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?

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.

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.

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!

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.

For half a season of Dark Willow? Hell yes! Bye Tara!

dreamy Yeah. That would've kicked ass.

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.

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."

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."

As you note, I think she already was occupying that space. And that's the emotional core I allude to.

I guess I'd much rather have Tara as a real person friend (who I would love dearly) than watch her on a TV show.

Funnily enough, I think the genesis point for that change in her character also involved an ax—burying one in Razer's back in "Bargaining, Pt. 2." I'd begun to feel strong sympathy for Tara around the time of "The Body," but that was the moment I started loving her.