Hidden Depths
Doyle's death, Q's continuum, the CSM's name, and why we care.
      by Rachel Hyland

Methos proves that hotness is eternal.

And the fans are more than willing to oblige.

The next Highlander movie, Endgame, will have Highlander: The Series star Peter Wingfield in it. His hard-drinkin', wise-crackin' Methos (everyone's favourite 5000 year old) had it all over the nominal "star" of the series, Duncan (Adrian Paul -- also slated to appear in the movie), and fans are clamoring to see him back in action, despite the lure of a MacLeod family reunion. In fact, there are those who would campaign for a Methos series. But let us not get ahead of ourselves... and was that the worst pun you have read recently? Doctor Who fans are still trying to get their series back into action, about a hundred years after its inception, and many of them are still campaigning for the K-9 series to be made. K-9 (a metal dog having nothing whatsoever to do with a Belushi), along with perennial Who babe Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen), got a well-received pilot spin-off back in the Seventies, K-9 and Company (and K-9 really was very cool for the time, which is more than can be said for Sarah Jane's pantsuits), and fans are still clamoring for more. 'Cause, they're, like, insane.

Ranger Tommy: White Tiger Power!

Babylon 5-ers everywhere went insane at the prospect of seeing some of their beloved characters featured in the spin-off series, Crusade. While the show did, indeed, feature B5's Captain Lochley (Tracey Scoggins -- Cat from Lois and Clark!) for about a light-minute, it was aliens such as the quirky Xathras, whose genesis has been the topic of vigorous speculation and who maddened fans with his seemingly nonsensical statements, and the Vorlons, such as the ever-cryptic Kosh who drove many insane with his addiction to the word "good" who were really the big drawcards. In the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, (and these shows are just getting more and more disparate -- not to mention desperate) Rita's evil Ranger, Tommy, was such a fan favourite (and, I guess, a babe -- if you're twelve) that he went good and ended up leading the color-happy troupe of intrepid teens; he even got to have way more zords, and wear way more colors, than anyone else. Green, white and red. (Meanwhile, I'm sure I'm not the only one who would have liked to learn more about Rita's gold-clad minion, Goldar -- not to be confused with the Gold Ranger, who was once the Red Ranger... oh, nevermind. And, okay, yes, I acknowledge that perhaps I am.) And having revealed way too much about myself, I think I'll move on.

Many a Xena fan has made their desire for an Autolycus: King of Thieves series known -- in all probability because he was played by Bruce Campbell than for any inherent virtue to the character (and they took it all back once they saw him being so cool in Jack of All Trades.) And Xena her Warrior Princess self (Lucy Lawless) was originally spun off from the perplexingly successful Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, way before lesbian subtext had even occurred to anybody. And then there are those who want -- no, need -- to see more of Joxer... Joxer the Mighty. Though, of course, as comic relief and a would-be hero-type guy with a heart of gold, he'd probably just get killed...

They killed Doyle! You BASTARDS!

So, let's talk Doyle (Glenn Quinn.) Still. Okay, so he was in the credits of Angel from the start, and perhaps doesn't really count as a minor character but a) he was starring against the compelling David Boreanaz, and b) his death still pisses most of us off, so I have decided to allow myself a little latitude in order that I can vent some more. As amazingly, indescribably wonderful as Angel became (after a mid-season slump) when Wesley got a spine, Faith came to town, and we met Gunn and the conflicted Lindsey, it was still so very not cool that it came at the expense of the delicious Doyle's life -- and what is with Joss and the girly names? Angel, Lindsey -- and despite young Mr Crusher, the name Wesley always makes me think of the annoying brat from Mr. Belvedere. Even Doyle's name was Francis, of all things -- just one vowel away from Boy Named Sue territory. And yet with a good, solid surname like Doyle to use in its place (and in a manner not at all Hanson), he garnered himself a loyal, vocal following who are still, to this day, devastated by what many regard as his ill-treatment by those sparkly Powers That Be. Of course, the wound is no longer quite so raw now. Somehow, the pain has lessened. Time, the great Band Aid, has soothed our emotional scratches -- in conjunction with a fifth of Scotch or several. And in its place has been left... Wesley.

With Wesley's appearance on Angel, Joss Whedon and his co-conspirators have achieved a miracle; they have taken an almost universally abhorred, discounted or ignored character, and made him actually interesting. No longer even just tolerated, he is actually liked. It was not fan demand that brought back Wesley, it was those cruel Masters of the Buffy-verse -- and now it seems they did it for our own good. No doubt it hurt them far more than it hurt us... and now, as Wesley Pride Parades begin convening around the globe, it is evident that most are glad they took the medicine -- but still would have liked it a whole lot better had they been given the lollipop of Doyle's re-appearance as a palate cleanser.

It is characters like Doyle, Q, K-9 -- and, yes, even Wesley -- and the adoration they inspire, that display the true spirit of fandom. Even more than the series stars there to outshine them, they exemplify what it is that binds the ephemeral, and yet very real, genre community together. Who but a hopeless genre fan would obsess over some guy seen only once in Episode 11 enough to even care that he exists, let alone what brand of toothpaste he prefers? These characters show up, they make us interested in them, and then they (with their timing, looks, and ability to wear black) make us care. And, then, all too often, they die -- But that's another story.

They are the at the very heart of genre fandom - no, more than that, they are at its soul.

And more, much more than this, they do it their way.

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