Cordy_Chase
Tact is just not saying true stuff. I'll pass.
The other night I came across information that there was an early unaired version of the pilot featuring an actress by the name of Riff Reagan who was originally cast as Willow available to watch on Youtube.
After viewing it a couple of nights ago, I just finished viewing the actual episode -- or well the first part anyway, I must be turning in to bed soon, to evaluate differences. The actress alone had given us a much different atmosphere with a more fragile rather than Hannigan's snarky and quirky brand of awkward. I can see why she didn't bring the right image to the character. Honestly I can't say I would have bought Reagan in the witch and addict aspects of the role nor did she connect with Xander as well.
There were other factors that caught my attention such as it being quite rushed and there was no development or build up to the events of The Harvest including the absence of Angel. The most interesting however was that Willow was not the only character who ended up being recast and Principle Flutie received a pretty full written makeover in addition. The actor in the unaired pilot, Stephen Tobolowsky whom I am familiar with in his other roles such as the Disney remake of 'Freaky Friday' had brought a bit more of a nurturing but absent minded version of Flutie. I actually quite enjoyed all the incorrect names he'd address Buffy by and the scene which didn't make it to the final product where she'd asked to see the body of the gym locker boy was insightful to how she got that access but nonetheless I can see why it wasn't significant enough to be necessary.
The actual Flutie however had more of a sarcastic, droll type of humor which also came across in a very likable manner.
The contrast between the approaches of the introduction to Cordelia's character was also something that caught my attention. In the unaired pilot she had more of a Draco Malfoy direct "You need to get in with the right people and I am your ticket to that" approach while in the final version she was more mellow and natural about it. I kind of preferred the final version, it made her more human and actually kind of gave off the kind of vibe that could have easily been a vampire playing for Buffy's blind trust.
One thing that had me pumped in the unaired version was the climatic scene with the vampires when Reagan's Willow almost instinctually picks up a cross and dusts herself a vampire. Though I can see that being considered unfitting and kind of a rush in character evolution.
Clearly it hadn't been in the cards at the time to open the series with a dramatic and significant storyline. The way it ended gave more of a general opening to the idea and the Scoobie alliance.
Overall it was an interesting experience to view an early draft and see what could have been.
There were other factors that caught my attention such as it being quite rushed and there was no development or build up to the events of The Harvest including the absence of Angel. The most interesting however was that Willow was not the only character who ended up being recast and Principle Flutie received a pretty full written makeover in addition. The actor in the unaired pilot, Stephen Tobolowsky whom I am familiar with in his other roles such as the Disney remake of 'Freaky Friday' had brought a bit more of a nurturing but absent minded version of Flutie. I actually quite enjoyed all the incorrect names he'd address Buffy by and the scene which didn't make it to the final product where she'd asked to see the body of the gym locker boy was insightful to how she got that access but nonetheless I can see why it wasn't significant enough to be necessary.
The actual Flutie however had more of a sarcastic, droll type of humor which also came across in a very likable manner.
The contrast between the approaches of the introduction to Cordelia's character was also something that caught my attention. In the unaired pilot she had more of a Draco Malfoy direct "You need to get in with the right people and I am your ticket to that" approach while in the final version she was more mellow and natural about it. I kind of preferred the final version, it made her more human and actually kind of gave off the kind of vibe that could have easily been a vampire playing for Buffy's blind trust.
One thing that had me pumped in the unaired version was the climatic scene with the vampires when Reagan's Willow almost instinctually picks up a cross and dusts herself a vampire. Though I can see that being considered unfitting and kind of a rush in character evolution.
Clearly it hadn't been in the cards at the time to open the series with a dramatic and significant storyline. The way it ended gave more of a general opening to the idea and the Scoobie alliance.
Overall it was an interesting experience to view an early draft and see what could have been.
