Personaly Dawn is like onw of my FAVORITE characters... I don't think that they brought her on the show for "youth" because let's face it they were all pretty young. She acted like an annoying little sister...that's what they all do. And buffy acted whiny and annoying right back...that's how sisters are. I mean if you ask me Buffy was kinda hard on her at first when she was all, " When i was her age I was saving the world..." and acctualy Buffy didnt slay till she was like 16 or something. So Dawn delt with Demony things since she was pretty young. For a kid that stuffs scary even just to hear about so that musta been tought. I mean she had a really hard life.
1. Parents devorce and her dad practicaly doesnt talk to them.
2. Buffy gets in alot of trouble so it musta seamed like Buffy got all the attention.
3. Sister is the slayer.
4. She finds out she's not real...that would be hard for ANYONE to take even like Buffy.
5. Her mom dies.
6. An evil god wants to kill her!
7. Her sister and last REAL family member (dnt count her dad) dies. She prob blamed herself cuz Buffy saved her wich was Buffys own choice and not her fault.
8. Her sister comes back all screwed up and ignore her basically.
9. Willow who is like a second sister to her, goes all black magicy and scares the crap outa her and gets her hurt.
10. The world almost ends again and she fights.
not to mention the numerouse people who leave her life. For a young kid thats confusing and hard, people coming in and out...she has no constant. Anya, Angle, SPike, Buffy, WIllow, Giles, Her mom, her dad, Riley,and so on.... have all left at some ponit. SHe is also important because up until she arrived the whole Scoobie gang only had to worrie about themselves and the world...like they weren't responsible for outside things...even like school they eventuall "took a break from." But wen Dawn came she made them all like become responsible for her in a way...especially wen Joyce died. SHe had ties to EVERYONE.
Buff- they were SOOOO cute as sisters...like on the finale wen buffy didnt get on teh bus, Dawn kept looking backand hopeing. ANd wen she said dont say anything cuz it will all sound like goodbye.
Willow- Dawn looked up to her SOOOOOO much and like willow thought of her almost as a version of herself.
Anya- they became prett close the last season and were together alot.
Spike- she was like the only one who didnt constanly put him down...she was like his best friend and they were so cute.
Xander- I'll correct myseflt because she did have one constant in her life...him. He was always there and like she had a crush on him in the begining but then he was like her big bro and he always looked out for her. The scene in potential was SOOOOO amazing and like at the end they totally stuck together!
I think she is an amazing character and Michelle is a GREAT actress. Dawn grew soooooooo much as a character...from a somewhat clutsy and whiny little kid who was shelterd from everything...to a strong, good fighting, well imformed, member of the team that was a great asset and would do anyhting for the ppl she loved. I kno i seam pushy but its only because ppl just look at the obviouse things...and like she's a graet character...so obv i'm a Yay not a neh!