I will watch the Spike movie with excitement. Which is odd, as I really don't care if it happens. I mean, if it does, cool. If not, eh. I'm good either way. If I watch it once and love it, maybe I'll watch it multiple times. It's a possibility. It all depends on what they do with it. Spike and the world he lives in are enough to catch my interest. I don't know whether or not they'll be able to keep it - but I do look forward to finding out. (But I won't be crushed if it remains a mystery.)

I would say I'm easy, but that's always a dangerous thing to say.

I'm easy, but I am not cheap.

Well, you're shallow that way. *g*

You know, I don't even think I find him attractive any more. I hadn't thought about it in a while, and it seems funny that would have changed, but I think it has. I think Intervention was the height of it, for me. After that, it was down hill. I mostly just miss the 'verse. I think there are a lot more stories to tell in it. I think Buffy and Angel (the characters) probably need a rest more than any of the rest of them. I think making any of them the lead, even Spike, would show whatever character from a broader perspective. I'm thinking of Wesley's role as minor-nudge/major prig on BtVS, and how he grew into a completely compelling, integral character on A:ts, maybe, when I say that.

Cindy, I'll watch the new Spike movie with you. Over and over and over, again.

He's still my favorite character (next to Buffy.)

Yeah, Buffy's certainly my favorite character. After Buffy herself, my favorite character fixations are cyclical. I still wish we'd get a Ripper/Watcher series. I dream of a series based on Oz trying to de-wolf, or control the wolf for good, but I can't seem to make it anything other than an Incredible Hulk rip-off, in my head. I'd still watch it though, even if it were an Incredible Hulk rip-off, because I love Seth Green, and his portrayal of Oz. He's so completely watchable.

Oh, you know, if it's a post NFA Spike story, I'd like to see Oz in it.

As per usual, Cindy stole my brain.

Spike was one of our major bonding moments. I remember giving you, abt, and genrefan updates on the shirtless Spike look-alike who was working a construction site in my town (gas station--I think). And you know, Miss Narrator was, at one time or another, not disinclined to look twice at him, either. *Cough*

I miss Wesley. I hungered for some more Wes/ Faith interaction after Salvage and Orpheus.

I wanted to see Wes get the same"you did good speech" That Giles gave Faith.

DS9 had great arc shows. Great ones.

I live in dread that—given how Spike's story tended to follow in the footsteps of Angel's to a ridiculous degree—a movie with Drusilla will result in her becoming pregnant with Spike's Miracle Baby and staking herself to save it.

I still wish we'd get a Ripper/Watcher series.

YES. Is there still any information around, re: what Joss had in mind for the series?

I live in dread that [...] a movie with Drusilla will result in her becoming pregnant with Spike's Miracle Baby and staking herself to save it.

Spike as a daddy? I shudder.

ETA: Perhaps, Spike could become the Fagin-like leader of a gang of disaffected, thieverous (word?) orphans, and organize them into soldiers for some sort of "turf war"...or something. I mean, there's bound to be some dark, twisted humor in "Spike as father figure;" but, please, no "Spike as father."

that the standalones were better than the mythology-centered stuff, and that the writers had a hard time plotting story arcs which didn't meander or lose momentum.

I read an article in EW, I think it was, where Piller basically said he wanted to concentrate more on the stand-alones because they were fun and they were good at them, and if you have too much mythology you end up alienating potential viewers. Which is valid, but it doesn't make me interested in being a hardcore fan for the long haul or anything.

I just read about "Ripper" (or what was supposed to be "Ripper") on TV.com. Hmm. I dunno. For my money, it would be more interesting if Giles were to work outside of the Watchers' Council. You know, as a sort of rogue demon hunter? With the mythology stuff delving more into his very shady, pre-Watcher past?

Which is valid, but it doesn't make me interested in being a hardcore fan for the long haul or anything.

Word.

ETA: Wait, I should say more. There is a benefit to standalones (even diehards need a breather from the main story every now and then), but I don't think most viewers' heads are trained to think "Standalones Only" anymore. Nowadays, we approach every new drama or genre show the way we would approach a new novel, expecting long-ranging arcs w/ many, many chapters.

Also...: I don't think the amount of mythology you have in a given show actually matters. I, myself, found it difficult to become truly immersed in "The X-Files," not b/c there was so much mythology, but b/c, none of it seemed linear. The information I knew kept contradicting itself (or so it seemed), and it was maddening how Chris Carter and his team never seemed to answer any questions definitively. After awhile, when it was clear to me that this show was never going to throw me a bone, I just plain gave up.

I don't think most TV viewers' heads are trained to think "Standalones Only" anymore.

Yet L&O keeps breeding and breeding and breeding.

How many TV watchers are fans? Fans care for arc, watchers less so, I'd wager.

Related to an off topic conversation from a week or so ago... there is an Eagles concert airing on NBC right now (central).

Joe Walsh looks like my grandpa, but he's still a big ol' goof.