J is for Joss
Joss Whedon is the only man who regularly breaks my heart because I let him.
Back in 1997, my husband insisted on watching this silly show called “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” I ridiculed him mercilessly. It wasn’t until I watched the show myself, alone, that I fell in love with Buffy, the Scooby gang and the writers.
Buffy night, soon to be followed by the spin-off Angel, was often a community affair. Friends would gather to eat take out, watch our shows in breathless silence and then deconstruct the episode afterward. Even as I moved from Indianapolis to Atlanta, the group watching continued. Buffy connected me to like-minded new friends who shared my love of story telling, dry humor and snark.
Joss and his team of writers broke the rules with spectacular results. “Hush” is an episode with little or dialogue and one of the freakiest monsters ever. “Once More with Feeling” was the famous musical episode that actually progressed the story. And if you have ever lost a love one to death, you will not be able to watch “The Body” without crying at Anya’s rant.
After Buffy and Angel, he broke the mold with Firefly–a space western. Fox killed Firefly in one season but it went on to live as a major motion picture, Serenity. Joss has a knack for handpicking amazing but unknown actors.
During the writer’s strike, Joss, his brothers and his sister-in-law wrote Dr. Horrible’s Sing-A-Long Blog. Cast with brilliant volunteers such as Neil Patrick Harris and Nathan Fillion, it was both funny and heartbreaking.
Joss writes about creating your own family, strong women, addictions and self destruction and purpose. Since those are themes I gravitate toward, I would love to visit his brain. Whatever Joss writes next, you know I will be watching.
Browncoats forever!
Who are your writing idols? Why?
Tomorrow’s posts might be on Keys. I haven’t made up my mind.
Jim Butcher. He writes books that literally have made me cheer. Even when I haven’t completely enjoyed one of his books, I’ve kept reading because he makes me care so damn much about his characters.
lovely story.
Bless your Day.
I rewatched “The Body” a couple months back. The writing in that episode is *so* good, so spot-on and beautiful.
Writing idols? Hmm. I try to learn something from everyone I read… The writer I know I’ll never be is Ray Bradbury. His phrasing and imagery has a sort of abandon that I can’t know how to do.
I concur!!!!!!!
Aw, this has been an exceptionally nice post. In idea I would like to place in writing this way additionally – spending time and actual effort to generate a good article… but so what can I say… I procrastinate alot and through no means discover a method to get something done.
SHINY!
You are so right, Joss’s brain would be a wonderland!
Great post. I’m glad you mentioned it!
JOSS ROCKS!
HMG