I didn't really care for Tara until "Restless." But then she became instantly intriguing to me. Through time, she became one of my favorite characters, and I felt her death was a loss to the show. I didn't feel that the Dark Willow arc was worth the loss of Tara.
The money was too good. I got stupid.
Jayne ,'Ariel'
Buffy 4: Grr. Arrgh.
This is where we talk about Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No spoilers though?if you post one by accident, an admin will delete it. This thread is NO LONGER NAFDA. Please don't discuss current Angel events here.
Rayne - Apr 12, 2004 4:31:58 pm PDT #7480 of 10001
"Oh no! Has falling sky liquid once again caused you the sadness?" -Starfire
Daisy Jane - Apr 12, 2004 7:29:09 pm PDT #7481 of 10001
"This bar smells like kerosene and stripper tears."
I was thinking about this on the way home (I had a post, but then it was time to get off work).
At first I would have said Buffy during Innocence until Becoming, but then I thought because of current events, Willow during Triangle, then there was several Xander moments.
You know, I think that's where much of the love comes from. I can identify with all of them several times, and sometimes all at once. Sure my best friend's ex wife isn't an ex-demon (though I won't say that for sure until someone can prove it), and my ex boyfriend wasn't a creature without a heartbeat, but the situations were certainly close to home to be so fantastical.
Even the vampires weren't completely unrelateable. I'm sure that was the main appeal of Spike and Dru, underscored by The Judge's line. They were the first ones (besides Angel who had is own metaphor on) to be more than Muahhahaha evil.
Atropa - Apr 13, 2004 8:14:51 am PDT #7482 of 10001
The artist formerly associated with cupcakes.
My biggest moment of identification was Willow crying in the bathroom after finding out about Xander sleeping with Faith. *sigh* Every unrequited crush I ever had was suddenly painful to remember all over again.
Ow. Ow, ow, ow. Yeah, that would have to be one of the biggies for me, too. But wasn't it Willow finding out about Xander & Cordy, not Faith?
Frankenbuddha - Apr 13, 2004 8:17:04 am PDT #7483 of 10001
"We are the Goon Squad and we're coming to town...Beep! Beep!" - David Bowie, "Fashion"
Ow. Ow, ow, ow. Yeah, that would have to be one of the biggies for me, too. But wasn't it Willow finding out about Xander & Cordy, not Faith?
No, that was the equally painful "you'd rather be with someone you hate than be with me" scene. I don't think anyone but the audience knew how much the Faith incident bothered her.
DavidS - Apr 13, 2004 8:18:22 am PDT #7484 of 10001
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
I didn't feel that the Dark Willow arc was worth the loss of Tara.
It was totally worth it to me. I always liked Amber better than Tara, who was a very uncompelling character to me. I mean...she was nice. It's easy to write a nice character. Over time they made her more complex, and Amber's performance was so heartfelt that she did occupy an important emotional core in the show. But a Quotable Tara thread would have exactly five lines in it, maybe.
Rayne - Apr 13, 2004 8:22:22 am PDT #7485 of 10001
"Oh no! Has falling sky liquid once again caused you the sadness?" -Starfire
But a Quotable Tara thread would have exactly five lines in it, maybe.
Heh. Good point.
Don't get me wrong. I loved Dark Willow. But losing Tara for 3 episodes of Dark Willow? No. Not worth it. For half a season of Dark Willow? Hell yes! Bye Tara!
Miracleman - Apr 13, 2004 8:23:01 am PDT #7486 of 10001
No, I don't think I will - me, quoting Captain Steve Rogers, to all of 2020
I liked Tara alot, but was kinda happy when she died. Because, from a storytelling standpoint it a) had to happen and b) still took guts to actually do.
In fact, the whole Dark Willow arc I kinda dug. I didn't expect Willow to so callously flay Warren (and for them to show it). Just full of surprises in regard to how far they were willing to go with it.
DavidS - Apr 13, 2004 8:24:44 am PDT #7487 of 10001
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
For half a season of Dark Willow? Hell yes! Bye Tara!
dreamy Yeah. That would've kicked ass.
Tom Scola - Apr 13, 2004 8:25:23 am PDT #7488 of 10001
Remember that the frontier of the Rebellion is everywhere. And even the smallest act of insurrection pushes our lines forward.
For half a season of Dark Willow? Hell yes! Bye Tara!
What Rayne said. Willow should have turned dark much earlier in the season, like the way Angel did.
Fred Pete - Apr 13, 2004 9:26:44 am PDT #7489 of 10001
Ann, that's a ferret.
I mean...she was nice. It's easy to write a nice character. Over time they made her more complex, and Amber's performance was so heartfelt that she did occupy an important emotional core in the show. But a Quotable Tara thread would have exactly five lines in it, maybe.
I'm not sure what triggered it, but at some point after Willow cured Glory's mindwipe, Tara got tough -- and that's what made her interesting. Especially since her toughness played out in a very maternal way.
In "Smashed" -- even after she moved out and couldn't be held morally responsible for Dawn -- she took Dawn out to dinner, made a remark about eating her vegetables, and (well, ok, not exactly intentionally) stayed the night while guardians Buffy and Willow were off elsewheres without even a "hi, I'll be in late" phone call.
At the end of -- was it "Gone"? -- she's the one Buffy told about sleeping with Spike. And she did a damn good combo of "let Mommy hold you and make it better" and actually do something about it.
And in OAFA, she's the one who played Mama Bear to protect Buffy from Spike, and Willow from Anya.
If Tara had lived, she'd likely have taken Joyce's place. As in the Joyce who hit Spike with an ax in "School Hard."