Re: OT: Thoughts on "Conversations..."

[danspector@xxxxxxxxx]

My 

opinion

on

the

reappearance

(or

not)

of 

everybody's 

favorite

(or 

not)

Wiccan,


I think Amber Benson would have been slightly more creepy than Azura
Skye was (assuming Amber could have played the menace credibly). If
Amber could have sold us that maybe Tara really wanted Willow to "join
her", it would have been very scary.

That said, I think there was an excellent reason for Amber not to
return. Because the character of Tara and her fans had been treated so
shabbily last year, having Amber return only to torture Willow would
have been excessive cruelty and disrespect for the audience.

The obvious parallel is Robia LaMorte's return as Not!Jenny in "Amends".
But a comparison of the two deaths shows a very different treatment.

?Jenny's death was rumored, but ME made no comment.

Whereas, knowing that Tara had a devout following of fans that were
invested in the character for reasons that transcended the show, Joss
went out of his way to lie about Tara's continuing on the show (as
opposed to the simple "no comment" he gave on Xander and Anya in the
same interview), most likely just to hurt the fans more. (Steven
DeKnight also lied loud and proudly, cackling about giving false hope,
when he could have simply said "Joss won't let me say anything about
that." Jerk.)

?Jenny died a hero, her death following logically and tragically from
her actions.

Whereas Tara was struck down by pure randomness, not having anything to
do with her story, but merely as a plot device for Willow's.

?Jenny's corpse was treated with dignity by those who loved her, and
the Scoobies mourned.

Whereas Tara's partner left her to rot on the floor like a sack of meat,
and the Scoobies barely said two words before moving onto Willow.

?Jenny got a funeral scene. Tara didn't.

?Jenny remained an important part of the show, even after her death.
Giles's grief over her is a major part of "I Only Have Eyes For You".
Xander's hatred of Angel and conflict with Buffy in "Becoming, Part 1"
is due to the murder. Drusilla is able to manipulate Giles because he
still mourns Jenny in "Becoming, Part 2". Xander again isn't over her
death in "Revelations".

Whereas Tara was completely forgotten, except for one brief exchange in
each of the three Villow eps. This year, Tara's name hadn't been
mentioned at all, despite the fact that Willow is obviously still
grieving. There was a five-second shot of Tara's grave in "Help"--the
same ep where her surrogate "daughter", Dawn, spent an entire scene
bewailing the death of Cassie, whom she'd known for barely a week.

?Jenny quite possibly got the opportunity to get closure from beyond
the grave, if it was her spirit that possessed Willow in "Becoming, Part
2".

Whereas Tara has gotten nothing of the sort.

So it's one thing to tease us with Not!Jenny in "Amends", because
Jenny's story made sense and the audience had gotten closure. But
Tara's death was just a drive-by shooting that ME shoved under the rug
once the finale was over--I am very glad that Amber chose not to return
and stomp on her fans' hearts some more.

Dan

still not liking Tara, but very much in sympathy.