And of course, there was the requisite "It could still happen." But we know that doesn't usually happen.
Honestly, I'm feeling a bit relieved. The original Buffy was lightning in a bottle, and rebooting it in a way that would satisfy most of the fans seems unlikely.
What do you all think? We have many Buffy readers here, and I bet reaction will be all over the map.
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Billie Doux loves good television and spends way too much time writing about it.
To be honest, I'm bummed. I was looking forward to seeing what they'd do. Even without Joss Whedon.
ReplyDeleteI'm undecided on how I feel. It sounded like if a reboot was ever going to work, it would be this one. SMG sounded really passionate and excited about it.
ReplyDeleteBut in my heart of hearts, I know this is probably for the best. Part of me can't help but wonder if a reboot has missed its moment. A lot of what made the show iconic was the writing, and that quippy style has almost become cliche. I don't know if audiences would respond well to it now.
Fangirl, that's a good point, that it may have missed its moment. Maybe the best time for a reboot would have been while Joss Whedon still had his reputation. Except that he had sort of become too big to do television anymore.
DeleteI'm sad, actually. When the news of the sequel series came out I had mixed feelings, but, like An Honest Fangirl said, SMG was so passionate about the project that she brought me along with her.
ReplyDeleteWhile I wasn't that excited about the idea of replicating the original premise with a bunch of new characters (which basically made the new series a thematic reboot), I still wanted to watch it. Lilla and Nora Zuckerman seemed like the perfect showrunners for the series. I had hope.
SMG seemed sad breaking the news. :( She spent so many years saying she wouldn't play Buffy again, and this project brought her heart back to the character.
In any case, I hope she stays open to the idea of playing Buffy again, and that another project comes along later. I would love a Buffy sequel about Buffy in her forties or fifties. We already have a series about the trials of high school and young adulthood. Let's take the character somewhere else.
"I promise if the apocalypse actually comes, you can still beep me."
Well, it looks like we might have to beep her any minute now.
In slightly related news, turns out the Firefly announcement that was being teased is an potential animated series with the original cast. Hope they have better luck.
ReplyDeleteMark, thanks for the reminder that the announcement is today. Here's the post on Nathan Fillion's Instagram:
Deletehttps://www.instagram.com/p/DV6Js56jT3F/
I had been excited about this in a vague way, but now that it's canceled I think I agree with everyone who has pointed out that it probably just wouldn't have been the same. Or, worse, if it were the same, we wouldn't like it as much.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't have to be the same. It just has to be good on its own merits.
DeleteI was not expecting it to be the same, but something new and updated in the same universe. Something that might share its best qualities, but not necessarily in the same way.
I am not an American, but I guess the Highschool experience in the U.S.A. will have changed in the last 30 years. That alone could provide a solid foundation for new stories.
I really don’t know how to feel because I was in a middle ground of looking forward to seeing Buffy on screen again but I was trying to work out how one would continue after Chosen without undoing it again. I wonder if the pilot will surface at some point?
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I'm also relieved. I didn't see any chance at all it would turn out well, and I was cringing at the thought of what was likely to be produced. However, I do feel bad for those looking forward to it.
ReplyDeleteThis article has more details on the behind-the-scenes: https://deadline.com/2026/03/buffy-inside-story-reboot-killed-why-sarah-michelle-gellar-1236757372/#comments
ReplyDeleteThe article (and the one Billie posted below) reaffirms my gut feeling that the reboot wouldn't have necessarily worked. It kind of sounds like a mess behind the scenes with poor communication of expectations despite everyone talking regularly.
DeleteThe way and timing of when they told SMG and Chloe Zhao was atrocious. Zhao wore a funeral outfit to the Oscars red carpet. It seems like there's a lot of anger on the side of the creatives.
Reboots seldom work and are often much worse than the original, but it still sucks to see shows that appeal to those of us of a nerdier bent get canceled like that.
ReplyDeleteAnd here's another article about SMG's anger about how they broke the news to her. I sense some possible misogyny on the part of the suits.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.tvline.com/2125094/buffy-reboot-canceled-reason-explained-sarah-michelle-gellar/
> I sense some possible misogyny on the part of the suits.
ReplyDeleteBillie, I had the same feeling, especially in how the source said that all the women involved in the project could take their talents elsewhere. It sounded so condescending.