Sanctuary Webisodes: 99% Crazier With a Side of Darkness

[grav_ity]

I think I remember why I didn't watch Sanctuary when the webisodes aired. In addition to the part where I would have been in Jordan for most of them, the room in my student flat had very unreliable curtains, so when I wanted to watch something on my computer, it couldn't be too dark. And the webisodes? Are dark. In both senses of the word.

I still liked them though. Well, I liked parts of them. Mostly they made me miss Ashley like crazy. There are a few things I'm really glad they changed. Like the time travel. And the part where John is clearly being set up to be the Big Bad (which, I wouldn't have MINDED John being The Big Bad, but I kind of like the way things turned out, you know?). He was FREAKING TERRIFYING. And his back story was less cool.

Mostly, I missed The Five and the Cabal. Though I did quite like Ashley: Rogue Demon Hunter (except for the vampire, see previous comment re: the Five). And Will's back story, which makes no sense in the webisodes beyond getting a laugh (not to mention it cuts out the "There are monsters" bit, which is my favourite.

In terms of Fata Morgana, I liked Ashley's spiral and struggle to re-establish her identity. And Henry was funny. And when the webisode ended, I found myself in the laughable position of wanting to know how it ends (even though I've seen the rewrite), because everyone is "dead" and/or absconded with the Morrigan!

I suppose that what it comes right down to is that the only part of the webisodes I preferred was Ashley's development. Because I really could have used that on the show. (Except I actually like the "okay, it sucks but let's go see Rome" approach to finding out about John more than the angle the webisodes took, but both of them are serviceable plots.)

In conclusion: I MISS ASHLEY MAGNUS. And I'm very glad this show got picked up for and actual show. ;)

How does fandom view the webisodes? I'm inclined to ignore them, personally, or at least the parts that don't jive with the show. Is there a consensus?

There's a fic somewhere with the alternate ending of Fata Morgana, though...right?

ETA: OH GOD, and how much funnier was this version of Wexford? I VERY NEARLY DIED.

Comments

[palmaceae.livejournal.com]

the webisodes were so much better than the pilot episode, tighter writing, better pacing, loved the victorian feel. i'm very miffed about this. i also miss that the webisodes were darker and more intense, and that they clearly toned it down for mainstream viewing.

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

As I watching, I caught myself thinking "Man, I wish this was the show!", except...I really don't. I mean, I'd be happy if the webisodes were the show, but I'm just pleased as punch with how things turned out.

Also, I like the reveal of Jack the Ripper coming towards the end and not at the very beginning. But that's just me. ;)

[couplechemistry.livejournal.com]

I had never seen the webisodes until last month. I guess I had heard that they were basically the same as the first three episodes, so I didn't see the need to watch them. When I finally watched them, I realized that though the story was the same, there was a very different feeling. I liked that we didn't find out about JTR right away, and that he doesn't travel through time, and that he isn't quite as evil as he was in the webisodes. I am not sure if I would feel differently if I had seen the webisodes first, but I definitely like the episodes better.