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Since Chad spilled the beans...

WHAT WE KNOW
I've been authorized by Buena Vista Home Entertainment to confirm that there will indeed be another release of episodes from Gargoyles on DVD.

Obviously, those episodes will come from the second season... and I have been assured that in any case the episodes will be released in the correct order.

They are planning on involving me again.

WHAT WE DON'T KNOW
We don't know how may releases there are going to be to cover the second season.
We don't know how many discs. We don't know how many episodes per disc.
We don't know what the extras are going to be.
We don't know any release dates.

As I learn more, I'll keep you posted.

WHAT I'M HOPING FOR
My preference would be that they break up the 2nd Season into three separate releases.

The first release would include 23 episodes, running from "Leader of the Pack" through "Avalon, Part Three".

The second release would include 26 episodes, running from "Shadows of the Past" through "The Reckoning".

The third release would include 3 episodes, running from "Hunter's Moon, Part One" through "Hunter's Moon, Part Three".

I am not even vaguely implying that this is there plan. I don't know what they are planning. I'm simply expressing my personal preference, as many of you have done in the Station 8 Comment Room.

I will, of course, take whatever I can get.


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Xander writes...

This has always bothered me as i happen to love languages. What is the incantation and translation used to open up the firey ball for the Phoenix Gate? and is it in Latin or another language?

Greg responds...

It's an ancient dialect of Latin. I call it that, since despite our best efforts we seem to have gotten the proper latin wrong.

"Deslagrate muri tempi et intervalia!" translates to "Burn down the walls of time and space!"

Response recorded on May 19, 2005

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Lawrence Matheson writes...

who invented robotic body armour? was it MacBeth?Renard?Xanitos? or someone else?

Greg responds...

I think it was Robert Heinlein.

Response recorded on May 19, 2005

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Francois Ferland writes...

If nothing went right, you recently got a post I made by mistake that included every previous questions I asked you. But if everything went right and the webmaster got my mail, it's gone and you don't know what I'm talking about. I'm hoping for the former, so here's the question I was trying to send last time:

I'm still making my way through the archives (hey, it's been four years since I read it all) and each day brings forth new ideas to me, so forgive me for swarming you with so many posts in a row.

I've been reading several of the comments you made when seeing Gargoyles episodes with your family, and where you where interested in how we reacted at first to some events. So I decided to dig up those old memories and list a few key moments from the show where you (and your staff) managed to really surprise me.

Deadly Force:

This one surprised the hell out of me. When Broadway fires the gun and we hear silence, I was certain that this was a fake-scare. I mean, one of the show's hero shooting another one? Get real! And then I saw Elisa on the floor. And not just lying there with no sign of injury like is often shown in cartoons with serious accident, but resting in a pool of her own blood! If there ever was a moment where I finally took for granted that Gargoyles was a cartoon far beyond any other in terms of sophistication, that was it. And even better, we got that from Disney? Damn, I wish they'd take that kind of risk again for a TV series...

The Edge:

The opening scene where Xanatos, responding to Owen's offer to pretend to lose, replies "I'd fire you if you did". Almost any other cartoon (or live action show for that matter) would have had the villain either beat up or berate his underling for daring to beat him. You just expect it, as it's one of the most popular stereotype on TV. At this point, I still didn't know enough about Xanatos to expect that from him. It's also a defining moment where I also realized that Xanatos wasn't your ordinary bad guy. I don't think he ever really surprised that much afterward.

A Lightouse In The Sea Of Time:

Having Xanatos shown as the one responsible for the theft at first was actually refreshing. You don't know how many shows I've seen where even for very obscure reasons the right villain is always suspected right away, or how a mostly forgotten villain will suddenly be mentionned for no reason at all just to be revealed as being the brains behind the evil scheme of the day.

Maybe producers feel they don't have time to waste on a false lead, or that it's better to give the upcoming villain some introduction, no matter how clumsy it might seem.

Outfoxed:

When we meet Preston Vogel, there was an immediate alarm in my mind. We get another executive assistant type-guy who happens to look exactly like Owen? Can you say lazy Character Model re-use? It felt very cheap, and even though the rest of the episode was good, that particular detail always bugged me. That is, until several episodes down the road, we get to...

The Gathering:

First off, the scene where Petros comments on Vogel and Owen's ressembleance was hilarious. At first, I thought it was only a bit of self-derision, being aware the animators hadn't been very subtle about Vogel's character model, until Puck tells us Vogel was the inspiration for Owen. Great stuff.

And while Oberon was wasting his energy fighting the force field, I kept yelling "Just get in form the underside, it's not protected dummy!". It always seemed stupid in cartoons and comics when nobody ever thinks to go UNDER the blasted force field. Imagine my surprise when our favourite lord and master does just that.

I'm sure there are other instances where the Gargoyles staff played on our expectations as an audience. It gives the series a much more polished feel, that you were quite aware of what we might think and expect and deliberately used that to your advantage as often as possible to surprise us.

Greg responds...

We tried. HARD. I'm glad the effort paid off -- at least for you. Thanks for the kind words.

Response recorded on May 19, 2005

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Wiu Wiu Pong Pong Pong writes...

What is a sense distortion laser beam

Greg responds...

It mucks with things like inner ear function.

Response recorded on May 18, 2005

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Phoenician writes...

Greg-
It's me again. Sorry for asking you a second time, especially on 9/11, yet I was reading in the Oringinal Ask Greg Archives and I found a question refering to the Phoenix Gate and a Gargoyle's clothing/uniform. This made me wonder-> In Vows we see Demona and Goliath break (Demona really broke it, but they were together, Man!) the Phoenix Gate in two in 984 A.D. In 1994 (or is it 1995 by the time we hit Vows?) we notice Goliath still has his half. How/Where did he keep it for ten years until the Massacre? And if he kept it in that pouch we see in the Avalonian Odyssey, did the Gate remain unstone even though (if) it was in the pouch? If not, did it turn to stone for a thousand years? If it did, did it turn to stone daily when Goliath reclaimed the whole Gate in the Avalonian Odyssey? I just find this odd that the Phoenix Gate's journey through time may have involved turning to stone.

Greg responds...

I doubt it turned to stone, though the pouch holding it certainly did.

Response recorded on May 18, 2005

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Phoenician writes...

Dear Greg,
I remember in Awakening Part II when Xanatos asks Owen to bring in the construction crew to transport Castle Wyvern to Manhatten, and Owen replies saying that not only will the cost be "Astronomical," but not many are willing to do it because the locals say Castle Wyvern is Haunted. My question is are the hauntings Owen refers to created by the ghosts of Hakon and the Captain, since as far as I know they may have hovered there for over a thousand years (I think Hakon mentions that himself, but I won't promise to it). If this was asked at some Gathering I wouldn't know since I've never been to one. However I do plan on going to Montreal this coming year! (:

Greg responds...

Did you make it?

Anyway, yes. Hakon and the Captain.

Response recorded on May 17, 2005

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Sahyinepu writes...

I have been watching Gargoyles for some years, and was personally very pleased with how you portrayed the character of Yinepu/Anubis. I was curious why He in particular made the show, while other Names of Netjer did not? Did you plan later to include other Names as well? Also, how difficult did you find it to include religious elements of varying faiths without stepping on toes, in particular of still very much thriving faiths, like Judaism?

Greg responds...

I'm afraid I'm not familiar with the "Names of Netjer".

In all cases, whether the religion/faith/mythology was extant like Judaism or archaeic, like Wotenism, we tried to treat the characters and situations with respect and as much accuracy as was possible in the context of a fantasy series. That's the best we could do, and generally, it seemed to work.

Response recorded on May 17, 2005

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Heather writes...

I got a Timedancer question, why the name Katana? Isn't that a bit cheating on names with just naming her after a weapon? Same thing goes with Tachi.

Greg responds...

How is it cheating?

Response recorded on May 16, 2005

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John writes...

Hi Greg,
Well, that dude with who's name you start your awnsers on his with is back... ;)

I HATE out of time questions! ARGH! However, I hope that if this one will reach you, it will still be in time... no wait... that doesn't make sense...

OK, considering Gargoyles will come back, then it is almost clear, that it is "made" by another company. And if you would present to them the ideas to... let's say "Timedancer", and they reject it, would you stick to it, with all the consequences that could bring, or say "Ok, then without."?
Two addittions: First they would of course reject the WHOLE projekt, and second it doesn't have to be Timedancer, just took it since it is kinda moving alongside with the regular series. It also doesn't have to be a Spinoff, it also could be a major storyline they simply hate. Ah, these companys...

THX for awnsering,
CU, John

Greg responds...

What was the question? I'm sorry John, but from sentence one I didn't have a clue as to what you were trying to say.

Response recorded on May 16, 2005

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Anonymous writes...

How old is Fox

Greg responds...

By the end of 1996, Fox was 30.

Response recorded on May 16, 2005

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Gothic Cowboy writes...

Domo Arigato, Weisman-sama. Concerning an earlier question by another petitioner regarding the Lost Race and how they stack up to Lovecraft's Old Ones, in brief, the Old Ones are beings (often aquatic or semi-aquatic) who ruled the Earth prior to the rise of man, but whose society was brought low through rampant use of Black Magic (of a sort). A few survivors still exist, slumbering in great voids. The important thing to remember about them is that they aren't good or evil. They are so far beyond humanity that any attempt to understand them results in madness. They are usually barely aware of the little humans and unconcerned with us, but they radiate waves of psychic madness, causing insanity. I highly recommend his stuff, by the way. It actually disturbed me.

Greg responds...

I've heard great things about Lovecraft. What you describe pretty much covers my understanding of the stuff -- mostly gleaned from reading Howard and others who were influenced by Lovecraft. And by reading ABOUT Lovecraft. I have of course no excuse for not having read him myself, other than horror isn't my particular cup of tea. Maybe someday.

For the record, the so-called "Lost Race" of the Gargoyles Universe has nothing whatsoever to do with Lovecraftian concepts.

Response recorded on May 13, 2005

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Gohtic Cowboy writes...

Salutations, Mr. Weisman. I have a few questions concerning the New Olympians.
1. I've seen several questions about AI's in the Gargoyles universe, but I can't remember any mention of Talos in these questions. Without recycling the question about sentience (I know better than to beat that dead horse), how does Talos compare to the Matrix, probably the most self-aware AI created by man in the Gargoyles cosmology, in terms of self-awareness?
2. As an artificial construct, it stands to reason that Talos doesn't age (at least in the biological sense). As such, he should have memories stretching back for several thousand years. If this is the case, why hasn't he risen to a postition of greater authority (greater than what he seemed to possess, in any case)? He seems to have a position akin to advisor, and in the New Olympians spin-off, would have acted as advisor to Taurus. Does he prefer to act as a mentor rather than be in the spotlight, or are some New Olympians uncomfortable with the concept of an AI, no matter how advanced, in a command position?
3. You've said that Talos was created by Daedalus, possibly with aid from Hephaestios (whom I assumed to be one of the Children of Oberon). Although I'm aware that much of our "modern" technology is, in fact, older than many people think, that's still an extremely impressive accomplishment. How did Daedalus manage to pull it off? Was Daedalus a New Olympian whose Fae bloodline manifests itself as heightened intelligence and inventive ability rather than control of fire or great strength and inhuman features? Was magic involved somehow, or was the Lost Race (or an artifact connected with them) involved?
4. Building on my last question, why does New Olympus possess technology more advanced than the rest of the world? Is there a subdivision of their population whose internalized "powers" include an enhanced intellect? Or is it that they simply did not go through a "Dark Age," like humans did, where a good deal of lore and knowledge were deliberately suppressed?
5. There are several identifiable "subtypes" of New Olympians. I remember reading your response to another question in which you said that they constituted a hybrid race which had stabilized and could interbreed, despite their numerous differences. Do children mixed-subtype couples take after one parent or do they form new subtypes unto themselves? Either way, the New Olympians probably would attach no stigma to it.
6. What are Talos's capabilities, generally speaking? He probably has faster reasoning capabilities than a human or a gargoyle (and probably the Children, too), and likely has perfect recall. In the New Olympians episode, he threatened Proteus (disguised as Taurus) with missiles from his wrist. What else is he capable of?
7. What kind of person (if I could use the term) is Talos? He voiced the opinion that they might need human allies in the New Olympians episode, and he eventually joins the "Peaceful Co-existance" faction and goes to New York to advise the New Olympian ambassador, Taurus, but could (and probably is) based on simple logic. He realizes that they cannot hide forever, and that they should reveal themselves at a time of their chosing instead of waiting to be found by humanity, and the need for human allies is fairly obvious. That said, why does he support the Taurus's faction? Is he a fundamentally good person (I use the term loosely), or is he simply doing what he feels is logically what's best for New Olympus (and, by extension, himself)?
8. Do the other New Olympians generally use male pronouns in regard to Talos and think of him as male? Does Talos himself consider himself to have a gender, or is that just something that he/it doesn't even think about?

Greg responds...

1. I don't want to give away all of Talos' secrets at this time. But I see Talos as having been upgraded many, many times over the centuries. Ages ago, his programming would have been very, very simple, limited by mechanical and chemical reactions. But that was two millenia ago. Is he artificially intelligent now? I believe he has memory banks and a learning program. I guess the greater question is with memory and learning are any of us intelligent -- artificially or otherwise?

2. I'd lean toward both being true.

3. Nothing to do with the so-called Lost Race. And Daedalus was human. Just smart and with some helpful friends. I don't see Talos as being magical.

4. No separate populations. More the latter, but there were also break-through individuals... resource issues, etc.

5. No particular stigma, and all of the above.

6. You covered the big things. He's strong too. Oh, and tall. I'm not going into the rest at this time.

7. He was programmed to protect New Olympus. That programming still holds. Much of your reasoning is on target.

8. He was built to mimic the male form, and I think he and everyone else just takes that for granted. He is in fact asexual, but would identify himself as male.

Good questions, by the way.

Response recorded on May 13, 2005

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Dasrik writes...

I know you hate hypotheticals, Greg, but this one has been kind of bugging me.

We all know Xanatos is given to fits of megalomania...

If he had chosen the wish instead of servitude, do you think Puck would have had the power to grant it?

Greg responds...

Xanatos is given to fits of megalomania? I don't think so. When has he EVER demonstrated any megalomania (and "Future Tense" doesn't count) at all?

If he had chosen the wish, I assume it would have been for immortality. Puck MIGHT have been able to grant that. But not without a price.

And you're right. I hate hypotheticals.

Response recorded on May 12, 2005

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Audra writes...

Demona hates humans so much, but she always uses human's weapons. (Like guns, etc.) The other Gargoyles don't fight using weapons, and you'd think because Demona hates humans, she'd hate to use human weapons, and fight like a "true" Gargoyle. Why doesn't she just fight using her own strength like most Gargoyles do?

Greg responds...

Demona's just full of inconsistencies, isn't she?

Response recorded on May 12, 2005

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Black Knight writes...

hay greg its me again ummm is it posible that in 2006 can there be a gathering in bel air?

Greg responds...

Well, in 2006, the Gathering is scheduled for Los Angeles. And if we're talking about the same Bel Air, that should be close enough.

Response recorded on May 06, 2005

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Black Knight writes...

Dear greg
any word on the live action movie yet man?
i really cant wait untill it comes out!

Greg responds...

Touchstone has shelved their development of the Live-Action movie for the moment.

Response recorded on May 06, 2005

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Cronyx Ravage, cronyx@alltel.net , ICQ@308946 writes...

First time poster, long time lurker (web and IRC since like 1996)

In response to the following quoted Q&A, what would the legalities be concerning your prosuing Gargoyles fanfic personally? I remember that you were an english major as an undergrad, so even if script writing is a bit different from a more formal novel format, I have no doubt you'd be the best damned fanfic writer around. Of course, given exactly who you are, calling it fanfic would be a bit of a misnomer... <g>

RE:
RenegadeEXER writes...
I there a way that you can continue the series in some form or fasion or obtain the rights to use the series from disney

Greg responds...

Sigh -- I have never stopped looking for ways to "continue the series in some form or fashion", but so far I have met with no success. I'm still trying. Cross your fingers.

Greg responds...

When you say "prosuing" do you mean "pursuing" or "perusing"?

PURSUE
I suppose I have as much right to write fan-fiction based on Gargoyles as the next guy or gal. But as with the next guy or gal, I can't get paid for it. And when push comes to shove, I have to write EVERY DAY to feed my family. It's my job. Doesn't leave me a lot of time, energy or desire to pursue writing as an unpaid hobby. Yes, I wind up writing a lot of stuff "on spec", i.e. a lot of stuff that I don't get paid for, but which I have reason to believe will wind up earning me some money down the road.

I realize that might sound mercenary. But I hope not. It's just the facts of my life.

PERUSE
Having said all that, I do hope to someday work on GARGOYLES again in some medium. Given that, I'm protecting myself from future lawsuits by not perusing the original works of other writers (fans) who are dealing with my characters.

So, in summary, I won't be pursuing or perusing fanfiction any time soon.

Response recorded on May 06, 2005

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Vicious writes...

On the latest Avalon Mists, i found this little blurb:
"- *Revealed at the 2003 Gathering, it would have been implied in future Gargoyles episodes that Lexington was gay."

Is that true? It brings up a lot of questions besides that too, like how you would go about addressing homosexuality on such a show, and whithin what kind of story framework?

Though it never came to fruition, I hope it is true. I'm bisexual (leaning to gay, women are scary) and the thought of an important character being gay in official canon, on a widely seen show is a big positive to me. I know there are other shows where's a big issue, but I can't stand Queer as Folk or Will and Grace, they just suck.

And hell, Lex is sexy.

Greg responds...

I think the blurb you quoted MIS-represented what I said at that Gathering.

What I said, I believe, is that in my opinion Lex is gay -- though he may not yet realize it. And that we would be consistent with that knowledge... as I believe we have been up to this point.

But that in the current world climate we would not be addressing it on the show at all. Not explicitly or implicitly. It's a damn shame, and since we're talking about episodes that don't exist it would be easy for me to be brave now and pretend that we'd be open about it, but that would be a lie of expectation, and I try to be more honest than that with the fans.

All I promised was consistency. It may sound like a subtle distinction, but believe me it is not.

It may also sound like a cop-out, and believe me, IT IS. But it's a cop-out that comes out of the fact that if I even attempted an implicit portrayal, it flat out would not get on the air. And I could stand my ground. And I would get fired. And then there'd be no consistency either.

Someday, I hope to live in a braver more understanding world... but we ain't there yet. And I think what we're doing is at least a step in the right direction.

Response recorded on May 05, 2005

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Question writes...

<Shaman: It is all around you, a dimension parallel to this one, a world of the mind and the heart. >

Since it's called the DREAMtime can regular people access the Dreamtime without Shamans by just falling asleep since it is a dimension of the mind and the heart.

<Shaman: Ah, you have returned. Why not bring your other guests into the light? Ah, you are from the Dreamtime. >

What exactly is the connection between the Dreamtime and Avalon. The shaman says the gargoyles and elisa are from the Dreamtime so is there some kind of connection between the two or was the Shaman just mistaken.

Greg responds...

1. Frankly, I'm not sure we got the entire Dreamtime thing right, though we tried. I'll be honest, I'm not too clear on the Australian Aboriginal concept. So any answer I give is based on my limited, very limited understanding of it. One shouldn't regard me as an authority on the subject.

In theory... I guess, anyone should be able to access the Dreamtime. But that doesn't make it easy to do without training. Is this in fact the plain of dreams that we all visit nightly? Not sure. But the idea intrigues me.

2. My gut reaction is that the Shaman was mistaken. But I'm also open to the notion that there is a connection between Avalon and the Dreamtime. I like the ambiguity.

Response recorded on May 05, 2005

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Phoenician writes...

Dear Greg,
Which charachter are you dissapointed about the most since the series ended so soon? Which character's goal got cut off without achieving their "Purpose in life?
I just want to knowout of curiosity.

Greg responds...

All of them and none.

Look, there's nothing professionally I wouldn't rather do than to return to the Gargoyles Universe and have the opportunity to tell more stories there.

But there were numerous times when I knew it MIGHT be over and we gave some open-ended closure to the series so that if necessary I could walk away feeling that we had told a single great tale.

"Reawakening" was one of those times. So was "The Reckoning". So was "Hunter's Moon, Part Three" and so was "The Journey".

If I never get to tell another Gargoyles story, I can still look back on what we achieved with not a little pride and very little regret.

Response recorded on May 03, 2005

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Unknown writes...

How old is Oberon , now I know you answered this , but I want to find out the exact age [ .p.s. 1603 ]

Greg responds...

When did I answer this?

Response recorded on May 03, 2005

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Macbeth Or Macduff writes...

Would Gargoyles turn to stone by day , if they are in a cave or another place where you can not see the sun , day or night .

Greg responds...

Yes. It's a biological clock thing. At most, there might be a slight delay...

Response recorded on May 03, 2005

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Todd Jensen writes...

In "Shadows of the Past", it's pretty clear that one of the weapons that Hakon and the Captain were using against Goliath was some feeling of guilt over the Wyvern Massacre.

In your opinion, what sort of guilt did Goliath have about the massacre of his clan? Was it a "survivor's guilt" attitude, or was it related to the fact that the bulk of the clan had been at the castle because he'd decided to only take Hudson along with him to pursue the Vikings? Or a mixture of the two?

Greg responds...

Mixture.

Response recorded on May 02, 2005


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