I respect everyone's headcanons and all that but....
I cannot get down with this idea that Faith is a therapist now. I can see her more chill, mellowed out, having worked through some of her trauma. But a therapist?? Like an honest to god "I pay you and you help me through my problems" licensed therapist? No.
The closest I can get is that Faith is a mentor to troubled Slayers, and talks to them about various issues, some Slaying-related and some not. But even that feels like a "cool big sister or aunt" role than a trained licensed medical professional.
Look, I want Eliza to do a cameo in the new Hulu sequel (assuming it gets picked up) as much as the next Fuffy fan and Eliza superfan person. I even wrote out my Fuffy hail-mary longshot dream for how it could realistically happen. But it doesn't seem likely that she will appear on screen for the Buffyverse.
This is relevant piece from the brand new Hollywood Reporter interview:
Q: Do you consider it a closed chapter? [Your previous life acting.] If I google your name, it says “retired actress Eliza Dushku.”
A: Oh yeah. Yeah. I will not be in front of a camera again unless it’s in some capacity that is in service of my new work and passion. [Her new work and passion is mental health counseling and psychedelic therapy.] That’s what makes this movie so special... [Talks about the new movie she executive produced, In Waves and War, now on Netflix.]
I will happily ignore whatever convoluted twist of reasoning is required to get her on-screen, obviously. Happily. But I think people reading this interview and thinking it means Faith will return as a therapist ... have forgotten what Faith was like? I mean, for sure, people can change a lot in 20+ years. Absolutely. But I just don't see it.
(Ofc if Eliza does show up in the Hulu Sequel I will absolutely GO NUTS.)
predictions HOPES AND DREAMS for the new BTVS Hulu sequel:
(i have no sources just my brain for this, this is all speculation. i have zero connection to the show and don't do any professional writing for TV or movies.)
the new show will largely ignore ATS, vampire soul lore (which was already a mess of inconsistencies), and details of BTVS plots.
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SMG enters in the second half of ep 1 to explain some lore / hand off the baton metaphorically
SMG also has some good screen time in ep 2, but after that is just in brief scenes. think Do Revenge, or slightly more than Do Revenge.
SMG is not in every ep, but is definitely in the last one.
S1 is only 8 eps and besides a very brief cameo the show is very focused on the new cast (as it should be IMO)
more including my Fuffy incredible hail-mary longshot under the cut
the brief cameo is by Amber (as Tara or someone else) or Michelle (as Dawn). less likely are Emma (as Anya or someone else) or Charisma (as Cordelia or someone else). if people return as their original character (that canonically already died) there is ZERO explanation for it. they are not zombies or vampires or ghosts. it's as if they never died in canon. something something Buffyverse multiverse (which i hear is a thing in the comics)
neither James (Spike) nor David (Angel) make a cameo. [i actually wrote this before David's tweet which seems to imply he is not involved with the show at this time.]
Buffy's personal life (and dating life / relationship status) is not mentioned on the show. think Giles in S1 pre Jenny.
there's a few easter eggs / jokes thrown in for fans of the original cast. the show steers clear of original shipping wars (namely Bangel vs Spuffy).
i'm rooting for a joke about Buffy and cookie dough.
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the show is well received. there are rumbles of a better HD remaster for the original BTVS. ratings are good. S2 is announced partway through S1, with 10 eps.
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partway through S2 we get a little more about Buffy's personal life. maybe one of the younger Slayers needs some guidance that requires Buffy to share.
there are 2-3 more cameos by original cast.
IF James or David make a cameo they are not de-aged and they are not their original characters. one of those "perhaps in another life" type of appearances. attraction, maybe some lingering looks, but no kissing or anything.
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S3 is similar to S2. a few cameos but nothing wild.
Buffy reveals that she is bi sometime in S3. we get a few more glimpses of her personal life.
(if you haven't read this prediction for Buffy in the new show, you really must)
behind the scenes during S2-S3 there's a push by the showrunners for Eliza to come back as Faith, just for a cameo. she is focused on her new career (PAT therapy work) but very very (VERY) graciously agrees to be a voice on the phone. she could talk just to Buffy or to the younger Slayer(s).
BONUS POINTS if Faith and Buffy have their trademark snarky flirty banter. think S7 vibes. [i will lose my mind for 40s Fuffy]
[as an Eliza superfan i must explain that Eliza looks incredible so the voice thing is not bc she looks bad. she looks her age and also gorgeous.]
the voice appearance by Faith is warmly received.
[i don't think Faith would ever become a real therapist, but i can see her being a helpful older mentor type to younger Slayers. there are some fics that do this really well.]
around the same time as the ep with the voice appearance airs, Eliza does a little bit of press. she is promoting PAT (psychedelic assisted therapy) and/or a book and/or her autobiography and/or something else amazing.
a new decent HD remaster for original BTVS is officially planned.
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S4 with 10 eps is announced as the last season partway through S3. a spin-off might happen, focused on the new cast. there is a LOT of talk about a movie post S4.
ratings are good, so S4 being the last one is more about studios renegotiating contracts than the show doing poorly.
the show realizes that none of Buffy's canon romantic guys (not gender neutral) from original BTVS make sense for new show Buffy.
(and again, Spike and Angel are not available, for some hand wavy reason in show. IRL it's bc they look too old and de-aging costs too much money for the show budget. and also the show doesn't want to re-ignite the Bangel vs Spuffy shipping wars)
as part of S4 (not the last ep) we get one brief Fuffy scene. [i promptly lose my mind]
brief Fuffy scene is not the last ep or the last scene of an ep
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off the top of my head here's the scene:
Buffy is chatting with younger Slayer(s) and realizes she needs to pick up important item X from her place
(is it a cottage? rustic cabin in the woods? sleek modern condo / apt in the city? a motel room? choose your own adventure!)
Buffy texts someone as they head to her place
younger Slayer waits in the car / limo / taxi for Buffy, who says she will just "run in and grab it"
Buffy gets to her front door and someone opens it
(possible cut to commercial for maximum buildup)
Faith in relaxed / loungewear opens it. maybe even full on pajamas? [i don't think Faith would ever wear sushi pajamas for the record] the way they smile and talk to each other you KNOW they are sleeping together. chemistry off the charts!
BONUS POINTS if Buffy's jacket opens a little and you see she is wearing a Red Sox shirt. or maybe after she gets back in the car she says it's hot and unzips her jacket and reveals the Red Sox shirt.
MORE BONUS POINTS if Faith seems to be wearing something of Buffy's. like a UC Sunnydale shirt or - if Buffy graduated from college, like University of Cleveland - have Faith wear that. or have it be on her coffee mug.
not sure if the item Faith gives to Buffy at the door is Faith's original knife or just some random thing but Buffy is in a hurry so she needs to leave immediately
i can 100% imagine that Buffy is very aware of the younger Slayer(s) watching and will NOT kiss Faith bc of this
[i mean, don't get me wrong, if they gave us kissing 40s Fuffy i'll probably have a heart attack, in a good way. i just don't see it happening, esp since the focus of the show is on the younger Slayer(s)]
Buffy gets back in the car / limo / taxi and looks back to Faith. Faith is in the doorway drinking a mug of coffee, smiling and waving at the younger Slayer(s). Buffy looks fully in love. Closeup on Faith's face, she's smiling. She raises the mug in like a toast motion, and does the 3x17 Enemies "Don't worry big guy" half wink thing.
or it that's too cutesy then just have her look lovingly back at Buffy
honestly they could be clearly in the middle of an ongoing argument and be all snarky with each other and i would still lovit
AND SCENE
Fuffy Nation collectively breaks into singing dancing applause!
if Eliza has any involvement in the new show that will be fantastic. but she doesn't owe us fans anything. she has every right to retire in peace. if she were to do anything i wrote above i would be ecstatic, but i have no expectations that she would do it. she has said she is retired from her acting career.
i would be forever grateful if she did return, but give her zero grief if she does not.
i encourage everyone who is writing long posts (on tumblr or frankly reddit) about how all the BTVS (and sometimes also ATS) original cast can be smushed into the new possible Buffy Hulu sequel to write some fanfic or make some fanart. srsly, give it a try if you don't already write or art.
yes let's get into it! what does character X's life look like 20+ years after we saw them? what are the group dynamics like? did they adopt a dog? who finally ended up together? who just broke up? who came back to life? got shanshued? got turned into a puppet?? where do they live? how are they celebrating the fake holiday known as Valentine's Day?
