Buffy the Vampire Slayer | How Tara Became the Best Character

[@BetterWithBob]

I forgot to link the supposed original scene from Conversations With Dead People with Tara in it. Here we are below: slayalive.com/showthread.php/2942-Conversations-With-Dead-People-original-script

[@heathernks8]

I think that was someone's fan fiction, lol. The poster said they "just came across this" with no further explanation, and the "script" has phrases like "rueful smile" and "Willow is chilled to the bone." That isn't what scripts typically look like. It would just have stage directions like: Willow: *horrified* I couldn't even read it all bc it just seemed so fake & A03ish. It also had Willow saying "I wish-". THAT would not happen after The Wish/Doppelgangland and Older and Far Away😂

[@BetterWithBob]

That's why it's just 'supposed' but for what it's worth, Joss Whedon did say that the writers were very checked out by Season 7 and admitted they didn't put as much effort in

[@derekb4977]

​@@BetterWithBob this was the first ever lesbian couple I'd ever seen, and supported what I love about them was that they had no labels no crazy woke alphabet agenda and the characters were just real women in a serious relationship and what saddens me the most is today's generation are getting so much wrong, but that's another topic, my next favourite lesbian character would be Thelma from Hex again her sexuality was the least interesting thing about her just like Willow and Tara back then everyone knew what homosexuality was and we didn't want what it is now so I hope everyone appreciates this couple and never mess with the source material it's why I don't want any remakes.

[@anyatelidreu5511]

I am a Kennedy fan, there you found one (more?)

[@BrightNeonBrilliancy]

I loved Tara and Dawn's relationship. Tara really was the only constant figure in Dawn's life that actually paid attention to her, and Dawn's reaction to her death was so heart-breaking.

[@russelljordan7688]

i just loved dawn i was perfectly fine with tara dying aside from willows suffering

[@LeslieLili]

She is kind with EVERYONE , even Spike .She is more than an witch . Tara is a pure light . A miracle for Dawn , for Willow and mostly for us . She is so strong and fragile in the same time . God i love this beautiful woman.

[@peachy_lili]

the actress who played her is basically the same person, but tougher! ♡ she is really a wonderful human being and an amazing writer.

[@JoJo-sd9rj]

Wonderful, I wish they were more people like this and had a gf like this 🥰

[@RB-vo4gi]

Oz and Tara are very similar characters (quiet, reserved, etc) so I have a hard time genuinely believing that Willow liked Kennedy. She’s so abrasive and rude. Not to mention that Willow never got to grieve Tara before she was forced into a relationship with Kennedy.

[@russelljordan7688]

agreed willow almost instantly acting like tara barely meant anything was rushed by her vagina being in heat

[@BetterWithBob]

Yeah it was rather obvious damage control after they got a lot of backlash for killing Tara off. Willow/Kennedy is the only relationship to survive the televised series anyway

[@rb5078]

Every fandom has a seemingly innocuous line that means nothing to outsiders but is emotionally devastating within the fandom. “Your shirt” is one of those lines for Buffy fans. 😢

[@BetterWithBob]

Aha yes I imagine so 😂

[@rhiaxtra]

You sadist 😭

[@russelljordan7688]

gwen was too soon

[@sardonicus1739]

"Why can't I stay?"

[@MegaMegafran]

I think the reason fans never forgave her death was because in a show where every character had some kind of toxic tendencies Tara was a soothing balm on our souls, she had the ability to make you go ☺️☺️☺️ and that was a big relief

[@BetterWithBob]

It probably would have stung a little less if not for the Xander leaving Anya at the altar plot point

[@sofdemi8042]

Very good point

[@jacksonjack8696]

I'm glad her character was killed off. It may the show better

[@scmsean]

@@jacksonjack8696 Season 7 sucked. How was the show better?

[@russelljordan7688]

or because she was new and a genuine character unlike today's wike films

[@MrBibi86]

*I never understood why Amber Benson was never in the opening credits until her last episode. she was in half of season 4. all of season 5 and 6. that always annoyed me*

[@MK_1Ultra]

It happens, and I'm sure they discussed it before bc Joss and Marti loved Tara and what they were using her for.

[@ETPlayground]

Money. I think money. 😶🫤

[@fableSimmer]

Well Joss always wanted to kill off a character in the main credits. Originally he wanted Jesse’s actor from season 1 to be in the opening credits, even though he was only in the first two episode and he died. But it was for that shock, but I guess the network or something was against it. So I’m assuming they put her in the opening simply for that reason lol. Amber Benson said in an interview that she was pulled aside after filming the finale of season 5 that they were gonna kill her off. So it was definitely a plan. Though it would have been more effective if she was in the opening all season 6? Anyway. I definitely think she should have been! She was a great character

[@BetterWithBob]

Yeah she was even in the cards to die at Glory's hand and the Dark Willow stuff would happen in Season 5 but they pushed it back

[@bigcat5721]

Actually I believe Amber Benson was offered the chance to be in the opening credits, but didn’t want to because she didn’t want to get tied in to the show. Also Joss Whedon had wanted to have an actor in the opening credits to have them die that same episode since episode 1 where he wanted to do that with Jessie but wasn’t able to due to budget limitations. So the word is, they settled on her finally being in the opening credits in her last episode to scratch Joss Whedon’s itch. Given that Amber leaving coincided with her not getting on with someone (95% likely to be Whedon) this was also likely a punishment from Whedon on her way out of the show.

[@enerioffutt1881]

To be honest, I saw Willow and Tara's breakup as a divorce, with Dawn as their child. Tara was continuing to see Dawn, similar to custody visits.

[@BetterWithBob]

Not an unfair assessment, since they were basically her parents while Buffy was dead.

[@briancooper2007]

Let me just say people didn't dislike Kennedy because she replaced Tara. They didn't like her because she came in trying to run everything as if she had been there from the beginning. Case when they kicked Buffy out of her own home while they all stayed there. That scene to this day really makes me want to hit Rhoda and Kennedy upside their heads with a table. Tara really became my favorite because she gathered a relationship with everyone. I think when they all stood up for her against her family when they tried to take her back home against her will made her loyal to them all but most of all Buffy because she was the first to have her back. She made herself understand Buffy and the fact she really was only human with a gift she didn't want. Watching the show over and over again all these years made me realize I liked her over Willow and I thought she was a better friend to Buffy than both Willow and Xander.

[@angelaholmes8888]

Yep she was a better friend

[@Khenfu_Cake]

Spot on. This also makes me sad at how Tara was killed off right when she was establishing herself as not just Willow's SO but also as a friend of Buffy. I would have loved to see that part of her character develop further in season 7..

[@Libellulaire]

It was shocking how awful both Xander and Willow were as friends. Of course, things happen, we all have our moments where we're lost, etc., but kicking her out, relying on her so much they make it impossible for her to show weaknesses or pains (almost as if she's not allowed to feel), judging her... It was just awful. That's also why Buffy got closer to people who were more "broken," more fragile like Tara and in a sense, Spike, she needed people who didn't just rely on her but also saw and accepted her very human side. Because of her strength, most people around her didn't allow her to show too much humanity. They didn't mean it in a bad way (nor consciously) but it was still there. I used to love both Xander and Willow in the early seasons but, as the seasons continued, even as a kid I thought to myself they were terrible human beings. As for Kennedy, on top of what you said, her character and addition to the main group was rather rushed, and it didn't feel that natural, so I think that's also why people didn't like her much. She didn't bring much to the group/show either.

[@Talisguy]

Yeah, if it was _just_ because Kennedy replaced a very popular love interest for Willow, Tara would've been a lot less popular, because she _also_ replaced a very popular character as Willow's love interest. It says a lot about how hated Kennedy is on her own merits that, even though Buffy ship fights often get...intense, most Willow/Oz and Willow/Tara shippers seem to get along fine. They've teamed up to fight the real enemy.

[@DLFLux]

The kicking Buffy out scene really showed what kind of person Xander was. He was miffy entertaining in the earlier seasons but became an absolute a hole as the show went on. Back to this scene, sure he'd just lost an eye but not too long before he was giving the potentials a speech about how great Buffy is, just to completely turn on her when things looked bad. The guy was a coward and snake.

[@empressmarowynn]

I absolutely ugly cried over Tara's death. Like far more than for any other deaths in the series.

[@BetterWithBob]

Makes sense lol

[@Cleopatra7Philopator]

I still do! Hugs!

[@marys1032]

Yep and now looking back at buffys moms death episode it actually makes me feel sick. Because it is so realistic, the performance by all the actors was great but wow a painful episode after you've lost someone you love.

[@lizicadumitru9683]

I still haven't forgiven Wheaton for what he did to her 😂

[@russelljordan7688]

not me taras death was only felt by willows pain. her loss was deep for 2 episodes and never again mattered

[@scottcook5609]

Tara was one of, if not the, most important character in the series. So beaten, broken and abused. She was SO kind.

[@isaacortiz4617]

She was a sweetheart.

[@yujiejon]

Tara and Anya for me are the two main character deaths that they never should've done. Anya just got shafted for no reason. Tara on the other hand at least led to the interesting Dark Willow thing and felt emotional at the moment but after the gag wore off felt like they just punched a hole in the show that they couldn't fill.

[@BetterWithBob]

I know Anya got killed because Emma Caulfield asked for it. She wanted to move on from thr series so she volunteered Anya to be killed so she wouldn't appear in another spinoff

[@brite1217]

The were in a war. People die in war. Often needlessly. But while I love Anya it made sense one of our favs died during war. War is bloody. It was real

[@Nightman221k]

@@brite1217 It's a shame they couldn't kill some of the unlikable Potentials in place of Anya and Amanda. I'd gladly see Rona or Kennedy bite the dust in place of Amanda and Anya.

[@Nerd704]

Joss has a certain bloodlust to him he feels like he needs death to give a story stakes and sometimes its earned (Joyce) and sometimes it isn't (Anya. Cordelia) Tara falls somewhere in between the two extremes there.

[@nadieimportante1979]

I agree with Anya's death, so uncalled for

[@metamaus5701]

I always thought Tara as a character outside of the Willow&Tara Couple™ was so underrated.

[@BetterWithBob]

You speak le truth

[@spikesecho724]

It's the best Tara. Otherwise, she's this willow-obsessed accessory for willow

[@frankrivers2183]

I also liked Tara as a standalone character. But as a significant other for Willow, sorry there was just no topping Oz.

[@derekb4977]

​@@BetterWithBob actually after they broke up for awhile she had great moments with buffy and spike her friendship with Anya was good too they weren't just the girlfriends many moments like her being almost like an auntie to Dawn and Even when Anya loses her abilities season 7 Willow draws power from the strongest which you see Anya and Kennedy (being a potential at the time) light up, it's why I like all the little moments of all characters in the buffyverse. 👍

[@justindesue9512]

Completely agree Specially when we find out tht shes a NATURAL witch, not self made like willow Ud think someone who was literally born into power woulda been more powerful than willow & maybe even train willow since shes had power since birth She was more willows gf than part of the scooby gang even tho the characters loved her but writers never really showed her in team dynamic

[@l.g.818]

I'm glad they introduced Tara, she was the only character that listened completely, could keep a personal secret and the only one that wasn't abusive emotional or physically towards her girlfriend Willow.

[@MrMikeInverse]

do I need a 25 minutes video telling me that Tara was the best character? no.. am I still gonna watch, like, comment and love it with all my might ? yes. 😌

[@BetterWithBob]

Thank you for your comment and watching and enjoying :)

[@MK_1Ultra]

In season 6, when Tara and Willow break for a brief time, I wish they explored more of the friendship with the gang with just Tara. While she was there, once she moved out there was no real reason to have her there. It would have been good to have the gang turn their backs on Willow and use Tara as more of the gang.

[@BetterWithBob]

That would have been nice, especially that nice little dynamic she shared with Anya in Bargaining when they were separated from the other two.

[@kyleellis1825]

Anya and Tara really should have bonded more. They both felt left out and never turned to each other, even though Anya owned the magic shop and it would have been obvious for Tara to get a job (after Giles left).

[@jenniferstorm4037]

The gang turning their backs in Willow would have betrayed the entire point of season 6 in which life itself was the big bad and we overcome despair through our relationships and connections. The show could easily have developed Tara’s relationships further without having Buffy and Xander abandon Willow to addiction and depression.

[@kyleellis1825]

@@jenniferstorm4037 Buffy nearly lost custody of Dawn. Keeping Willow around at that point is a serious liability. Willow should have stayed with Xander and Anya while Tara stayed at the Summers.

[@jenniferstorm4037]

@Kyle Ellis: Buffy nearly lost custody of Dawn due as much to her own actions and depression during the season as Willow’s. Dawn had been skipping school and stealing and generally spiraling while Buffy struggled. Had Willow not taken Dawn’s injuries seriously and committed to sobriety then Buffy should certainly have drawn some firm boundaries, but Willow did have her moment of clarity and committed to sobriety. Addiction is a disease that is exacerbated by abandonment. Buffy would not be a hero if she had abandoned her best friend of 6 years in Willow’s moment of greatest need. Maybe you have been lucky enough that you have never loved someone who struggles with addiction. I don’t know. If you do encounter that please consider both Tara and Buffy excellent models on bounded support. Both attempted to help Willow but Tara stepped back when Willow became destructive to her and could not commit to changing. Buffy did not have to make that choice because Willow committed to sobriety. This wasn’t an acquaintanceship, though. Willow was her family and Buffy had not made any prior attempts to intervene or offer help. I do know that Buffy did the right thing despite her own struggles at the time. The moment after the car crash when she realizes that Willow is actually in trouble and wants help is beautiful. It baffles me that I have to explain any of this to other Buffy fans. The entire point of season 6 is that grief and pain turns us into monsters but that we can be redeemed by support and love. Tara is a great character and her relationships with Buffy and Xander should have been developed better. There is no reason that should have come at the expense of the existing relationships on the show. Break-ups are not generally popularity contests where we vote on which partner is right through our continued friendships. Willow was Buffy’s best friend while Tara was a newer friendship with real depth and potential. Buffy did not have to choose.

[@kaylapomakoy1425]

Something I always notice with Tara and Willow that usually seems glossed over because it was off screen between seasons 5 and 6 is that they ended up in the role of Dawn's parents, moving in to take care of her. That reframes a lot of Dawns actions later after they break up since shes now had 5 parental figures- Hank, Joyce, Buffy, Willow, Tara- all either leave, die, or become so caught up in their issues (Buffy/Willow ) that they may as well have abandoned her. Tara tried to make a connection after she breaks up with Willow and her scenes with Dawn end up being a wonderful exploration of both Tara's character and a parent/child relationship talking about why her parents are separated and the child trying to get them back together.

[@katebontrager3782]

Dawn's reaction to Tara's death always tears me up more than any other scene in the show i think

[@1tiffanyjade]

Could you possibly do a video about Cordelia? I’ve always hated how wrong they did her on Angel. I know Joss wrote Chrisma out because she got pregnant but he just ruined the rest of Angel in my opinion. I also hate how she went from being kind of a side character in Buffy, to part of the squad when she was with Xander, than back to a side character again once they broke up. They did her wrong and I would’ve loved more of her.

[@BetterWithBob]

Oh God they did her so dirty in Angel Season 4. The original plan actually sounded quite good but then Joss had to rewrite it out of spite.

[@LeoraWaltuch]

@@BetterWithBob What was the original plan?

[@Nightman221k]

I stopped watching Angel when they started to do Cordy dirty. I loved the early seasons and Cordy's dynamic with Angel and Quinn.

[@peachy_lili]

this. it hurt me to do it but it just felt like things had been damaged so irreparably I was DONE. I had to leave just to pretend that shit didn't happen @@Nightman221k

[@wardperez7950]

Something everyone always forgets about with Tara is how strong of a character she has. When Glory was threatening her, and then threatened every one around her, she sacrificed herself to keep so many strangers safe along with Dawn. So many fans see strength as just power, when Tara shows us that strength can be shown in so many ways.

[@BetterWithBob]

Exactly. Strength of dignity and principles.

[@angelaholmes8888]

Yeah tara was a strong character

[@disgruntledmum4916]

Tara was the best of what a person can be (imo). Reliable, constant but with strong boundaries. When she did wrong, or hurt someone, she apologised and tried to make it work 'with skin' not magic, not using whatever soft words would gloss over the issues, but with meaning and a determination to do better next time. When she returns to Willow, it provides hope and to have that wrenched away by something so stupid, so needlessly human has Warren's hurt feelings, is devastating. I don't think I have ever been so affected by a TV storyline.

[@circleofleaves2676]

I loved how Tara also filled the gap left by Giles, as the level-headed voice of reason, with a history of knowledge behind her.

[@peachy_lili]

everybody needed Tara then because Giles had started to get jaded.

[@jamesgoodwin4543]

I loved Amber Benson as Tara.

[@BetterWithBob]

Iconic!

[@troikas3353]

I’ll never buy Tara’s death being a good thing. I do love the Corrupted Willow concept, I love the idea that Tara and Willow were themselves a balanced representation of Light and Dark. But Amber was right, the story choice of Tara’s death was the absolute wrong choice. It added far less to the story than it took away with her loss and what little it did add for Willow could have been achieved in other ways. Season 6 really should have centered on Tara and Willow as central figures, replacing the screen time the trio got, with a greater focus placed on the dark magic Willow had tapped into corrupting her throughout. Given how unerringly and fiercly protective Willow’s always been of those she loves, you could easily have a different inciting incident for the final Dark Willow arc. Just having Tara, Xander or Buffy Badly injured would be enough. Tara was a wonderful character both by herself and as Willow’s other half. She had so much more to offer the story than that rather cheap shock factor death. Even just resurrecting her in S7 would have been better.

[@alealea_thecuriousfox]

damn, I cried. Tara is such a wonderful and cherished character.

[@BetterWithBob]

She is indeed :)

[@kyraagutangg]

One of the many reasons I love Buffy is the acting. Whether you love or hate a character, I feel that everyone on this series did a phenomenal job acting. Season 2, 5, and 6 bring some of the best acting performances I’ve ever watched (in my opinion)

[@jp3813]

Tara's death served the story well, but the episodes that followed in that season barely gave enough time to mourn her aside from Dawn. You mentioned Buffy's connection w/ her, yet it didn't really look like the former was devastated about it. Hence, her death felt like a plot device. At least when Anya also randomly died, it was during the final battle of the entire show.

[@VIVIEWHITE]

Im 33 and I still Remember I was like 12 when I saw on TV the death of Tara. I still remember the emptiness in my stomach and the profound feeling like something had changed, not just in the series, but in me. In the next episodes I rooted for willow, I still do, kill the fuckers, make them pay, just don’t destroy the world, that’s a bit too much.

[@BetterWithBob]

I can't imagine what it was like for people when it first aired lol

[@peachy_lili]

@@BetterWithBob imagine being somebody like me who had a problematic crush on Warren but adored Tara. I was so conflicted when Willow uh..did what she did

[@TomsTube]

OMG TARA WAS THE HEART OF THIS SERIES!!! Such an amazing character and performance! Great video ❤

[@jamesbristoll7943]

Tara was always my favourite character, I cried like a baby when she died!

[@BetterWithBob]

Very understandable reaction lol

[@chaklunkaparfum]

Wesley fans explained easy - those people watched "Angel" 😆 Tara is sweet character and never annoyed me one bit, even though I liked Oz. You made me think that it's time to finally rewatch "Buffy" past season 3, thank you 🙃

[@BetterWithBob]

I watched Angel just as religiously as Buffy. The lack of accountability towards betraying his friends and sending a baby to a hell dimension, making a move on a woman in a relationship, disturbing violence towards anyone who has conflict with said woman/stalker object and a bunch of other things do not endear him to me in the slightest lol.

[@zeus-kyurem6581]

​@@BetterWithBob Lack of accountability? Wesley was ostracised for months and joined back up with the group out of necessity. Also, you say that as if he personally sent Connor there instead of trying to do his best to save Connor's life. As for violence, was it not just her professor who she was planning on sending to Pylea? And I do agree he was scummy (and arguably out of character) in Soulless, but that's hardly what defines his character.

[@jenniferstorm4037]

@BetterWithBob? “Making a move on a woman in a relationship?” What kind of retrograde mindset puts that on the same list as kidnapping and betrayal. We don’t own the people we date. If anything, Wesley should have made his feelings clear sooner. It was unfair to Fred that he hid deep love under a veneer of friendship. She likely still would have chosen to remain with Gunn, but any friendship she and Wesley had after that would have been emotionally honest. It was not wrong for Wesley to offer himself to Fred as an alternative, although his timing left something to be desired. It was honest. And she had chosen to end her relationship with Gunn to pursue one with Wesley, that also would not have been wrong assuming that she was honest with all parties and ended one relationship before pursuing the next. Relationships are a choice we make. It is not wrong for someone to offer us an alternative choice so long as the offer does not involve pressure, coercion, or deception. I would agree that Wesley owed Gunn a conversation first, given their friendship. That omission hardly ranks with kidnapping a child or the other betrayals you list, however.

[@Nightman221k]

@@BetterWithBob What they did with Wesley was kind of depressing. I liked his dopey, Giles Jr. role in Buffy. They f'd his s up in Angel so much and I'm not sure how I feel about it. I feel like they almost seem like different characters.

[@shanwyn]

It's weird, I always saw Oz and Tara on the same level. BtVS has issues throughout the series, of course. But those two characters are what other writers should aspire to create. Willows voyage, starting as a shy wallflower nerdy sidekick up to the point she could destroy the freaking earth was good, but I would make the case it was because of Oz and Tara we loved Willow. Also, they didn't portrayed Oz as some toxic, abad man.. he was just Oz. You know, realistic. Also the Tara-Willow relationship never felt forced. I watched it when it aired and I never even thought about same sex couples or asked if Willow was bisexual or gay. I just was along for the ride and enjoyed it. To me, that was how characters and relationships should be written and portrayed. It felt subtle, realistic and was beautiful acted by Amber, Seth and Alyson. Only now, looking back, I truly appreciate those moments, seeing how rare on screen or TV we see something like this. In the end, I can say it made it for me not only acceptable to see same sex couples, I even started to empathize and understood a bit better. And for that alone I have to say Tara and Oz were the best characters of the show

[@nikofaershee4235]

I think Tara was so like cause she represented softer strength and power. Something a lot people can relate to even if they haven't a protagonist personality

[@peachy_lili]

that's what makes her so beautiful to me. she gets in trouble sometimes but overall she shows such beauty and strength, a remarkable character that evokes really ancient even goddess-like vibes!

[@BenBanjo87]

Tara was the closest to a mom figure that the Scoobies had after Joyce died. She always had a kind and calming word to offer, and was the closest to Dawn too after Buffy died, and while Buffy was in depression after being resurrected ❤ We all need a Tara in our lives.

[@BetterWithBob]

Agreed!

[@NixieMusic]

Im so thankful for your summarization of the characters at the end. Tara is genuinely such a well written character and just warms my heart. I think Willow Anya and Faith are my favorites but Tara is for sure a cherished character.

[@BetterWithBob]

Faith is very interesting too.

[@fableSimmer]

5:30 "bloody hell' in Giles. Tara was such a treat in this show and Family is one of my favourite episodes, especially the end when they all stick up for her and say she's family. And I love her relationship/friendship with Buffy, especially in Season 6. I also LOVE how much Dawn loves her and how she loves Dawn. Great video! You highlighted everything about Tara perfectly. She is a fantastic character and her death is truly gut wrenching.

[@BetterWithBob]

Thank you for watching :)

[@oceane.r]

I'm watching Buffy for the first time and I've been procrastinating watching the episode of her death for 6 months now. Well i have been watching Buffy for almost 2 years now cause when i know something bad is going to happen i procrastinate like Evil Angel, Joyce's death but Tara is probably one of my favorite characters and i really don't want to see her die. Like it's not real and the show is 20 years old but for my brain if i dont see her die she's still alive.

[@thegreenmanofnorwich]

Tara was softly spoken, but she wasn't really soft, at least not after season 4. When Buffy admitted that she'd been shagging Spike, Tara was the one that gave Buffy understanding and no judgement. It was a great moment.

[@davidostrowski679]

The relationship which grew between Buffy and Tara was arguably one of the best things about the entire show. The fact that is it was in the background or never fully eluded to was what made it special. Buffy always had the judgement of Willow, Xander, and even Cordelia to a degree, but the fact Tara was always 'separate' was iconic. We all need someone 'less involved' to tell us how it really is

[@alib1919]

Wow, this is a great video. Tara was a wonderful character, and her relationship with Willow was absolutely beautiful (most of the time!). Brilliant and thorough explanations of everything Tara & Willow, thankyou! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Oh, and Kennedy? Eurgh 😤😠😡😂😂

[@MrBibi86]

*I loved Willow. I would have loved to see a Willow spinoff or even have Willow as the lead for a season or 2. I also loved Tara. so pissed they killed her off*

[@BetterWithBob]

Alyson likely would have done it, since she was game to keep going when they ended the show

[@claudiadarling9441]

We know in the Buffy universe there are alternate realities and dimensions. It'd be fun to explore one of them where Tara didn't die, or died and got brought back or something, and she and Willow have adventures.

[@MrBibi86]

@@claudiadarling9441 that would be cool

[@Strange_Armour]

I fell in love with Tara from the moment I saw her. I immediately thought "Yes. This one ❤️"

[@dominiquemcclaney128]

Tara was sweet. I liked her and her and Willow together was great. Amber is smart and has a heart, thank God she declined to come back as the first in season 7. I never knew she had drama with anyone on Buffy. It's great that she made peace with that person. I also never knew that she was such a strong supporting person that when she left everything crumbled. I never looked at it that way.

[@kevinbre7563]

Lol, a Kennedy fan. That would be a rare finding

[@bernadmanny]

I love that comically over large hammer, it tickled me pink when they brought it back for the season five finalé.

[@MattanzaMafiaFedora]

I am so happy to find somebody making this video for us Scoobies to see. This is every reason why I love Tara Maclay so much, and the development she had is definitely at the top of the tier list, even if it's not as obvious as the development for characters such as Spike or Willow's own character arcs. Have you had a chance to read The Bewitching Hour by Ashley Poston, it delves deeper into the reasons behind Tara's relationship with her family being so bad.

[@asthargf]

Willow was my favourite character before Tara appeared, and gradually Tara became my favorite over the seasons. I don't personally like season 6 as a whole and I think they did Tara dirty by killing her even if it led to Dark Willow and a powerful season finale. I love her and I feel she deserved better.

[@superdani152003]

Tara will always have a special place in my heart, and your video only reminded me of why. Thank you for the good memories ❤

[@liamflorentine902]

I'm sure that everyone agrees that Tara was an awesome character... Except for Spike, he doesn't care.

[@BetterWithBob]

Ah I'm sure deep down he does lol

[@elanasmusic]

I also love season 6 and how dark it gets, yet still continues to have heart

[@BetterWithBob]

Yes absolutely. It is dark but it reminds me of The Boys in that there's still plenty of hope and joy to be found in all the darkness.

[@WitchyCharlie]

The Bewitching Hour is a book that shows Tara’s background before coming onto Buffy and I loved it!

[@BetterWithBob]

Oh cool, I've never read any of the tie-in media

[@fiction5559]

Most of the books are not really canon, but they're very well-written. My personal favorites are 'Monster Island' and 'These Our Actors'. I will be reading 'The Bewitching Hour' too.

[@hanagara1907]

I remember I used to watch Buffy every week with my friendsand we all were brainwashed religious. We did the mental gymnastics that a supernatural show was fine but I was the only one not squicked out by WillowxTara. Years later, I came out and I swear they helped me as a teen know being gay was okay (even if I wasn't ready to come out)

[@BetterWithBob]

💜💜💜

[@davidriley8316]

Well, you found it. A Kenndey fan. I even got her autograth. However, I adored Tara and Amber. So much so I wrote in my first novel a character Amber. I've even read Amber's writing. You are correct: Tara is the best.

[@crawdaddy1234]

I would like to see reception before getting with Willow versus after getting with Willow. I have a feeling it drops off a cliff.

[@Val.R4]

Loved your video and Tara, it was amazing seeing her growing up, the way her character showed strength in a new way, was really eye opening. I would have highlighted that scene with Glory a little more, in where she refuses to tell her about Dawn and saves all that people at the fair. She was so scared of Glory from the beginning, calling her a "brain sucker god" (in episode 5x13), but she stood up to her. I really loved her for that and Amber for not coming back as the first in season 7. Thank you for the memories!

[@BetterWithBob]

Thank you for your comment :)

[@bobbyyyy7546]

not me sobbing through this whole video 😭

[@DustyPlayerTwo]

I loved this! I always loved Tara and I like this format of one video about the complete arch of one character! I would love to watch one on Anya and one on Cordelia because they became two of my characters due to their overall characters arch’s and they’re interesting because they both start off on the more “unlikeable” side.

[@xarenanotmyrealname4134]

Dude you forgot to mention how amazing Amber Bensons voice is shame on you.😂

[@phoebep4688]

We need a video on why Buffy s3 was so great. It’s my favorite too.

[@ericlevesque9320]

I love this video so much! Tara and willow were a huge part of my childhood. Great work on the video!

[@BetterWithBob]

Thank you for watching and for your comment

[@songweretson]

"If they were going to pair her with anyone other than *me*..." Oh, I know that feeling!

[@carolhabicht]

Please do more character breakdowns about Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I love your style of video essays ❤

[@BetterWithBob]

Thank you so much for your kind words 🙂🙂

[@glrasshopper]

I always though Tara made a better "early Willow" than Willow. Loved the character, and truly saddened about her death.

[@BetterWithBob]

Hmm interesting perspective. How so?

[@glrasshopper]

@@BetterWithBob I feel that Willow's shift from hacker to witch, in season 2, unbalanced the character dynamic of the group. Especially after learning that there is a second slayer. Suddenly, Buffy isn't a superhero anymore, just a hero among heroes. At least until she gets back into the swing of things when Faith goes off the rails.

[@KraXoom]

Tara was my favorite character from episode one. I am still hurt by her death.

[@angelaholmes8888]

I absolutely loved tara she was a good character for the show she never should had been killed off to me because she had so much potential as a character joss made a dumb decision doing that tara was willows soulmate

[@kallistoindrani5689]

I loved Tara and will always be bitter that they killed her off.

[@qlovjohnson]

I have been waiting for this video since you announced it and enjoyed every minute of it.

[@BetterWithBob]

I'm glad :)

[@Baralai]

21:57 my glob this still makes me cry

[@Girl4Music]

Tara has the best development? I don’t know if I can agree with that. She was used as a plot device for most of her character arc. But in saying that… I’ve had a revelation of sorts regarding Willow putting Tara under that ‘forget’ spell in ‘All The Way’ when she was fighting with her about abusing magic when watching the episode ‘Tough Love’ just now. And I’m not too sure how to feel about it at this present moment in time. Part of me thinks it’s clever. But another part of me thinks it’s cruel. And I don’t know which part of me should win out over the other. My head or my heart. 🥺 But anyway - my revelation: Part of the fight they had in ‘Tough Love’ had to do with Tara being frightened of Willow’s rapidly growing magical power, and then Willow changes the context of it to trust and commitment. Interpreting what Tara said as her not being able to trust Willow about her declared sexuality. That she would switch to straight (only Willow would think in black and white terms like that) and realizing that it’s because of the fight that Tara was left alone at the multi-cultural fair while Willow sat in the Magic Box moping. Leaving her vulnerable to Glory. Willow likely blamed herself for what happened to Tara. And she was so anxious about it happening again that she resulted to drastic measures to prevent any sort of fighting between them that would separate them. That would leave Tara alone to be targeted by their many enemies. Thus, choosing to erase Tara’s memories about any fights so that Tara would remain physically close to her - at her side. That way she could prevent her from being physically harmed. She likely thought of it as a safety measure. The only thing is - she never counted herself as the potential danger to Tara. Of course she wouldn’t because at that point she believed herself to be Tara’s protector. Not losing Tara’s love in any way, shape or form was something she always made sure of. But Tara losing her life and permanently was Willow’s worst nightmare. The anxiety likely doubled in intensity after losing Buffy. And so she did what she did to protect them. In her mind - that’s how she thought of it. Protecting Tara. But the sad thing is that she pretty much ends up doing exactly what Glory did. Messing with her mind. True, she only erased her memories whereas Glory erased her sanity. But the principle is still the same. It’s abuse or violation whichever way you look at it. And knowing this as the potential source behind Willow’s abuse - this also provides logical standing that it likely happened well before we were shown it. That she was erasing memories of them fighting from as early as the start of Season 6. Or even in the wake of Buffy’s death. It all comes back to the old adage of “Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.” So in a sense - the themes of power corruption and vengeance were always apart of the whole arc for Willow. Just in a less obvious way. It is constant anxiety that plagues Willow all throughout the show - in various ways and to various degrees. The anxiety of loss, of inconsequentiality, of failing. Of being unable to control everything that happened around her. And so the moment she knew she could - through magic - I don’t think it really mattered to her that she controlled Tara so long as it was a means to an end. So long as it could protect her and their relationship because, as far as she saw it, it was one in the same. That to separate physically would be the end of Tara. Well, it ended up being the opposite. It is their physical closeness that is what killed Tara. It’s the worst sort of painful irony any writer could come up with. I would have rather it been BECAUSE OF IT and not IN SPITE OF IT. I’ve said that before but it really does pull at the heart strings to an extremely uncomfortable amount every time I think about it. That what put Tara in the crossfire of a bullet was not Willow abusing Tara - but just wanting to be with her. But at the same time - I cannot deny the tragic poetic-ness of it. I cannot call it bad writing if the intention by the writer was for it to come full circle. That a lover’s death was always the inevitability of Willow’s insistence to take matters into her own hands without informing the ones it would affect all because she had the constant anxiety of losing them. It’s like some people have already said - of which I always scoffed at until now - if it wasn’t Tara, it was going to be Oz or even Xander. Someone with an extremely strong emotional bond with Willow. Someone that knew her better than she knew herself. Someone that could pull her from her personal abyss. It just really hurts that that someone had to be Tara. But - I get it now. And truth be told, maybe I always did, I just didn’t want to admit it. For admitting it would mean having to admit that Whedon was right. The storytelling does outweigh the tragedy. There is a point that justifies the pain. And I’m grappling with the weight of that revelation at this very moment. I still don’t like it, but I am coming to terms with it. I will not ever say that Willow’s abuse of Tara is not out of love. True love. It is. It’s just she wasn’t willing to accept that she was falling into her Greek tragedy. That in the effort to be the hero of her own story, she actually became the villain in other people’s stories. There is poetry in that when you consider the actions and choices the character would result to earlier in the show. But what happens when there is no external monsters to fight? Where can the fight go other than back into the very vessel it began in? Into the internal.

[@cordeliagibson6577]

Awesome video! Tara is an incredible character ❤

[@BetterWithBob]

Thank you :) your name rocks for obvious reasons ;)

thank you for taking the time to do this video 🤓 made me happy

[@loftus4453]

Wow. This video is so much better than I expected it to be. Great analysis. I’ll check out more of your videos.

[@chriscommons7915]

I’m not sure if it’s “gloomy, 90’s, life sucks, do what you can with it vibe.” Or just making death meaningful on the show. For example if they kept bringing back Buffy’s mother as a ghost, in the same way that Charmed does then the episode the Body wouldn’t hit the way, or relate to people the way it does. It would lose its realistic element to it

[@anyatelidreu5511]

Although I agree Tara and Willow's relationship is by far my favorite, I am a Kennedy fan too. Kennedy gave her the support and grounding Willow needed, especially in her recovery when Amy tried to knock Willow down, Kennedy was there to pick her up again.

[@peachy_lili]

I agree with this... I could feel what big shoes Kennedy had to fill and she fits as a "post-apocalypse" girlfriend archetype. she's there not to replace what's lost (that can't be replaced) but to help the mourning lover find her strength enough to move forward the only way that's available to anybody. that IS beautiful, but people have to have empathy to see why.. there was never anything wrong with Willow spending time with Kennedy in the wake of what they were dealing with, even given the differences between how much Tara meant vs how little Kennedy meant at that time. when you're in the trenches you are trying to survive. I get people hating her, but I didn't join in really.

[@pakese30]

I love Buffy but yeah Willow is the bomb and I did love Tara she just fit so well. As a gay man it has absolutely nothing to do with my sexuality, I loved Willow with Oz but Tara just made Willow so freaking happy in such a different way.

[@katiem2347]

25:00 YES. FINALLY. SOMEONE ACTUALLY SAID THAT IN A REVIEW. Been said in fanfics. But never outright.

[@rawbabymama]

I'm going to play devil's advocate here...As a late Gen X/Xennial, I can assure you that, at that time and for quite a while after, neither myself nor anyone I know would have had a thought or inclination to believe that moment was a violation of consent. Given their relationship dynamic, the fact that he was male and the type of act itself - which was generally always seen as something so welcome that a blanket "yes" could be assumed - it just wasn't on our radar. I am proud to say I have raised a Gen Z son who would point these things out to me, because he was raised absent toxic masculinity, double standards, and with bodily autonomy, but back in the day... yeah. This was not apparent to the vast majority of folks.

[@dlamancha5697]

I loved Tara coming into her own as an empowered equal with her own talents and qualities. As much as Willow was a favorite character, she also had this jealousy underneath her--that she couldn't stand anyone else being close to Buffy and or them giving Buffy solutions out of her (Willow's) relm. Willow always seemed threatened that Tara had the experience of losing her mom,or dealing with family problems and Tara sharing her knowledge with Buffy to help. Tara was always more mature, I thought. I'm glad when they stopped using Tara as Willow's 'accessory.'

[@BetterWithBob]

Yeah Willow could honestly be a little abusive in terms of how she treated Tara before the magic addiction

[@Nightman221k]

Willow could be pretty inconsiderate. Using magic to easily resolve arguments... Tara deserved better treatment after all she'd been through with Glory and her messed up family, but honestly the "magic as addiction" plotline just really kind of wrecked Willow.

[@artman2oo3]

4:54 I am a Kennedy fan! So be surprised! She was the best Potential. She didn’t whine like most of the others. She was a badass and beautiful. Suck it, Kennedy haters. Anyway. Great video. Tara is one of my all-time favorite characters. I love her so much! The kindest, sweetest Buffyverse character, only rivaled by Fred.

[@BetterWithBob]

Discovering Kennedy's fans has been the biggest revelation this year for me lol. Her haters were very loud for years ha

[@peachy_lili]

haha, after all these years I love seeing somebody just be unapologetically for Kennedy. good on ya. (good Anya? I'm an Anya stan so--)

[@sarah-s9y8b]

Love Tara! This one's for the algorithm because it makes no sense how little attention your Buffy videos get

[@BetterWithBob]

Thanking you :)

[@Noamalmoggg]

tara was allways my favourite character in the show, and i watched this show as a 10-17 years old kid

[@keishie23]

Very well done. Just a beautiful and insightful analysis ❤❤❤❤❤

[@BetterWithBob]

Thank you for watching :)

[@kikilerer689]

one of my favorite things about the Tara/ Willow arc is that despite (seemingly) being the less powerful witch of the two, Tara always maintained her integrity to magic as a worldview/ value system/ religion, which makes sense given she had practiced it from a young age. Whereas Willow saw magic as a means to power --to my mind kind of paralleling her affinity for technology in early seasons, magic as a simple means to an end-- and it corrupted her because she had no respect for it. Even though Tara had less magical "strength" than Willow, her relationship to magic reflected the power she was able to wield in the other parts of her life-- as a source of groundedness, supportiveness, and kindness.

[@J_Mock92]

Poor Tara... She really was the BEST. I'm so glad that Amber Benson is involved with the new Audible show! I've only heard a preview of it thus far, but am about to purchase and binge all of what's available!

[@BetterWithBob]

Did she help write it? She's a writer now I believe

[@J_Mock92]

@@BetterWithBob I believe so! If I'm not mistaken, I think she's one of the main writers and producers on the entire project.

[@sofdemi8042]

Rare Kennedy fan over here 👋 rewatching Buffy as an adult I was very creeped out by Willow accepting her advances since Kennedy is clearly supposed to be a teenager (or at the very least younger & waaay less mature than Willow). I very much hated this plot line but not bc of Kennedy herself.

[@V-vision]

Interesting that Willow wasn't the first option for characters to turn out gay. When they were still in high school, I remember vampire Willow making some comment about being into one of the girls which was dismissed by Willow because once they're a vampire it's not really them and Angel was like, "weeelll...". That was all the foreshadowing I needed lol

[@invadertifxiii]

I disagree on the "asumned straight" part. Willow was straight or at least bisexual all along, which needs more representation especially seeing as whedon initially wanted her to be bisexual but received backlash

[@coneil72]

Great vid!! Would love to see the same done for Anya, who is my favorite character.

[@BetterWithBob]

That's an interesting idea

[@ravennightingale1260]

Still the best example ever put to screen of one of the best tropes, "good character absolutely losing it when their love interest is hurt"

[@BetterWithBob]

Yeah I think that counts as Fridging as they call it 🤔

[@tdurran]

I liked/like Kennedy. Didn't think it'd be permanent but she was what Willow needed at that point

[@rebeccarodger2636]

I'm here! 👋 I don't hate Kenedy! she is obviously not my favorite Willow ship but I definitely don't hate her I understand why willow would want to go the opposite way of Tara as the Pendulum swings. Kenedy is a great rebound relationship for Willow. She is confident when Willow is not she is supportive when Willow is scared of herself and her power. Empty places didn't do her any favors but literally every character except Spike and Anrew were also in on that so I won't hold it against her any more than the others. And in the book 'Queen of the slayers' by Nancy holder takes place on the bus directly after the show and in chapter 2 they break up so she served a purpose and then backs off after Willow decides its not what she wants. They are still friends and support each other. I like Kenedy she is a good support system for my favorite character when she needs it most in order to save the world and change the world. Kenedy can never replace Tara but she wasn't meant to. Willow is allowed to find what she needs it doesn't mean she forgot Tara she just moved on as the living must do. ❤

[@jerrydimattia4647]

Great analysis, thanks for the video!

[@evesapple]

Im fairly certain I've seen at least 1 interview with Alyson Hannigan where she said that Joss Whedon had told her before introducing Tara that she was going to be her girlfriend. So it was planned.

[@crazyhuman7541]

Kennedy is actually a bad ass with a great personality I liked her

[@CvSp22]

Tara is the best being ever. Explained it in several comments on current Buffy reaction videos, so i didn't need to do it here again, so i can point out two other things: 1. I like Kennedy. She was excatly the kind of partner Willow needed in that moment. I like her way of being sassy. Additional, in my countrys dubbed version she has a more smoother, deeper and confident voice than the actress herself. May make a difference. But since Tara is the best, Kennedy couldn't reach her at all. 2. Taras death is one of those TV -losses, you carry with you and is unacceptable. Bringing her back wouldn't minorise her death. It would just stop the suffering. TV can undo this, that makes it different from physical life and is a big strength and sometimes it is done. And if it is done carefully, it is a win. Another TV-Show did this just a few days ago, after 29 years. I want an onscreen Scooby reunion, a small one, it would offer several options for developments, and in the end, there should be this shoestory, so that when the credits are rolling we see the happy patchwork family Willow with Oz an their son and Willow and Tara with their daughter. You gave a precise decription how smart Tillow was established, opening the path for many and i think, it would be able to do some groundbreaking work in a nonannoying way more time.

[@yeehaw4775]

Tara was always one of my favorite characters, and as much as I loved oz I was rooting for her and willow since she was introduced. I loved her death and a part of me is glad they didn’t taint it by bringing her back. I almost feared for a situation like in supernatural- (spoilers for a character death!!) Where they killed off Rowena in a very touching and beautiful moment with Sam, only to have her apparently come back as ‘technically’ being dead, but around still for a few quick moments. Which felt awkward, because the death scene isn’t as meaningful imo & the times when she’s not there afterwards, while she definitely could be & would normally would have been, felt weird. I hate and could rant on about this happening on shows forever given the opportunity lol There’s a part of me that loves when my favorite characters die. The scene always hits harder (prue, Tara, ect…) I’m not sure what it is about it, but having them come back always feels wrong or cheap, like their sacrifices were for nothing. Side note- i wish they made willow bi and kept the idea of xander being gay tbh would have been very interesting to see, and given a nice story about masculinity & the biphobia people face both from straight people and from inside the community as well. It also would have left us with a full collection haha with buffy the straight rep, Tara lesbian, willow bi, and Xander gay.

[@angelaholmes8888]

Totally agree with you about willow

[@Nightman221k]

I think Xander's implied to be bi in the comic continuation series. He and Dracula are implied to be more than friends.

[@Libellulaire]

I also love when my favourite characters die (if it's not a waste or dumb) but I think it's also because as I grew up it turned out almost all my favourite characters ended up dying (in shows, books and even video games), so I guess I got used to it lol Some of my favourite works even have the main character die with their BFF/partner for the sake of others, and it's also cool to see that some authors are willing to give meaningful deaths to even their lead characters, rather than always giving them the "win" or "happy life after."

[@annabelle42688]

Huge Wesley Wyndam-Pryce fan here. 👋🏻Of course, I fell in love with him on Angel, not Buffy.

[@diegodreossi1458]

They knows how to write Willow’s love interest, both Oz and Tara were great. Tara deserves betters.

[@Tesko91]

I love your videos! Thank you so much! Also, I'm a Willow fan myself :) well I'm gonna shut up now and enjoy the video :p

[@BetterWithBob]

Never shut up about loving Willow lol

[@heathernks8]

WOW! I may disagree with some Charmed takes, but THIS video sums up a lot of my feelings, too! I hated, Hated, HATED that Giles left for England, I kinda liked the "magic as drugs" metaphor, too, and found her death meaningful as well. I didn't mind Kennedy so much, but thats bc her character unfolded SLOWLY for me, as I tuned in every Tuesday night to watch a new episode in the 90s/00s. Tara's death was so shocking and was a huge pay-off after trying to figure out the lame Trio all season! Well done👏👏

[@grizzlednerd4521]

OK, so I spent the video smiling and sobbing...

[@kyleellis1825]

AS someone in the fanfic community... Kennedy has fans.

[@BetterWithBob]

Well I stand corrected lol

[@kyleellis1825]

@@BetterWithBob It surprised me too. But she has a few thousand stories focusing on her.

[@l.g.818]

Best characters on Buffy was Tara and Spike honestly, they were both killed off on the show too. Charmed was mentioned in this video so I'm going to mention the death of Prue was very emotional too. Best 90's tv shows were and always will be Buffy and Charmed, wonderful and complex characters, great storylines, and powerful and emotionally sad deaths for some of our most beloved characters that we grew to love. I miss shows of this caliber that today just don't hold up to.

[@curiouscat5708]

Though I didn't react to her death, I did really love Tara. I felt really bad afterward because I didn't cry, I didn't feel hatred towards Warren, I just felt nothing. Sometimes I would wonder why I didn't feel anything, am I having the wrong reaction to this, shouldn't I be angry at least? The rest of the last few episodes felt like my heart was beating out of my chest, and sadly, I reacted more to his death than Tara's. I felt very bad about that too. I thought Dark Willow was so cool but I really didn't like the flay much, it was just kind of sad, all of it---all the characters. But one thing that does get me when I think about it is Dawn sitting with Tara after she found her. There was only one death I cried for and that was for another sweet character over on Angel. Season 6 is my favorite season and it felt surreal to lose such a lovely character.