*ponder*

[snick_backup]

Some folks and I were considering relative heights on BtVS. Sarah Michelle Gellar is 5'3", and since the camera tends to view things relative to Buffy, it means that Alyson Hannigan looks normal, James Marsters appears pleasingly tall (but not too tall), and Marc Blucas is the Hulk. In fact, one of the many contrasts between Spike and Buffy's previous serious boyfriends is that he's more her size.

So: do you suppose David Boreanaz and Marc Blucas were cast partly to emphasize the contrast between itsy bitsy Buffy and her phenomenal cosmic Slayer power? The contrast becomes a lot more obvious once she has a big hulking boyfriend that she can throw around anytime she wants but still has to stand on tiptoe to kiss.

Comments

[zanthinegirl.livejournal.com]

do you suppose David Boreanaz and Marc Blucas were cast partly to emphasize the contrast between itsy bitsy Buffy and her phenomenal cosmic Slayer power?

I've always assumed so. If Buffy were a 5 10 brunette it wouldn't be as impressive either.

Though I'm curious now how tall Alyson Hannigan is!

[snickfic]

I think I read that Alyson's about the same height as SMG. And yeah, the basic subversion of helpless little woman would be much less effective if she was tall/large already.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've always thought that that was part of the casting choice, at least with Riley. With DB, the casting director just saw this hot guy walking his dog in her neighborhood and thought he was The Most Gorgeous Man Ever.

I think it's also why SMG and JM's scenes look more natural to my eyes. They look more like equals.

Also, looking at DB over on Angel the Series, where just about everyone in the main cast is tall, he appears less of a giant. And Charisma Carpenter's a tall woman, as well. I'm thinking of that scene in "Billy" where Angel's teaching Cordy how to fight, and imagining what that scene would have looked like if SMG was in it. The contrast would have been almost laughable.

[snickfic]

With DB, the casting director just saw this hot guy walking his dog in her neighborhood and thought he was The Most Gorgeous Man Ever.

Hah. Yeah, I've heard that story. I can't remember, though - was DB already an aspiring actor at that point? 'Cuz his acting early on would make a lot more sense if not...

I think it's also why SMG and JM's scenes look more natural to my eyes. They look more like equals.

Yay! Equality and mutual respect are sexy. *g*

[next_to_normal]

Yes, he was an aspiring actor, but he only has a few credits prior to BtVS, and nothing more than bit parts. So his experience was pretty much nil.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

You know, I'm really not sure. In a completely random aside, did you know that when George Lucas hired him for Star Wars, Harrison Ford was working as a carpenter? True story.


Yay! Equality and mutual respect are sexy. *g*

Agreed!

[next_to_normal]

With DB, the casting director just saw this hot guy walking his dog in her neighborhood and thought he was The Most Gorgeous Man Ever.

Heh, that was my first thought, too, lol.

I also recall that Christian Kane auditioned for Riley, but wasn't "wholesome" enough. But he's also really short, and it makes me wonder if the scenes with Buffy kicking Riley's ass would've been less impressive if Riley weren't a foot taller than her.

Hmm, and now I kind of want to see a bizarro BtVS with Charisma as Buffy and see if her being much taller makes a difference. Because I'm also reminded of Jenny's line, "The part that gets me, though, is where Buffy is the Vampire Slayer. She's so little." I do think Buffy being teeny tiny was important for the contrast between what she could do and what a girl her size should be able to do.

[snickfic]

I also recall that Christian Kane auditioned for Riley, but wasn't "wholesome" enough.

Hah! This totally cracks me up. I can see it, though. Besides, I'd have said he'd come across as a little too old for the part, but that just may be because of how he comes across as Lindsey.

[next_to_normal]

Heh, Marc Blucas is in fact 2 years older than Christian Kane. But yeah, I think the rough edge makes him seem older.

[snickfic]

Also, Christian Kane has the prettiest eyes of anyone on either show. Trufax. And I don't think 'pretty' was what they were going for for Riley. *g*

[next_to_normal]

Them's fightin' words! JM has the prettiest eyes!

Of course, I have a thing for guys with blue eyes, so I'd happily take them both. :)

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

I think Christian Kane's quite talented, so I wonder if he could have made me like Riley more. I mean, Blucas is fantastic at exuding that Iowa cornfed wholesomeness, but I just don't think he's a very good actor. I don't feel like he brings anything more to a scene than is already there.

I think the whole point of Buffy was that she was tiny and blonde and pretty. Casting Charisma wouldn't have enabled Joss to embrace the subversion of the "little blonde girl in the alley" trope. Besides, the very name "Buffy" makes it clear to me that he's going for a Sandra Dee type.

[next_to_normal]

Oh, I definitely think I'd have liked Riley more if CK were playing him, but I also think it would've been a very different character. (Which is not necessarily a bad thing!)

Heh, Charisma could've been blonde! SMG is naturally brunette, and she had to dye it for Buffy. But Charisma would never be tiny.

[snickfic]

But Charisma would never be tiny.

Thank goodness! She's the only that comes even close to being my size...

[next_to_normal]

Indeed.

[shapinglight]

Actually, Charisma's not that tall. I've stood right next to her at a fan convention and she was just about my height (5' 5") in very high heels, and she's very slim too.

TV piles on the pounds, it's well known.

[snickfic]

Huh. Clearly, Internet statistics lie - the ones I looked at said she was 5'7".

[shapinglight]

No way she's 5'7", unless she was wearing huge heels when those stats were taken.

I was quite surprised, in fact. Turned to see this woman standing next to me and only belatedly realised it was her, then was even more surprised to discover that she wasn't tall and was also very slightly built.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

Agreed.

Yeah, she could have dyed it, but I'm trying to imagine her blonde and it's just not working for me. But mostly the dealbreaker is the never-be-tiny thing.

[next_to_normal]

She was blonde on Angel for a bit. I'm not a fan.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I remember that. I guess I meant being blonde and it actually looking natural. Because it doesn't.

I think my favorite Cordy!hair is in "You're Welcome."

[next_to_normal]

Oh man. I don't know if I could pick my favorite Cordy!hair. I definitely have some LEAST favorites, though, lol.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I have lots that I love and lots that I absolutely hate.

[angearia.livejournal.com]

"You're Welcome" hair is gorgeous and she usually has just gorgeous hair period. But her worst hair comes during different points in Season 2 and the blonde in Season 3 which didn't flatter her.

[angearia.livejournal.com]

OMG I know! Blonde on her did NOT work.

[silverusagi]

Hmm, and now I kind of want to see a bizarro BtVS with Charisma as Buffy and see if her being much taller makes a difference.

Or what would it be like if SMG had stayed cast as Cordelia? *tries to imagine SMG going on to Angel...*

[next_to_normal]

Heh. I imagine SMG playing early Cordelia a bit like her character in Cruel Intentions. I can't really picture her as AtS Cordy, though, when she's awesome and calling Angel on his shit. But maybe that's just because I can't get past the Buffy/Angel relationship when I picture those two together?