UK Dreamwatch Magazine
Issue 87 (December 2001)
Dawn, the Junior Vampire Slayer?
Buffy's little sister may feature in her own series
Joining the cast of Buffy the Vampire Slayer last season (season 5), Michelle Trachtenberg may move to center stage in the show or star in a new spin-off series.
Playing the part of Buffy's younger sister Dawn Summers, 16-year-old Trachtenberg reports that series creator Joss Whedon has approached her to discuss a larger role. "I've been asked is a spin-off or a continuation [of the show] would be of interest to me, and it pretty much it is," Trachtenberg reveals.
"It's quite exciting," says Trachtenberg, affirming, "I love the fact that Joss let's me exercise any type of acting that I want to and really show what I can do."
A Decade of Buffy?
Trachtenberg's revelation follows recent comments by consulting producer David Greenwalt, claiming "Buffy's going to go 10 years, you watch. I really do think so. This show's going to go forever. There's something so primal about it," Addressing the suggestion that Sarah Michelle Gellar might not want to remain on board, Greenwalt stated, "You know, there's a beautiful little sister. Michelle is fabulous, and she's the age Buffy was when we started the show."
Although Dawn only came into existence in the show's fifth season, the character will be featured in the new animated spin-off series set during Buffy's high school years. "Yes, she's going to be featured, because the monks changed history, " confirms Whedon. "We've decided the history they've changed is now history and so we thought it would be fun having year one [of the animated] series have Dawn is in the mix. Now we have a 10-year-old in that mix. That amused us and gave us different ideas for stories too - and sibling stuff."
Romancing the Sister
Looking to what lies ahead for her character in the live-action show's sixth season, Trachtenberg reveals that Dawn may find romance. "There were some hints about that in the Body episode, but all I can say is that, like any teenager, Dawn will be going through every type of emotion. Anything you throw at me, I'll try to tackle."
Upcoming episodes include All the Way, written by Steve DeKnight, in which Dawn goes riding in cars with boys who harbour a secret. Meanwhile Xander announces his engagement to Anya, while Willow's increased use of magic prompts a fight with Tara. Reports also suggest the death of a major character.
Whedon claims that Buffy's new run will not attempt to out-do the epic events of last season. "It's not a question of topping ourselves," he insists, "It's a question of doing something new. You know, if we try to top ourselves every time, it would get boring. Next year's finale is going to be very, very different in tone from this year's. It's going to have to have the same kind of urgency, it's going to be just as emotional, but it's going to be a very different."
Despite moving from the WB to UPN, Buffy managed to improve its ratings with the season six debut Bargaining. Airing 2 October, the two-hour season premiere scored a 6.2 overnight Nielson rating and a 9 share, seeing off competition from Fox's That 70s Show and Undeclared, and the WB's two-hour John Lennon special. Bargaining also marked a seven percent increase in viewing figures over last season's Buffy premiere.
The day after Bargaining 's debut, Whedon reported that the Buffy production team had "a little more bounce in our step today, which is a good thing since we're shooting a musical episode."