I spent so many years seeing myself primarily as an action writer — liked it, did it well, enjoyed doing it — it’s been interesting to note that I spend more and more of my time these days in personalities, byplay, character introspection. I still love a good action scene, but the people is what makes the story, and these people always reward closer inspection.

And, yes, I was aware that the ‘reversal’ of predator/victim to female-on-male had been done in the first minutes of the first episode of Buffy. Not a deliberate homage, more a repetition of something that worked, but I did recognize that Darla set the template.

Finally, the show’s writers had made it clear that Giles was actively avoiding a father role (with all the teen Scoobs, not just Buffy), despite the obvious affection there. I wanted to offer a reason for that that didn’t include avoidance of commitment.

Your observations are always welcome. Thank you.