Once it got to be about Willow's
power issues, built from her need to assert herself after so many
years of feeling powerless, it improved, tremendously. But, these
parallel plots really should have tied together in the end, I
thought. Willow as Drug Addict didn't work, for me, but all the
pent up rage and frustration from someone who once blew up at Xander
for kissing Cordy instead of her, while she HAD a boyfriend in Oz,
and broke down over Xander losing her virginity to Faith instead of
her, while she STILL had a boyfriend in Oz, finally exploding,
worked for me. This was the girl who not only was overly possessive
of Xander, but had some very conficting attitudes towards her other
best friend (and, interestingly enough, freaked over HER dealings
with Cordy and Faith, especially the cleavagey slutbomb). There was
such a deep love that she couldn't let Buffy go even in death, but
a t the same time a resentment for the pack's Alpha Female, to the
point where she wouldn't introduce Tara to Buffy, despite (Because
of?) Tara really wanting to meet this person Willow had gushed
about, until Faith forced the situation. "I kind of like having
something that's just, you know, mine".Hmm, yes, excellent points about Willow's relunctance to introduce Tara to the gang and Buffy in particular and yeah, she has been super possessive over Xander. Yes I do indeed see the control issues and it's extremely interesting. I prescribe that it should be thoroughly explored, via fanfiction!
It also makes Willow a very interesting character. I don't like these '100% white or black' portrayals as they always seem somewhow fake, lacking in humanity. Give me the flawed hero, and in Willow's case the 'best and at times worst friend' portrait and it works with all its layers.
On the show she sure wasn't overly loyal to Oz, hey? That's worth some thought. I'd say canon Willow seems to have a thing for romance with best buds. Both of em ;)