On 8 May 2004 11:36:01 -0700,
him...@animail.net (himiko) wrote:
>"Jaime A. Cruz" <Spam...@Bite.Me> wrote in message news:<fF3nc.169277$
Gd3.45...@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv.net>...
>>
http://www.ananova.com/entertainment/story/sm_948307.html?menu=
>
>Something definitely went on between JW, ME, and/or the cast of BTVS
>that resulted in hard feelings, but I doubt we'll ever quite know what
>it was. SMG has several times commented on this and on how Buffy in
>her final years wasn't a "good role model" for young girls. Heads up,
>SMG: Buffy never was a role model and BTVS never was a show for young
>girls.
>
>She is clearly trying to distance herself from this role, and possibly
>from adult entertainment altogether. She may be concerned about type
>casting, for which I can't blame her, and she may not realize (as the
>creators didn't) that SD did as well as it did because it wasn't
>entirely a kiddie show either; they're all still trying to figure out
>why SD2 didn't do so well.
>
>SMG doesn't seem stupid, but she's not the brightest bulb in the pack
>either. Or perhaps, to be more accurate, she is in no way
>intellectual. She doesn't seem to analyze or reflect much...or read
>much. She seems to have no awareness of the intellectual and artistic
>flurry BTVS created, no awareness of the fact that she was in the
>center of something that will go down in the history books: well, film
>and tv history anyway.
>
>She also seems to shy away from emotionality in acting. She is
>certainly no method actor. She does not immerse herself in the role
>and dredge up real emotions from her life to give a realistic
>performance, and I don't think she wants to "feel" her character's
>emotions. I think this is why she prefers light, fluffy roles,
>although she's capable of deeper performances. I think the things
>Buffy (and therefore she) went through in S6-7 scared the pants off
>her. And let's face it, even JM who revels in that sort of thing,
>founds some of the stuff he had to do deeply disturbing emotionally,
>and all of it emotionally draining. It would have had a much stronger
>impact on emotionphobic SMG. She should probably also never attempt
>any serious tragedy roles.
>
>She's not likely to. SMG strikes me as a star rather than an actress,
>a celebrity more than a serious artist. This does not make her evil
>or even bad at what she does; personally, I think S6 Buffy was the
>best acting she's ever done. But SMG sees acting as a career, not a
>craft. She wants to be popular and make a lot of money. Playing a
>dark, confused, kinky anti-hero is just not her schtick, and I don't
>think she understands why it would be anyone's.
>
>In short (I know, too late for that), she is not the best authority on
>BTVS or even Buffy. I'm sorry she feels degraded by these scenes;
>they were some of her best work.
>
>himiko
Himiko originally posted this in alt.tv.angel. I am crossposting it
now as I still consider it the best explanation of why SMG wanted to
leave Buffy. If nothing else, the seventh season proved that the
formula which worked so well during the first three seasons didn't
work anymore. The characters had to evolve or else the show would
degenerate into a predictable, boring series akin to, say, Married
with Children, Friends, Frasier, The Drew Carey Show, ER or any other
TV show that just lasted too long. Gellar wasn't interested in a
darker series because it required a greater dedication and a more
intense performance. She is a celebrity rather than a serious
actress.
There were, of course, other factors involved: The fact that Joss had
lost interest; an aging cast; et cetera. I doubt it would be possible
to choose any one factor as the most decisive. I do agree with those
who maintain that it simply wasn't a good idea to try to continue the
series any longer.
Morgoth's Curse