Multiple Buffys

[white avenger]

The current thread about Dr Who just got me to wondering something. Though I'm not a fan of the show, it's my impression that, though the character of Dr Who changes periodically, no one seems to protest about a new actor taking on the role. Though I'm fairly sure that "Dr Who" is more of a title than a particular character, so that each new one isn't trying to actually imitate his predecessor, it seems to work out alright without any fan uprisings or revolts, and those who watch, continue watching.

So, my question is, why can Dr Who fans so readily accept new actors in the title role, and even, apparently, different interpretations of the character, the thought of a new Buffy, regardless of whether or not the new actor tries to imitate Sarah's version, raises so much ire among the fans?

 

[Black Eye Guy]

No, not at all, I dont think it would work with multiple Buffys.

Doctor Who works cuz the actor changing is part of the show, not just a convenient work around cuz of the actor wanting to leave.

A series based on slayers on the other hand would be brilliant. Kinda American Horror Story style where each new series is a new story, basically a mini series telling the life of slayer, or they could do it more of a continued story, following from when one slayer dies and to the next one and have recurring characters, each slayer staying for a season or two.

The mythology of the show really lends itself to something like that, and it's a waste to throw it all away, I'd watch that show in a heartbeat.

 

[JCoatsworth]

I'm not a Dr Who fan and know next to nothing about it. I know that the Doctor is some kind of alien or something who, after dying, changes his appearance (did I get that right?). I don't know if they planned it like that or if it was the writers' ace in the hole to keep the show going.

Anyway, I think Sarah's Buffy is so established, it's hard for many people to look past her. It's like re-casting Indiana Jones. Harrison Ford and Indiana Jones are almost synonyms.
I'd be ready to give a new Buffy a chance, but I doubt it would work. My fear is that they probably wouldn't get her character right. And that would ruin it all.

However, you just got me thinking.
What if they made a show about Vampire Slayers where they got a new Slayer every season? I don't know if that would work. Probably not, but maybe it could.

 

[Himiko]

I've watched all the newer series of Doctor Who, so basically to give a quick explanation:

The titular character of the Doctor is an alien (a Time Lord, from the planet Gallifrey, to be precise). His form largely appears human, but it has two hearts and regenerative capabilities. When his current body is on the verge of dying, he can regenerate into a new one- he remains the same being, and has the same memories, but a different body, and a different personality, by and large- the changes are more than just physical. Generally, these regenerations are differentiated by referring to them as the "nth Doctor", outside of the show itself- so, William Hartnell played the First Doctor, Matt Smith is currently playing the Eleventh Doctor, and so on.

I suspect that this was set up to allow William Hartnell to leave originally 😛 However, the point is that the show is now set up in such a way where they are not only able to change the look and personality of the main character, it is a fundamental part of the show that he DOES change in such a way.

It's a very different set up for BtVS. Buffy is a single character, remaining the same person all of her natural life (excluding possessions/ body swaps, etc.). It's in no way set up to allow the actress playing Buffy to change, however, a show that perhaps followed a Slayer until she died, then a new Slayer who the power had just passed to, following through the eyes of one of more Watchers/ other potentials, could work in a very similar way to Doctor Who.

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

I don't know anything about Doctor Who, really, but I can't see several Buffy's working. For me, SMG IS Buffy - her interpretation of the character will always be the "real" Buffy for me. That said, if they wanted to go ahead with a new Buffy movie, and Sarah couldn't do it, and there was no other choice, I'd accept another actress. It might be interesting to see someone else's interpretation of the role.

 

[The Chosen]

I don't know anything about Doctor Who, really, but I can't see several Buffy's working. For me, SMG IS Buffy - her interpretation of the character will always be the "real" Buffy for me.

I agree! What makes Buffy Buffy isn't just like, blonde girl + clever dialogue + emotional pain. That character is so much more nuanced and complex, all thanks to people like SMG.

I could also accept a "new" "Buffy," but it could never BE Buffy. Make sense? No? Okay. I tried. 😛

 

[Robb Stark]

Many of my sentiments on this topic echo [MENTION=3210]Joan[/MENTION] the Vampire Slayer.

I want to use a slightly different example than Dr. Who, which I don't have any real knowledge of. To me, the concept of a "new" Buffy would be the equivalent of the recent recasting of Batman. I know we have a few people on here who really despise Christian Bale as Batman, but to me, Bale is THE Batman. Always will be. His portrayal of both Bruce Wayne and Batman was so perfect, so spot-on from how I've always envisioned his adaptation from the comics, that it'll be extremely difficult for anyone to EVER surpass him in my eyes.

That said, I knew that he wasn't going to renew his role as Batman going forward past The Dark Knight Rises. That was made pretty clear. So I accepted that. I love Batman and always will, and I want the on-screen franchise to continue, regardless of format. So that meant accepting a new actor as Batman. Before Ben Affleck was even announced as Bale's replacement, I said to myself "okay, no matter who it is, they aren't going to be Christian Bale, so I'm going to give whoever it is a chance". Now, it helps that I really like Affleck, but that's the mind-set I have.

I think that applies to Buffy as well. I can't think of another actor or actress, even Bale as Batman, who I consider to "be" their character as well as Sarah Michelle Gellar does as Buffy Summers. She's absolutely perfect, and it always going to be Buffy to me. But I love the character, and I love the franchise. If a reboot with its own continuity is broached, and it's in the hands of a sublime storyteller, I would absolutely be open to a new actress with her own take on the character. Even if Joss Whedon wasn't involved, I'd be open to it, as long as it was done right. Another artist's interpretation doesn't take anything away from what SMG and Joss accomplished. It doesn't lessen or cheapen it, just as Affleck as Batman doesn't cheapen that franchise. I really believe that.

 

[white avenger]

I can't think of another actor or actress, even Bale as Batman, who I consider to "be" their character as well as Sarah Michelle Gellar does as Buffy Summers. She's absolutely perfect, and it always going to be Buffy to me.

I've heard this argument about a lot of different actors and a lot of different roles. Johnny Weismuller is the only "real" Tarzan. Sean Connery is the only "real" James Bond. Fess Parker is the only "real" Davy Crockett. William Shatner is the only "real" Captain Kirk, and so on. If the character is strong enough, it can survive more than one interpretation.

This is a question of the singer or the song. Is it the singer who makes the song beautiful, or the song that makes the singer unforgettable?

I agree with you. As much as I love Sarah's interpretation of the character, I'm still willing to give another actor's performance a chance to stand on its own merits.

And, by the way, Michael Keaton was a hell of a Batman. Surprised a whole lot of folks just how convincing he could be in the role.

And he had one great Batmobile.

 

[The Bronze]

[MENTION=10697]Himiko[/MENTION] explains this very well. While obviously being a case of real life convenience to begin with (continuing the show after the lead quits) all those years ago, the changing of the Doctor is now part of the fabric of the show. With Buffy and pretty much every other show this simply isn't the case.

I don't think I could get behind a Buffy reboot for the time being. The comics are still on going canon and while not a patch on the show I do enjoy them. Also the show itself still holds up as well today as it did 10 years ago (barring a few things like the big scary internet). Maybe in another 10 or 20 years I'd be more open to a reboot although I suspect it's better left alone and creative folks should come up with someting new.

 

[Black Eye Guy]

I completely agree [MENTION=11975]Robb Stark[/MENTION]

I would love to see a Buffy reboot, even if it fails, it wouldn't cheapen the existing series, there is a possibility it could be good and there is a (small) possibility it could be better!

I always get frustrated when people immediately shut down a Buffy reboot because SMG IS Buffy - SMG is a Buffy reboot herself!
The idea it can't be rebooted is crazy since it worked before and remade the series for the better.

That said, in comparing Buffy to Doctor Who, the reason I say that wouldn't work, is each new doctor isn't a universe reboot, it's a difference doctor in the same universe, so his friends are the same and everything else is the same - Buffy isn't set up for that, so if they changed the actress but kept all the scoobies the same, and tried to claim this was some new version of Buffy (like she got moved into a different body or something) it would feel cheap and desperate.

Even if they brought in a new slayer, I'd be on board with that, but just changing the actress, claiming it's still Buffy wouldn't sit well with me.

 

[nightshade]

The way I see it is The Slayer is like Dr Who, the in that once the Slayer dies the power of it gets past on, so like when the Doctor dies the power of him gets passed on the the next Doctor, we just see that happening on that show where on Buffy we only see one Slayer, and the series is based on that one person, had it been based on the Tales of the Slayers books/comics then it would have been more like the Dr Who format, with the Slayer changing every season or two.

 

[VisionGirl]

The way I see it is The Slayer is like Dr Who, the in that once the Slayer dies the power of it gets past on, so like when the Doctor dies the power of him gets passed on the the next Doctor, we just see that happening on that show where on Buffy we only see one Slayer, and the series is based on that one person, had it been based on the Tales of the Slayers books/comics then it would have been more like the Dr Who format, with the Slayer changing every season or two.

I could totally go for something like that. I'd be interested in some type of filmed continuation of the Buffyverse (Fray!). But I'm not really interested in a Buffy reboot at this time. It's just too soon, especially to go Joss-less and SMG-less. When comparing it to these other characters, we have to remember how long these other characters have been around : we're getting ready to celebrate Doctor Who's 50th anniversary, (& it was set up early on for the main actor to change), both Batman and Superman have been around for so long and have had numerous incarnations, James Bond has had numerous actors over the years so we have gotten to expect it (& started as a book character anyway which has a life of its own), and it was 40-some years before James T Kirk was re-cast.

Also, I think there's some skepticism on the part of Buffy fans since we HAVE had another incarnation of Buffy, and it did not go very well (speaking of the original movie of course).

 

[fitz1980]

I don't know that I would like a Buffy who wasn't played by SMG. I'd totally be down for a new Buffyverse show, with another slayer.

It' like Star Trek The Next Generation. They didn't try to create a new captain Kirk. They created captain Picard and put him as commander of an Enterprise 80 years later than Kirk's time.

I'd love to see a show with a new slayer.

 

[white avenger]

I could totally go for something like that. I'd be interested in some type of filmed continuation of the Buffyverse (Fray!).

"Fray, The Vampire Slayer" would be great, and with the state of CGI technology today, the futuristic sets and demons would be no real problem. No more depending on men in rubber suits the way they did in "Buffy."

 

[Veyron]

I was going to write a huge explanation of why I think multiple Buffy's wouldn't work, but so many other people have written the exact things I was going to say.

I'm not going to rehash their posts in my own words as they've done the job already.

However, if the show was to be given a 2013+ feel to it, same characters, different actors but a total reboot, set in another place (other than Cleveland or Sunnydale), I'd give it a shot.