Not sure this is really on-topic, but since a Kennedy analysis was requested, here y'go, a couple posts I made at other places some time ago. There are a few icon commands that didn't parse, but the intent is pretty clear. First, the short version, posted in response to another poster's comment.
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Personally, FWIW (not much, I know,) I'm with you. I didn't like Kennedy in the beginning, but she kinda grew on me. At least she does recognize that she's "kind of a brat," and we also got to see that she's willing to drop the bad-[MOOSE] attitude when it benefits someone she really cares about. While she obviously started out playing Willow just to see if she could get lucky, she just as obviously did wind up really caring for her, otherwise she wouldn't have been willing to stick with her after nearly biting the big one at Willow's hands not once, but twice. No, she's not Tara - for Willow, will there ever be another Tara? - but Willow needed a push to get her functioning again, and Kennedy's perseverance and support helped kick-start that.
Plus, Iyari? Cute...
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And the extended version, posted at another board in response to a similar thread:
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With respect to the Willow and Kennedy thing, Kennedy grew on me. Here's kinda how my thoughts went (this is a long post. Hope I don't bore anybody, and I hope it's not out of line here. Just been a while since I actually got to take time to play the game...)
First, I need to start off with some stipulations:
1. I really, really like both Aly and Amber, though I've never met either. From all reports, they're both really nice people.
2. I really, really liked Willow, and Aly's portrayal.
3. I really, really liked Tara, and Amber's portrayal.
4. I really, really liked Willow and Tara as a couple.
5. I really, really hated to see Tara killed off.
6. I really, really hated to see Willow hurt so badly.
7. However, I really, really liked the drama it created (Is there a "shrug" icon? No? Darn.)
Okay, so here goes:
I really, really like Iyari, though I've never met her. From all reports, she's really nice people. As for Kennedy:
"Bring On The Night"
"¢ I was pretty annoyed with Kennedy's attitude towards Buffy when she first appeared. Who she think she are? ::huh1:: She's cute, though.
"¢ Is she really flirting with Willow in that pushy manner? Who she think she are? ::huh1:: She's cute, though.
"Showtime"
"¢ Huh. Sounds like maybe she really is interested in Willow in more than just an "I wanna jump your bones way."
"¢ Huh, again. She's really protective of Willow, taking her side against the other Slayerettes. Whuzzat all about?
"¢ Whoa, girl's got backbone, too. Maybe I misread her. (Maybe I was supposed to... ?)
"The Killer In Me"
"¢ Okay, she's devious, sneaky; a lot of similar traits to most of the Scoobies, actually. And, at this point, it might actually take something like that to get Willow out of the house.
"¢ Hm, okay, she can be forthright and honest when she wants to. Seems like maybe she really is interested in more than just a one-night stand.
"¢ Willow took on Warren's appearance when they kissed? Well, so much for that budding romance"¦
"¢ Huh. How about that. Not only is she trying to help someone she barely knows with a problem she isn't remotely prepared to deal with, she's ready to open a whole can of whup-ass on Amy for causing it. And she don't back down worth a damn.
"¢ Willow? With a pistol? Well, so much for that budding romance...
"¢ Well, now, that's interesting. For someone who doesn't really even believe in magic, she catches on quick. And she don't back down worth a damn. We'll see where this goes.
"First Date"
"¢ Okay, so W & K are still friendly, even after Willow threw down on her last episode. Not sure I could put that behind me; a wise man told me long ago: "Never get hooked up with a woman who's got more problems than you do." But, it's Willow, so in Kennedy's place, I'd probably ignore that advise, too... :blushy:
"Get It Done"
"¢ Damn, she's cocky. Chloe needs to clock her one.
"¢ Kennedy looks really upset over Chloe's suicide. And the First Evil's hint that she helped it along hurt her. She's still got a temper, though, and she doesn't really understand the Buffy/Willow dynamic - but technically, she's right about who's the most powerful. She just says things when she's mad that she probably should think over.
"¢ The "Exchange Student" would make three of her, and she jumped right in without a second's hesitation. Girl's got backbone. But she really doesn't understand how dangerous Willow's talent can be.
"¢ Oops. Guess she does now. So much for that budding romance...
"Storyteller"
"¢ Well, now. That's twice Kennedy has nearly been at the ouch end of Willow's issues, and she's still interested? She must be truly Willow-smitten (well, naturally. Who could blame her?)
"Empty Places"
"¢ I'm ambivalent on this one. On the one hand, Kennedy had enough grace to apologize to Buffy for her thoughtless remark, and again shows her backbone by being the first to take action against an armed cop in the Bronze, but on the other hand, she then is in the lead later when the Slayerettes revolt. On the third hand (waitaminnit, where'd that come from?? ) she has a point, and, while she's certainly not being very diplomatic, she's not actually being a bitca about it the way Rona is; she's just mad.
"Touched"
"¢ Kennedy doesn't like being dismissed without being heard, but when it comes down to it, she does the job (and, in retrospect, she may have been right,) and seems to get over it pretty quickly. Her aggression concerns Willow, though. Not sure where that's going to lead.
"¢ Well. No power, no fancy dinner, no nice restaurants, no soft music, so Kennedy does the best she can with what she has to work with. Boot the roommates to ensure some privacy, light some candles, ditch the sweatsuit, surprise!
"¢ Willow's still a nervous wreck, and terrified of herself; surprisingly, Kennedy is patient, understanding, and gentle with her, a side of Kennedy that we haven't seen come out with anyone but Willow (and I thought Iyari did a very good job of making Kennedy look like she really wants Willow so badly she can't keep her hands off. Notice all the subtle little "business": little kisses, nuzzles, and even what appears to be a tummy rub just out of camera view :looking: (yes, I noticed. What am I, dead? :biggrin: )) Also, Kennedy lets Willow take what she needs first.
"¢ Looks like both women survived the night. She might be good for the little red witch, after all.
"¢ Kennedy go boom? Well... so much for that budding romance. And just when I was starting to like her...
"End of Days"
"¢ Looks like a few of the Slayerettes survived the blast, including Kennedy. She's a born leader; she takes charge, and might have gotten them out if it hadn't been for the Turok-hans' appearance. Once again, I'll say this: the girl's got backbone. And, stubborn as she is, she does acknowledge to Buffy that they made a mistake (or is starting to when she's interrupted.)
"Chosen"
"¢ Kennedy's expression is hard to read during the first part of Buffy's speech, when Buffy says that she knows some of them wish she hadn't been the Chosen One: maybe a little agreement, a little guilt.
"¢ Again, notice the little subtle "business" when Willow is working on her spell and Kennedy is lying on the bed behind her; she has just the hint of a smile as she's playing with a strand of Willow's hair.
"¢ Okay, well, Kennedy's being fair about Buffy, which actually gets her high marks; they've butted heads enough it would be easy for her to just blow off anything Buff suggests, but this time she thinks Buffy's right and says so. She also admits to her own faults, which gets another positive mark. And we see something here that hasn't really shown up much since she first arrived: she's scared. With good reason, really. She's trained since she was a child to maybe be the one Called to fight the forces of Evil; now, here she is in the middle of that fight, but without those Slayer powers. And she's still young.
"¢ And she's in love. She doesn't really say the word, but she doesn't have to. What she does say, and the way she looks at her girl, says it all. She has really and truly fallen for Willow. (Whether Willow returns those feelings or not, is a matter for debate all the way to the end. I think she's getting there, but she still has reservations.)
"¢ Speaking of the end, did I mention that the girl's got backbone?
So... Okay, I now officially like Kennedy a lot. She's not Tara, but that's okay; everybody's different, and Willow and Kennedy make a cute couple, too. Wish we'd got to see more of them.
Joss, about that spinoff...?
