Why Giles from 'Buffy' Deserves a Spinoff

At this point, most Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans have made peace with the fact that they will most likely never see Sarah Michelle Gellar reprise the series' titular role. But most Buffy fans never truly leave the Buffy verse; after all, there's always Angel and the ongoing Buffy the Vampire Slayer comic series to enjoy. That's why it's so good to hear Anthony Stewart Head express enthusiasm about a Buffy spinoff based around his character of Giles. Obviously, it's not entirely feasible at the present moment, since show creator Joss Whedon is currently ensconced of the big-budget world of Marvel and The Avengers and Stewart Head is involved in new supernatural television show, Dominion. But when Vulture asked Stewart Head about a Giles-centric spin off, the actor was open to the idea:

You know what? I would do it. I would do anything to work with Joss again. He's a wonderful storyteller, a great director, and a lovely man. I would love to, you know?

Stewart Head clearly can't forget the character, and neither can we. Out of all the Buffy characters, Giles is ripe for a spin off, and here's why:

He Has a Dark Past

Pretty much every character on Buffy went through a dark phase. But Giles' was the most intriguing because his phase happened off screen and was always catching up to him. Being able to see Rupert Giles back in his wild "Ripper" days is enough justification for a spin off.

He's Magic

Okay, so Giles is no Willow, but not everyone can be a goddess. However, he does have a lot of magical knowledge, and he's not afraid to use it. And his powers, while not supernatural, often showcase the duality of his character. He's outwardly polite and composed, but Giles can also be coldly ruthless when he wants to.

There Was Already a Spinoff in the Works

Stewart Head's interview refers to Ripper, a spin off project about Giles that was in the works for the BBC. It morphed from a television show, to a miniseries, to a movie, but eventually both Whedon and Stewart Head got involved in different projects, so Ripper effectively died back in 2008. The show would have revolved around the theme of loneliness, with Giles roaming alone as a sort of ghost chaser. But Stewart Head says he's still interested in reviving it:

It's more about what happens to Giles when he's cut adrift from Buffy and the rest of them. What he becomes. It's a beautiful, beautiful ghost story, and it's extremely haunting, as you would expect of Joss. It's unlike anything that I've ever read before. And if Joss is still game, then I am!

Images: Tumblr/spaceslayer, nicobriozzo