3 parts of a really good and long (7 pages so far) filmforce.ign.com interview with Joss Whedon is now up. The first part was added on Monday the last part will go up today, I think.

Me being me, can't really tell if it's spoilery, I don't think so. It's worth the risk because it's great. IMO, the best JW interview since that great one in The Onion from a few years ago.

Thanks, candyb!

Joss, on working on Roseanne,

You know what I learned? And this was one of the most important things I've ever learned, one of the defining things about humanity. It was when she made a speech at the beginning of the season about how the tabloids were really giving her s**t and how they were infiltrating the crew and stuff, people were feeding them stuff – "So you f***ing writers better keep your mouths shut or I'll have you all fired." I realized, this was the perfect opportunity to make a speech that brought everybody closer together, that said, "It's us against the world, and dammit, we've got good work to do here, let's all get it done" – and instead she used it to attack. It made me realize, at that moment, that every time somebody opens their mouth they have an opportunity to do one of two things – connect or divide. Some people inherently divide, and some people inherently connect. Connecting is the most important thing, and actually an easy thing to do. I try to make a connection with someone every time I talk to them, even if I'm firing them.

Yes. That bit struck me too.

Makes me think Joss/ME writers saw Buffy as Roseanne for much of S7. Ugh.

You know, reading about Joss' education makes me feel WAY better about myself. I can now happily blame crappy American public schools as well as a just-OK public university for cursing me with just enough mental power to enjoy watching a show like Buffy but no where near the juiced up brain cells to write a show like Buffy.

Or for that matter, not even giving me a squishy frontal lobe capable of understanding some of the themes on the show until three articles, a book, DVD commentary and many many Buffistas explain them to me.

"I am gonna catch that bastard or my name isn't--FUCK!"

Heh. It's from a fabulous Due South story, Chicago's Most Wanted, by Speranza. Incredibly funny. The speaker is Ray Vecchio Kowalski, who has some identity issues.

Oh, is that the criminal mastermind story?

Yep, that's the one. Go here to read it.

I've heard it said a number of times that if they ever made a Due South movie, they could just film this story. It's really one of the best things to come out of the fandom.

"I'm saying it's a Fraser kind of plan!" Ray yelled. "Diabolical and nutritious!"

Love it. Even never having seen the show, love it. Poor Ray.

Dana, I was just coming back here to post that line. I love this story so much.