The Geek6: Whedon’s B-List Elite
Jason
Tuesday
9:52 pm
I have kinda gone back and forth on trying to put together something like this. Given that the Whedonverse is so small and compact, with most of it laying in the Buffy/Angel realm, I didn’t know if I could lay down a solid list without it seemingly being confined to one ‘verse or the next.
So I did what any great, intelligent writer would do…ask other people to do it for him. So one hot and blustery August afternoon I made my way around the GeekSix offices, knocking on everyone’s door. And my simple question to each of them, “Who is your headliner out of the Whedonverse B-listers?”
After three days I emerged which a small list. Some of us at GeekSix couldn’t even fathom how any character in the Whedonverse could be considered a B-lister. So I wanted to share with you what little I was able to sluff off on others, as well as a few more to fill it out to actual make it a list.
Josh
First stop I made was first and foremost with the boss. He is always a good lackey when he doesn’t know he is one. But of course he is also the one who decided to talk for about two hours before actually deciding on his choice.
And that would be our good friend Badger from Firefly. Here is what my secret tape recorder revealed.
Badger.
Why? Take Mark Sheppard’s always fun style, and mix him with a character Joss Whedon originally wrote for himself, and you have a recipe for deliciousness. In terms of characters, Badger wasn’t deeply nuanced or complex, but Sheppard so perfectly nailed the self-important thief that he trumped even Adelai Niska in terms of enthralling support staff.
My favorite moment? “Course, you couldn’t buy an invite wif’ a diamond the size of a testicle, but I got my hands on a couple.” Mal and Jayne’s reactions were so real, and Sheppard played off of it perfectly with a stunned look, followed by an overblown volume of righteous indignation, before stammering “… of invites.”
Christy
I don’t know if you have picked up on it yet, but Christy sees through to the heart of most matters. So while most of us get wrapped up in old Megan Fox versus new Megan Fox, she simply says Starbuck would have kicked her ass also.
And for this exercise? She went past the character, straight to the man behind green mask.
Andy Hallett. Lorne had some of the best one liners in Angel, but I think the main reason he’s my pick is that Andy used to lead these great Karaoke sessions at conventions. He’d sing any song with anyone.
“Okay, I know I’m probably going to regret this. In fact, being prescient, I’m actually sure of it.”
“Oh really? Yeah well I’m not some mystical vending machine here to spit out answers every time you walk in with a problem. I have a heart. Granted it’s located in my left butt cheek, but it’s still a heart, and that heart is broken.”
“Isn’t this the sort of ‘tude that got you where you are now? I think I’m speaking for everyone when I say… if all you’re gonna do is switch back to brood mode, we’d rather have you evil, then at least, … leather pants.”
Autumn
I think Autumn overheard Christy lamenting about the loss of Lorne, and her supposed wedding to Andy, and the joys of Los Angeles. So she decided to take a turn down the road to Sunnydale and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She wound up stopping this conversation pretty quickly with the once love of Rupert Giles life.
I will definitely have to go with Jenny Calendar. How could you not go with Ms. Calendar? She was a super cool computer teacher and technopagan who turned back to being a gypsy in an attempt to stop evil. And the episode where she died…man Angelus was a dick.
Blain and Joe
I went by Blain’s office only to hear an argument coming from the breakroom. It seems he and Joe had taken up some very loud water cooler conversation. As I walked in this is what I heard:
“Man old Megan Fox was hot!”
“Was?! She still is!”
“Are you crazy? It looks like a plastic surgeon hit her with an ugly shovel.”
“Ugly shovel? You are telling me if she walked in here right now and demanded satisfaction that you would not give it to her?”
“What? You mean like she wants a Snickers?”
As I attempted to get their views on all this Whedony goodness, they simply turned and stared. After about five seconds they responded in unison, “Megan Fox wasn’t in any Whedon show.”
I left the room at this point.
Jason
And so that left me. And that meant I had to do some work left to do. I needed to actually contribute to this list. Which meant telling the hamster upstairs to get to running. And surprisingly, after just a moment of wheel spinning energy was expended, it dawned on me (well after convincing myself that I couldn’t convince you Jayne Cobb was B-list material)… Jubal Early from Firefly!
I am going to quote myself here because I just want to say that Jubal Early was once sick puppy. But a funny sick puppy. Like the one you want to help, but don’t because you want to see what funny thing it is going to do next. But for real? This man was danger and comedy wrapped into a tidy little package. In just the space of one episode you were connected to this villain of a character. And in the end, you were a little sad to see him floating around all alone in the black.
And now the couple of others who deserve their due when waxing poetic on this subject…
Oz
I think this can begin and end with basically the geek fanboy that is Seth Green. While it is a given that Oz was the one man to claim the heart of Willow before she decided she was all about the ladies, he always provided the comic relief in a way that outshined Xander. I am actually pretty convinced that if they could have replaced Xander with Oz in the Scoobies without a major revolt from fans, they may have done it.
Moist
Come on! How could Moist not make this list? He is like basically a sidekick to a sidekick to a sidekick. He makes things wet and soggy. And somehow he pulled off his own minicomic and has rumors that the next installment of Dr. Horrible’s Sing-A-Long Blog might actually be based on him (totally not going to happen). And despite all the humidity he brings to the table, the dude still has game with the ladies. Just ask Bait. Or was it Switch? Who knows? Somehow he was with both ladies at some point during the night.
So now that I left off the obvious. It is up to you to do more of my job. Like I said…good writers. Let me start you off with….”Hey it doesn’t look like you have anybody from Dollhouse on your list!!?!”
Amber
Jason
Nick Burns
Christy
Charlotte
Bill
Blain
Autumn![Josh [geek6.com]](http://a1.twimg.com/profile_images/449316830/neweravatar0509_normal.jpg){kind=avatar}
Reader Comments
Buffy: Mayor Richard Wilkins. I can’t explain it. There’s just something about how he seemed like a 50s tv dad, even while ordering evil acts.
Angel: Holtz. I think this is the best example of a revenge driven character I’ve ever encountered. Most revenge plots are based around “I want you to die for what you did to me.” For Holtz, it was about the pain. He wanted Angel to suffer like he had suffered.
Firefly: Yo/Saf/Bridge. Mrs. Reynolds from “Our Mrs. Reynolds”. Why can’t all recurring villains be like her? I’ll be in my bunk.
Dollhouse: I don’t recall his name, but the client played by Patton Oswalt. Out of the various different people that hired dolls over the course of the season, he seemed like one of the least offensive. It wasn’t just about using someone for his pleasure. It was about remembering his dead wife.
Dr. Horrible: The Bad Horse Choir. Just because without them, we wouldn’t have things like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC3v_Q1RAyE
Sorry I blew you off in the break room, I really didn’t mean it. That’s what Fox will do to some of us.
I also blame it on all the Shiner with real alcohol content that I drank while I was on vacation in Texas. Just for the record though, I would’ve gone with Monty from the Firefly episode “Trash”. He’s a character that reminded me of good ol’ boys I know back home and would’ve loved to have gotten to know him better on the series.
Also, I would take Zoe and Kaylee over Megan Fox any day.
*choking on the Whedon love* gasp, gack, wheeze….
Don’t get me wrong: I like the Whedonverse. I do. I’m a fan. But it’s like a religion for y’all, isn’t it? >;)
As for B-listers, I don’t know who qualifies and who doesn’t. If Drusilla does, she is my pick. I loved that crazy, vampy bitch.
I’d have to go with Kaylee (Jewel Staite). There was just something about a flighty young girl who was extremely sensual, but also a gearhead.
I always thought Zoe was super hot when she was being a gunslinging badass too.
What? Whedon did more than Firefly?
It’s okay Amber, we welcome you with open arms. Would you like some cookies and punch?
I think i have to go with The three groupies from Dr. Horrible as well as Mandy from Firefly episode Heart of Gold. She was one bad ass ex-companion, not to mention sexy and good with a gun.
Woah. Woah. Woah.
Hey guys, I know this was just an oversight so I’m not too angry. But you forgot Saffron. Christina Hendricks. C’mon guys. Don’t be sloppy.
You know, Chuck has a point about Saffron. The only question: Does appearing in 2 out of 13 episodes — that’s 15% — constitute a B-lister?
Buffy: Best B-lister has to be Andrew. From bad guy to best bud just because he was misunderstood.
Angel: Doyle was an A-Lister all the way despite not making it to the end of the first season.
Firefly: I’d have to agree on YoSaffBridge as most intriguing character cameo ever. You just want to know how deep that..um…rabbit hole…is.
Dr.Horrible: Moist is the (soggy) Man! Not everyone can rock a mniker that 67% of the population thinks is “vaguely pornographic”
Dollhouse: I like Topher. He’s a melon-head sometimes but he rocks the place so hard it is hard to take your eyes off him when he’s in motion.
And Jason — I’m a lackey? That’s it, you’ve lost all executive washroom privileges for the month.
Actually, you know what? You’ve lost ANY washroom privileges. You can just hold it until September.
From Dollhouse you could have added Alpha. He went from funny guy to psychopath in a blink.
Umm, executive washroom? I have been using that cup on your desk. Oh and the secret washroom on the third floor.
And yeah, YoSaffBridge should be well up there, but I wanted to keep her for myself. She has very value assets as well.
Trying to narrow down the best B-listers from all the verse is tricky. But I had to mention my man Andrew from Buffy who, in my opinion, was all win. The Andrew-centric episode “Storyteller” was one of the best of the season.
Buffy. Season 7. Vi. Felicia Day is my yummy goddess.
One of the characters that always stood out for me on Buffy was the character played by Julia Lee (Chanterelle/Lily/Anne). As a backup pick, I would have to go with Principal Snyder.
From Angel, the award would have to go to Wolfram & Hart’s go-getter and femme fatale extraextraordinaire, Lilah Morgan.
As far as Firefly/Serenity goes, I am going to have to go with Jubal Early.
Principal Snyder? Oh, right: Quark in a suit.
And I will take the cookies and punch now, please, though for all that I am allergic, caffeine would be better at this moment. I am still in recovery mode from my late night out in the middle-of-nowhere-USANA, USA.
Definitely Harmony.
Robot Phil. From Sugarshock. I suppose he was a main character, so not exactly B-List, but given that most Joss Whedon fans have never even heard of Sugarshock, the entire comic is pretty much beyond B-List.
Jonathan!!! He’s a Superstar! I wept when he died!
Whoo…. Based on the traffic counts, it would appear that the good folks at Whedonesque have found Jason’s post. Welcome, and don’t be strangers — unlike a lot of geek blogs out there, we like spending time in the comments even more than we like to post. ; )
And Blain, I am a little distraught that you did not bring back real Shiner for me. Okay, more than a little.
If I hadn’t flown I would’ve. Don’t worry, we plan on driving back for Thanksgiving and plan on filling up the trunk. I’ll save a bottle for ya!
Angel it has to be Doyle(Glenn Quinn) or Lindsey(Christian Kane), I started watching Leverage because Christian was in it.
Buffy, Is Dru on the B list? if not then Caleb(Nathan Fillion), who was almost as bad as Angelus.
Firefly, Badger(Mark Sheppard) was so much fun.
Seriously — Clem on Buffy. Total delight. Halfrek/Hallie the Vengeance Demon. Also Adam. (”You were a Boy Scout?” “Parts of me.”) The Master. Amy. (”Rat. You?” “Dead.”) Harmony. Caleb. Can Vampire Willow count? (”I think I’m kinda gay!”) The entire Trio (yes, Warren too). And, without question, the always splendiferous Glory! How could anyone leave her off the list?!
not sure if you consider her B-list, but my pick is Joyce Summers. i cry every time i watch the body
For Buffy I would have to say Willie the Snitch, Larry the Gay Bully, Mr. Trick, or even Kendra! I think Wesley might even qualify as a B-lister on Buffy, no? He would be my top!
Angel, what about Marcus (Adam Baldwin)? They had some funny exchanges! Although Andrew was awesome, too.
Firefly: YoSaffBridge! Or Niska…
CLEM!
Also Jinx, Moist, Peepee demon. C’mon people, Clem must be king of the b-listers.
I’ve gotta go with Mr. Trick.
“Sunnydale. Town’s got quaint, and the people: he called me “sir”, don’t you just miss that? I mean, admittedly, it’s not a haven for the brothers. You know, strictly the Caucasian persuasion here in the Dale. But you know you just gotta stand up and salute that death rate. I ran a statistical analysis and, Hello Darkness. Makes D.C. look like Mayberry. And ain’t nobody sayin’ boo about it. We could fit right in here. Have us some fun.”
From Buffy: Holden Webster. He was such a relief after all the bad-guy vamps – and very cute.
Angel: Holland Manners was great, but I vote for Darla.
Firefly: Badger all the way.
<3ing the whedon <3!
Buffy: Vamp Willow (bored now), Jonathan, Andrew, Mr. Trick, Amy, Halfrek, Harmony…
Angel: Lindsay, Lorne, Doyle
Dr. Horrible: Moist! The Bad Horse Chorus
This is so great! Some days I forget how much I love all the little characters in the Whedoverse. I’m all smiley thinking about them all.
And Starbuck would kick your ass, Jason!
And I would let her, because we all know what Starbuck does after she is done kicking ass.
Take names?
Oh poor, poor David. It is okay. There are support groups.
And this was a great stroll down Whedon-memory lane. Well and Dollhouse which is not a memory by any means.
Can Camden Toy get a mention here? Or is he a “C” lister?
He’s a Gentleman. No wait, he’s a Watcher. Creepy skin eating demon with paralyzing mucus?
Spidery vampire flayer!
Oh, and those hands of blue.
@julesk You can mention whoever you want! That is the great thing about Whedon so many good ones you can’t contain it in one list.
I would have to say Andrew for Buffy.. He was absolutely hilarious, but at the same time he could come through with some really great serious scenes (like the end of “Storyteller”).
For Angel I’d have to say Doyle.. I don’t really consider him a B-lister because he was so amazing, but I suppose he counts since he didn’t even finish out the first season. He was funny, sarcastic, and Irish. What better combination?
Andrew turned out to be great. I think I laughed more with him than anyone else in just the little time he actually had on screen.
Doyle…sniff sniff…
Gotta agree with Badger and Mrs Reynolds in “Firefly” and give a quick nod to “Mr Universe” in Serenity.
“Buffy” and “Angel” have been so well covered above I’ll strain something trying to dredge my memory banks any further but “Dollhouse” …
Can I just mention the Maitre D’ in the Dollhouse Boutique, hope we see more, and “Kiki” – in fact if Kiki doesn’t return then I may just have to boycot the entire next series.
What’s up with Fake Thomas Jefferson not getting any love?
NO ANYA LOVE???!!!??? I CALL SCHENANIGANS!!!!
Then,I took the time to scroll through all of the comments. AND STILL NO ANYA LOVE!!!!
You people stink. Like bunnies.
Oh, and Dollhouse B-list MVP goes to “guy in Dollhouse Boutique waiting room” for his excellent line reading.
“I won’t even do this for my wife.”
I’ve got to add my two dollars. Especially because I think this list missed one of the best Dollhouse characters, Victor. Enver Gjokaj is an awesome character actor and is believable in all of his doll personalities. I think he especially nailed it when he was imprinted as Topher, which brings me to my list of slightly evil with a conscience, just went over to the dark side to pick up a few things but now I’m back, I’m good again geeky geniuses. I love Topher from Dollhouse, Andrew from Buffy, and yes even little Johnathan. Perhaps that is why I love my husband so much!