It is what he's known for, though sometimes I wonder why. (General Joss spoilers)
Nate Send a noteboard - 19/10/2009 05:50:55 AM
He's done it, what, three times? In fourteen seasons (twelve and two-halves technically) of television and one movie? Not exactly an epidemic or an overused storytelling strategy.
For the record, I'm counting Tara (Buffy S6), Fred (Angel S5), and Wash (Serenity). Joyce could be argued into that category, but she was never a main character. I don't think Doyle (Angel S1) counts because his death wasn't a shot to the guts, and he was designed as a placeholder character. Buffy, Angel, and Spike's deaths (S5, S2, and S7 respectively) were reversed and weren't really done in a gut-punch, heart-break way, and Anya's (S7) was just weird. Oh, and Book's wasn't a gut-punch either, nor Wesley's, nor Cordelia's.
The few times he's really, seriously punched his fans in the guts by killing a lovable character seem to have had such an impact that they stick in everyone's minds and stand out in their overall assessment of his storytelling.
He definitely doesn't hesitate to kill his characters, though. If someone wants to criticize him for that, there's really no defense, he does it. But it seems like the only ones people get mad at him about are the three I mentioned, the gut-punches, and those are just strong storytelling.
The ones people should be upset with are the ones that really served very little purpose (Anya, Spike, Cordelia) (I know the last was dictated by circumstances outside of the show).
For the record, I'm counting Tara (Buffy S6), Fred (Angel S5), and Wash (Serenity). Joyce could be argued into that category, but she was never a main character. I don't think Doyle (Angel S1) counts because his death wasn't a shot to the guts, and he was designed as a placeholder character. Buffy, Angel, and Spike's deaths (S5, S2, and S7 respectively) were reversed and weren't really done in a gut-punch, heart-break way, and Anya's (S7) was just weird. Oh, and Book's wasn't a gut-punch either, nor Wesley's, nor Cordelia's.
The few times he's really, seriously punched his fans in the guts by killing a lovable character seem to have had such an impact that they stick in everyone's minds and stand out in their overall assessment of his storytelling.
He definitely doesn't hesitate to kill his characters, though. If someone wants to criticize him for that, there's really no defense, he does it. But it seems like the only ones people get mad at him about are the three I mentioned, the gut-punches, and those are just strong storytelling.
The ones people should be upset with are the ones that really served very little purpose (Anya, Spike, Cordelia) (I know the last was dictated by circumstances outside of the show).
Warder to starry_nite
Chapterfish — Nate's Writing Blog
http://chapterfish.wordpress.com
Chapterfish — Nate's Writing Blog
http://chapterfish.wordpress.com
A heretic blasphemes St Joss of Whedon.
16/10/2009 07:03:29 PM
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I have two disagreements.
16/10/2009 07:20:49 PM
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(by which I mean a bunch of typing that somehow turned into 1.5 moderately relevant comments.) *NM*
16/10/2009 07:25:07 PM
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Well he does cite Firefly as the superior show.
16/10/2009 09:01:01 PM
- 602 Views
I agree with Seriana.
17/10/2009 05:42:33 AM
- 428 Views
I didn't say she was wrong or that feminists are right, I just presented what their position'd be
18/10/2009 12:11:25 AM
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So the guy hates Whedon as much as some love him.
16/10/2009 08:44:39 PM
- 379 Views
Actually, it suggests he likes Whedon's work, but hates Whedon's posturing & fan excesses. *NM*
16/10/2009 09:02:03 PM
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As far as I can have an opinion on them, I agree with all of his points *NM*
16/10/2009 09:50:30 PM
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Not having seen the movies he wrote scripts for...
16/10/2009 10:34:09 PM
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That was also the magic bullet episode.
16/10/2009 11:40:11 PM
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Guns jerk up when fired, especially if you are a sissy poser like Warren. 1st Buffy, 2nd Tara
18/10/2009 12:13:44 AM
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You never saw Toy Story? *NM*
16/10/2009 11:55:55 PM
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I'd kind of forgotten he worked on that too, but no, actually. *NM*
17/10/2009 01:16:35 PM
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I strongly disagree with the Wash thing.
16/10/2009 11:54:16 PM
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Interesting tidbit.
16/10/2009 11:57:14 PM
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Huh. Neat.
17/10/2009 12:22:11 AM
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Wait, when do we learn about his past in Serenity?
19/10/2009 03:42:34 AM
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I don't actually mind the killing happy characters thing, but it IS JW's most noted trait *NM*
18/10/2009 12:15:00 AM
- 274 Views
It is what he's known for, though sometimes I wonder why. (General Joss spoilers)
19/10/2009 05:50:55 AM
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...Echo is the baddest ass Kung Fu Whore TV has ever seen... Lol! She IS a naughty little doll. *NM*
18/10/2009 01:36:57 AM
- 216 Views
the first thing is the only one that's really rational
19/10/2009 05:46:05 AM
- 512 Views