a soul in the world, both of them champions, and both competing to fulfil the Shanshu Prophecy and to become Human.
It's fascinating twist that has formed the backbone of the show's fifth season, and one that will hopefully reach fruition in the show's 110th "“ and final "“episode.
"˜I'm having more fun than I've ever had in this universe," says Marsters of his experience of the series. "I had a lot of fun over on Buffy, but I'm having even more fun on Angel."
Marster's introduction has been just one element of a larger shake-up, which was envisaged as an attempt "“ sadly unsuccessful "“ to stave off the threat of cancellation.
With the loss of two popular characters and Angel's move to the lair of his enemies at Wolfram & Hart, a destiny was set in motion that will ultimately demand a heavy price before the season is out.
"The writing has been really good this year," enthuses Marsters.
"The way that a TV show is going to succeed, ultimately, is if the lead character becomes more interesting season to season. You might be able to squeeze out a couple of extra good shows with your secondary characters, but if your forget about your home turf and abandon your lead then your show is going to fail, no matter how good your supporting cast is.
"They made some really daring choices about impelling Angel, having him made a decision that could possibly be a devastating mistake for him and everyone around him. That's inherently dramatic."
For leading man David Boreanaz, now the only original cast member left on the series since Charisma Carpenter's departure (which culminated in the touching belated swansong You're Welcome), the fifth season has been a pivotal year.
"We've taken it into a new level," he believes. "This year, being in the law offices of Wolfram & Hart, has changed our perspective, and how we relate to each other."
The presence of Spike has been an important part of that dynamic, providing a welcome opportunity for Marsters to explore aspects of his character that have become somewhat redundant in recent seasons of Buffy. The Vampire has travelled a long journey of discovery since his role as the Big Bad of Buffy's second year : deprived by The Initiative of the ability to kill, softened by his feeling for The Slayer, Spike would ultimately grow from an immoral serial killer to an unexpected force for good. But this transfer to Angel has brought further changes.
"I've been having fun kind of going back to the original Spike, which is really a weird thing to say because the character has got a soul, which would have made me think I'd be going in a whole new direction. But I'm enjoying not being whipped anymore. I can do what the character did originally, to go up the lead of the series and say, "˜Hey you're going to die. You're a fool' and just be the grist in the wheel that way.
"I'm enjoying myself and this cast like never before. I feel like they've really great people and I enjoy going to work every day, and that's probably showing in the work too. I'm just a happier guy."
It's a contentment shared by Boreanaz, who has been afforded the opportunity to expand his repertoire "“ not only in terms of performance, but in taking on an unexpected role behind the scenes. Soul Purpose, a tale largely comprising extraordinary fantasy sequences, became the actor's directorial début "“ to be fair it wasn't the show's greatest script, but he acquitted himself magnificently.
"I enjoyed the opportunity," he affirms. "I was very fortunate to be able to have the opportunity and Joss graciously accepted the offer and said, "˜Yeah, sure, you can do it.' It's pretty bizarre when you're directing and then you're acting in it, and you're trying to remove yourself from it. But these (actors) are fantastic, they know what they're doing, the notes were minimum. They come in, hit their marks, they're professional.
"And I allow them to grow creatively and allow their space to almost make it as a whole rather than an individual show. I let their wings fly creatively, and I want to keep that energy alive. I wanted them to enjoy what I was going through."
Speaking for the other cast members, who had to adjust to the fact that their co-star and friend was now in charge, Marsters has only kind words.
"Overall David was absolutely fabulous as a director," he insists.
"He had a confidence about him that normally first-time directors lack. He was so confident, so we all relaxed.
"I finally asked David on the last day, "˜You must have read a lot of books and everything about directing?' He's like "˜No.' I'm like "˜What are you just acting like you know what you're doing.' He's like, "˜Yeah!' And I'm like? 4It4s really working dude, keep it up!'
"People from the crew came up to me, saying, "˜Can you please lobby the producers to have David back?' I think he was fabulous."
At the time of going to press, just six episodes of Angel remain. It's certainly been a turbulent year : after a strong start, some fans voiced disappointment with the show's direction, alarmed by the move away from more arc-oriented stories. Little did they expect the sudden announcement from The WB that declared that the network loved the series, but they were going to cancel it anyway. And, as is the way of these things, since the end for Angel became nigh, so the show has suddenly started delivering, with stories like Smile Time and A Hole in the World standing as the series at its most inventive, powerful and cutting edge. It may be a long time before we see the like of the show again.
For now, the series endures on DVD and in re-runs, ensuring that it will be remembered. But what would Boreanaz like the show's legacy to be?
"In 10 or 20 years, I think people will look at it in a different light to Buffy," he muses. "It's a broader show. It's a larger show. It takes place in a major city. The characters are much different.
"I think this show will be really interesting in 10 or 20 years' time; I think people will way, "˜Wow, they did some fantastic things." It will live on definitely."
Season five newcomer Eve has a whole bag of tricks up her sleeves. Steven Eramo meets her alter ego Sarah Thompson to set about demystifying the mysterious beauty"¦
At the start of Angel's fifth season, the Vampire and his team of demon slayers joined forces with the evil law firm of Wolfram & Hart. A mysterious and beautiful young woman named Eve was sent by the office's Senior Partners to act as liaison between them and Angel Investigations. Our heroes were unaware that Eve had her own hidden agenda and together with her lover, Wolfram & Hart's former "˜golden boy' Lindsey McDonald, plotted Angel's downfall.
Even Sarah Thompson, who portrayed Eve, had no idea what her duplicitous alter ego was up to.
"The biggest challenge in playing Eve was not knowing what the overall story arc of the character was going to be," says the actress. "I gleaned as much information as possible from script to script and asked questions of the show's producers and the directors of each episode. Other than that it was pretty much a guessing game. I honestly didn't know when I started on Angel that Eve was going to turn out to be evil or end up being Lindsey's (Christian Kane) significant other.
"So it took me a while to figure out who this girl was. Of course, knowing now what I know about her, I'd describe Eve as someone who was very much in love with and in many ways idolized Lindsey. She was willing to do anything to please him in order to prove that she was worthy of his love. That said, Eve was still a very strong woman. She was intelligent, witty as well as sarcastic and loved to push people's buttons, all of which was fun for me to play."
Of all Angel's colleagues it was Spike who first picked up on the fact that there was more to Eve than meets they eyes. "It didn't take long for Spike to sense that my character was a threat, whereas everyone else saw her as more of a nuisance," notes Thompson.
"There were even a couple of scenes between Eve and Spike where he said to her, "˜I know what you're up to,' and she pretended not to understand what he was talking about."
Despite her character's uneasy relationship with Spike, the actress has nothing but praise for the actor who plays him. "I love working with James. He's such a gifted actor and fully invests himself in his character as well as his scenes and is a true joy to work with. I feel the same about the rest of the Angel cast. It's both rewarding and exciting when you're surrounded by such a group of tremendously gifted professionals."
Angel audiences are made privy to Eve's and Lindsey's scheming in the fifth season episode Destiny.
"At that point I had a feeling that Eve was probably evil," says Thompson. "The writers had been pushing the storyline in that direction so I was kind of expecting it. What did surprise me was Christian Kane's re-introduction into the series. I didn't find out about it until I showed up to do our first scene together. They didn't want anyone to know that he was coming back, so in the script his character was referred to by another name. The thing is Christian and I have mutual friends so we've know each other for years. When I walked into the make-up trailer that morning and saw him sitting there I said, "˜Oh, my God, are you playing my boyfriend?' That was a complete shock for me but a very pleasant one.
"I don't know how many people are aware of this but the scene at the end of the story where you find out that Lindsey is Eve's boyfriend wasn't shot at the same time as the rest of the episode," she continues. "It was a secret scene and we did it about a week later. I remember walking into my trailer one morning and finding an envelope marked "˜confidential' and "˜for your eyes only' lying on my couch. I openedt and there were the pages for the scene between Eve and her-then unnamed beau. I'd never worked on a series before where things were kept so hush-hush. I couldn't say a word to my family, friends or my boyfriend.
Even the rest of the show's cast didn't know exactly what was going on. They'd ask me about it and all I could think was, "˜If I tell them I'll get fired.'"
Side notes in Xposé
They Said What ?
David Boreanaz "As heavy as it may be or as light as it may be, it's not a negative. It's a good thing!"
The star of Angel provides an unexpectedly Zen-like outlook on the show's cancellation (source: Nine MSN)
Good Month
David Boreanaz
While Angel's return is looking increasingly remote, Joss Whedon evidently hasn't forgotten his leading man, with Boreanaz lined up to play the villain in the upcoming Firefly movie, Serenity.(YES!!!!!!!)
Source