Joss Whedon said recently that he’d still consider the Giles-centric Buffy the Vampire Slayer spin-off Ripper. That got me thinking about other spin-offs I’d like to see from his shows!
1. Giles: Ripper
Even though Joss said he probably wouldn’t make the Ripper show as he’d originally imagined it (as in, it wouldn’t have anything to do with Giles or Vampire Slayers), we can still dream! Giles was one of my favourite characters on Buffy, and when in 2002 the idea for Ripper first came about, it seemed like the perfect way to carry on the Buffyverse legacy. The show would explore the character’s dark past while continuing his adventures back in England; it’d obviously be pretty flashback heavy, and generally very different from any other Whedon project.
In terms of making this an ensemble show, there would of course be opportunities for great Buffy actor cameos, but we’d probably want an entirely British cast. Robin Sachs could reprise his role as Ethan Rayne, serving as Giles’ friend-turned-enemy-turned-reluctant-friend-again, and we could probably expect some big-name British actresses for love interests (Alex Kingston, am I right?!). Most importantly though, this show would be our chance to get more insight into the Watcher side of the whole Slayer lore, which has always been a bit of an unsolved mystery for fans. Though the spin-off never happened, I like the idea that it still could (comics be damned!).
2: Faith: (Dollhouse?)
Faith was one of the most likely candidates to lead a spin-off series; partly because she was such a deep, conflicted character, and partly because Joss Whedon was so eager to collaborate with Eliza Dushku again. And he got his wish with Dollhouse, which I’ll be the first to champion, but I still like the idea of continuing Faith’s journey in a new series.
I’ll admit that I was never a huge fan of Faith when she was on Buffy, but I began to warm up to the character on Angel when she started to show her layers and became more than just your stereotypical bad girl (and she has continued this development in the comics). With Buffy being the “good” Slayer, having Faith as the tortured outlaw trying to do the right thing but constantly losing sight of why would be very refreshing (albeit slightly along the same lines as the premise of Angel).
I could imagine some interesting characters joining the show as her sidekicks: Andrew, Wesley, even Oz. And Faith could take on one of the Potentials as her protege; someone like Amanda, who was so different to both Buffy and Faith, and who would balance out the darkness of Faith’s character with her innocence and hesitant nature. The dynamics of such an ensemble would provide a good mix of comedy and drama, and it would be a setup unlike both that of Buffy and Angel – because ultimately the audience might not root for the main character.
3: Spike: Spike the Series
Spike was originally proposed as a movie based on the character, and was kicked around following the end of Buffy. Of course Spike ended up joining Angel, with great success, but wouldn’t a movie (or a series) all about him have been even better?! I suppose ideally it would just be The Spike and Angel Show – sitcom, anyone? – but even without Angel in the mix, I could see great potential for some other key characters joining him: Dawn is an obvious candidate, as is Andrew (I’m just whoring him out to all these shows aren’t I?), and maybe Anya.
When discussing the possibility, Joss Whedon also stated that he’d like to see Amy Acker and Alyson Hannigan appear in the Spike movie, and while I kind of had Fred/Illyria earmarked for another project, Spike definitely played well off both Fred and Willow! To be fair, James Marsters could have chemistry with a rock (“I can’t wait to tell my friends, they don’t have a rock this big!”), so whoever they paired him up with, I’m sure this show would have been be edgy, funny, sexy and all-round entertaining. Missed opportunity, Joss!
4: Illyria: Blue
As horribly tragic as her initial appearance was on Angel, once Illyria was a part of the show she quickly became one of my favourite characters (even in a way that Fred never was, as much as I loved her). And what amazing potential for character development! Illyria is arguably the most powerful good (ish) guy on any Whedon show ever, and a show about her would be like a show about Batman (er… but not as a cartoon so we’re good).
Continuing the trend of ultimate girl power, Amy Acker would shine as the lead in a show about what it means to be good and what it means to be human; Illyria coming to terms with humanity but always being on the outside looking in would be like Angel, but less whiny. I imagine a more futuristic, post-apocalyptic setting (which of course would kind of take us out of the real world which Buffy and Angel are supposedly set in) where Illyria is an outcast, confused about where she fits into a world so unlike her own, and with diminished powers in her human form. She may initially seek to get her powers back, but slowly come to terms with her humanity and the people around her.
I feel like Wesley should join her as her main link to humanity (yeah, I’m re-writing the ending of Angel, what of it?), and maybe Spike if he didn’t get his own show, considering his chemistry with Amy Acker. And could you see Nathan Fillion tossed in the mix as well? This would have been so epic.
5. River: Fractured
Come on, let’s give Summer Glau her own series already. Actually, you know what I really want? I want Summer Glau, Amy Acker, and Felicia Day teaming up and fighting bad guys. I don’t even care if Joss Whedon is involved with the project – although obviously that would make it ten times more awesome.
River was arguably the Firefly character with the most spin-off potential. After struggling through the series in a confused (and confusing) state, she finally began to find her way in Serenity, and a spin-off series could take this development even further: as River matures a little and learns to keep both her panic and her extreme intelligence under control, she can go on to do great things, both against the alliance and for her own survival.
To change it up from Firefly, maybe this show would initially take place on a single planet, while of course always leaving the door open for space exploration and elements of the space western genre. But where Firefly was almost a bit old-fashioned, with the run down ship and the crew spending most of their time on the outskirts of civilization, River’s spin-off would feature more of the advanced technology, be set in a more obviously futuristic location, and generally have more of a sci-fi look and feel.
Apart from Felicia Day and Amy Acker (hey, this is a wishlist, I can cast whomever I want), I’d also love to see Jayne join the show, being the audience’s link to Firefly. Over time, a very interesting (if not romantic then friendly) bond could form between him and River. And let’s get Jane Espenson involved with writing this show, too – I see Charlie’s Angels, but without Charlie and in space. It’s a win-win-win!
Bonus: Anya: Vengeance Demon
Okay, okay, she died, I get it! I’m still dealing. But that doesn’t mean we couldn’t enjoy Emma Caulfield in an epic Anya spin-off all about her days as a vengeance demon! As a long-running series I’m not sure exactly how much potential it’d have, but I’d just love to see this character let loose and be her uninhibited, wicked self. We know she ran with Halfrek (who I was never a big fan of, I’ll admit it), but who else? Did her paths ever cross with any other demons we know? What about her time with Dracula? We had a few glimpses into her past in the episodes “Triangle” and “Selfless,” but I always wanted more. Or it could be like Glee, they could just have her singing all the time. Trippy, but entertaining I’m sure!
Those are my top choices, although obviously there’s a wealth of characters in Whedon’s world that would be rich enough in backstory to explore in a show of their own! Sound off in the comments with any thoughts you have on the ones mentioned above, and share your own ideas about any spin-offs I left off the list!
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