Did the writers go too far? Spoilers through Season 8!

[caritas08]

Don't read this thread unless you have seen/read Seasons 1-8.

I know this is going to be a controversial thread but does anyone think that the writers have gone too far with Willow's character arc with the magic?

The "Who do you like Willow with" thread got me thinking... I like Willow with Oz and with Tara but I really prefer Willow in Seasons 1-5. I didn't mind the Dark Willow arc in Season 6 because it was understandable (although I got tired of the Willow is a junkie storyline in the middle of that Season), and she redeemed herself with the white witch power in Season 7 but...



spoiler.......now it is hinted at that she is going down that road again to becoming Dark Willow or something else entirely. I already went through the trama of seeing my beloved Willow become a villian and a magic junkie. Do we have to go down that road again? I love Willow but I don't admire her like I used to. I sometimes worry that the writers are focusing more on making her powerful than on making her one of the good guys. She is so sweet and noble in Seasons 1-5 but now I barely recognize the character. She is with Kennedy and possibly abusing magic again. Any thoughts?

 

[Perny]

I love Willow more as the sweet girl. By keeping her become all dark over and over they make her character change. OK so it's a part of her, but for god's sake! Willow is so much more than just a witch. She's caring, and sweet. I would rather see more of that.

 

[AndrewCrossett]

The fact that we've seen her go dark again in the future means that it's the task of Buffy and her friends to make sure that doesn't happen to her. I hope by the end of season 8 we will see that future averted. Otherwise Buffy will have failed as a hero, and that wouldn't be much fun.

 

[white avenger]

The fact that we've seen her go dark again in the future means that it's the task of Buffy and her friends to make sure that doesn't happen to her. I hope by the end of season 8 we will see that future averted. Otherwise Buffy will have failed as a hero, and that wouldn't be much fun.

But then if Buffy tries to manipulate the future based on what she learned from the Fray arc, she's going to run a risk of destroying that reality altogether, which MIGHT lead to a better future, but it might also actually make things far worse.

 

[AndrewCrossett]

But then if Buffy tries to manipulate the future based on what she learned from the Fray arc, she's going to run a risk of destroying that reality altogether, which MIGHT lead to a better future, but it might also actually make things far worse.

Yeah, but Buffy is a heroine and it's her job to figure these things out. And Joss is an Acclaimed Writer, so it's his job to get out of the corners he paints himself into.

I know he likes to bring the pain, but I have a hunch he's not going to drag us along for 40 issues only to say "...and our sweet friend Willow turns dark and evil and crazy and spends 200 years living in constant misery until Buffy shows up one day and shoves a spear through her. The end. Man, I'm hungry. Who's up for fajitas? Why is everyone looking at me like that?"