Re: OT re: "Popular" fanfic couples

["ebailey140" <ebailey140@xxxxxxx>]

--- In buffywantswillow@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Koos van Winden"
<koosfanfic@h...> wrote:
> --- In buffywantswillow@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "ebailey140" 
> <ebailey140@a...> wrote:.> > 
> > But, the difference is that Buffy and Willow are allowed to have
> > faults.  B/W fic, for the most parts, allows them to have 
> relationship
> > problems, based on the characters.  Tara, in canon, quickly 
> developed
> > the problem of being something of a token.  She started as this
> > mysterious, and layered, figure, in Season 4.  She spent Season 5
> > being an attachment to Willow, not really being a full character. 
> > Season 6 saw her develop a backbone when it came to Willow, and
> > developing ties with the other characters.  But, her Season 6
> > development, and interaction with other characters, made her lack of
> > development over the previous two seasons that much more 
> noticable.  
> > 
> > I think I have to credit my love for Tara almost entirely to Amber
> > Benson, who took what was essentially a cypher in the role of "Token
> > Lesbian" and made her genuinely lovable.  Amber didn't get much help
> > from the writers until Willow started screwing things up.  Anyone 
> with
> > less charisma, and Tara would never have caught on.  Look at 
> Kennedy.  
> > 
> > What they should have done was develop Tara as a person, first and
> > foremost, who just happened to be gay, rather than defining her as
> > "Willow's Girlfriend".
> > 
> Oh, I completely agree with you on that Amber was fantastic. She has 
> an incredible bodylanguage. 

Yeah, there were always these little bits she'd do that would make
Tara endearing, like the bit with the sleeves, or just little
movements and expressions here and there.
> With Kennedy the writers made some very big mistakes. They 
> underdeveloped Tara, but Kennedy they made real errors. First mistake 
> is that Willow got involved way to early. Second mistake is that 
> Kennedy got Willow over the backs of other characters (something 
> like, oh, only Kennedy is left to care for me). (Like they did with 
> Spuffy). Third. Kennedy looks way to much like Faith. And Faith is 
> played by a more talented actress and is much better developed.
> Then comes the real question: why would Willow need another 
> girlfriend? Isn't it time that she got to work on her identity and 
> her issues? Kennedy was a waste of screentime. (I do like her 
> though :))

I saw Kennedy as Cordy without the Charisma.  So, THAT was Willow's
high school crush, and why she hit the ceiling when Xander started
dating her?  I'm disappointed  :)

But, I agree the relationship was unneccessary.  Buffy was able to go
all season without an affair, so I think the season (given that it was
the last one) would have been better served by having the two lead
characters re-establish their bond. 

Of course, there's also what the S7 plans were involving Tara to
consider, where Buffy was going to be given a gift by the PTB for
everything she'd done for the world, and rather than do something for
herself, she wants, more than anything in the world, Willow's
happiness.  Sigh...  Will, you're never going to find that kind of
unconditional love from the Studtongue...   
> But, to come back to the point of discussion. It's not their faults 
> what is my problem, it's the image I have when Buffy and Willow are 
> together and when they are friendly.

There is a some cuteness to it, I'll admit.  I'll also admit to being
one of the worst offenders when it comes to writing them especially
cutesy.  But, in my defense, it's usually when they're having a really
out there conversation or something over the top is going on.  

A lot of it has to do with my perception of Willow as being especially
cute.  The B/W ship does bring out the lighter, happier, sweet side of
Buffy, though, which is part of the appeal.  Most Buffy ships tend to
be heavy on the angst (Angel, Faith, Spike), which has made for some
fantastic fics (and episodes of the show), but with Willow one can
give Buffy a soulmate she can be genuinely happy with, and who can
make HER happy.  Not that there's not room for plenty of dark, sexy,
angsty stuff, especially with the last two seasons.  That's the beauty
of it, you can just about do anything with these two. 

E 





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Willow: "It's a good fight, Buffy, and I want in."
Buffy:  "I kinda love you."
                     'Choices'

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