Felicia Day is making her return to Supernatural this week, as Sam and Dean once more encounter Charlie Bradbury, the geeky hacker who they met for the first time last year. But this time, Charlie, last seen in an office setting, is part of the world of LARPing, which Sam and Dean must investigate after the death of two LARPers who were part of the game Charlie is the Queen of.
I spoke to Day about her second appearance on Supernatural and her experience working on the show. Plus, the very busy Day talked about the future of her webseries, The Guild, her voiceover work on the upcoming Star Wars: Detours comedic animated series and more.
IGN TV: The last time we saw Charlie, she was saying, “Never contact me again” to the guys. So how does she feel when they end up finding her anyway?
Felicia Day: I think that Charlie is a very smart girl. Whenever she sees the brothers, she knows trouble is coming, so her reaction might not be as friendly as you’d think.
Felicia Day in Supernatural.
IGN: She’s involved in a whole new world in this episode, with LARPing.
Day: Yeah, I think that Charlie’s a person who has been many people and never put down roots, which I think was really clear in the last episode she did. So when we see her in this episode, I think that there is sort of a settling quality to what she’s found here. What I think is kind of beautiful about the episode is that it explores LARPing in a way that doesn’t make it seem weird or freaky. It’s a really fun look at this hobby that people really love, and Charlie’s the perfect character to do that because she really is the ultimate fangirl and would never apologize for something that she loves. I think that’s the base of a lot of geek culture, including LARPing.
IGN: I consider myself a pretty geeky guy, but LARPing is one of those things I know about but have never participated in or even seen in person. How familiar were you with it before doing this episode?
Day: I was very familiar with it because I did a project called Dragon Age: Redemption, which was a webseries set in the Dragon Age world, and actually, a lot of our background were LARPers -- similar to the Supernatural episode, where almost all the background, I believe, were authentic LARPers and brought their own equipment and outfits, which were on par with the ones that were custom-made for us by the wardrobe. So I had been familiar in that aspect. I’ve never actually done LARPing, although I do believe, had I the time to do it, I would love doing it, because I love roleplaying and D&D. Taking that into reality might be something people are inhibited about, but I think it would be super fun with the right group of people. So, yeah, it is one of those things that even hardcore geeks, I think, are aware of but haven’t participated in. And I think this is a great lens on the subculture in that it doesn’t make fun of it or marginalize it. It has fun with it, but it also gives an authentic glimpse into how it can be fulfilling and fun.
Felicia Day, Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki in Supernatural.
IGN: On Supernatural, typically Dean is the more cynical one about things he sees as geeky, while Sam is usually more open-minded and has more geeky interests, as we’ve discovered. What is the boys’ reaction to this whole world in this episode?
Day: There are some amazing one-liners that people are going to be quoting for a long time after this episode. Also, moments… There are going to be some animated GIFs that need to be made. [Laughs] The fun thing about Charlie with the guys is that she actually has more of a relationship with Dean. I think that her point of view and Dean’s more cynical point of view actually create a really fun dynamic for conflict. As you saw in the last episode, she’s like the little sister he never wanted. You’ll definitely see a lot more of that relationship in this episode. The rapport between us was just really fun to play with, and it was something that was effortless, which I think is the most fun acting and I think the most fun to watch characters, when it’s effortless.
IGN: You are quite an adored person within the “geek world”, if I can use that term, and have been in a lot of different things like Buffy that have their own specific fandom. Since your first appearance on Supernatural, have you heard from those fans in a different way?
Day: Oh, definitely. It’s a whole new set of fans from the Joss Whedon fans or the gamer/Guild fans. It’s a whole other group, but they have that same amazing spirit of unabashedly loving the show and being immersed in it. The inherited fans I’ve gotten through Supernatural, it’s just an experience. The fans are so incredibly supportive. It’s amazing to include more people like that in what I do, and just to see how enthusiastic they are about Charlie as a character. You’re always kind of worried when you dip your toe into a new world because fans are very possessive about their worlds. What I love is how the outpouring of love around Charlie has just been awesome. She’s a really smart girl, and, like I said, she’s willing to go toe-to-toe with the guys and not be cowed or shy about what she thinks. I think the character was just so well-drawn, and I love the fact that the fans like her.
IGN: What’s it like working with Jensen and Jared? Obviously there are shows built around a lead or a couple of leads with a supporting ensemble, but this is really somewhat unique on network TV, with eight years of two guys as the only mainstays.
Day: They’re amazing and just so fun to work with. They’re so comfortable on the set. Just watching them work together, the lack of effort between them, is just fantastic. Also the fact that they’re so welcoming to guest stars -- I felt like a family member the second I stepped on set, and that completely comes from the top, the tone that’s set by the leads of the show. So that’s a testament to them. They’re really super funny when they’re off camera. They want to make you crack, and I’m sure there are amazing outtakes of me just trying not to smile when Jared is off-screen doing his dialogue. But there is such an atmosphere of fun, and I think that really translates to the screen, that there’s joy of creation in the making of the show.
IGN: I also want to quickly ask you about a couple of other projects before I let you go. I know you did some voiceover work with Seth [Green] and Matt [Senreich] and those guys for Star Wars: Detours. What was that experience like?
Day: I did. That’s a very fun character. I don’t want to talk too specifically about her, but I had to do such a weird voice, and it was definitely unique to what I’ve ever done in voiceover. But when I finally saw the animation, the style of it -- I haven’t seen another show like it, so I can’t wait for that to be out.
IGN: I would be remiss if I didn’t ask briefly about Dr. Horrible just because it seems like it’s percolating a little more than it has in awhile. Of course, it’s one of those things where, tragically, poor Penny, she went away. But it’s a Joss Whedon creation, so you never know…
Day: Yeah, I can’t say one way or another whether or not I’d be involved in a sequel or what’s happening with it. I know that the guys mention it a lot in doing press for S.H.I.E.L.D., which I believe is shooting pretty soon. So I’m very excited about that. From what I’ve heard, that project is just going to blow people’s minds. But, you know, Dr. Horrible is what it is, and I can only cross fingers that there’s time between all these huge Marvel projects to get it done, whether I’m involved or not.
Felicia Day, Nathan Fillion and a hidden Neil Patrick Harris in Dr. Horrible.
IGN: Will there be more of The Guild for you in the future?
Day: Yes, Season 6 just ended. Fans have been a little concerned about it because I did want to make an ending, were it the last season, with a satisfying conclusion. One of the best things the fans have said is, “If this is the end, it is a beautiful ending.” That actually made me tears up when I first saw those comments. I definitely love the characters and the world that we’ve created. I think if we see more Guild in the future it would maybe have to be in a different format. I’m actually weighing my options. Right now, I’m a little distracted with Geek & Sundry, which is the network I run on YouTube. We’re hopefully gearing up for a Season 2 of that now. In the short term, I’m focusing on producing and creating things for that, and then hopefully very soon after that I’m going to be thinking about more Guild. But rest assured that the characters live on, and there are many more stories to tell with them. It’s just that I have to find the right place to do that in a fresh way that will kind of put a twist on what we’ve done before.
IGN: You're seen as a trailblazer with The Guild – Joss and many other people named you as an inspiration when it came to self-producing web series. Has it been cool to see the last five years really see a lot of big ramp-up in web-based content like that?
Day: Yeah, it’s been amazing. I released things in a world where nobody really knew what a web series was, and they thought it was the oddest thing ever to devote yourself to it. Now, there’s a huge industry, and everyone you can name is interested in making digital content. The goal for me is to just stay relevant and make new things. I love the fact that I’ve inspired other people, but I’m not done yet! I’ve got lots more to make. It’s an awesome world where I can have new creative partners to make bigger and better things in the space that I love.
Felicia Day can be seen on Supernatural on Wednesday, January 23rd at 9pm ET/PT on The CW.
Source : ign[dot]com
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