The Incredibly Morose Performance of DB In Angel Season 3

[NotASlayer]

For the lead in a television series, being the best actor around is not necessarily the most important element. Far more important I would say are competence and reliability. TV shows have a strict schedule, and can't really afford to go off that too far, unlike films. So, rather than a prima donna who is an excellent, award winning actor when they show up, but has a tendency to disappear for days on a drunken bender and be inappropriate when they do turn up, you want a competent, reliable professional who turns up when they are supposed to and does what they are supposed to do in good way without causing any unnecessary drama.

 

[thetopher]

Well, Sean was good, but I think overrated if you look at his entire career.

Really? I never got that; partly because he had to fight to not be 'forever-cast' as James Bond. He took a few risks with his career and some of them didn't pay off. Also I like early British actors who got very successful in spite of not going to RADA or any posh stage school- like Michael Caine is another example. It's a class thing I guess.

I agree that passing on LotR was a mistake, but in fairness later on in his career he was just...less prone to taking risks perhaps. Or too rich to care? ...I dunno, maybe he was too tired cuz he ended up doing 'The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen' instead, which bombed completely (though I still like).

I think she wasn't too into it because of what was going on behind-the-scenes, and because she probably didn't enjoy Cordy's storyline in that season.

Yeah, that's a fair consideration to make. Overall I think her character is a linchpin in those first 2 seasons, they wouldn't be half as good without her.

I've seen you mention that scene from 'Tomorrow' so many times. Why was that such a big deal for you?

Because that scene is the deathnell of her character, completely, and that's what S3 did. Cordelia has always been one of the most grounded characters, that's part of her appeal from BtVS and onto AtS; she tells it like it is. So becoming some cosmic entity of other-earthly goodness proclaiming her love for Angel into the void is like, anti-Cordelia. And she was like that for the rest of regular her run on show (only not really) because the writers painted her into a corner.

And I also think that's why he swansong in S5 works so well; its because she's the slap of reality and grounded thinking that Angel needed at that point. People might complain about the level of Cangel or unnecessary cleavage but to me, finally, Cordelia is back to being that somewhat relatable character who is sharp and observant and on the outside looking in to Angel's overwrought mess. At least that's how I see it.

The problem is you can't do that if you make her a cosmic, mythic 'kyrumption'-esque champion so she can 'be with Angel' It's anti-thetical to her character. You can make her an ass-kicker, play around with her visions (but still give them a price because that's a grounding aspect) and even make her more romantically drawn to Angel, but not the way they did it.
And, I'm sorry to say, I think making her the centre of all sorts of romantic entanglements and heavy dramatic scenes overall showed her limitations as an actress.

 

[famicommander]

David Boreanaz is a pretty decent actor. He just sucked in the early goings of BtVS. You can't expect every actor to be able to play every type of character. He is best when he can be snarky and funny, whether he is playing a good guy or a villain.

Also, how is Kyle MacLachlan a bad actor? The heck! Let's not compare him to Gal Gadot.

I said what I said. I've seen more than enough of Angel and Bones to know that Boreanaz is an extremely limited actor. He went from ridiculously horrible to just garden variety bad. Like I said, if I were in his position I'd do exactly what he did -- cash those checks. Not mad at the guy at all but if he were 15% less attractive nobody would ever have heard of him.

And Kyle MacLachlan would be the worst actor at a freshman high school play audition. His performances in Dune and Showgirls are hard to even sit through, and the stuff he actually receives praise for like Blue Velvet and Twin Peaks are about as overrated as a film or television show can be. MacLachlan is not believable in any role I've ever seen him in to any degree. Gal Gadot is absolutely a perfect comparison.

 

[hoponlilmama]

I said what I said. I've seen more than enough of Angel and Bones to know that Boreanaz is an extremely limited actor. He went from ridiculously horrible to just garden variety bad. Like I said, if I were in his position I'd do exactly what he did -- cash those checks. Not mad at the guy at all but if he were 15% less attractive nobody would ever have heard of him.

Everyone's allowed their opinions of course, but it seems folks think the opposite: that his acting began as average and then improved over the years.

And Kyle MacLachlan would be the worst actor at a freshman high school play audition. His performances in Dune and Showgirls are hard to even sit through, and the stuff he actually receives praise for like Blue Velvet and Twin Peaks are about as overrated as a film or television show can be. MacLachlan is not believable in any role I've ever seen him in to any degree. Gal Gadot is absolutely a perfect comparison.

No one had a good performance in Showgirls.... 😉

 

[Kendar]

No one had a good performance in Showgirls.... 😉

When one person is bad in a movie you blame the actor. When EVERYONE is bad in a movie you blame the writers and director.

 

[famicommander]

No one had a good performance in Showgirls.... 😉

Nor in Dune.

Which is why Kyle MacLachlan being worse than everyone else in both movies really stands out.

Hell, he was the worst actor in the freaking live action Flintstones movie.