Why do you think Tara is so popular?

[Buffy Summers]

That's so funny, because I couldn't really see why anyone would love her lol, she's just so blah.

 

[Taake]

I think it's cause she's warm. Which is still an entirely intangible thing to say, but she's kind of warm and 'safe'... I feel like I could trust her.

Or it's because she makes nerdy jokes that no one gets which is a concept I'm familiar with 😉

 

[Buffy Summers]

I do like her much more now that I've seen more of Amber. I wish they had made Tara more like her lol

 

[Evil Angelus 95]

I do like her much more now that I've seen more of Amber. I wish they had made Tara more like her lol

A lot of the fanfics I've read that were good did just that. Amber herself actually did as well when she co-wrote the Willow/Tara comics for Dark Horse.

 

[sk]

Tara is one of very few characters (in any shows) that I actually can relate a bit to.
Especially when we first see her. I think that makes her quite likeable to me.

All these heroic characters that are outgoing, brave and generally awesome are great fun to follow but it's not like I particular recognise myself in them.

While Tara, the girl who even has a hard time speaking in the wiccan group and makes failed jokes, feels much more closer to home.

That doesn't make her very interesting though, I wouldn't want to see a Tara spin-off or anything.
I even think it's good she doesn't have a bigger role in the show.

But it does make her a nice character that are very easy to like.

/SK

 

[WillowTaraHolic]

I think if there were more chances to learn more about Tara, she would be more likeable to other people.

Of course, it's still Buffy's show. Not Tara's. 😛

 

[Faith]

That's so funny, because I couldn't really see why anyone would love her lol, she's just so blah.

I completely agree. I find her so vanilla that i'm neither here nor there about her. I just can't seem to care about her at all, not even when she died which is rare for me.

 

[BuffyElevated]

You know it's funny, it's not until the boards the I inversely realized that Tara was/ could be unpopular. 🙂

I guess it never occured to me because I absolutely love Tara. I can't even really explain why. I just absolutely, full heartedly, adore her. And I did almost from the moment she came on screen. I guess there's a quality in her that appeals to me... I really can't put it into words. I just felt that the show was better off for having her than being without her (though her death was one of the most shocking, effectful things, I've seen on TV)

I will say that even though I never really loved Tara herself, her death was one of the most heartwrenching things I've ever seen on a TV show. 🙁

 

[EVIL UU]

Are you people seriously expecting me to reply to all of this by all of you, what is this, evil against the world? Alright, alright.

@Blaze

She's also very supportive of Willow, that is until Willow violates her mind.

I disagree. Willow went through a lot of shit. Almost lost her girlfriend, fought a god and lost the most important person in her life. She brings Buffy back and what follows are lies, pain and bitching. What is Tara doing about it, before the brainwashing? Willow's falling apart and Tara's oblivious. Does she even understand what Willow goes through? I don't think so. You know who's a supportive girlfriend? Anya is, ex-demon and still a better partner than Tara! [HASHTAG]#shotsfired[/HASHTAG]

I'm with you on this, a partner should be with someone through the good and the bad if they even want to think about having the good, but that goes straight out the window when abuse is involved. When abuse is involved you gtfo. That's what Tara did, and that's what she should have done. Now I get that she should have asked Willow more questions and tried different ways of solving the problem, but Willow didn't exactly give her the change to do that.

I obviously agree.

When has Tara ever shown jealousy?

Well, I think that Tara's pretty damn jealous of Willow's progress in the magic department as seen in "Tough Love".

Also, never got the religion analogy with Tara. And many people have brought that up, I just don't get it.

One word, Balloons. In "All the Way" Tara bitches about conjuring balloons. Freaking balloons! According to Tara conjuring balloons for a friend, I guess, is wrong, unnatural and evil because you can also buy them. Balloons, OK?

What is wrong with this bitch?! Why is it wrong to conjure some balloons for Anya? This is some crazy ass zealotry and fanaticism. Who hates balloons? Where's the harm? There's no rational reason here, only bullshit ideology.

And this comes from a chick who made a demon invisible because of her own insecurities and supported Buffy's resurrection even though it was supposedly against all the laws of nature. Resurrect a dead slayer, oh that's fine but balloons? Evil. Just...just shut the **** up Tara!

@thetopher

It's literally the equivalent of an alcoholic who, when they get drunk, smack their partner around.

No, it's not. Willow does not get drunk, she gets Tara drunk, you know what I mean? Willow's addiction to magic is not what makes her abuse Tara, that's just filthy whitewashing.

Willow's relationship with magic changes, she becomes more like the Willow that Tara fell for in the first place.

Willow's relationship with magic does not change as proven by what happens after Tara's death or by her numerous outbursts in season 7. In season 6 she conjures balloons and trips out, in season 7 she repeatedly turns into Angelus-like version of herself.

However If the 'addict' for want of a better word, can show that they can change and become a better person, then you give them a second chance.

And that's the problem, Willow did not get better. She did not resolve her issues. Not really. Tara left because Willow abused her but the reason why she abused her is still there. It's not the magic and Willow's abstinence does not make her miraculously a better person. So why does Tara give Willow a second chance? Now, that's a good question.

@Blaze

And Tara might have been wrong to ask Willow to stop, but she didn't know any better.

So basically, shut the **** up Tara? 😀

I kind of really dislike Giles' actions in s6.

Me too, it's just, I kind of really dislike Giles' actions in every season.

Wanna ruin your life with substance abuse, go right ahead, I won't judge.

What, me? Please, runner's high's my only high. The best high. Look, I believe that drugs are bullshit, I always have, but thing is, humans just cannot live without some bullshit. For some it's drugs, for others it's taking part in heated online discussions about a TV show that ended over 10 years ago, like, what a bullshit that is. Getting high and hurting people? Obviously badness, but getting high, period, with the kind of life Willow lives? I won't judge her either.

@Evil Angelus 95
In my opinion you need to chill out 😀

 

[Evil Angelus 95]

In my opinion, you need to leave me alone.

That's all I'm gonna say.

I'm moving on. This discussion is going to start turning into a slam fest and I'm not gonna be around for it.

 

[Faith]

Guys stop goading each other. We don't expect everyone will get along all of the time but you can respect each other's opinions.

 

[thetopher]

@thetopher


No, it's not. Willow does not get drunk, she gets Tara drunk, you know what I mean? Willow's addiction to magic is not what makes her abuse Tara, that's just filthy whitewashing.



Willow's relationship with magic does not change as proven by what happens after Tara's death or by her numerous outbursts in season 7. In season 6 she conjures balloons and trips out, in season 7 she repeatedly turns into Angelus-like version of herself.



And that's the problem, Willow did not get better. She did not resolve her issues. Not really. Tara left because Willow abused her but the reason why she abused her is still there. It's not the magic and Willow's abstinence does not make her miraculously a better person. So why does Tara give Willow a second chance? Now, that's a good question.

Well, I was using something called a simile to show similarities to the situation, and you still missed my point- Tara was in danger (mentally) and should not have stuck around to babysit an arrogant, ignorant brainwashed.

There is only one Wilow apologist here and it ain't me, I'm not white-washing anything- I know that Willow was fully in control the whole time- I think I made that clear when I went on about how I hated the arrogant jerkhole she'd become this season. 😡

Is Tara psychic? Can she, say, read the future? Can anybody apart from Drusilla?
Tara, like most people, is looking at Willow as she is at that time, the present, and then making a judgement call.

It looked to everybody like Willow had changed (maybe Giles would've known better, but he'd buggered off) but obviously nobody factored in Tara getting killed right in front of her- what were they thinking, those witless dolts! 🙄

I don't give a f**k about balloon conjuring, I care about brain-washing/memory alteration, teleporting people into another dimension 'just for a sec', (that btw is why Tara finally freaks out, not the party thing) mind-control, turning people into stuff (animals, wacky funtime characters, cage-dancers, etc) against their will- like in 'Wrecked'.

Willow in S6 is so cavalier in her use of altering powerful magics its almost to the point of lunacy, Willow in S7 is struggling with her darker urges- knows the cost of doing teise powerful magics, as is extremly hesitant to try any powerful magics.
There is no comparison.

Btw, I don't recognise your description of a 'tormented, pain-stricken' Willow in S6, that Tara should've supported and helped.
Willow is seen from the start to be arrogant, in love with her own sense of power, obnoxiously entitled and so blind to any of her own faults to the point of denial.

Tara, amazingly, came back when she 'thought' that Willow had changed, as did everybody else. It took Tara's murder to see that that was false- a tragic singular event that couldn't have been predicted.

But then its easy to argue your point from a future perspective- its like saying that Buffy should have been celebate for 7 years because she ends up alone at the end of the show.

In other words, its a ridiculously weak way to argue. 🙂

 

[WillowAndTara]

Some extremely conflicting opinions on this forum! Respect for all; no judgement, I suppose.
To me, Tara represented grounding humanity. Her entire character situated on a moral compass, in which she respectively never judged others, acting upon selfless motives - she was supportive and kind towards the other characters she interacted with (prime example here - her friendship with Buffy and the maternal role she played for Dawn when both Buffy and Joyce passed).
In relation to Willow and her abuse of Magick (which, I suppose, was a purposeful allusion to drug addiction in real world relationships, which often has detrimental effects), it merely resulted in Tara having her mind violated and manipulated by the women who was meant to be her partner, her lover. When I think about this, rather than pining it solely on Tara's supposed 'lack of care for Willow and what she was going through' (again, I say this in upmost respect. I am just recalling on what others have said previously in this discussion), I see it as an innocent victim of abuse, escaping to protect her well-being and hopefully entice Willow to cool it with the excessive use of Magick. Why has it been deemed wrong for an individual to place their safety above others? Again, she did warn Willow, asked her to not use so much Magick (heck, even Giles has begun warning her) in downright fear of becoming to addicted! ADDICTION = BAD, YES?
Perhaps I shall stop my rambles here before I get too invested.

 

[WillowTaraHolic]

To me, Tara represented grounding humanity. Her entire character situated on a moral compass, in which she respectively never judged others, acting upon selfless motives - she was supportive and kind towards the other characters she interacted with (prime example here - her friendship with Buffy and the maternal role she played for Dawn when both Buffy and Joyce passed).

(Here we go again... just wait for it) Well said, @WillowAndTara. (I like your screen name 🙂)

Has anyone besides me noticed that Tara's NAME reflects her own personality? I mean, pretty much literally. ('Tara' is derived from the Latin word 'terra' which means earth) So if she represents grounding humanity, it all just goes back around in one complete circle. I mean, she also wears a lot of soft and earthy colors and she's very motherly. (*cough cough* Mother Earth, like Gaia from Greek mythology? *cough cough*)

Weird of me to bring it up, but I thought it was just a little fun piece of information.

 

[WillowAndTara]

I've never thought about the literal meaning of her name, but I like! She certainly does have an apparently earthy nature to her personality, paired with the maternal aspect it does align nicely with the Mother Earth Mythology @WillowTaraHolic brought up. Perhaps this was intended? I like to think her purpose was to provide that grounding character to the show - but that's just me. I have lots of thoughts and feelings related to the topic of Tara; I could babble on for a significant amount of time!
(@WillowTaraHolic thank you! I made the screen name all the way back in 2009 - I like your screen name too!)

 

[WillowTaraHolic]

(@WillowAndTara thank you and you're welcome. I took Latin in school and that's how I linked the name and the word together.)

Yes, it's very 'Joss' to make your character's name literally fit their personality. 😛 I'm not sure which came first... the name, or the character itself? Hmmm...

I also did some research on the name, and the name 'Tara' also means 'star' and 'sea'. 😀 (Ironic LOL)

 

[WillowAndTara]

Ah, Joss. Yes, it does seem like a very Joss thing to do! I've thought about that before, I do recall reading/hearing somewhere that Joss intended for the character being more 'tiny' and 'bird-like' (his words exactly). So, perhaps the general characterisation of Tara came before the name? It could easily be the other way around to.

I've been pondering over Tara for the last few hours. I can't find any understanding as to why people dislike her so much? I wasn't even aware of that strong dislike until I checked this board, actually. Of course, opinions and perspectives between individuals are always conflicting and differing. I often wonder how her story line would've played out if Willow had not begun abusing her like she did. Someone said previously that they significantly dislike Willow's character in season 6, and I must agree!

@WillowTaraHolic So, we have multiple meanings for her name! Sea, star, and earth. A lovely way to think about her role and personality, I find.

 

[WillowTaraHolic]

Well, Tara sort of started out being bird-like, (she was certainly jumpy) but sometimes characters can go in different directions than when you imagined them. So there we have earthy Tara. 😀

A lot of people find Tara boring or some people hate her for "dumping Willow when she needed Tara most" or I've even heard someone say "I hate Tara because she keeps trying to convert Willow into her religion". (WHAT?) To me, as a writer of fanfiction, the fact that Tara has almost no background information and has little, short appearances is GOLD. That means more places for the imagination to wander! 🙂 I just don't know why people would find Tara boring.

@WillowAndTara Very true. 🙂

 

[WillowAndTara]

She was definitely a shy, bird like character when we first met her in season four! I honestly loved her character development, she slowly came out of her secured shell and it was beautiful! @WillowTaraHolic I love the idea of Tara being an allusion to Mother Earth, it's just so.. Fitting!

Sadly, I have read very similar arguments and judgements of Tara. Her dumping of Willow is entirely justified, and I feel as if those who judge her under the assumption "Willow needed Tara" aren't looking closely enough at the negative connotations that their relationship had begun to transition into. Willow willingly violated Tara, and didn't even stop to consider the repercussions. I love Willow, I really do - but she acted out of selfish intent and ultimately put Tara on the line to continue her endeavours into Magick abuse. (Yes, Magick is a part of Willow, I agree. However, the intent behind what she had begun using it for was.. Unnecessary). I've never understood where people get the religion notion from. Did Tara ever mention a religion, of sorts? The absence of solidified background for Tara certainly does leave room for imagination and wonder - what was she like when younger? What was her family really like? (Judging from the events in Family, it's safe to say nothing about her family life was positive, aside from her Mother, I am guessing). Tara is far from boring, in my eyes. (Also, yay fanfiction!)

 

[Silverspike]

Ah, Joss. Yes, it does seem like a very Joss thing to do! I've thought about that before, I do recall reading/hearing somewhere that Joss intended for the character being more 'tiny' and 'bird-like' (his words exactly). So, perhaps the general characterisation of Tara came before the name? It could easily be the other way around to.

@WillowTaraHolic So, we have multiple meanings for her name! Sea, star, and earth. A lovely way to think about her role and personality, I find.

From what I remember circulating at the time Whedon had in mind small, 'bird like' when looking to cast someone for the role of Tara. Ambers name had been on the list but initially he hadn't been keen as she didn't fit his image of what the character should look like. It was Marti Noxon who had kept badgering him to give the role to Amber that got her the part and the rest as they say is history. 🙂