Whedonesque : Comments on 13360 : (SPOILER) Brian Lynch talks Angel Season 6.

I'm so excited!

I'm very interested in seeing how AtS season 6 goes.

Brian Lynch says: I think what we have planned is gonna knock people down, steal their wallets, pick them up, dust them off, fix their hair, give them a hoagie and a ride to the nearest carnival, accompany them on the tilt-a-whirl, hold their hair when they get sick, and pay for cab fare home. It’s THAT much fun.

'Scuse me while I kiss this guy!

[ edited by anniem on 2007-06-02 16:43 ]

anniem | June 02, 19:32 CET

I'm sad that I never had a fun dorm mother like Joss when I was in college.

Reddygirl | June 02, 19:59 CET

I swear...the more I read from Brian...the more I think I am seriously 'lovin this guy'!

I am really getting excited about this series now and I wish it was more like 24 issues...or a zillion issues rather than just 12.
I guess what I really wish is that it could become an on-going series, but I'll be grateful for anything that brings me more Spike and Angel and keeps the dream alive for us.

kathylovesspike | June 02, 20:06 CET

Thank you so much, Brian, for bringing us more Spike cuz there's nothing better than more Spike! I'm as excited about both of these comics as a kid at Christmas! Just can't wait.

luvspike | June 02, 20:32 CET

Not like I really need to tell anyone here, but he is so right about the Spike fandom. Spike's my favorite character, like, ever, so I don't want anything to happen to him...but a few weeks ago when I was discussing Angel S6 with my friend who's just now going through S5, she was very clear in telling me what would happen if the writers did something to Spike. Did she threaten Joss or Brian? No. Did she threaten to stop reading the comics? No. No, she threatened me for getting her into it.

Do you hear that, Joss and Brian?! Do you?! MY LIFE IS IN YOUR HANDS!

Moving on...Brian sounds completely awesome, and even though I gave up on the IDW books long ago, I will hunt down Asylum and Shadow Puppets after hearing so many awesome things about them.

Oh, and the Slayers don't rescue Angel and Co.! Yay! This is going to be fucking awesome.

UnpluggedCrazy | June 02, 21:15 CET

Oh, and the Slayers don't rescue Angel and Co.! Yay! This is going to be fucking awesome.

While I would of enjoyed Buffy and the slayers showing up in the alley,I honestly wasn't expecting it and understand why Joss and Brian aren't doing it.Much like with season 8 and Angel and Spike not having major roles in that,Buffy probably shouldn't have a major role here either on the flip side.Maybe down the line after these 12 issues and further in season 8 there might be a full crossover of some sort but before that,each line needs to establish it's own foundations.

Besides I doubt Buffy and the slayers were going to show up in the season 6 premiere on T.V. either. More likely any Buffy characters would of made a guest spot later in the season.

Not like I really need to tell anyone here, but he is so right about the Spike fandom. Spike's my favorite character, like, ever, so I don't want anything to happen to him...but a few weeks ago when I was discussing Angel S6 with my friend who's just now going through S5, she was very clear in telling me what would happen if the writers did something to Spike. Did she threaten Joss or Brian? No. Did she threaten to stop reading the comics? No. No, she threatened me for getting her into it.

Do you hear that, Joss and Brian?! Do you?! MY LIFE IS IN YOUR HANDS!

Considering what Joss has done in the past,I doubt a character's popularity would prevent him from killing said character off if it served his story purpose.I mean Buffy died twice.

That's one thing about the canon continuation.ALL bets are off.Before with non canon comics,everybody was pretty safe.Now everything is up for grabs.I wouldn't put it past Joss and Brian of killing Angel himself at some point in season 6.lol

Buffyfantic | June 02, 21:43 CET

Thanks for the link, Simon.

I'm quite looking forward to these comics. I'm enjoying the Buffy S8 ones, loving them really but Angel has a special place in my heart.

Glad to hear that the slayers don't rescue Angel and the gang...but oh man, this is gonna be a big long waiting tease huh?

*bounces*

After all, just because someone is shot, doesn’t mean they are dead.

BL: Anything can happen.

Be still my heart. I think I found hope again.

menomegirl | June 02, 21:55 CET

I have a question. Does anybody know why they're doing a continuation of the story?

gossi | June 02, 22:01 CET

Great interview. I can see how Brian can voice these characters--he's obviously got the right sense of humor and love for the verse. (I've got the Asylum trade on order, and am really looking forward to it.)
I was wondering about the comment that Buffy 8 & Angel 6 aren't running "side by side." What does that mean? Do they take place in different time periods?

jcs | June 02, 22:04 CET

Is the [potential] shooting implication there only for Lindsey ? Who else was shot in the Angel finale ? Was Gunn, or were his wounds inflicted by other weapons ? Can't remember, only watched the series finale once.

If it's for Lindsey, much as I loved the character (and Christian Kane) in Seasons 1 and 2, he was kinda squandered (or just plain didn't make sense) in Season 5. Him being absolutely finished in Season 5 worked for me.

I was back and forth about this, but after that interview I'm 100% on board.

Kris | June 02, 22:04 CET

gossi -- Because Season 5 wasn't where the story was planned to end ? Obviously Joss got tired of waiting (and is realistic) about the near-zero chance of TV-movie possibilities at this point, but he still really wants the remainder of his story to be told. That'd be my guess.

I questioned the return to canon Buffy, but this makes sense (even though it didn't seem cool at first that this was non-Joss/ME written, but as long as it's Joss-guided I can live with it).

Kris | June 02, 22:08 CET

As to why they're continuing the story, I think it's because even though NFA was the best story-ending ever, Joss has another story to tell about Angel & his world. Maybe I'll like it & maybe I won't, but I can't wait to hear it. And even if I don't like it, it certainly won't hurt the story that's already been told.

jcs | June 02, 22:14 CET

I was wondering about the comment that Buffy 8 & Angel 6 aren't running "side by side." What does that mean? Do they take place in different time periods?

Season 8 has been confirmed as beginning a year and a half after Chosen and five or six month after NFA.I bet Angel season 6 will pick up right where NFA left off,in the alley since this series is going to answer what happened there.That would mean that season 6 of Angel starts five or six months before Buffy season 8.

Buffyfantic | June 02, 22:18 CET

I'm so happy we got a new interview - I've been dying to read more about Season 6 - and Brian is such a great interviewee.

The release of this cannot come fast enough for me. I've been bursting with excitement about this from the moment I heard it. I know it'll be brilliant, and I just hope it comes out sooner rather than later!

angeliclestat | June 02, 22:22 CET

gossi, I think they're doing it for pretty much the same reasons they continued Btvs in comic form. As much as I'd love to see Angel on a screen once more, big or small, I don't think that's going to happen.

So, I can be happy with this.

Kris, I didn't really take that to mean they'd bring back Lindsey. I'm just hoping. I believe Joss' comments about the death of characters in the finale was meant to be about Wesley, not Lindsey, if I'm not mistaken.

And while I loved that they did bring Lindsey back for S5, I agree with you. A lot of things about him were left unexplained (not to mention the lack of continuity reguarding magic in the episode You're Welcome).

So many things were left unresolved at the end of NFA. I'd like to know what happened.

If Gunn died. If he didn't. How they survived and where Lorne went...so many things. I'm hoping we also find out if Angel really did order Lindsey's death or if Lorne acted on his own. That has really plagued me for a long time....maybe, at least, they could put some spin on that I could respect, if they don't bring Lindsey back.

[ edited by menomegirl on 2007-06-02 19:36 ]

menomegirl | June 02, 22:26 CET

gossi- I think you could say the same thing about Buffy Season 8. Why bother?

For my part because the Whedonverse is such a rich and wonderful world, with characters I love and I think are timeless, and a story that could go on forever (in the case of Angel and Spike this is literally true!)

Why bother writing more Star Trek stories, Star Wars, Spiderman, Batman etc ? Because there are fans who love the universes and the characters.

And as long as those fans exist - then I think the stories should be told.

angeliclestat | June 02, 22:38 CET

Just got my TPB of Asylum, and I'm entirely sold on Brian here. I just loved it; I cannot wait for the canon Angel stuff-and I'm definitely getting the Shadow Puppets comics as they come out. The Smile Time episode always totally hits my funny bone; watching it I just get weak.

I'm not sure how closely the color in the TPB Asylum matches that in the original comics, but if it is pretty much the same, then I'd have to agree with the reviewer, who said it was his only real complaint.with that series The art it pretty good- sometimes even wonderful, but it's a tad greyish.

Both the Japanese and puppet aspects of the upcoming SP series offer a real opportunity for some gorgeous art work- hope Urro has been bold with it.I am so looking forward to seeing Lorne (and everyone else) as puppet(s). But more than anything else, Season six-I can't wait to find out what happens.

toast | June 02, 22:58 CET

Gossi, I'm thinking that Joss has these voices in his head, and sometimes they get so loud that he just can't think straight, so he has to write them down (or tell them to Brian Lynch and let HIM write them down).
Of course it is just a theory.

embers | June 02, 23:08 CET

It's possible I'm even more excited about this than I was about Buffy Season Eight.

Derf | June 02, 23:52 CET

Hi! I have a question for you guys. Who's the most knowledgeable person on this site in reference to the Buffyverse shows and fandom?

capra | June 02, 23:54 CET

Hi! I have a question for you guys. Who's the most knowledgeable person on this site in reference to the Buffyverse shows and fandom? Oops, and I meant to add, and how do I contact them?

capra | June 02, 23:56 CET

Okay, I admit I haven't been keeping track of what's going on with the new Angel comic, so forgive me if this question is a little on the retarded side. What exactly is Joss' involvement in the Angel Season 6 comic?

Dan Corson | June 03, 00:26 CET

Okay, I admit I haven't been keeping track of what's going on with the new Angel comic, so forgive me if this question is a little on the retarded side. What exactly is Joss' involvement in the Angel Season 6 comic?
Daburcor | June 02, 21:26 CET

From my understanding,Joss is co-writing with Brian Lynch and overseeing the project.

With Buffy season 8,he's being more hands on.He's overseeing that as well but directly writing over half the issues himself.

I sort of look at it like how the shows were.Joss was the show-runner for Buffy while David Greenwalt,Tim Minear and Jeffery Bell were the show-runners for Angel.Joss handled the day to day aspects of Buffy a little more then with Angel but was still heavily involved.

I see the comics sort of the same way.Joss is show-running Buffy season 8 himself with Brian Lynch show-running Angel season 6 for Joss.They're working together.

That's sort of my take.

Buffyfantic | June 03, 00:58 CET

But they all died in the alley. It's going to be a pretty boring comic, watching their moldering corpses and all. :-D

OzLady | June 03, 01:01 CET

It's going to be a pretty boring comic, watching their moldering corpses and all. :-D

Angel zombies!! A light hearted comic book romp in which our fearsome heroes fight evil and eat people.

Simon | June 03, 01:58 CET

capra, I believe that might be his purpleness. As for getting in touch? It seems these days you have to have a sound system ready to go and be prepared to party.

Lioness | June 03, 02:05 CET

Meaning no disrespect whatsoever to Brian Lynch, because I'm convinced he's an excellent choice to be "showrunner" for Season Six... but I was really, REALLY hoping if I just closed my eyes and ignored this it wouldn't happen.

...dammit. Oh well, nothing for it now but to hold my breath and brace for the kick to the berries that this could ultimately be.

(That way, when it's awesome and amazing and not a disappointment at all, I can be even MORE blown away... and Mr. Lynch can say "I told you so"... and THEN kick me in the berries for ever doubting him.)

Haunt | June 03, 02:39 CET

My fear is that it wil be too light and funny. The reason Not Fade Away is so great is because Angel and his crew pay such a high price for their actions, and I don't want that to go away. I really hope Wesley stays dead and they follow through with Gunn's. At least that way, Angel will to live with the fact that all of his human friends have died, and move on from there.

narky | June 03, 03:22 CET

Um, I'm sorta very new! Who is his purpleness????

capra | June 03, 03:49 CET

If Joss didn't have a hand in, I wouldn't be looking forward to this project at all. I was very satisfied with the way NFA ended, despite nursing a broken heart over the series' untimely end ever since.

More than Buffy, I have to admit I miss my broad shouldered, broody, billowy-coated, grimly resolute, kickass vampire and his crew, and the thought of more official stories make me feel fluttery inside. A good fluttery, because BL seems to have a fine handle on the characters, and he's got the trust, sanction and ear of the Boss. Therefore, 98% of my initial concerns have been squelched. I too hope for a preponderance of dark over funny, but even darkness has to be shot through with the occasional shaft of watery sunlight now and again, or else you're looking at an unremitting black void. (Like this lovely place would be without any words adorning it; too stark to contemplate. And nothing against black voids! Some of them are quite cozy...)

Which means, of course, that it's the remaining 2% that could conceivably screw everything up. But seriously, no pressure, guys! ;)

Wiseblood | June 03, 03:53 CET

Um, I'm sorta very new! Who is his purpleness????

His Purpleness - He Who Posts Here From Time to Time and Whose Name Appears in Purple. Da Man. He Who is Our Master Now (step off, fools!), Grand Orchestrator of a ~~Not So~~ Secret and Inexorably Advancing Plan (because he HAS A PLAN!) to Take Over the World (or at least the fun parts of it). Numfar. You know, that Joe Swedon guy. The one they call "Joss" (though they spell it "Josh", unless they don't).

Wiseblood | June 03, 04:06 CET

*laughs* Okay, after his purpleness, and shouldn't that be all caps with sparkles, who knows most about the Buffyverse and fandom questions? Cus I have one I need to ask. Thanks guys!

capra | June 03, 04:26 CET

I'm sure there are about 100 "experts" here. Ask the question.

TamaraC | June 03, 04:43 CET

Is there an authority on the Buffyverse and fandom? I mean to my friends I'm the authority of the Buffyverse, but in a community of other people who follow his purpleness, I would be hard pressed to claim that I or anyone is THE AUTHORITY or the person who knows the mostest. And then there are the fans who have studied a particularly character or season etc. and know it inside and out. So, I guess maybe if you ask the question, someone who knows the answer or at least how to answer it will help you out.

ETA: TamaraC beat me to the punch and in fewer words.

[ edited by Celina on 2007-06-03 01:46 ]

Celina | June 03, 04:45 CET

Okay, here goes... Has anyone here every heard anything about various episodes being shown in more than one version? What I remember from the first time I saw some of the episodes is different from the version I have on my DVDs. For instance, when I saw As You Were the first time, I remember Anya, in her bathroom scene with Xander, saying 'I hate Riley Finn.' But in transcripts and on the DVD, she says something like 'If you love Riley Finn so much, maybe you should marry him.' And that's not the only change. Spike was uncovered in the one I saw, but covered with a sheet on the DVD and with a blanket on a rerun I saw. There are others but I won't go into them until I know whether I'm crazy or not. Does any of this sound familiar to anyone?

capra | June 03, 04:55 CET

Here are some more:

In one of the episodes after A Hole in the World, I don't remember which one and can't find it now, Spike is fighting with Illyria and she knocks him down, as he's getting up, he says 'I have to be able to fight.'

In the episode where they rescue Lindsey, when Spike is being patched up by Lorne, Angel walks out of his room with something black over his arm, somthing that turns out to be the black T-shirt Spike puts on. On the DVD, Angel walks out of his room without anything over his arm.

capra | June 03, 05:04 CET

capra-What Anya said in "As You Were" was "You know, if you love Riley Finn so much, maybe you should just marry him." She never at any time said she hated Riley. I have the episode taped from the night it first aired. Spike moved the sheet covering himself before he stood up.

I'm not sure about Spike and Illyria but I cannot recall Spike saying "I have to be able to fight."

As for Underneath, Angel was buttoning his shirt when he walked back into the room. He wasn't carrying anything.

menomegirl | June 03, 05:29 CET

Sorry to be popping in and out, I keep getting thrown out. I think there may have been different original versions shown on the original air dates, and some of the changes were pretty important. So I'm trying to track down other people who saw the same things I did as well as trying to find anyone who still has tapes or downloads from the original airings. I'd like to see as many copies as possible to see what other changes were made. Or if I'm just hallucinating. Or getting senile.

capra | June 03, 05:33 CET

menomegirl! Thanks for answering. You're right, that's what's on my DVD, that's what other people saw too. But at least one other person I talked to remembers the t-shirt over Angel's arm. That's why I believe there were different versions shown in different markets.

capra | June 03, 05:37 CET

I believe what you're noticing may be editing if you're watching any re-runs of the episodes on television or cable.

The DVD's are the episodes as they origionally aired, as far as I know. Once More With Feeling contains portoins of the Spike song that was cut after the first airing and in the first season of Btvs, the episode with the dummy has that funny bit of Buffy, Willow and Xander at the end added to it.

eta-I'll ask a friend of mine from the UK tomorrow to watch As You Were for me and see what Anya says on her version.

[ edited by menomegirl on 2007-06-03 02:42 ]

menomegirl | June 03, 05:40 CET

If there is any expert, I would have to say it is Joss -- he may not be as "connected" to the fandom as perhaps the fans, but he has forgotten more about the Buffyverse than most of us know, simply because he knows his intentions.

But among fans... don't know. I mean, I have knowledge of Buffy, but it can't compare to some people's knowledge.

"Expert" is such a subjective term.

YellowBear | June 03, 05:42 CET

"Expert" is such a subjective term.

LOL! Isn't it though? I'm not an expert. I just think I know everything. Ha! But I do have a very good memory.

menomegirl | June 03, 05:48 CET

That's just it, I don't watch reruns often, they're on at the wrong time of day for me. And I thought it was just editing too, before I got the DVDs. I was searching for a quote from CWDP just after Buffy ended the Buffyworld transcripts had something different from what I remembered hearing just a few months earlier so I think I got sensitized to it. And I don't think the t-shirt was edited out for time or anything, Angel was talking while he carried the t-shirt and put it down on the sofa, where Spike picked it up. On the DVD, Angel was talking, but the t-shirt wasn't there. Spike still picked it up from the same place, but it hadn't been on the sofa earlier, I don't think.

capra | June 03, 06:11 CET

I like this Brian Lynch fellow. The interview made me want to read his books.

Pointy | June 03, 06:15 CET

I think menomegirl is right about the edits. There have been several occasions (I can't think of any in the Buffyverse at the moment) when a show or movie has been cut differently than the first time I watched it. I notice it a lot with syndicated episodes (you might want to see if there's a difference between the original airing and the FX airing) or after repeated airings of movie...there was a movie on HBO some girl comedy with Cameron Diaz, on the TV premiere they showed it in its entirety and then I saw it again and a scene had been cut. So, it's definitely possible that your memory isn't playing tricks on you. You're not going crazy. Anya saying "I hate Riley Finn" has a familiar ring to it, but so does the other line, and unlike menomegirl, I don't have a very good memory. It's possible I've seen both versions if there are indeed two different versions floating around.

I don't consider myself an expert either, but none of my friends are into into the Whedonverse, so whenever they have a question about it they come to me. "Expert" status is really subjective to the company you are in, I think.

About Angel season 6, I'm with the folks who weren't satisfied with the series finale. Don't get me wrong, I love NFA. It's a great episode, but it always seemed to me that that wasn't the end (and I think Joss has confirmed that it wasn't meant to be the end). I'm looking forward to the comic, and I hope it takes off and they add more issues similar to Buffy Season 8's expansion.

Celina | June 03, 06:26 CET

I agree Pointy ... I like him too. He posts over on the IDW forums and seems a right good guy with a love of the 'verse and the characters. He's the one thing that makes me look forward to Season 6 instead of dreading it. (or dreading it too much ;) )

resa | June 03, 06:29 CET

Simon- and then we can FINALLY get Bruce Campbell into the 'verse! ;-)

OzLady | June 03, 06:34 CET

Bruce Campbell! Shiny!

menomegirl | June 03, 07:47 CET

Thanks for all your help everyone!!!

capra | June 03, 08:16 CET

Indeed, episodes are edited for syndication. Typically, enough material is excised to add one extra commercial break. This also usually alters the structure of the show so that commercial breaks no longer fall on the act breaks, mucking up the whole flow. This is why DVD sets are a Great Thing^TM.

jlp | June 03, 11:32 CET

Cool, i like that Brian is a Spike fan as well as an Angel fan.
This will hopefully ensure that both characters are treated as equals and not downsized for one another.
Awesome that Buffy and the slayers aren't bailing Spike,Angel and his crew out.
I am curious to the idea that he pitched to Joss in the email, and Joss liking it.

Vergil | June 03, 12:54 CET

One thing I think we can agree on is that the story-line at the end of Season 5 of Angel was rushed, due to the cancellation.
I'd like to see a comic series, or any series, starting at the beginning of Season 5, exactly as Joss had planned it, that had the time and space to include a sixth series. What the story-line would have been like had Joss been given the go-ahead for Season 6 instead of the cancellation.

Mild Mike | June 03, 17:19 CET

Did someone mention Bruce Campbell?

'Cuz...like...now I'm imagining Ash fighting zombie Angel and zombie Spike. With a chainsaw. And a sawed-off double barrel shotgun.

UnpluggedCrazy | June 03, 20:11 CET

Brian does really seem to be excited about the upcoming canon series. I can't wait to see how he tackles Angel's voice and what Joss and he have planned.

I was one of those fans that hoped Buffy & the Slayers helped Angel & his crew in that alley. However, it's not disappointing to hear otherwise, because I knew it wasn't very likely to begin with.

maje | June 04, 01:05 CET

capra-Just in case you check back, my friend Donna watched As You Were for me and in the UK version Anya also says, "If you love Riley Finn so much, maybe you should just marry him." Xander replies, "He's taken and that's not the point..." Just the same as the US version.

menomegirl | June 04, 02:13 CET

The shooting script also says "If you like Riley Finn..."

Jackal | June 04, 02:17 CET

Damn, I'm starting to think I am crazy! Ah well, it wouldn't be the first time... or the last most likely. Thanks again for all your help everyone.

capra | June 04, 02:25 CET

Oh and by the way, how could Angel and Spike be zombies? They're already dead.

Can vampires turn into zombies?

So like, instead of I vant to suck your blood, it'd be....I vant to eat your brains??

Weird.

And not at all sexy.

Kinda....ew.

[ edited by menomegirl on 2007-06-03 23:48 ]

menomegirl | June 04, 02:41 CET

June 02 2007