Greg responds...

The stated implication is yours and not particularly accurate to my way of thinking. As you said, in my episodes he was a lower echelon member.

Greg responds...

They auditioned, and we cast them. I wouldn't presume to speak for them, but I think they like the show and their characters. And no, I don't have any substantive regrets about anything we did in the first two seasons.

Greg responds...

1. I've answered this in detail. Check out the archives for this page. But the short answer is that I worked at Disney in development for @five years.
Starting with Duck Tales, I worked in some capacity on every Disney tv cartoon right through to Mighty Ducks. Before that I worked at DC Comics, primarily on CAPTAIN ATOM. Recently, I wrote a single MiB episode. My newer projects haven't progressed far enough to talk about yet.
2. I've talked about this before. There are two versions of "Awakenings".
The five parter that aired on television, and the "movie" version which was used for the home video. For more details, check the archives for this page.
3. Combination inside joke and the practical necessesity that we don't constantly design brand new characters for the sake of a quick bit. As time progressed, it became fun to see characters (even minor characters) over and over. Fun for us, and I think more fun for you all too.
4. There aren't different endings per se. There are a percentage of episodes that had to air with some mistakes still in them. Sometimes these mistakes were at the end. Sometimes they were in the beginning or middle. I think maybe mistakes at the end are more noticible. We'd always try to minimize any "damage" in post-production, but sometimes they just had to go out with errors. When the corrected footage came in, we'd replace the mistakes with the new footage for subsequent airings.

Greg responds...

I'd guess Alan. But I'd want to check that with Michael Reaves.

Greg responds...

1. Yes. Although Oberon doesn't acknowledge the need for an heir.
2. Oberon overthrew his predecessor.
3. Yes. Oberon's mommy.
4. He's not the kind to kiss and tell. Well, actually, maybe he is. But I'm not. At least not today.

Greg responds...

Lex's wings are pierced.

Female gargs do seem to be rarer, I must admit. You could either attribute that to us Disney-folk not remembering to balance out the population. Or we could start attributing it to internal "universe" factors. In pre-modern times was egg-laying as dangerous for a female gargoyle as childbirth was for a female human? Is the ratio of male gargoyle births to female gargoyle births more like 3 to 1 as opposed to the nearly even 1 to 1 ratio we humans enjoy? Is there another possible explanation? Those are all real good questions. Let me give them some thought.

Greg responds...

Ever read "The Rules". I haven't, but I think they might apply to someone who's trying to trick someone else into marriage. For his part, Macbeth is an honorable man, but not a saint.

Greg responds...

I added numbers to your questions to make everyone's lives easier. PLEASE EVERYONE, if you're going to ask multiple questions in a single post, do NOT just list the questions as prose. Number them and use your return key between each question. THANKS.
1. I assume we're talking about Oberon's Palace in "Avalon" and not Castle Wyvern in "Awakening". If so, the answer is yes.
2. "Isolate" is too strong a word. He was an active third parent to the gargoyles, but he did give T&K their space, for his own sake more than theirs.
3. There's a story in that.
4. I think deep down Katharine must have known how the Magus felt. I don't think any of the three of them ever acknowledged it out loud. It had no influence on why they didn't have children.
5. No.
6. I'm not prepared to go into this in anymore detail at this time.
7. Gore probably should have kicked this whole post. (He's not allowed to edit questions, just kick posts or forward them.) But he didn't, so I'm stuck with having seen it. Raymond, you knew question 7 was an idea when you posted it. YOU KNEW. You did it anyway. Please don't do that kind of thing again. Fortunately, I have no intention of giving Katharine and Tom any more children. Remember they've already raised thirty-six children. They've earned a bit of rest.

Greg responds...

1. They ARE really WORKING on the script. No guarantees that the movie will happen though. The "when" is also up in the air, though I think the current target is summer 1999.
2. It's way too early in the process to know anything about casting.
3. No.

Greg responds...

No. Xanatos was fully designed before Jonathan was cast. Jonathan auditioned for the role. We cast him. It was a mutual decision between myself, Frank Paur, Michael Reaves, Jamie Thomason, Bruce Cranston and Gary Krisel.

I don't know the math on the sun thing. It hasn't been explored yet. Maybe someday.

Greg responds...

There's always a chance. I don't have any real control over the movie, but I can all but guarantee that Big Daddy won't be in it. I certainly wouldn't recommend his inclusion. Sorry.

Greg responds...

1. Maybe. He definitely had at least one kid before that: Merlin. Oh, and by the way, Oberon's mother is Queen Mab. (No one's asked me that in a while. I hope it doesn't screw up TGS too much. I've been skipping over any comment room posts about TGS, but I couldn't help noticing the Queen Mab name coming up. And I assume Merlin's in Pendragon. I've hinted at this stuff before of course, so I'm curious... Did everyone guess this? Did anyone?)
2. They were considered to be trustworthy and doggedly responsible.

Greg responds...

No. As I myself have said before, Broadway did come up with the nickname, but by the time of "Turf" he had ALREADY realized that Angela didn't like it. He had already dropped it. The others hadn't caught on and kept using it. I'm not saying Broadway's perfect, and he certainly isn't psychic. He's just more sensitive and attuned to who people really are. He's a good judge of character. Better than Brooklyn, Lex or Goliath, even. Angela, Elisa and Hudson are pretty good at this too, but the best judge of character in the series is probably Bronx.

Greg responds...

BAD GUYS was a spin-off series which I developed at Disney. It would have been set in the same "universe" and featured characters already introduced in the GARGOYLES series, specifically Robyn "The Hunter" Canmore, Dingo, Matrix, Fang and Yama. These five would have formed a team of expendable "bad guys" who were given a choice between prison and working on the dirty missions no one else could handle. We actually made a short leica reel as a demonstration piece. But Disney cancelled the project just before the reel was completed. I finished the job on my own and showed it to everyone at the GATHERING in NYC this past summer.

Greg responds...

Apropos of nothing, I saw the moon last night. Hunter's Moon. Gorgeous.
Scary Yellow thing. Pretty cool, huh? Now, on to your questions.
1. Maybe. They're working on it.
2. Peripherally. Officially, I'm a co-producer, but that doesn't seem to mean much.
3. Yes.
4. I think I've mentioned that requests for employment (tongue in cheek or not) aren't appropriate for this forum. But to answer your question, I have no reason to believe that I'll have any real influence on casting. Frankly, my one serious goal for this project is to try and convince them to hire Keith David to play Goliath.
5. There is no number five.
6. Not as far as I know.

Greg responds...

1. No.
2. No.
3. I'm not going to make novel-length responses in this format.
4. Maybe.
5. The association is legal. Not all their activities are.

Greg responds...

I no longer worked at Disney by the time it was decided, but it didn't come as a shock. In fact, the shock was that they did a third season at all. If Disney hadn't purchased ABC and suddenly required a quick fix influx of material for ABC's Saturday morning, I'm quite sure they would have stopped producing Gargoyles after the standard 65 episodes. At the time, I was trying to convince them otherwise. Trying to convince them to let me do a spin-off, that would carry the series forward but represent another batter at the plate. Another chance for the big commercial homerun they wanted (and didn't get from GARGOYLES). They didn't go for that. Since then, I've been trying to work with fans to help keep the flame alive. I've also been trying to kibbitz a bit on the live-action movie in the hopes that that will renew interest in bringing the series back. I can't think of anything else to do.

Greg responds...

1. They could. Not naturally, but maybe through science or sorcery, or maybe via something a lot less exotic. I'm not going to say now.
2. Lack of life. :)
3. Yes. But I'm not saying anymore.
4. It depends on when I get to tell his last story.
5. You didn't really think I'd answer this one, did you?
6. Maybe.
7. Cool.
8. Average as of now? Less than 400, I'd say.

Greg responds...

She's human and, no, you haven't met her yet.

Greg responds...

Yes. Katana.

Greg responds...

I'm not going to answer that one at this time. Sorry.

Greg responds...

Yes and Yes. (And it's KATHARINE and MALCOLM. See above.)

Greg responds...

Constantine III overthrew Kenneth II. The tyrant Constantine was later overthrown by Kenneth III (the sun of Duff) with help from his cousin Maol Chalvim (the son of Kenneth II). Maol Chalvim later betrays Kenneth III and becomes High King. Maol has three daughters, all of whom he marries off strategically. Each daughter has a son, thus Maol has three grandsons (Duncan, Macbeth and Thorfinn) and three potential heirs. In "City of Stone", I had originally planned to include Thorfinn, but I just didn't have the extra screentime to fit in his part of the story.

MacDuff was not the son of King Duff but I'm sure he was related. He might have been a grandson, or a cousin or grandnephew or something.

This seems like as good a time as any to continue the story:

"Once upon a time there were three brothers..." PART THREE

Five years have passed since Duff was crowned High King of Scotland at Scone.
The year is 967 and the kingdom is at peace. But for how long? Duff is 55 years old. He has many, many daughters, but no sons. Word comes from Ireland: Indulf is dead. But Culen is not. Culen seems to get along well with the Irish. It is -- well -- an uncomfortable situation.

An heir must be chosen. And in Scotland in 967, a daughter will not suffice. Duff turns to his thirty-five year old brother Kenneth. Kenneth is strong, faithful. Kenneth also has a five year old son, Maol Chalvim, so succession will be secured into the next generation. Little Prince Maol is told that someday he will be king. Little Prince Maol is quite pleased.

And what of the third brother? Prince Malcolm is thirteen years old. And life for him has improved immeasurably since that frightening day when he was buried alive in Edinburgh Castle. He's been to every corner of Scotland with his brothers. He's seen sorcerers and gargoyles and maybe even a glimpse of the Loch Ness Monster. Katharine, his mother, is honored throughout the land for her intelligence and bravery; in many ways, she is the de facto Queen of the realm. His two royal half-brothers welcome him at every council meeting and even take the time to personally coach him on his swordsmanship.
Frankly, in the Dark Ages, it just doesn't get any better than this.

Which of course means, that it can't last.

Malcolm is riding along the western shores admiring the sunset. By his side, as usual, is his best friend Robbie. Corporal Robert is 21 years old, and has grown into a true bull of a man, complete with a new bushy mustache and a commission in the King's Guard. Malcolm is looking out to sea at the falling sun, but Robbie directs his attention to a cliff a few hundred yards distant. As the sun sinks into the water, the rocks on the cliff seem to move, to flex, to grow. A great collective roar echoes down the coastline. Malcolm's eyes go wide; Robbie laughs. It's a gargoyle rookery, he explains. They're waking from stone.

"Have you been there?" Malcolm asks.

"Aye," Robbie responds. "Even talked with the head of the monsters' clan. I liked him. He's a warrior. You should meet him."

"What's his name?"

"Hasn't got one. None of them do. They're not like the Gargoyles in Scone or Loch Ness. They're rougher. Harder."

"Good peasant stock like you."

"Aye."

"Then lead the way."

They ride on. The moon rises over the hills: a small crescent, a pitiful thing. Nevertheless, its light catches something out in the water. Many somethings. Ships. A fleet.

Both boys see them in the same moment. And in that moment, both boys truly become men. They don't have to talk. They turn their horses in unison and ride off at a full gallop. They'll exchange horses at camp and keep riding.
The King must be told. Invasion.

At the court, there is celebration. Duff's wife has just given birth to her ninth child. But this one is different. This one has a penis. This one will someday be a King. Little Prince Maol is confused by this. He's going to be the King, he knows. But everyone else couldn't be happier, including Duff's brother Kenneth. Kenneth immediately relinquishes his role as heir to the throne. And swears to serve the infant prince until his dying day. Duff is deeply moved and names the boy Kenneth, after his brother and best friend.

Then the shouting starts. Malcolm and Robert burst into the room. Within the hour, the King and his brothers are riding west at the head of an army.
A small army. There has been no warning. There is little time to gather their forces.

Culen, now forty-five years old, leads the Irish troops. He has come, he says, to regain his rightful throne. His armies have swept inland with surprising speed, like a dagger plunged into Scotland's back.

At Gaine, they meet the King's Men.

The first battle is brief and bloody. One would think that God would be on the side of the Scots, but Culen's Irish get the better of it. Duff is wounded in the leg. Nothing serious, but he's carried from the field.
Kenneth fights like a true Thane. Malcolm gets his first taste of combat.
He kills one man. Stands over that man. Wonders if the man's wife has red hair. Corporal Robert uses his shield to block the cudgel aimed at Malcolm's contemplative skull. Robert shoves Malcolm to the ground and kills the attacker. Malcolm stares at his friend. Then nods. Now he understands.
Retreat is sounded. Malcolm picks himself up. He and Robbie fight there way back behind the Scotish lines.

That night, in council, Duff once again names his brother Kenneth as his heir. Kenneth protests: there is a new heir, a new Kenneth. Duff shakes his head. If anything happens to him, the kingdom will need a king, not a wee babe. Kenneth protests: the kingdom will NOT need a new king.

"It might," Duff states. "We're fighting tomorrow."

"You can't walk, Duff!"

"We've ordered a litter. The men need to see their King."

Kenneth, exasperated: "Duff!"

"We've ordered a litter. The men need to see their King." The final word on the subject.

There's fog in the morning. Four huge Guardsmen carry the king on his litter. The battle is joined. Kenneth pushes forward in a berserker rage.
Malcolm flanks him, keeping pace. He kills his second man. His third. His fourth. His.... He realizes consciously that it is time to lose count.
Robert is never far from his friend. NEVER. It's going well. The Scots have rallied. They are going to win.

Suddenly, in the midst of the fighting, one of the King's Guardsmen, the one on the left at the rear, simply steps back and lets go of his burden. Caught off guard, the other three drop the King onto his back. Left-and-Rear draws a dagger, and before anyone can move, before anyone can think to move, he plunges it into Duff's heart.

Left-and-Rear. Nameless. Soon to be quite faceless. What was this man thinking? What was he promised? How did he think he'd survive? We'll never know. He's set upon immediately. Killed. Shredded, practically. But the damage is done. Word spreads like wildfire. The King is dead, betrayed by one of his own. The Scotish line breaks, folds in. Shatters, like a mirror bringing seven years bad luck. (Well, four at least.)

Kenneth, Malcolm, Robert and a handful -- a handful only damnit -- barely escape with their lives. Culen has won. Won the battle. Won the war. Won the kingdom. Allies defect faster than rats off the proverbial sinking ship. Kenneth flees with his extended family down into Northern England. They are not welcomed there, but they are tolerated. Enroute, Malcolm's mother Katharine takes a chill. The chill becomes a fever. The fever, a delirium. And then... she's gone. Malcolm is an orphan.

Frankly, in the Dark Ages, it just doesn't get any worse than this.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Greg responds...

"The Mirror" wasn't anymore rushed than any of our other second season episodes. We were on a very tight schedule in general. We had 10 months to get the first 13 episodes on the air. Then we had 10 months to get the next 52 on the air. We also had to ramp up our staff, since we had only planned on producing six episodes for the second season originally. So time was an issue, although not development time per se. Another issue is that many different artists worked on the show. And although each artist is theoretically working off the same model sheets, their individual styles are bound to shine through a bit. In fact that individualism is probably key to making a character like Puck really come alive in "The Mirror". I haven't noticed a great deal of flux in Puck specifically, at least no more than in, say, Goliath.

Greg responds...

Human.