What if instead of Buffy TVS Season 6, it had been Faith TVS Season 1

[Xin Rong]

I just finished The Gift for the fifty millionth time, and a new idea spawned in my brain and took hold as I began to watch Bargaining Part 1.

What if Buffy had stayed dead, and the spin off, that would be shot down a few years later due to Eliza's role in Tru Calling, had started then.

I personally think that Faith TVS could have been an incredibly viable show if it revolved around Faith returning to Sunnydale to replace Buffy as the guardian of the hellmouth.

This way Buffy gets to stay in heaven, Willow might potentially not go dark, and to be honest our beloved characters may have been a bit better off in the long run, considering most of the events over the next few years are a direct result of Buffy's resurrection.

I personally would have loved to see Giles training Faith, and her finally becoming 'the slayer'. I think it would have been great, plus it would have been so interesting to watch the scoobies and Faith learn to trust one another and work together. Even if Buffy had come back eventually,I would have loved for this to happen.

I also think it would have given Faith the opportunity to step and prove herself the hero I know her to be, and within the diegesis of the show, it would have been a more believable turn of events.

 

[Buffy Summers]

I would have loved it - I had the faiththevampireslayer.com domain name all ready to go 😉

 

[AnthonyCordova]

It would need a different team of writers. It wasn't so much Buffy's resurrection that made s6 and s7 what it was but the writers. Buffy's resurrection and the aftermath (and the evolution of the charcters) could have been handled very differently. Who's to say if you wouldn't have liked Faith the vampire slayer either (if the same team of writers wrote it)? They might have messed it up just as bad for you (those fans who didn't like Buffy s6-7). There was no reason Buffy's resurrection had to be as bad as it was, not inherently, just because of the idea alone. Bad writing can mess up anything. Sure, the idea of Ftvs sounds cool to everyone, but we can only speculate on the actual execution. I didn't like Joss' team of writers as much from that period. By then, Angel had a better team of writers.

Although I should say I don't dislike s6 Buffy as much as some people. It was a mixed bag for me in the end.

 

[Xin Rong]

It would need a different team of writers. It wasn't so much Buffy's resurrection that made s6 and s7 what it was but the writers. Buffy's resurrection and the aftermath (and the evolution of the charcters) could have been handled very differently. Who's to say if you wouldn't have liked Faith the vampire slayer either (if the same team of writers wrote it)? They might have messed it up just as bad for you (those fans who didn't like Buffy s6-7). There was no reason Buffy's resurrection had to be as bad as it was, not inherently, just because of the idea alone. Bad writing can mess up anything. Sure, the idea of Ftvs sounds cool to everyone, but we can only speculate on the actual execution. I didn't like Joss' team of writers as much from that period. By then, Angel had a better team of writers.

Although I should say I don't dislike s6 Buffy as much as some people. It was a mixed bag for me in the end.

Don't get me wrong, I actually enjoyed S6 and S7, just not as much as earlier seasons.

The writers are more responsible for it episode by episode, but the arc as a whole was Joss dictated, I just think Faith taking over would have made more sense, and then the whole depression angle would not have been as necessary.

 

[AnthonyCordova]

I thought the entire team of writers would get together with Joss and discuss general arc ideas as they assigned individual episodes to everyone. Didn't the writers have input on the general direction of each season? I know all ideas had to meet with Joss' approval, but they had their say. I don't know though.

Still, the aftermath of Buffy's resurrection didn't have to go down the way it did. The individual writers and the team as a whole are responsible for that. The idea itself (buffy's resurrection) wasn't bad in itself, but the whole thing afterwards was mishandled a little bit.

The idea of Ftvs is cool though, I agree.

 

[Blaze]

Well, I'm sure by now most of you know which season is my favourite 😛

But still, FtVS would have been flipping epic! I think it would have been the first show to have a s6 that is also a s1, because it's technically the direct continuation of BtVS, not really a spin off, but at the same time there's a title change.

I would have liked this show to keep the BtVS ambiance though. I can see how a show like FtVS could easily become darker, like AtS, but I think the show would have done well with similar themes as to what we saw in s6-7 of Buffy.

Some stories I would have liked for them to remain similar, like Willow's. Also, they should have kept the First as the big bad of s7 (s2), and then Buffy as the First could have been the main bad guy of the season. Aside from that, the aftermath of Buffy's death for Dawn and Spike would have been interesting, and Giles having a new slayer to father would have been great.

 

[EVIL UU]

I think that it's one of those ideas that seem to work well enough on paper but don't make much sense. If Buffy stays in heaven then Willow has no reason to stay in Sunnydale, especially with Faith there to lay the smack down on badness. Same with Xander and Spike really. What's left is Giles and the location, you need a new gang, a love interest for Faith (yeah, right ) and possibly a new villain. Why not just drop the ballast and pick a different location, like that other hell mouth? Or a different character?

The problem with Faith is, you develop her, you let her grow and it's not Faith anymore. As seen in season 7, she just stops being cool.

 

[Xin Rong]

I thought the entire team of writers would get together with Joss and discuss general arc ideas as they assigned individual episodes to everyone. Didn't the writers have input on the general direction of each season? I know all ideas had to meet with Joss' approval, but they had their say. I don't know though.

Still, the aftermath of Buffy's resurrection didn't have to go down the way it did. The individual writers and the team as a whole are responsible for that. The idea itself (buffy's resurrection) wasn't bad in itself, but the whole thing afterwards was mishandled a little bit.

The idea of Ftvs is cool though, I agree.

I don't know, I think they treated her resurrection in a relatively unconventional way, and I don't think it was intrinsically bad, just a little painful to watch.

I like the fact that they made big deal out of it, otherwise it would have been a cop out.

Yes, Joss and the writers work out the seasons arc, but from the interviews I've read, it is very much Joss's story, and he was pretty ruthless when it came to shooting down ideas. I think the general direction of the show is more Joss-led than influenced by the writers, ergo, better writers or not, this season was always going to depressing, which would have only been realistically avoided if they hadn't brought Buffy back.

Faith has her issues, and no doubt certain characters would have been depressed over Buffy's continued dead status, but they would have moved on, and it would have been interesting to watch.

Although, I think Faith may have taken down the trio a lot quicker than Buffy did, as she would have actually looked for them, and if Willow didn't go bad, then Faith would have had a relatively easy year, which would be also true in season 7 I suppose.

They would have needed new big bads, and that could have been done badly.

 

[AnthonyCordova]

Or just scrap the trio and all other ideas from s6 and do something totally different with a brand new big bad (like you were saying). There would be no guarantee it would turn out good, but a fresh and new direction would have given it a good chance. No s6 idea carryover at all would have been nice.

 

[Blaze]

Agreed about scratching the trio, that would have been an awful "first big bad"for Faith. But I like the idea of Dark Willow vs Faith. Talk about epic. Although they would have needed to tone down DW a bit, maybe have her go dark sooner.

If they wanted a FtVS with a complete different crew and location, than ya, go for the hellmouth in Cleveland.

I disagree that Faith is boring as a reformed character though. A&F as well as Faith in s8 was awesome! And that's saying a lot because the comics aren't all that great.

 

[AnthonyCordova]

I agree about Faith. Reformed Faith is great. If it were me I might move the location somewhere else (maybe) but keep Giles and the rest of the scoobie gang intact and at her side somehow. And dark willow would be fine with me too but approach it differently.

 

[Xin Rong]

I think that it's one of those ideas that seem to work well enough on paper but don't make much sense. If Buffy stays in heaven then Willow has no reason to stay in Sunnydale, especially with Faith there to lay the smack down on badness. Same with Xander and Spike really. What's left is Giles and the location, you need a new gang, a love interest for Faith (yeah, right ) and possibly a new villain. Why not just drop the ballast and pick a different location, like that other hell mouth? Or a different character?

The problem with Faith is, you develop her, you let her grow and it's not Faith anymore. As seen in season 7, she just stops being cool.

Willow would have stayed in Sunnydale for the same reason she states in season 3, to fight evil, which was not dependent on Buffy... as for the others, where would they go...Spike and Dawn stayed in Sunnydale, with no intentions of leaving after Buffy died, so they would have done so if Faith had come.

Xander and Anya have absolutely nowhere else to be.

So the scoobies would have still been in Sunnydale, just slayerless: enter Faith.

Also, Faith gets cooler every time we see her, IMO at least

 

[thetopher]

How about 'much better!' 😛

C'mon, Eliza for 22 episodes!

Seriously though Faith, as a character, (and ED as a charasmatic actress) could've easily carried her own show.

You could've had a whole different dynamic between Faith and the Scoobies, a reason for there to be rifts and fractures in the group other than 'cause the writers say so.'

No reason to get rid of Dawn, Willow, Xander or Anya they're all evil fighters even without Buffy. Giles has a real reason to stay- there's a slayer that needs a watchin'.- plus keep the lame Trio as bad guys, they'd throw Faith for a loop ('seriously- this is the big evil that I get t'fight!') and then Dark Willow arc at the end of the season, with Faith trying to stop somebody else losing themselves in 'pain and hate'

Rather than S6 being 'Grow Up' you have 'Moving On and Redemption' which is an easier theme to convey.

Plus, reformed Faith is so much better/more interesting than evil Faith, as Angel S4 can easily attest- all her moments there are fantastic. 🙂

 

[Fuffy Baith]

I like the idea of FtVS for season 6 of BtVS. Faith could carry her own show, Eliza failed twice. Although I love Tru Calling and like Dollhouse, but I'd rather have Eliza playing Faith anytime. Faith vs. Dark Willow would be awesome cuz Willow already hates Faith so Dark Willow I'm sure would let her know it.

Reformed Faith is just as badass and cool as she ever was except she's committed to doing good now. And not quite as slutty, unfortunately. Plus she gets more fight scenes after she comes back and it's awesome.

Back to FtVS, it would be cool to see her leading the scooby gang and having Giles train her and be her watcher. The interaction between her and the Trio I think would be even more hilarious than it was with Buffy. They would have taken half a season to slowly build the trust the gang would have with Faith. I've always wanted more Faith and Willow after Dark Willow. I think they could help each other and build a connection.

 

[CordelliasHeart]

Curious how they'd handle things

think the council would at LEAST have the courtesy to try Clearing out any charges against Faith.

or just do what they did in Angel

Send a Summons

a Slayer whos not having to regularly dodge the police will be more effective...

Wonder how accepting the Scoobies would be of her

her presence let alone her as the leader...

 

[white avenger]

Curious how they'd handle things

think the council would at LEAST have the courtesy to try Clearing out any charges against Faith.



a Slayer whos not having to regularly dodge the police will be more effective...

Wonder how accepting the Scoobies would be of her

her presence let alone her as the leader...

The Council would probably have had enough connections and political pull, even in the United States, to have had Faith's sentence reduced to time served or have had a pardon issued in view of some sort of special consideration. Far more likely, however, they would have had Faith paroled under the supervision of Rupert Giles. That way, it's either "Faith be a good girl and toe the line, or it's back to the Big House in an even worst place than the one you originally spent time.

As for the Scoobies, I seriously doubt that, initially, they would trust her at all, pretty much the same way that they felt about and treated Spike all the previous summer. Maybe later, but earning their trust again would have to be a nearly impossibility.

 

[Xin Rong]

The Council would probably have had enough connections and political pull, even in the United States, to have had Faith's sentence reduced to time served or have had a pardon issued in view of some sort of special consideration. Far more likely, however, they would have had Faith paroled under the supervision of Rupert Giles. That way, it's either "Faith be a good girl and toe the line, or it's back to the Big House in an even worst place than the one you originally spent time.

As for the Scoobies, I seriously doubt that, initially, they would trust her at all, pretty much the same way that they felt about and treated Spike all the previous summer. Maybe later, but earning their trust again would have to be a nearly impossibility.

She seems to manage to gain their trust, to some extent, Season 7 onwards. Plus, they would have needed her, her necessity would have afforded her an opportunity to regain their trust

 

[white avenger]

She seems to manage to gain their trust, to some extent, Season 7 onwards. Plus, they would have needed her, her necessity would have afforded her an opportunity to regain their trust

Well, from Season 7 on, apparently the Watchers' Council consisted mostly of Rupert Giles, or at least he seemed to be the senior member after Caleb blew up Travers and all of his staff. Gaining Giles' trust wouldn't have been all that hard to win, especially considering the fact that apparently he and Buffy had a falling out at some point prior to the "No Future For You" (?) arc of Season 8.

 

[MarlieTheSlayer]

I would love a Fatih series, but I don't see Faith working together with the scoobies. She needs her own gang. I like the idea of Faith and Giles working together though (like in the comics).