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Sunday 11 April 2004, by Nick : Tara was not killed off because she was a lesbian. She was killed because it was the only thing stong enough to send Willow over the edge which is what Joss wanted to do for years. Her reaction was foreshadowed in ’Wild at Heart’ and in ’Tough Love’ if ever one of her lovers was in trouble. So please dont stereotype it as a ’cliché’ or a ’throw-away relationship’ it was more than that and any Buffy-fan would know that.Sunday 11 April 2004, by Anonymous : In regards to the idea that lesbian lovers on tv are doomed to die: I think that anyone who feels this way about Tara’s death is just taking it too personally. Joss wasn’t picking on the lesbians!! He kills everybody! Look at Jenny Calendar and Giles, for example. Just as they had gotten past their mistrust and arguments, Angel comes along and kills her! That’s just life in the Whedon-verse. It’s far too common for groups like lesbian activists to look at a tv show with lesbians and expect them to make a statement, rather than just write characters who are human, and just happen to also be gay. Sunday 11 April 2004, by Anonymous : I have never posted on any site before, but I couldn’t pass this up. I understand that you are very angry, and you have a right to be. Lesbian relationships have been given the shaft (no pun intended) by television and movies, but not by Buffy, the Vampire Slayer. There is no way you could claim that Willow and Tara’s relationship was "throwaway." Their relationship was at the center of several episodes. Their first kiss was during the epic "The Body." What character on that show ever had a happy, long-term relationship? Willow and Tara’s relationship lasted for 2 and 1/2 years, as long as that of Buffy and Angel. They were the only ones on that show that were really allowed happiness in their relationship. Tara was not "doomed to die" in any sense. Her death was a sudden, brutal, unpredictable act of violence. Even if she was doomed, there were reasons beyond Amber’s contract and their lesbian relationship. Willow was more than just a lesbian. She was a fully rounded character before she ever met Tara. Fans may not like this, but she was set up as a very selfish character. From the episode "Something Blue" in the 4th season, I knew that her innate selfishness and lust for power would turn her into a villan one day "If I had any real power, I could have made Oz stay" (foreshadowing, anyone?). To be clear, Willow was the one who was doomed. It was only Tara’s absence that allowed Willow to turn to dark magic. This is all without bringing into account that their only post-sex scene (in the infamous "Seeing Red") was a result of them being to scared and lustful to work through their problems, or Willows redemption and the foundation of another safe relationship (she gets all the safe relationships) with another woman in the 7th season. In short, you’re right that lesbians have not been given their dues by most of television, excepting Joss Whedon. I’m sorry for the pain and anger of seeing Tara killed, but that was pretty much the point. If you want to see a safe, happy relationship, definitely don’t watch a drama. Michael Sunday 11 April 2004, by aurelius : Well, hang on a moment. As the writers have often stated, whoever Willow was with at that point in the series would have died. Had she still been with Oz, for chrissakes, he would have died then. Tara’s death had nothing to do with her lesbianism and far more to do with what the writers wanted to do with the character of Willow that season. And what about Kennedy, eh? They end up living happily ever after at the end of season 7...Tuesday 13 April 2004, by Wolverine68 : I don’t think lesbianism was "tabboo" at the time Willow was "stepping out of the closet". It was actually becoming more and more of a fad, there was a growing need to have a gay character on shows. Dawson Creek had a gay guy, Ross’s ex wife (on Friends) - who was a frequent guest star - was a lesbian, and Xena had the myterious relationship with Gabriel for years before Willow’s character was gay. It is also important to mention that Xena died, but they still wound up together, Xena was only dead in a physical sense. Her mind & soul could still be with Gab. The relationship remains the same, only there is only no physical intamacy now. Friday 16 April 2004, by kmn : firstly i’d like to agree that willow and tara’s relationship was certainly not throwaway. secondly there was no untimely death involved in willow’s relationship with kennedy. lastly the reason why everything is so dramatic in lesbian relationships on tv is because its tv - it wouldnt be quite so interesting if we were watching hours of everyone being happy!! and its not just lesbian relationships - to take the example of buffy: was there any relationship on the show that worked out better than willow and tara’s? i actually think theirs is one of the more functional. and the plotline involving tara’s death was very important to me, despite the death of my favourite character. These comments are an anwser to this article : The Dilemma of Lesbians in Entertainment (buffy mention)
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