Writing Dead Characters

[deird_lj]

In this post on gabrielleabelle's LJ, I was intrigued by this snippet of conversation:

angearia - "See, I'm happy that he's back. I want Spike alive (undead) and out there causing havoc as a bad, rude man."

gabrielleabelle - "Ah, but that's what fanfic is for! I have no doubt that if Spike's arc had ended (in canon) with Chosen, fanfic writers would still be writing happy, fluffy post-series Spuffy stories. We're just creative like that. :)"


Which I found interesting, because I wouldn't be nearly as likely to write post-series Spike fic if he'd stayed dead. I just wouldn't see it the same way.

So, I have made a mini poll, to see what others think...



[Poll #1513832]


Questions? Comments?

Comments

[angearia.livejournal.com]

See, in my mind, the characters are part of their canon (and I include the comics in canon). To me, fanfic that resurrects a character only lasts as long as I'm reading the story. After it's finished, I return to the norm of "Spike's dead and I mourn and my heart aches." I still mourn Cordy and Wes and Fred and Lilah. It doesn't matter if I'm reading a fic where they're alive and well. My knowledge of them is that they're dead and they're not coming back from that. It's one thing to know someone will die eventually because they're mortal. It's another to know exactly how they died - that makes it real. And in fiction, the reality of their death always casts a shadow on them for me.

I imagine it's similar to how people feel reading fic about Lorne. Andy Hallett's death affects the piece.

But then, this is partially about me. When I love characters, I love them. Their deaths are real to me and I really do grieve for them. So yeah, there's no coming back from death for me when it's in canon. Unless there's a resurrection.

[elisi]

Ooooh we agree! (Except for where the comics are canon.) But otherwise yes. If Spike hadn't come back on AtS, he'd have been dead dead, no matter how many resurrection fics I read. And that would have made me very sad.

This is also why I love the ending in NFA. They *probably* die - but there are a million and one ways to get them out of that alley alive. :)

[angearia.livejournal.com]

Agreed! (And I don't mind about the comics thingie - I'm used to not being agreed with on that one. :D)

And you're so right about how the ambiguity of NFA seems dire, yet it also gives one hope. Love that. The ambiguity of life.

[ruuger]

What you said. The canons I like all have their tiny little spaces inside my head where the characters and the world are real - and when a character dies in canon, they die in that space too, and no amount of fanfic can undo it.

[angearia.livejournal.com]

Word. You said that much more eloquently.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

Exactly. To all of this!

[dipenates.livejournal.com]

Agreed.

[beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com]

It doesn't matter if I'm reading a fic where they're alive and well. My knowledge of them is that they're dead and they're not coming back from that.

Very well put. Now, next time someone asks me why Warren never dying or Cordelia having an open line to Angel matters, I'll just point them to this... ;-) Nah.

[angearia.livejournal.com]

I'm not exactly jumping for joy over the Warren thing. I fail to see what good he's brought to the mix, but I'm still holding out hope for a Willow & Andrew vs. Warren & Amy showdown... which I suspect is coming.

As for Cordy, I think it was a waste how she was used in AtF. I personally think her "off ramp" is being in heaven. It's what she deserves.