What If?

[ithildin]

Something I was pondering on the walk to work this morning: what if Alexandra Vandernoot hadn't left the show, so Tessa didn't die? Assuming the framework was generally the same, with some obvious exceptions, like Anne. What kind of show would it have been compared to what it was? How different a fandom would it have been?

Comments

There would have been a load more het.

[hmpf.livejournal.com]

It would be like Farscape fandom!

And I'm not sure Methos would ever have 'happened' - Richie was Tessa's and Duncan's kid, in a sense, so it was okay for the dynamic to have him as a sidekick. Having an older, 'wiser', mysterious mentor/friend type character, though... I dunno.

Re: There would have been a load more het.

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

Methos might have ended up being used more like Darius was.

Re: There would have been a load more het.

[mmapmaker.livejournal.com]

Well, Methos wasn't added to be a sidekick, he was added to be a mentor. I seem to remember a comment by head writer David A, that Darius was originally to fill the role of older Immortal/mentor to Duncan, but the death of actor Werner Stocker meant they needed to find a replacement.

Re: There would have been a load more het.

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

I remember that too.

I know.

[hmpf.livejournal.com]

I'm just not sure he would have worked as well if Tessa had been around, i.e. I have a feeling they probably wouldn't have gone for it, or at least not the way they did. Maybe because while being with Tessa, Duncan seemed much less in *need* of a mentor figure.

Re: There would have been a load more het.

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

and more threesomes! [g]

And more femslash, too...

[carenejeans.livejournal.com]

Amanda would have been more problematic...

But maybe there'd be more f/f slash. 8-)

Re: And more femslash, too...

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

You're probably right. There was quite a bit of Janette/Nat in Forver Knight fic, even some Janette/Amanda I remember reading once upon a time.

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

An episode like Finale. Would Amanda have played a role? Or would Tessa be the one Kalas kidnapped instead? No dancing on the Eifel Tower :)

Or how about Something Wicked? Would Duncan have hurt Tessa, and how nuts would that have made him when he was 'cured'?

How would Duncan and Methos' relationship have been different? Would Tessa have made him a part of her extended family? I could see her comforting Methos after Alexa died.

[pat-t.livejournal.com]

Those are very good questions. I think he would have left instead of hurting Tessa, just like he did Joe. Richie wouldn't have become immortal unless they had a scene sans Tessa with just Richie being robbed and shot.

Obviously, I think the relationship with Amanda would have been the most affected. He would have still had a relationship with Methos - where it would have gone - I don't know. But Duncan would have been more centured. She kept him grounded and set him straight when he needed it.

[nessa5.livejournal.com]

I think it would have died quickly in the second season of more 'Rescue the Damsel in Distress' got older.

first season is not my favrate

[eveningblue.livejournal.com]

I have to agree with nessa5. I realize this is not a popular opinion in this fandom, but I did not really like Tessa. Or rather, I liked the way she was written but not the way she was acted.

And, as nessa5 notes, when Duncan is involved with a mortal, her life is at stake, as she can be used as bait. This happened in Season One, and it threatened to happen with Ann. I'm much happier with the show when all his friends are Immortals. Except Joe, of course. Joe is special. **g**

I think it's great that she existed, in retrospect, because we know that Duncan was in love and happy for many years. The fact that he doesn't have that anymore gives him added gravitas. But I'm glad, for the show's sake, that it didn't continue too long during the actual run of the show.