This is part 2 of my introduction to Willow Rosenberg. In this part I'll discuss Tara Maclay, Willow's girlfriend and soulmate, and how their relationship had escalated. I'll discuss their beginning, their continuing hardships, their reconnections and their disastrous end.

Tara Maclay was introduced to Buffy the Vampire Slayer in Season 4. When the Scoobies started at UC Sunnydale, Willow, after seeking council from a Wicca group (an event that completely disappointed Willow), met Tara. They started talking and hanging out together, learning that their magic was stronger if they worked on it together. They started doing spells together and all was going well. Then Oz, Willow's former boyfriend returned and their relationship would be put into question. But after discussion by the two, Willow decided to stay with Tara.

From that point things only got worse. After their relationship stayed stable for a while and they helped Buffy battle Glory, a god (a very annoying one at that), Buffy sacrifices her own life to save her sister Dawn's (a move which I really think was avoidable). In the beginning of Season 6, Willow and Tara use their combined efforts to resurrect Buffy. This spawns Willow's addiction to magic and subsidiary numerous fights with Tara. She uses magic to make Tara forget the fights that unfortunately backfires and makes all the Scooby Gang forget who they are and what they do. When they get their memories back, this triggers Tara and Willow's break up and Willow's magic overdose. After an incident involving Dawn, Willow decides to give up magic and after numerous encounters (such as Xander and Anya's (a former vengeance demon) wedding) Willow decides to make a move on Tara again. This spawns a new flare in their relationship as they get back together.

Just as things are looking better, a tragic twist of fate in the form of Warren (a member of the trio of nerds trying to kill Buffy) going on a rampage and shooting wildly at Buffy. Though as he was running away, a stray bullet hits Tara in the chest and she is killed. As Willow grieves and begs Osiris to bring Tara back, her request is denied and she starts to drain the black magic from books at The Magic Box (the magic shop run formerly by Giles (Buffy's former watcher) and now by Anya). She then hunts down and kills Warren (in one of the best vengeance scenes ever shot imo). She then goes and tries to kill the remaining two members of the trio but Giles interferes and temporarily stops her. After draining Giles' powers, Willow decides the world isn't worth living in and tries to end it all. After she finds her bearings and raises a temple from a cliff to help her in her efforts to end the world. Xander talks to her and convinces her life is worth living and that he loves her. She then returns to her normal self.

As I've already said I have no real explanation of why Joss Whedon made Willow a lesbian. While I have no doubt that Willow's relationship with Tara was beautiful and really spoke to me, there was a real need for it. Whether it was to put the series in a whole new direction, to explore deeper into Willow's emotional state or just for slightly increased ratings it worked well and kept the series intact and amazing. I think Tara, as a character, was under-used. If it were my decision I would have put her deeper into the Scooby circle and explored her character more. She could have been really interesting and brilliant but Joss kept her as more of a side character; only having her make guest appearances. All in all it was interesting, compassionate and great.

Tara Maclay
Willow Rosenberg
Willow & Tara
Willow & Tara Death Scene
Dark Willow