Riley's Time On The Show

[white avenger]

Does anyone know whether Riley was always planned to be a short lived (less than 1 1/2 seasons) character, or did Joss decide to drop him because he wasn't as popular as had been initially expected?

 

[Blaze]

Umm good question. I'm gonna go on a limb and say that he did not leave because he wasn't liked. That sounds very un-like Joss. I mean, pretty sure Joss doesn't give two craps about the fans, he even said himself that he knew the fans would hate the character so why write him in the first place if only to get rid of him a year later.

Na, I think Riley was written because of the central plot in s4, and after that he was just not very useful so he left. He was somewhat of a plot device in a way, not unlike some of the other love interests.

It's kind of questionable as to why he left so abruptly though.

 

[white avenger]

It's kind of questionable as to why he left so abruptly though.

I would be tempted to suggest that Blucas left the show to work on Billy Bob Thornton's version of "The Alamo," since his character in the movie, James Butler Bonham, was quite famous in the historic battle, but the dates don't quite match up. It would be ironic if that were true, though, since Blucas had his screen time in the movie edited down to just one small scene and a few group shots.

 

[Wesley Pryce]

I think he was meant to leave form the beginning. It seems they wanted him as the transition between Angel and whoever would be Buffy's BF later on,turns out it was Spike. Perhaps they even had Spike in mind,though i doubt that,but it well could be. 🙂

 

[thetopher]

Joss told Mark that he should be prepared to be hated by the fans, so I'm thinking that Joss knew (maybe not to what extent, but he knew)

But I found that Riley never had that sense of permennance that Angel or Spike had. His character was linked to The Initiative and after that went it really was only a matter of time before Riley ent as well.

There was little else to Riley's character (and I'm saying this as somebody who didn't particularly mind his character) he was just Buffy's Boyfriend- ex-military guy, He didn't have anything else that really tied him to the group.

Even if Riley had been really popular, I struggle to see what the writers would've done to keep him a) interesting in regards to his relationship with Buffy and b) how they would've developed his character in any sustantive way.

 

[RomanticSoul]

I thought Riley was written out because Marc Blucas decided not to re-up his contract. Kinda like Seth Green in S4. At least that's how I remember it...

 

[Silverspike]

I have to say I really liked poor old Riley.

I mean out of all her relationships his is what you'd say would be the most 'normal' and suitable for her 'career'. 🙂

 

[Taake]

I think he was always meant to go pretty soon... he was "the normal guy" (he had a heartbeat! In Buffy's world that counts as 'normal' ;P), something Buffy had to try on for size, but not meant for longevity. I have no doubts his departure was more or less planned early on, regardless of fan approval or disapproval.

 

[white avenger]

I have to say I really liked poor old Riley.

And you were most certainly supposed to! He was written to be as likable as Parker was detestable, and for exactly the same reason. We had to be shown that Buffy wanted a normal relationship with a normal guy, and that's exactly what she got with Riley. Even more, in him, we saw the closest thing to a suitable mate for the Slayer as we ever saw on the show. Handsome, charming, boy next door (if you lived on the adjacent farm) capable of giving Buffy a normal life, with children and someone to grow old with. Add to that, he was a veritable Jr Class Captain America, thanks to the chip that he had installed. Lover, husband, and father of her children, plus as close to a physical equal as Buffy would ever find in human form. In Joss' world, all of that spells "temporary," if not "doomed to an early death."

Actually, the first time that I saw Riley letting a vampire feed from his veins, I thought that, either by accident or design, he was going to wind up turned, and Buffy would wind up staking him. On further thought, though, I guess having Buffy be forced to kill two boyfriends in a row would just be too much, even for Joss.

 

[bespangeled]

And you were most certainly supposed to! He was written to be as likable as Parker was detestable, and for exactly the same reason. We had to be shown that Buffy wanted a normal relationship with a normal guy, and that's exactly what she got with Riley. Even more, in him, we saw the closest thing to a suitable mate for the Slayer as we ever saw on the show. Handsome, charming, boy next door (if you lived on the adjacent farm) capable of giving Buffy a normal life, with children and someone to grow old with. Add to that, he was a veritable Jr Class Captain America, thanks to the chip that he had installed. Lover, husband, and father of her children, plus as close to a physical equal as Buffy would ever find in human form. In Joss' world, all of that spells "temporary," if not "doomed to an early death."

Actually, the first time that I saw Riley letting a vampire feed from his veins, I thought that, either by accident or design, he was going to wind up turned, and Buffy would wind up staking him. On further thought, though, I guess having Buffy be forced to kill two boyfriends in a row would just be too much, even for Joss.

Never thought of that. They could have had him get turned and have Spike stake him. Just think of how happy Spike would have been, and how horrified Buffy would have been....nice idea there.