But I disagree about whether the characers grew in interesting ways. They may have done so over the course of AtF. But that's after having first shed much of what was interesting about them when they were handed over to Lynch. Angel was much more complex in AtS than in AtF. He and Spike were at a different stage from the one we first see in AtF. Wesley had much more interesting things going on when he died. etc. etc.
I think it's clear that Whedon had more of a hand in AtS than AtF. That's exactly the distinction I take him to be making in that interview. Also, I think he shared responsibility for AtS with guys who are quite talented in their own right. Minear, especially. I hear that interview as Whedon basically walking back any idea that AtF is canon -- and I'd like to think it's because he realizes that it just isn't good enough to be part of canon.
And if we see AtF as a non-canonical fiction about those characters, then I'm with you in being able to enjoy it all much more. Lynch is a perfectly good writer if you stop trying to see the work as a real continuation of AtS. At least that's where I am at the moment.
Re: Thank you for the clarification
But I disagree about whether the characers grew in interesting ways. They may have done so over the course of AtF. But that's after having first shed much of what was interesting about them when they were handed over to Lynch. Angel was much more complex in AtS than in AtF. He and Spike were at a different stage from the one we first see in AtF. Wesley had much more interesting things going on when he died. etc. etc.
I think it's clear that Whedon had more of a hand in AtS than AtF. That's exactly the distinction I take him to be making in that interview. Also, I think he shared responsibility for AtS with guys who are quite talented in their own right. Minear, especially. I hear that interview as Whedon basically walking back any idea that AtF is canon -- and I'd like to think it's because he realizes that it just isn't good enough to be part of canon.
And if we see AtF as a non-canonical fiction about those characters, then I'm with you in being able to enjoy it all much more. Lynch is a perfectly good writer if you stop trying to see the work as a real continuation of AtS. At least that's where I am at the moment.