The Nevers stars embrace Buffy the Vampire Slayer comparisons

The Nevers wrapped up the first part of its first season this past Sunday, and while it hasn’t set the world of fire, the show seems to have found an audience. People have become invested in this strange tale blend of sci-fi and fantasy, where a group of women in Victorian England are gifted with the strength and skill to fight the English establishment, superpowered serial killers, and the forces of darkness.

The show will feel familiar to fans of Joss Whedon, the guy behind shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel and Firefly. It hits a lot of the same thematic notes as Buffy in particular: you’ve got a group of women with superpowers fighting against waves of enemies, lots of quirky dialog…the character of Penance Adair (Ann Skelly) is seriously reminiscent of Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan), Buffy’s brainy best friend. (She’s also reminiscent of Fred from Angel and Kaylee from Firefly; Whedon likes his stock characters.)

Skelly tells Digital Spy that she “wouldn’t mind that comparison” but also stresses the ways that The Nevers stands apart. “But I’m very happy, because I do think the show itself distinguishes itself a lot from that world, because they do feel like very different worlds,” she said. “The similarities can be in the immersive quality of the writing, and the love of the characters as well. With The Nevers, there are so many characters played by incredible actors. I think it’s a really exciting thing to have so many people to love…

She also sees similarities between Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Amalia True, the leader of the Touched on The Nevers. “And we, of course, have our own unwilling protagonist who doesn’t want to be the hero, but – too fucking bad, they are. [Star Laura Donnelly], herself, I do actually think has that quality. She’s that natural leader, even though she doesn’t declare herself to be, which is always the best person to lead the cause, and lead this unknown, massive mission, and the story of The Nevers itself.”

Will The Nevers continue on without Joss Whedon?

Meanwhile, James Norton, who plays the pansexual aristocrat Hugo Swann, talked about Buffy’s depiction of gay romance, most prominently between Willow and her girlfriend Tara (Amber Benson). That kind of thing is common now, but in 1999 on The WB it was pretty daring. “[Buffy] did an enormous amount of positive good for starting conversations and encouraging gay women and men, I’m sure, to talk and be open,” he said. “You know, in those days, it meant a lot more to portray those types of love story on film.”

"I think we love Buffy for lots of reasons. Not just because it was a great piece of entertainment. Because it was brave, and it was important at the time. So if we’re compared in that way, then great. I think the same: it’s a really fast, furious piece of entertainment. It’s escapist, but, at the same time, it has a big message, and it doesn’t shy away from those big questions – questions of inclusivity and discrimination and how the establishment needs to change and move in order for a society to grow."

“Joss obviously being involved with both, we’re very lucky to have had him to set us off on our journey,” Norton finished. “I think it’s a complimentary comparison.” Of course, any discussion of Whedon is complicated given the scandals around him. Whedon came under fire when Justice League star Ray Fisher (Cyborg) accused him of “gross, abusive, unprofessional, and completely unacceptable” behavior on set. And the heat was turned up further when Buffy and Angel star Charisma Carpenter detailed his abusive behavior on those shows. Around the time this stuff was coming out, Whedon quit working on The Nevers, citing exhaustion.

Since then, HBO has hired British screenwriter Philippa Goslett to replace Whedon as showrunner on The Nevers. It’s unclear how or even whether the show will continue, but I think it’s telling that Norton says that Whedon was around to “set us off on our journey.” As far as the cast and crew in concerned, the journey isn’t over.

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