Willow's Magic Addiction

[LadyLavinia]

Even after 3-4 years, I find it interesting how so many viewers believed that ME's writers had changed Willow's problems with magic as a simple case of addiction "“ in other words, magic as a "drug metaphor". I wonder why. It was the Scoobies, who had erroneously stated that Willow had a magic addiction problem that could be solved by her going "cold turkey". Why didn't anyone question the Scoobies' diagnosis or even consider that they were wrong about Willow's true problem? However, there were those who didn't accept the Scoobies' explanation "“ like Shadowkat, who said so in her essay, "The Scoobies vs. the Troika: Dealing With Reality":

"Bending Reality to Fit our Own Ends: Willow and Tara have also been struggling with shifts in reality. They are in a better place right now - because Willow momentarily stopped trying to bend reality to her will. Tara rightly interpreted Willow's actions as an insecure attempt to make the world better for herself. The only problem is Willow and the rest of the Scoobies interpreted her use of magic as a merely an addiction. Please. If you thought this was a drug storyline -then the writers fooled you, because it never was - that was just how Willow and her friends chose to interpret it. It was never about addiction - Willow chose to interpret her abuse of magic as drug abuse. 'I do it because it makes me feel good.' Sorry, Willow - that isn't why you did the magic. You did the magic for the same reasons the Troika are doing what they're doing - you not only wanted to control your reality - you wanted to bend everyone else's to make it fit what was in your head. You still do."

Another who had dismissed the Scoobies' explanation was Zach's Mind, in his essay, A Broken Yellow Crayon

 

[PrincessZombie]

I agree. I think the magic was a way of gaining control over things that Willow normally couldn't control, like when Tara was mad so she changed her memory. That's why she did it. It wasn't like a drug addiction at all.

 

[Araminta Tyler]

It was an addiction of a different sort, instead of the usual 'high' that junkies become addicted to, it was the high of being powerful, and in control of everything. This for me is perfectly summed up in the quote:
"Let me tell you something about Willow. She's a loser. And she always has been. People picked on Willow in junior high school, high school, up until college... with her stupid mousy ways and now - (amused) Willow's a junkie!"

 

[master kenobi]

my opinion, willow was used to being miss dependable, little miss relyable...and magic gave her a sence of power...control...strength...and she came addicted to that strong feeling of over confidence...leting her grip on control grow..letting those people she loved and cared about to slip through her fingers.