VF writes...

I really admire the patience and dedication of longtime fans and admirers (including yourself) of "Gargoyles." I only discovered the show for myself (with the help of my two young daughters) a bit more than a year ago, and I KEEP hoping that "some day" will come already and new episodes can be made.

Folks can say what they want about Toon Disney, but that's how my daughters found it and shared it with me, so the channel is at least providing the opportunity for a few new viewers to discover the show.

It's clear from watching the series, and then finding this Web site and learning more about the behind-the-scenes processes involved in its making, that there were a lot of thoughtful, creative, talented people behind it. Your ideas about characterization and story continuity have prompted me to post some thoughts and an inquiry here. (It's at the heart of one of the main reasons why I really lament that there aren't any more episodes being made ... yet.)

From a writing point of view, I think "Hunter's Moon, Part III" -- which I realize was a season finale -- would have served as a much better "final" finale for your involvement than "The Journey," which just left everything dangling for me like an unfinished book. Maybe I should say "like an unfinished chapter" because I don't want the book to end. At least in "Hunter's Moon," it ended with a bit of a payoff: an open declaration of mutual love between two main characters ("You know how I feel about you, right?" "How we both feel, yes." and even a kiss). It helped bring together a few loose strands that had been threading from almost the very beginning of the series without completely shutting it off from future development (far from it, actually).

In "The Journey," there is an aborted, sort-of date with very little discussion between Goliath and Elisa about what is really happening between the two of them or that very significant exchange between them from the previous episode. Also, from the information shared in this site, it seems you knew this was your farewell episode in many respects. So I would be interested to learn what you intended to have at work between Goliath and Elisa in this episode because I'm not sure that I "got it" all. I think an argument could be made that the episode, coming immediately in sequence after "Hunter's Moon," implies that a relationship between the two is A-OK with them without any internal conflicts.

Did you really want to make things seem less defined between them and let some time pass before they actually had The Talk about their relationship, specifically to help sustain fans' interest at a time when you may not have known what the future held for the series and their story?

Sorry to ramble on, but I don't want to appear as though I'm sorry you stayed on for one episode too many (again, far from it!) I'd like to learn your thoughts about the episode from a story/character development perspective.

Thank you.

Aris Katsaris writes...

Greg, where the adoption is concerned, no, you had never used the word "convenient". In response to a question uou did refer to it as more "conventional" than magical or scientific alteration.

Hmm, so far you have avoided answering to my questions about the species or the gender of the kid... Let's see if you'll answer one about age... Do you see the kid being adopted while still an infant, or when at an older age (able to talk for example)? There are obvious story possibilities in both...

Vilija writes...

Hi again!
Did you develop Goliath's character with a contrast in mind? or did it happen over time throughout the show...He'll be sitting there in one episode, reading, or thinking to himself, and in another episode we see this crazy temper. (For example-maniacal laughter in "Macbeth," and threatening to kill people in "Hunter's Moon."
I guess these circumstances would get me pretty angry as well. What do you have to say?

Maria writes...

Another silly Question from Silly Maria: ^_^
Why is 'adopting' for Goliath and Elisa more convenient?
I obviously have a very different thinking pattern. I guess I feel that if someone really loved someone else they would be willing to make some sort of change. So that's why I find it hard to believe that Elisa or Goliath can't make a magical change or something. In my mind, just because you change your form doesn't necessarily mean you are changing who you are. It can change a PART of who you are, but it doesn't change everything about you. You are who you are inside. And that includes your SOUL. Your soul is who you are. That's why we are able to differentiate between right and wrong because GOD gave us that gift. We just abuse it sometimes or ignore it, because we are down here on earth to learn. And from circumstance and learning different behaviors, we sometimes become what we were not in the beginning.
So, why would it be so inconvienient? (Bad spelling. . . :P) I mean, I am probably WAY off base. But that's just the way I feel . . . if that's all right.

I guess the problem for us Goliath and Elisa fans is we REALLY want Goliath and Elisa to have a child. Yet, contradictorally, we understand that ethnically, it would be impossible. And yet we hope for a miracle. I guess in my frame of mind, seeing them raise a family of their own would be like some kind of resolution. Strange, isn't it?
Anyway, enough of my rediculous ramblings. I probably don't make any sense - though I try to. It's just hard sometimes to put my thoughts into words. And they don't always come out the way I want them too. So for that I apologize. A hard life has let my communication skills go to par. ^_^!
Well, if that wasn't too - ridiculous - I'll take off now. TTFn. Ta Ta For Now!! :)

Emmlei writes...

original post and reply:Emmlei writes...
ok, i vaguely recall a while back a few questions as to Elisa and Goliath basically raising a child together. a bunch of questions tended to whether it was biological, and if it came about through magic or science. just to get this off my mind, what about adoption?

Greg responds...

What about it?

repost: would adoption be more likely than having a biological child (even if it's through magic or science)?

Emmlei writes...

ok, i vaguely recall a while back a few questions as to Elisa and Goliath basically raising a child together. a bunch of questions tended to whether it was biological, and if it came about through magic or science. just to get this off my mind, what about adoption?

Gengar! writes...

what happened to Goliath's mother

Gengar! writes...

How old is goliath

Gengar! writes...

What was goliath like as a baby

White writes...

I was always curious to know if you had created Goliath's biological parents. And if so, what would they be like ( Biologicaly and phsycologicaly )
An other thing I was curious with is, Goliath recongnized Angela as his bioligical daughter, could he have recongnized his parents as well ? ( Although I do not think he would have considered them more importent than his other rockery parents )

Thanx in advance ;)

Vashkoda writes...

1) Has Demona already used all the spells available in the pages she tore from the Grimorum?

2) Did Elisa or the others do anything special with that page from the Grimorum with the spell that enchanted Goliath? If Goliath must obey anyone who holds it, couldn't someone say, "I negate the last command", and have Goliath fall right back under its spell? Even if that isn't the case, I would think that the possibility was enough that they would take certain precautions with it. Just wondering.

Todd Jensen writes...

In Puck's "Future Tense" illusion, was he attempting to use guilt as a weapon against Goliath to break him down, as well as shock and grief? Brooklyn and Lexington both berated Goliath severely for "running away" and leaving the clan and Manhattan defenceless against Xanatos, making it clear that in their eyes, it was all his fault that the city was in the condition that it was. Lexington also implied (at least, how I saw it) that Goliath's "abandoning" the clan was a reason for his turning evil. So, was Puck attempting to fill Goliath with guilt to weaken him all the more?

Maria Destine writes...

I probably did mis-quote you. Oh well.
Anyways I was wondering if Goliath would ever get to know his grandchildren? Wouldn't he still be alive long enough to spend some time with them? And how well off would the clan be by the time he died? You had mentioned that maybe not everything would be exactly perfect by then concerning gargoyle/human relations. So, just how would situations have been?

Knight-errant writes...

Goliath had his name in 994? No way. 1)Are you sure? Of course, you're sure. I can't believe no one noticed. 2)Who was story editing? Give them a stern talking to.

Melissa writes...

Hey Greg,
This question might sound confusing but I'll try my best to make it comprehensible.
I don't expect you to remember, but you responded to a question (by Charles) on July 30 about Elisa and Goliath's double date. The question was mainly about Elisa's response how Goliath had chosen to take Delilah. You responded by saying "Elisa was pressuring him. She had to live with the consequences of her choice."
So my question is: I always was under the impression that E & G mutally decided to go on this double date. But by the way you responded, it sounded more like Goliath wanted to date Elisa but she rejected the offer. Was this the case? Am I totally off? If you had any input on this, it would be greatly appreciated.

Maria writes...

You had mentioned that gargoyles don't generally kiss. They use a caress which in some ways for them mimics the kiss. But, considering the fact that Elisa surprised him by kissing him, what would be his reaction later? Would he ask questions about it and she would explain that she kissed him because she loved him? And, would he become curious enough to try kissing her? Would he enjoy it?
I can almost envision a silly face showing that he liked it, kind of like in the scene in Tarzan where Jane kisses an unsuspecting Tarzan. But then, that might not even happen. But it might be cute and inoccent if it did.
Anyway, thanks before hand for replying, and my apologies for some of my earlier more stupid posts. Just curious about that stuff mostly, I guess.

shaun writes...

Is there somethimg between Goliath and Elisa,does the rest of the clan know about it?

Todd Jensen writes...

I recently watched my tape of "Upgrade", and that prompted a fresh question on my part. In this episode, Goliath finally fills the SIC position, left vacant ever since Demona parted ways from the clan in "Awakening". What interested me was that Goliath took so long to finally think about appointing a second-in-command. "Upgrade" is 25 episodes after "Awakening Part Five", and in terms of the series' internal chronology, probably over a year later, but only now does Goliath finally get around to start looking for somebody to fill the second-in-command slot, after Hudson tells him that he needs a designated successor in case some enemy of the clan does kill or permanently incapacitate him.

So why did Goliath take so long to start looking for a new SIC? Was it anything to do with the fact that Demona had been the last one?

Demona Taina writes...

It's me again! RUN! [laughs]

I was looking through the archives and I noticed the "Hudson put a spell on Hudson" typo. [snickers] You even quoted it! Should I be honored? [laughs] Well, what can I say? [laughs] I edited the post so many times I mixed up the sentence so badly that I ended up with two Hudsons. :P

[laughs some more, then clears throat] Okay, I've been wondering this for a very long time now. In the episode "Eye of the Storm," Goliath puts on the Eye of Odin because he had no choice. If he wouldn't give the eye to Odin, then he could just forget about Elisa. If he handed it over, then Odin would be powerful enough to "destroy" them.

Back to the main question. When Goliath ripped the eye from his neck, he immediately passed out. Yes, he could stand for a few seconds, but then he lost his balance and.. THUD! I thought it was pretty cool, because I had never seen Goliath actually PASS OUT. Sure, he's been knocked out, put to sleep, but never actually lost consciousness without a physical blow or drugs.

So here are my questions. :)
1. How long was Goliath passed out when he took out the eye?

2. How did Angela and Elisa carry Goliath back to the cave?

3. How tall was Goliath when he had the eye on? Under more normal circumstances, he'd be seven feet tall. Nearly as tall as my house. [giggles] But with the eye, the little kid's head barely reached his knees!

4a. What are the names of the two humans? Erm, people. [laughs] I think it's Eric and Gunther.. but I'm not sure.

4b. I know that the father mentioned his second name, but I didn't quite catch it. In fact, I didn't even understand it. :P What's his second name?

5. Silly question, but I'm a big fan of Goliath and I can't resist. [snickers] Why did Goliath rub his head when he regained consciousness?

6. Why did he look for the eye on his chest after he woke up? Didn't he remember that he ripped it off?

7. Erm.. [can't think of anything else] How are you today? :p

Let me say that this is one of my favorite episodes. A pity the USA Network cut out the scene of Goliath hugging Elisa with his wings.. [grumbles] I don't even know what he said to her in English. [grumbles] And it was such a romantic scene..

[scrolls up] Ooh. Long post. :P So, that would be all I guess. [chuckles] Thank you for your time. :)

TK writes...

Hello Greg,
ok firsts thank you for answering my questions

and now to the questions

Goliath always tries to tell Elisa how he feels ,right. She always puts her hand on his mouth,to stop him.

Why does she not want to hear it?
and
Why doesn't he just tell her anyway and push her hand aside?
Is it out of respect?

Thanks a ton! Greg!

Sixshot writes...

Hello mr Weisman!

During season 1 and 2, we see Goliath getting denied of revenge by Hakon and the Captain, he don't get to throw Xanatos off the Eyrie building, he was stopped trying to rip Dracon's head, the Weird Sisters stop him from wasting Demona, he didn't directly killed the Archmage (twice), he could not finish off Jon Canmore...so will Goliath ever kill someone (at least someone alive)? Anansi really don't count.

S writes...

Whoops, heh heh, I'd like to make a correction on question #3 in my Physical Attraction post. What I meant to say was: How could Goliath not see Elisa was physically attractive before "The Mirror?"

S writes...

Hello again, Mr. Weisman. Thank you for answering my "Educating Goliath" questions and not pulling a "Weis-guy" answer on me. Gorebash should rename the Smart-ass Responses to "Weis-guy Responses." I'm saying this in good humor, by the way. Anyways...
PHYSICAL ATTRACTION QUESTIONS:
1.You said: "Absolutely. It's all mixed in there. Protect & Serve, right? There's a chicken and the egg element to what brought the Gargoyles (and Goliath specifically) together with Detective Maza. Kindred Spirits. Physical attraction." There's more, but I'll stop there.
My question is: Who 'exactly' does the "Physical attraction" part refer to? Just Goliath to Elisa and/or vice versa? Which brings me to my next question...
2.How come Elisa shows no evidence of physical attraction to Goliath? I mean, you've heard Goliath being referred to as handsome and everything and he has a nice body(for a cartoon character anyway), but how can Elisa not see that he is 'obviously' attractive? Which, yet again, brings me to another question...
3.How could Goliath not see that Elisa was physically attractive? It doesn't make any sense. Look at Demona, she basically looks humanish. I don't see how it could be that hard for Goliath not to see Elisa as beautiful if he sees Demona that way. He could basically think of her as a gargoyle without the gargoylian features(wings, tail, etc.).
Well, that's about all, and thanks.

Axem Gold writes...

I have Brooklyn questions.

1) Were there going to be conflicts between Goliath and Brooklyn (Second In Command).

2) Before he goes on his timedancing adventure will Brooklyn try a few more times to woo Angela.

3) Will Goliath consider turning over leadership of the clan to Brooklyn?

4) Will Katana join Brooklyn willingly or be dragged into the travel?

Nyrtleka writes...

My Q's about how you mentioned an attempt at a relationship between Delilah and Goliath.

This seems a little bit strange to me. I mean, you've mentioned over and over again that gargs mate for life. I can't see a gargoyle, well, "dating" because they are simply making an attempt at a relationship with someone, instead of really loving that person. If Goliath "dated" Delilah, wouldn't this be against the "Gargoyles mate for life" thing? Or is he just making a last, desperate attempt to break away from Elisa?

Thanks!