Fray The Vampire Slayer - The Series (?)

[pablo]

Ok here's my theory.

The B-I-G Buffy news that will be broken in July is about Fray being turned into a tv-show.
Joss is going to be the executive producer (maybe co-helming the show along with some of the old writers), and it's going to revolve around Fray and her slayer life in 22th century.
But before pitching the idea to the networks, and so getting the show started for september (which would also play against Dollhouse's chances of pickup), Joss wants to hear the fans reactions to the character, by offering them the chance to know better (aka relaunch) Fray in the #16-arc, which will se Melaka interact with all the Scoobies.

This storyline could also leave open doors for the old gang to come visit (maybe not in the cheesy way spinoffs usually do), but since it'd be a show handled by Joss in person, and since we've already seen the smooth way he manages to balance two separate storylines (two shows), i wouldn't be worried.

But it'd really be cool. They have a GREAT storyline, a very likeable character, an interesting plot and the chances to attract most of former-Buffy viewers by promoting it as the "future Buffy".
Its success would help Buffy s.8 and Angel ATF's sales, not to mention Ripper, which would finally come out of developement hell.
And after that....well, Buffy/Angel/Clem (whatever, i'm taking everythin) movie?

Ok maybe flying to high. But that's a possibility, right?

[Tommi]

That's a nice idea, it'd be great if it came true!
Joss knows Fray is loved within the Buffy fanbase, the old Fray story is often referred to as 'Joss' best work in comic books', so he might want to build on that success.
I think it'd be brilliant, set in the future! Imagine the storylines!

[pablo]

mikey said:

I don't think so. Joss has Dollhouse, and that will be picking up next fall. I don't think he'd be able to handle Dollhouse, Buffy, whatever movies he's writing, AND Fray.

mikey i know it's unlikely but hey we're still allowed to dream lol
fray would make a great tv show, and i'm sure it'd be a ratings winner because it's something new (the concept is like nothing seen before in tv) revisiting an old idea (the Buffyverse).
And since there's a nostalgia wave that's hitting the tv world (bionic woman, terminator, BSG, that new 90210 spin-off), a buffy-presents spin-off would be a great move.
CW! Enough with damn reality shows: bring on Fray!
Fray and Superantural would be a fantastic schedule pairing

I know Mikey right now Joss is already busy with a lot of projects, but remeber that in 2002 he was working on Angel, Buffy, Firefly AND Fray at the same time.
if he coul manage to co-helm the tv shows and the comics alogn with a trusted person (Marti Noxon (L)), it would be able to do it all

[mandikaye]

Firefly didn't fail because Joss' work was suffering. Firefly failed because Fox is stupid and has a stick up its a**.

[BuffyFanOne]

I think it would be really interesting if this came true! Fray would make an amazing one hour series...even a mini series of the comics.

I think the more likely announcement could be a regular Fray comic series.

[commandercool]

Until Joss is a safe distance from Runaways, I would rather he didn't take on any new projects. He only has one issue left, but his last issue was MONTHS AND MONTHS overdue.

[Lukee]

Id love there to be a Fray TV show. Only thing i would be worried about is the budget. To have her jumping from hovering car to another and junk would be mega pricey. Firefly just managed it.
I think it would work more as a movie then a tv show.

[El Diablo Robotico]

pablo said:

fray would make a great tv show, and i'm sure it'd be a ratings winner because it's something new (the concept is like nothing seen before in tv) revisiting an old idea (the Buffyverse).
And since there's a nostalgia wave that's hitting the tv world (bionic woman, terminator, BSG, that new 90210 spin-off), a buffy-presents spin-off would be a great move.

Except "new" concepts don't work on TV anymore. If it's not a cop/lawyer/medical/reality show, it doesn't last very long, because the brain-dead masses just aren't interested. That's why I'm giving "Dollhouse" about 4 eps before it gets canned (tho I hope I'm wrong), because it's just too different and original to get people to switch over from "American Idol", "CSI", or "Law & Order".

Of the other three shows you mentioned that've already aired, "Bionic Woman" was cancelled after one season, "Terminator" got marginal ratings (despite which, thankfully it sounds like it'll be back for a S2), and BSG is on Sci-Fi, which has lower standards in terms of ratings than the major networks. "Fray" might work on Sci-Fi; it'd never last more than 8 episodes on Fox...

Personally, I'm hoping the big news will be "Fray"-related, but I'm rooting for a new comic. Either something ongoing, like S8, or a 6- or 8-issue mini-series...

[pablo]

well, in some cases, new concepts just blow the tv apart. like dark angel.
btw, am i the only one who feels a funny, Dark-Angel-retrotaste everytime that reads Dollhouse's synopsis?
i mean, the two shows do have lots in common.

Back to Fray, i think a mini-series (or 12-episode seasons) on Sci-Fi would be great. that, or a top-spot on the CW; Fray there could either become the highest-rated program, or bomb completely.
But since i'm optimistic, i'd hope the same WB-Buffy effect.


Mikey - Buffy season 7 was great! i mean, it has some problems, but i think it features one of the finest characterisations of the Scoobies.

[barryshaft]

Dark Angel had only marginally decent ratings in it's first season (which was awesome) and horrendous ratings in it's second (which was pretty bad anyways) before it was cancelled...that's not exactly a hit pablo.

Fray would make a decent movie but there just isn't the money to throw into a series. Firefly looked amazing because it had a great budget (one of the benefits of Fox) but also because they knew their limitations and didn't try to do too much. With Fray, it's full on, balls to the wall, flying cars future... you can't accomplish that on TV, sorry man, I'd love it if it were true, but it's just not. Shows like Battlestar do the same thing, keeping things minimal.

With Dollhouse coming out I think Whedon's not going to be throwing his eggs into too many baskets at the moment, despite what you thought Season 7 of Buffy did suffer tremendously because of his stretched details...I'm interested in how you could say it had the best characterisations of the Scoobies...what exactly did they go through? Buffy was the only one who really developed in the season, or at least to a noticeable extent... Arguably Xander, Willow, Spike and Giles had some moments... but it's easily the worst character-based drama the show had ever done.

The big news is most likely comic related, but I'm holding out hope for some kind of news of Ripper, the only Verse show I think has a chance of getting made...

[pablo]

I meant plot-wise. Course it wasn't a huge hit, but keep in mind DA was strongly supported by the internet fandom, who since 2002 has grown enormously and could easily influence the networks.

Maybe Fray's challenge could be trying to keep it low-profile while at the same time not making it look like a bad sci-fi. or it might just be impossible. i don't know.

season 7 was nearing the end of Buffy, had a lot of loose ends, yet it managed to bring them all together, and finally gave each character his own role. think about xander, and willow, throughout the season.
probably not one of the finest, i agree, i mean s.6 was a lot more character-driven, but it's not bad, and the woody characterisation of s.1 is still far from there-

[faith0tvs]

One cannot be involved in too many things and not excel but be at least decent with all of them , besides i dont think fray would work as a tv series .I would pretty much prefer Buffy to return to the tube than have a Fray or even a Faith spin-off .

Just my two cents

[sagewoman]

I'd like to know where they put those darn Neilson rating boxes - how are they estimating the ratings at all with so much channel surfing going on. They say x million viewers tuned in - how did they figure that out?

BTW - I love -LOVE - Firefly and Serenity. Not a problem with Joss's writing - just the dopehead execs.

I hope that we find another venue for our shows that will cut the execs off at the knees. If only there was a way to get the shows paid for in another way.

I'm at a loss....just ranting...I miss Joss quality TV.

[Wyndam]

sagewoman said:

I'd like to know where they put those darn Neilson rating boxes - how are they estimating the ratings at all with so much channel surfing going on. They say x million viewers tuned in - how did they figure that out?

BTW - I love -LOVE - Firefly and Serenity. Not a problem with Joss's writing - just the dopehead execs.

I hope that we find another venue for our shows that will cut the execs off at the knees. If only there was a way to get the shows paid for in another way.

I'm at a loss....just ranting...I miss Joss quality TV.

Nielson boxes are given to a small sampling of people around the country, not every TV has them. Then they take that data and incorporate it to give an estimate on what the entire country was watching.

[alexa]

That could be something really awesome.. but it's so awesome I can't see it happening.. at least soon.

[Tommi]

I do think with the right budget and script, a Fray series\movie would be amazing!
I've just watch The Fifth Element, and when Milla Jovovich jumps off the building, I immediately thought a scene like that would be perfect in Fray!

[Lukee]

y2kinder said:

I do think with the right budget and script, a Fray series\movie would be amazing!
I've just watch The Fifth Element, and when Milla Jovovich jumps off the building, I immediately thought a scene like that would be perfect in Fray!

hehe i thought the same when watching that the other day on tv.
I would love to see Fray as a movie then a tv show.

[CowboyGuy]

Fray would work better as a movie I think. My idea is that the beginning of a potential film in the Buffyverse could start off much like it did in the first Lord of the Rings. You know where the flashback and talk about the creation of the rings, show the battle with Sauron, etc. It would help to get the viewer into the world, and fill in little details like what a slayer is, and so on.

[henzINNIT]

I don't see a Fray live action working if I'm honest. I'd much prefer Ripper, or another Buffy character spin-off project.

[Lukee]

admin said:

Fray would work better as a movie I think. My idea is that the beginning of a potential film in the Buffyverse could start off much like it did in the first Lord of the Rings. You know where the flashback and talk about the creation of the rings, show the battle with Sauron, etc. It would help to get the viewer into the world, and fill in little details like what a slayer is, and so on.

Totally agree with that. It would work really well doing that and if they did that for Fray and also little flash's of how magic ended and junk with her voice over that would be wicked