You know, if I could actually separate Marc Blucas and Riley in my head, I'd be very glad for him.

syd | March 31, 04:55 CET

"Marc Blucas, who appeared for three years in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer..."

or about half that...

I wonder how important a part in the movie this is?

forcorreo | March 31, 04:55 CET

Um...I like Marc Blucas...I know lots of folks had a problem with him...not good enough to be Angel, not bad enough to be Spike...but I thought he was, as pretty much everybody was in the show, marvelously cast and extremely effective...even his unspoken, delivered by the military subordinate "Assface" was believable...and his descent into darkness as he tried, pathetically, to get closer to the "girl who likes a little monster in her man" was powerful...

And, I work with a young lady who remembers him from her college days as "the really cute basketball player" from Wake Forest...

So shoot me, I like him!

Chris inVirginia | March 31, 06:20 CET

I like Marc Blucas too, I even liked the Buffy/Riley storyline in the beginning but thought his character became awfully competitive with Buffy after he found out she was the Slayer and that turned me off to the character - not the actor. I thought he portrayed Riley well.

Firefly Flanatic | March 31, 06:23 CET

The scene where Spike shows Buffy that Riley's getting the suckjob is almost painful.

But Xander...who sees things...knows that Buffy is about to blow things in a big way...but, as is often in the Jossverse...too late.

I think Riley was a splendid character (not top-tier, but close) who stayed just long enough.

Chris inVirginia | March 31, 06:27 CET

I thought Marc Blucas did an excellent job portraying Riley's love for Buffy and the pain Riley felt knowing that Buffy didn't really love him. I think he's a very talented actor and I hope this is a good role for him. ME has a knack for finding excellent talent and getting fantastic performances out of their actors.

Firefly Flanatic | March 31, 06:40 CET

..knows that Buffy is about to blow things in a big way...

Xander only felt that way because he didn't understand the extremes of the situation. Oh, poor Riley. Buffy was trying to take care of her dying mother, protect her freshly key-ed sister from a HELL GOD, go to school, keep the world safe, but aw, the poor boy felt neglected so he decided the best solution for that was to go out and get suckjobs from vamp hos. Yep, she really was going to blow things with a real catch, especially when he gave her the ultimatum. Oh yeah...Xander was right on the ball there.

Riley was satisfactory as a character, but in the end, i was so happy to see him go. I despised that the blame was all placed on Buffy's shoulders for the thankful end of their relationship. She shouldn't have been blamed for his inadequcy. I hated how he made Buffy feel like she had to force herself into some girlfriend mold for him. Happily, Riley found his Mary Sue just in time.

syd | March 31, 06:47 CET

Syd - I agree with all you say too about Riley's character and how Buffy got blamed for it all - still think the actor did a great job portraying Riley. I was happy to see him go, the time had come. He just wasn't strong enough for Buffy.

Firefly Flanatic | March 31, 06:51 CET

I love Riley, and adore Mark Blucas. He seems to have a thing for war/actions movies... and whattya know! So do I. Or maybe he just likes to wear military garb... in whatever fashion. And whattya know! So do I. Match made in heaven.

Cole Searr | March 31, 06:57 CET

still think the actor did a great job portraying Riley

Oh, i defintely agree with you, blwessels. What i said at the beginning of this thread about not being able to separate Riley and Blucas was just a bit of tongue-in-cheek. I really *am* happy that he's continued to find good roles. Yes, Blucas played Riley rather well, especially in that end scene between he and Xander when he realized that Buffy doesn't love him, or even that great scene between he and Spike. He did a great job, not his fault that the writers have this unflappable love for Riley and have decided he can do no wrong.

syd | March 31, 07:04 CET