OK, why the fuck does everyone think that last night’s episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (“Beneath You”), featured GOOD acting by James Marsters (“Spike”)?
I’m lifting a lot of this from my post on Yehoodi.
Don’t get me wrong, kids.
I think there is some fine acting on Buffy. I enjoy Buffy. It’s a lot of fun.
And I think that James Marsters is a good actor. But let’s get serious. Tonight the boy was chewing scenery like Homer Simpson in the sequel to Rent.
I thought his performance in the “Spike origin” episode (I don’t recall the name – the one where we see how he became a vamp, etc) was a much stronger performance on Marster’s part.
Because a character is written with internal struggle does not automatically make the actor multi-layered. Let’s separate the two, please.
The funny thing is I’d watched a Mr. Show With Bob And David episode earlier in the day – in one of the sketches, a guidance counselor was telling Bob and David that acting was just “jumping around and yelling.”
I think that’s the same direction Marsters got in the scene in the alley.
Just because the boy is hot and y’all wanna bone him doesn’t make over-the-top performances of internal struggle GOOD.
Personally, I think Emma Caulfield is the best actor on that show. Because, at it’s roots (in my opinion), Buffy is a dark comedy. And Caulfield (along with Nicholas Brendon) are two of the best comedic actors on that show.
Please. Let’s not fall into the “dramatic scene means great acting” trap.
m.