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Dan writes...
I think I asked this earlier, so if you don't want to answer this, it's okay by me, but I'm still curious as to why David Xanatos did not decide to turn Elisa into a mutant panther instead of her brother in the "Metamorphosis" episode. Elisa as a mutant instead of her brother seems a better bargain to me, as Elisa as a human posed a ongoing danger to Xantos, and had more to offer in the way of skills, (Not to mention a certain revenge factor in turning Elisa into a mutant kitty on Xantos part). Even if the transformation was only on a short term basis, having a crack detective who was already your enemy transformed instead into a mutant powerless,ex-cop living in the sewers, who was dependent on your good will and had to follow your "requests" if she ever wanted a cure,would have been a great way for Xanatos to split Elisa from the gargoyles, get her off the force, if not actually working for him, and out of his hair at least for awhile.
Greg responds...
I feel like I've answered this already, but...
What good is Elisa as a mutate?
She'd only have become a more dangerous enemy. Maybe her effectiveness as a cop would be neutralized, but Xanatos had already managed that fairly effectiely, and his plan to turn her brother into a mutate further hampered her there. But meanwhile he would have a dangerous mutate, who knew he was a villain, knew he couldn't be trusted. It would hardly get her out of his hair, as you put it. She'd have nothing to lose, wouldn't trust him for a second to find a cure.
Derek, on the other hand, could be manipulated. In the long run, using him didn't accomplish all that Xanatos hoped, but for awhile it looked like he had what he set out to create, his own personal set of gargoyles. That could never have happenned with Elisa. Not even briefly. And I don't see how this would have split her off from the Gargoyles. She wouldn't have gone to live in a sewer. She'd have moved in with them. Arguably it could have made them even tighter.
As for revenge, we've seen over and over that Xanatos doesn't have a revengeful bone in his body. That kind of petty stuff doesn't interest him.
Todd Jensen writes...
Just out of curiosity - have you ever worked out what religion the major (or minor, for that matter) human characters in "Gargoyles" are, if on a purely "for personal amusement" basis? (I doubt that you were seriously planning to bring it up directly in the series, given how tricky handling religion in television can be). We know from Diane's "We can pray, Peter" line in "Deadly Force" that the Mazas have some sort of religious belief, and obviously Max Loew, his Rabbi ancestor, and Janus in "Golem" are/were Jewish, but that's as far as I can guess.
Greg responds...
Matt Bluestone is Jewish.
Maria Chavez is Catholic.
Halcyon Renard is a Calvinist.
Petros Xanatos is Greek Orthodox.
I think that Diane Maza is a member of some Protestant Christian sect, but I'd have to do some research to figure out which one.
Peter Maza spent most of his adult life as a dedicated Agnostic. But since "Cloud Fathers" it would be interesting to see how that's changed.
I think Elisa probably has a background in Christianity from her mother, but probably styled her beliefs after her father. Still, I'm quite certain that all the stories her mother told about African myths and legends helped her maintain an open mind.
I think Derek Maza has a more Christian bent. Maggie Reed too.
Beth Maza's more likely to at least attempt to connect back with Carlos Maza's Native American beliefs.
David Xanatos believes... in himself.
Fox believes in David.
Have I left anyone out?
Airwalker writes...
Does Elisa speak more than one language and if she does then what language would it be?
Greg responds...
I would guess that Elisa speaks Spanish and English. (Actually, I'm sure about that second one.)
Airwalker writes...
How does Diane Maza feel about the fact that it was her advice that finally helped Derek decide to work for Xanatos?
Greg responds...
Probably pretty lousy. Wouldn't you think?
Though of course her advice was sound based on the info she had at the time.
Airwalker writes...
How does Talon feel about raising a Gargoyle/Human hybrid who looks and sounds exactly like his big sister?
Greg responds...
Strange.
(What did you expect me to say?)
Airwalker writes...
In THE CAGE, while I understand Talon was eager to look for any excuse to blame Goliath for his troubles, how could he take in Xanatos' story so easily? I mean, he heard the whole presentation in METAMORPHASIS, he knew Xanatos financed everything, how could he be so willing to ignore that?
Greg responds...
You're asking this from the man who had Demona say "What have I... What have THEY done to you?"
Never underestimate the power of denial, pal.
OnyxStar writes...
Okay, this is turning into lots of little posts instead of one big one. But anyway, here are the next few:
1. Would Goliath and Elisa's "relationship" ever have become public knowledge? I mean, would someone have figured it out sooner or later and gone to the media with it?
2. If so, how will history remember Elisa Maza, "gargoyle-lover"?
3. Will others have followed in her example by, say, 2158? (not necessarily with a main character or anything, just in general)
4. What does 'protected minority' mean?
Thanks again!
Greg responds...
1. Maybe. Probably. But WAY down the line if at all.
2. Looking back from when?
3. Here and there, but not too often. We want to keep some things unique.
4. It will be a legal term both well-meaning and condescending, both necessary and a stumbling block. Otherwise, I'd say it's fairly self-explanatory.
Douglas "macbeth" Lane writes...
You keep brining up that Elisa will deny her love for the big guy becuase she wants to have a normal life. But will her life ever be normal again? I mean just knowing about the gargoyles could potentially mess up somebodies life (Vinnie). Broadway will probably always try to come over for dinner, and she'll always have them on her mind. In a sence they have ruined her life so why should she deny the feelings that she odviously have and go with what she knows she wants?
Greg responds...
There's normal and there's normal.
There's having wonderful, strange friends and adventures.
And there's losing out on the chance to have a family on the order of the kind of family her parents had. The kind she always dreamed of having.
The two notions aren't mutually exclusive until you throw her love for Goliath into the equation.
Ultimately, she won't be able to deny her feelings for him. But that doesn't mean she hasn't tried.
Airwalker writes...
How do Talon and Maggie feel about the fact that the Gargoyles are living back at the castle?
Greg responds...
Maggie may actually feel hopeful. Talan mistrustful at best, downright bitter at worst. I had hoped to do a story exploring this in the third season and find out the answers for myself.
Obviously, it didn't work out that way, so honestly, since I haven't fully examined the question in my own head (let alone on paper or film) the real answer is: "I don't know."
Todd Jensen writes...
Something that I've wondered about "Metamorphosis" for some time, and finally remembered to ask here. Why did Xanatos choose Derek as one of his victims for the Mutates project? The reason why I'm wondering this is because unlike Maggie (whose folks were presumably all back in Ohio), Derek had family living in New York who would notice his disappearance and investigate - and indeed did. And in particular, Elisa was already definitely not a member of the David Xanatos Fan Club even before the events in "Her Brother's Keeper" and "Metamorphosis", and Xanatos was surely aware of this. It must have been pretty obvious that he'd be in real trouble with her if she ever found out that he'd turned her brother into a winged panther.
Obviously Xanatos must have felt there to be some practical benefit to turning Derek into a Mutate that was enough to outweigh the disadvantage of making even more of an enemy out of Elisa. What I'm curious about is: what was that practical benefit that was strong enough for Xanatos to take the risk?
Greg responds...
First off, Derek had qualities that Maggie, Fang and Claw did not.
Simply put if you are creating your own race of gargoyles, you might consider that you need your own equivalent of Goliath too lead them. Even, literally, to teach them how to fly.
Secondly, I don't think he really feared making an EVEN bigger enemy out of Elisa. That ship had sailed. Rather, I think he felt, particularly if he succeeded -- as he very nearly did -- in keeping Derek/Talon in his employ, that having Derek as a Mutate-bodyguard would be a very effective deterrent against anything Elisa might do. Using Derek was a huge potential bonanza. And the downside (to Xanatos at least) was minimal.
He never really suffered for it.
Great question, by the way.
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