This piece of news is not surprising. Every Marvel Cinematic Universe film has an end-credits scene of some sort, and they weren’t going to buck that trend with GotG Vol. 2.
“Set to the backdrop of ‘Awesome Mixtape #2,’ Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 continues the team’s adventures as they traverse the outer reaches of the cosmos. The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mysteries of Peter Quill’s true parentage. Old foes become new allies and fan-favorite characters from the classic comics will come to our heroes’ aid as the Marvel cinematic universe continues to expand.”
The film stars Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Kurt Russel, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, and Michael Rooker.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 hits theaters on May 5.
John Barrowman is a well known actor, author and singer. He appeared on a few American programs, but first became well known here as Captain Jack Harkness on Doctor Who and Torchwood. These days he’s Malcolm Merlyn on Arrow and the other CW shows. He’s also a mainstay at cons all over the country, and always wildly entertaining. Barrowman has a tireless social media presence. His professional career stretches back to 1989 and West End in London.
Born in Scotland, the youngest of three children, Barrowman moved to the US as a child. He primarily lives in the US now, with his English husband, Scott Gill, but maintains close ties to the UK. He still appears on British television and spends Christmas almost every year doing panto in Glasgow.
Barrowman got his first big break in 1989. According to his biography, he was visiting family in Scotland when a cousin told him about an open audition for Anything Goes, staring Elaine Paige and Bernard Cribbins. They were looking for a man who could “sing, dance and do an American accent.” Since he knew a guy very well who could do those things, he auditioned and was almost immediately offered the part.
Over the next fifteen years Barrowman appeared in a variety of musical productions, including Miss Saigon,Phantom of the Opera, Beauty and the Beast, Company and Sunset Boulevard. In the early 2000s he participated in a revival of Anything Goes. But his life was about to change dramatically.
As a lifelong Doctor Who fan, Barrowman jumped at the chance when he was asked to audition for the show in 2005. He was cast as Captain Jack Harkness, a former Time Agent who’s primary skills were charm, flirting and quick thinking. After spending half a season as a companion of the Doctor, his character was killed. However, in Doctor Who things aren’t always as they seem and he was brought back to life. Now immortal, his character was left behind by the Doctor and went off to star in his own spinoff.
Torchwood is a more adult show then it’s family-friendly parent. Barrowman returned as Jack Harkness, leading a group in Cardiff as they watched over the city and dealt with various aliens, humans and one ex-boyfriend of Jack’s. The show went for two regular seasons and one mini-series. In addition, Showtime produced one series for American audiences.
Barrowman kept plenty busy over the next years, staring in his own variety show Tonight’s the Night and appearing in more productions, including La Cage Aux Folles. He hosted several British shows and appeared in Desperate Housewives. Barrowman released a few music albums and toured the UK in support of them.
In 2012 John Barrowman began appearing on Arrow as Malcolm Merlyn and the Dark Archer. What started off as a few appearances became a regular role, not only on Arrow but on the other CW shows.
In 2014 he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for his charity work.
In addition to all of that, he has cowritten a number of books with his sister, Carole. They have collaborated on two autobiographies of his life and an award-winning children’s series. They’ve also written comic books, including the most recent Torchwood series that launched last August.
And Torchwood seems to have as much life in it as it’s Captain, now as audiobooks produced by Big Finish.
Barrowman is a mainstay on the convention circuit, tirelessly going out to meet his fans. His Q and A’s are always highly entertaining. He keeps very busy with his Twitter and Facebook and he’s very involved in LGBT rights. John Barrowman has had an amazing career, and, as he celebrates his fiftieth birthday we can all look forward to whatever he does next.
‘Kong: Skull Island’ is a fun film that critics love, but this film had a chance to be great. EJ and Matt are at different ends of the spectrum when it comes to what they want out of a giant monster film. On top of it all, this is a special episode as Kong is a part of the origin of Monkeys Fighting Robots.
Strap yourself in buckaroos! Episode 114 of the Monkeys Fighting Robots podcast is here.
Do you want to be our SUPER-FAN of the week? All you have to do is comment on this podcast to be eligible.
Do you have a question that you would like answered during the show?
A Gen Xer and a Millennial debate the latest topics in pop culture. One guy is a filmmaker and the other is a journalist, but both are nerds. We make your slowest days at work better. Hosts, Matthew Sardo and EJ Moreno.
Never heard of Matt Sardo?
For starters, he made the Kessel Run in less than 11 parsecs. Prior to that, he gave Doc Brown the idea for the flux capacitor and led the Resistance to victory over SkyNet – all while sipping a finely crafted IPA. As a radio host, he’s interviewed celebrities, athletes and everyone in between. He’s covered everything from the Super Bowl to Comic-Con.
Who is EJ Moreno?
Is he a trained physician? No. Is he a former Miss Universe contestant? Possibly. But what we know for sure is he’s a writer, filmmaker, and pop culture enthusiast. Since film school, EJ has written & directed several short films. He’s used his passion for filmmaking to become a movie critic for MonkeysFightingRobots.com.
“Before she was Wonder Woman, she was Diana, princess of the Amazons, trained to be an unconquerable warrior. Raised on a sheltered island paradise, when an American pilot crashes on their shores and tells of a massive conflict raging in the outside world, Diana leaves her home, convinced she can stop the threat. Fighting alongside man in a war to end all wars, Diana will discover her full powers…and her true destiny.”
Joining Gadot in the film is Chris Pine, Robin Wright, David Thewlis, Danny Huston, Connie Nielsen, and Lucy Davis.
‘The Love Witch’ Nails The Aesthetic Of 1960’s Horror Perfectly
What a blast from the blast this film is. ‘The Love Witch‘ really dives into the gimmick of trying to make a late 60’s/early 70’s horror. If it wasn’t for the modern cars and phones, you’d be able to get away with saying this is an old Mario Bava picture. With the mix of the nostalgic filmmaking and sharp wit, this technicolor dream is a win.
‘The Love Witch‘ stars Samantha Robinson as Elaine, a widowed witch with a deadly spell. She says her ex-husband left her but the film implies that she poisoned him. Nonetheless, she still feels scorned and she’s looking to be loved. Once she find a room in a creepy Victorian house to rent, the witch really lets loose.
Soon she starts finding potential suitors to crave her sexual appetite. Using the world of the occult to her advantage, Elaine’s need for sex and love starts to turn deadly for the men in her life. Even when she meets the man she’s always wanted, it may be too late.
“According to the experts, men are very fragile. They can get crushed down if you assert yourself in any way.” -Elaine (Samantha Robinson)
The movie begins with director Anna Biller giving an homage to Hitchcock’s Psycho and she doesn’t stop with inspirations. Almost on par with Tarantino in the way Biller finds a way to not only say thanks to the films that came before but use it as a way to progress film now.
Thanking Anna Biller’s direction isn’t enough because there’s far more that went into making this feel so organic. M. David Mullen’s cinematography choices are inspired and innovative for a film made in 2016. Using techniques like rear projection photography for the driving scenes or slow zooms shows he did his research when making this project. The icing on the cake is how great everything looks shot in 35mm. An obvious choice for a project like this but it’s used intelligently.
Adding to the masterful direction and camera work, the art direction is jaw-dropping. Everything looks to be ripped out of an issue of 60’s Italian Vogue. It blew me away that director Anna Biller also did the art direction and production design. As an aspiring filmmaker with a background in art department, theres a major respect for a filmmaker who can do anything to achieve their artistic vision.
Director Anna Biller (top) with ‘The Love Witch’ star Samantha Robinson
One of the only easy nitpicks is the cheesy dialogue and basic story. There’s a need for some melodrama but mixing that with such a pulpy story feels excessive. That’s the problem with going so deep into this niche genre; the style choices can be a bit abrasive. Knocking the film for doing exactly what it should doesn’t seem fair but it still needs to be pointed out it can be cringe-worthy at times.
Samantha Robinson plays Elaine with a stiffness that fits the character but comes off cold to the viewers. She delivers almost no emotion the entire time but it’s all heavily thought out. It’s stylized exactly for the time, giving an almost ‘Stepford Wives‘ performance, but there’s still a slight disconnect that kept me from fully engaging.
Final Thoughts:
‘The Love Witch‘ is a must see for any cinephile or cult horror fan. Everything isn’t perfect but the effort put into this film is insane. Trying to capture the magic of a time in cinema that’s long past is something many filmmakers attempt but Anna Biller does it right.
In the latest episode of the FilmKind Podcast, Kieran gives his spoiler-free review for Kong: Skull Island, the new King Kong movie from Legendary Entertainment, Warner Bros. and director Jordan Vogt-Roberts. Kong: Skull Island stars Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, and John C. Reilly.
The FilmKind Podcast is an awesome new show from Monkeys Fighting Robots writer and movie nerd Kieran McLean. Discussing the latest movies and movie related subject every week! Make sure you don’t miss an episode and subscribe!
Listen to the episode below and make sure you let us know what you think in the comments section!
A team of scientists, soldiers and adventurers unite to explore an uncharted island in the Pacific. Cut off from everything they know, the team ventures into the domain of the mighty Kong. As their mission becomes one of survival, they must fight to escape a primal Eden.
Make sure you subscribe to the FilmKind Podcast for more episodes. Your opinions matter so use the comments section below and rate this podcast. For more amazing content check back with MonkeysFightingRobots.com.
In Rotation, a listicle for music lovers, and seekers of new and different things to listen to. So, if you’re looking for new music, something different, or maybe music to suit your mood this week, here is the place to get a diverse offering each week.
In Rotation this week, we have a Southern Grunge/Blues artist, an Indie Rock/Folk artist, an unusual Japanese saxophonist/composer, a barely classifiable Alternative Rock group, an Indie Rock/Horror/New Wave one man band, a forgotten Dream Pop band, and Punk Rock/Hardcore/ Canadian Alternative band for your listening pleasure.
Get comfortable and buckle up because this will be a bumpy, albeit much delayed, ride.
1.
Artist:
Dax Riggs
Album: We Sing of only Blood or Love
Dax Riggs is an unusual artist that has his own brand of music stretched across three different bands (Well, four, if you include solo albums like this). With We Sing of only Blood or Love, Riggs’ music is more of the less distorted, slightly more stripped down style of Southern Grunge/Blues that fans came to expect from his group Dead Boy and the Elephantmen. Ironically, this album was originally intended to be one of their albums before they broke up.
Though that odd style of Southern Rock, Grunge, and Blues is Dax Riggs’ forte, there is more than evidence to suggest there is a strong ’90s Alternative Rock vibe. Either way, if any of that sounds remotely appealing, you would be foolish not to give this album a spin.
2.
Artist: Bright Eyes Album: Lifted
Conor Oberst, at times, can not seem to make up his mind on what genre he wants to do. However, Lift or The Story is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground, is an example of him in his element and at his best. Country style story telling, combined with occasional punk-like aggression, Emo, tinge of political and social issues within the lyrics make for an interesting foray into Bright Eyes.
If you have ever been interested in his music, this is the record to give a spin first.
3.
Artist: Yasuaki Shimizu Album: Kakashi
Sometimes you are perusing YouTube, or the “recommended” albums, and you stumble upon something that can’t be explained down the rabbit hole. Yasuaki Shimizu’s Kakashi is one of those unusual YouTube music finds. A Japanese Saxophonist and composer making experimental Jazz, Electronica, with some occasional chaotic breakdowns, progressive movements within the first few tracks
Kakashi is a hard album to define, and whether or not there are other musicians involved seems to be an unsolvable mystery. However, if you’re willing to take a walk near the edge, and be open-minded to what you find, this is a good album to listen to.
4.
Artist: They Might Be Giants Album: Flood
They Might Be Giants’ music was an underground hit with songs like Particle Man and Istanbul back in the ’90s, which come from this unusual album entitled Flood. If you are familiar with the popular tunes, you will not be too surprised with the direction of the rest of the album. Alternative Rock would certain be the root genre, but it is hard to classify some of their subgeneres.
Another stand out track is “Birdhouse in your Soul,” and it is as weird as it sounds. Is “weird” a genre? If so, and that is your thing in life, They Might Be Giants’ music is for you.
5.
Artist:
Say Hi Album:Impeccable Blahs
Say Hi is not new to In Rotation, but their album Impeccable Blahs is. Though Eric Eldogen certainly has some signature elements to his music, each album certainly has its own unique signature. Ranging from Indie Rock to ’80s New Wave, but always with the reverb drenched, dissonant vocals that are occasionally whispered. This, and at least one other album, is almost solely about vampires.
This is not to imply that Eric Elbogen is not serious about his music, but that he is occasionally serious about different things. You would be foolish to not listen to this album. After all, he does write about vampires.
6.
Artist:
Ozean album: Self-Titled
Atmospheric and dream-like is probably the most bare bones description of the genre that the lesser known Ozean produces. Dream Pop, as it is called, was a popular sound in the late ’80s, early ’90s, but Ozean has fallen even further into obscurity than the music genre itself. That being said, it is a shame. However, that will not necessarily be the case anymore. As they are rereleasing this album very soon.
Whether Dream Pop is your bag, as far as music goes, or not, you should look this album up. Soon, you will be able to give it a spin.
7.
Artist:
Billy Talent Album: Billy Talent 1(Untitled)
Billy Talent is one of the those hard to define genre bands, though they have taken to metal-like tropes in their later albums. The lyrics are not unlike many emotive bands, but the music is anything but. Hardcore, Alternative, Punk Rock, and maybe a few other dashes of flavor in the Rock genre.
The singer reminds one of Jello Biafra of Dead Kennedys, but perhaps, with a little stronger, more melodic voice. Billy Talent’s music may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but their worth a sip.
This concludes this week’s In Rotation music listing, and come back next week for another eclectic helping of the new, the old, and the weird in music. Thank you for taking a short journey into a vast collection of various genres that hopefully will give you something new to listen to this week.
Stay tuned or next week’s In Rotation.
[Images Courtesy Of The Respective Bands In This List]
In news that will surprise probably no one, James Cameron’s Avatar 2, the first of a seemingly endless barrage of upcoming sequels, is delayed. Call me crazy, but James Cameron should just cut his losses and move on.
Cameron discussed the most recent delay regarding Avatar 2, the first sequel to a 2009 film that everyone has pretty much forgotten about:
“Well, 2018 is not happening,” he told The Star (via JoBlo). “We haven’t announced a firm release date. What people have to understand is that this is a cadence of releases. So we’re not making ‘Avatar 2.’ We’re making ‘Avatar 2, 3, 4 and 5.’ It’s an epic undertaking. It’s not unlike building the Three Gorges dam. (Laughs) So I know where I’m going to be for the next eight years of my life. It’s not an unreasonable time frame if you think about it. It took us four-and-a-half years to make one movie and now we’re making four. We’re full tilt boogie right now. This is my day job and pretty soon we’ll be 24-7. We’re pretty well designed on all our creatures and sets. It’s pretty exciting stuff. I wish I could share with the world. But we have to preserve a certain amount of showmanship and we’re going to draw that curtain when the time is right.”
Here’s a TERRIFIC question nobody seems to ask the megalomaniacal filmmaker (probably for fear of being booted immediately from the interview): why? Why are you, James Cameron, aged 62, hell bent on spending the next eight years of your life and career churning out sequels to a movie everyone has wholly dismissed?
James Cameron is a talented epic action director, and I for one would rather see him work on something new and interesting. I, like everyone else, saw Avatar when it came out. And then, like an overwhelming majority of those people, I never bothered to go back and see it again. Because Avatar was a stale story with cool visuals that have since leaked over into hundreds of other, more interesting movies. One way or another, I wasn’t eagerly anticipating the second – or third, or fourth, or etc. – entry into Dances with Navi. No thanks, life is too short.
What is maybe more confounding is the announcement of a new Avatar World at Disney. Who in the WORLD is excited to go see this?
James Cameron’s ego has once again got the better of him. Avatar made all the money back in 2009, so of course he has some sort of delusional thought that it was the new Star Wars, or something deserving of an entire franchise and theme park dedicated to giant blue nothing characters. What he doesn’t think about is how lazy and stale Avatar is at its core, more Episode I than Episode 4-6 if we’re doing the Star Wars comparison; if The Phantom Menace were the first film we saw in the Star Wars universe, would anyone be excited to see any other entries?
But whatever, here we are. James Cameron is dead set on dumping Avatar 2 and beyond on the masses, even though he can’t even seem to get out of his own way and actually produce a single second of footage. Of course it’s too far along to just pull the plug now, at least I think it is. Who knows?
It’s been seven plus years since Avatar, and it feels like two decades. It sure would be nice if we could see something cool from the formerly vibrant imagination of James Cameron, not just a retread of a movie that was in itself a retread of better movies.
When one hears the name Steve Ditko, it’s usually in reference to his most well-known creation Spider-Man. But before he and Stan Lee created that wall-crawling wise-cracker, Ditko was responsible for some exceptional work, both before and during the reign of the creatively stunting Comics Code Authority (CCA) — check out my review of Marvel Masterworks’ Atlas Era Menace Vol. 1 for a brief, and personally biased, history of the Code. Although Ditko’s work after the installation of the CCA is best described as science-fiction, the majority of his pre-Code work was in the horror and crime genres, with a bit of science-fiction thrown in for good measure.
Strange Suspense: The Steve Ditko Archives Vol. 1 from Fantagraphics Books presents Ditko’s pre-Code work in all its grisly detail. From the drawing of a man being executed in the electric chair on the cover to the drawing of a plantation owner being eaten alive by a swarm of ants in its final full-length story, this is a collection of tales about betrayal, revenge, and the unexpected.
Strange Suspense: The Steve Ditko Archives Vol. 1 – The Competition
While Stan the man and his stable of talented artists hammered out tale after menacing tale over at Atlas Comics, and Bill Gaines and others crafted creepy tales for Entertaining Comics (EC), Steve Ditko employed his pencils at these two companies’ horror comic competitors. These competitors included Ajax-Farrell (an imprint of the Farrell Comic Group), Gillmor Magazines (A Key Publications imprint), Prize Comics (an imprint of Jack Kirby and Joe Simon‘s Crestwood Publications), Timor Publications (another Key imprint), and, where Ditko did most of his pre-Code work, Charlton Comics.
“Please, stop calling me ‘Mr. Glass.'”
Strange Suspense: The Steve Ditko Archives Vol. 1 – The Art
A cheekier author might write, “Duh. It’s Steve Ditko,” in this section and leave it at that, but I’ll go into a bit more detail. Ditko’s mastery of gritty details and his often grotesquely cartoonish art style are great for horror comics. Detailed elements like the stitching on a lampshade or the well-shaded folds of a bed sheet shown on the same page as a man with an exaggeratedly sunken face create a juxtaposition that’s so subtle the reader barely registers it. This deft mixing of styles gives Ditko’s art an almost imperceptibly creepy air, usually only obvious after some reflection.
You can look the whole universe over, but you’ll never find anyone who likes jury duty.
Strange Suspense: The Steve Ditko Archives Vol. 1 – The Writing
As with any artist-centred anthology of comics, some of the narratives collected in this hardcover are better than others. One of my favourites, from Charlton Comics’ Science Fiction Space Adventures #11, entitled “You are the Jury” chronicles the exploits of Ogu, a soldier from an unnamed alien world. The story opens with a unique splash page depicting an alien courtroom as shown from the first-person perspective, even down to an elliptical frame that represents the reader’s eyeball. The reader is entreated to pass judgement on Ogu who was A.W.O.L. from his military posting, having decided that his time would be better spent exploring the new and tiny planet Earth.
In a bit of a narrative non sequitur, Ogu pilots his jet-pack to an empty range that turns out to be an atom bomb testing area but mistakes a nuclear explosion as a fireworks show heralding his arrival. Ogu then comes to a circus and is mistaken for a newly hired freak by the circus performers. Taking him for a sap, as well as a freak, they invite Ogu to join them in a game of poker. Using his mental-scanner, Ogu is able to determine that the circus performers hope he has a great deal of money. So, making use of his auto-materializer, Ogu produces a wad of bills and antes up.
Strange Suspense: The Steve Ditko Archives Vol. 1 – “The Sky’s the Limit”
After a few hands, the circus performers make the game more interesting by removing all betting limitations, announcing that the sky’s the limit. Ogu continues to use his auto-materializer to make winning cards appear in his hand until he has cleaned out the other players. Finally, a literally minded Ogu bets the performers Earth’s sky. The perplexed performers, looking to win back their money, go along with him, but when Ogu wins the hand he leaves Earth and takes its atmosphere with him. Quickly realizing that oxygen is vital to human survival, Ogu seeks to replace Earth’s sky but is instead taken into custody by his planet’s military police.
Ogu begs to return to Earth in order to save whomever is left alive, but his government believes he’s simply trying to escape punishment. The alien Judge reminds the reader that Ogu is only on trial for being A.W.O.L. from his post and nothing else. He entreats the reader to deliver sentence, after all “YOU ARE THE JURY!!”
Strange Suspense: The Steve Ditko Archives Vol. 1 – Social Commentary
It’s tough to say whether or not the above story is related to an actual case of a soldier abandoning his post, or whether it’s simply a product of the writer’s imagination — unfortunately, though this is a great anthology in other respects, Strange Suspense is devoid of any information on who wrote each of these early Ditko vehicles. Either way, the question put to the reader at the end of the story makes use of a great science-fiction/horror trope that asks the reader to judge an event, which would be horrific for a human, from an extra-terrestrial viewpoint.
“You are the Jury” seems to use this trope to analogize the military and the deliberating process of courts-martial, showing effectively the flaws in this system as well as the crippling anxiety that would be an inescapable part of passing judgement on a fellow soldier. Even as the surprise ending to a horror/science-fiction tale, it’s quite unsettling to engage in a thought experiment wherein the logical solution to a problem involving the least rule-breaking is to let humanity perish. Much like the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “Justice,” “You are the Jury” makes a strong case for judicial compassion in favour of blindly following the rules.
It’s Buffy-Mania here at Monkeys Fighting Robots as we celebrate Buffy the Vampire Slayer! The show that made Joss Whedon a household name to geeks everywhere turns 20 years old! Let’s let that sink in for a bit, like a pair of fangs painfully reminding us we’re old. Buffy is a beloved vampire show long before things like True Blood, Vampire Diaries, or Twilight were much of anything at all. We here at MFR have been celebrating the anniversary with articles and best of lists. Here our team of writers gathers to say something about one of their favorite member of the “Scooby Gang.”
Happy 20th Anniversary To Buffy the Vampire Slayer!
“Buffy and Spike have some kind of history: you can feel the heat between them. Although, technically, as a vampire, he’s room temperature.”
Andrew may have been a late edition, but he was certainly a welcome one. As Buffy had been getting progressively darker in tone, Andrew helped keep things fun. Andrew started out as part of The Trio, Buffy’s nerdy villains from Season Six. After being manipulated by The First, the Buffy-verse’s primary evil, Andrew was taken in by The Scoobies. It took awhile, but gradually Andrew became a part of the group, helping to fight The First. Andrew was a comic character, as his fear and awkwardness often made him the punchline. But his redemption story made him a sympathetic character, especially compared to Warren or The First. And who could forget Andrew’s hilarious starring role in “Storyteller?” Andrew was a much-needed new heart, and funny bone, as Buffy entered its final year.
“Mom, I’m not an age group. I’m me. Willow group.”
Willow, more than any other character on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, evolved more as a human being through the seven glorious years we were with her. From an introverted, fuzzy sweater wearing nerd to an all-powerful, comfortable in her skin witch, Willow blossomed into being comfortable in her skin while on screen. As a shy bookworm watching Willow slowly discover herself and her potential, I looked at this character for guidance on how to be confident in myself and who I love. No other member of the Scoobies displays the authentic phases of human emotion like Willow, whether it’s falling in love, questions sexuality, mourning, or addiction, she faces it with a raw, real tenacity that makes viewers feel like it’s okay to be themselves. Willow made me feel okay to be scared, curious, and angry because those who love you are still going to after it’s all over. As a bisexual woman, Willow showed me that you could indeed fall in love with a man and a woman, and both of those relationships are big and bold, and they matter. Thanks for teaching me that I’m lovable even if I break the yellow crayon, Willow.
Read More From Beth Reynolds here!
3. EJ Moreno – Rupert Giles
“I’ll go dig up my sources – quite literally, actually. One or two people I have to speak to are dead.”
It couldn’t have been easy being Giles. Not only was he watching over a teenage vampire slayer but he also had to play a father-like role to The Scooby Gang. Adding to all of that, Rupert Giles also had a shady past as a rebellious teen punk known as Ripper. He brings that history when it comes to watching over Buffy and friends; he never wants to see them go down the dark past he went. That’s what makes Giles such an important character. He was the parent that most of the crew was missing. It was painful to watch his character lose control when Buffy died, or Willow went evil, but he remained the strong backbone of the group. I’m sure that weighed a lot on him, which made the episode he decides to leave even harder. Thankfully, he returned and never left again. It’s also hilariously poetic that Giles ended the first and last episode with the line “We’re Doomed.”
“Hey, did everybody see that guy just turn to dust?”
Without a doubt, my favorite Scooby Gang member is Daniel “Oz” Osborne, played by the multi-talented Seth Green. Aside from being a bad-ass werewolf, Oz had an almost Zen-like view of the insane situations that unfolded in Sunnydale. He wielded his humor like a weapon and often provided the voice of reason and calm. Making him a lycanthrope, and unable to control his cool, also added a deep layer of irony and tragedy to him. And to top it all off, he was in one of the best fictional bands of all time, the brilliantly named “Dingo’s Ate My Baby.”
“Well, I guess that makes it official. Everybody’s paired off. Vampires get dates. Hell, even the school librarian sees more action than me.”
Giles was super-smart, Willow was super-powered, and Buffy was a superhero. Xander? He was super-normal. But it was Xander’s super-grounded humanity that made him a hero like the rest of the original Scooby Gang. In the episode, “The Zeppo,” Xander is kidnapped by a gang of zombie hooligans and saves Sunnydale (and the entire world) with four simple words, “I like the quiet.” In the episode, “Grave,” Xander saves the world again, not with super-strength or powerful spells but unconditional love and friendship or unfettered humanity. Xander was the everyman of Buffy, drawing in viewers who couldn’t connect with being outwardly extraordinary like the rest of the Scooby Gang, but was a hero just the same.
