A thought about Willow.

[elisi]

Don't know why, but this has been going round in my head recently. It's very obvious, but it gave me insight into Willow (which is a good thing), and how she grows etc.

The thing I noticed was this:

WILLOW: ...the only thing I had going for me ... were the moments - just moments - when Tara would look at me and I was wonderful. (grimly) And that will never happen again.

Now I like Willow/Tara very much, but Willow's statement here seems to me to say that she's really very immature when it comes to love. What she says is all about how Tara made *her* feel... Contrast for a moment with Spike in 'Touched':

I'm not asking you for anything. When I say, "I love you," it's not because I want you or because I can't have you. It has nothing to do with me.

Then I began wondering about Willow/Kennedy - it starts with plain, ordinary attraction, but Kennedy is soon made to realise that Willow isn't 'wonderful'. And Willow is careful that she doesn't forget her lesson. Kennedy doesn't try to ignore the darkness for the sake of keeping peace, she makes herself Willow's link out of it.

*re-reads*

Does that make sense all? I'm not really used to Willow meta, or exploring her character. How much growing up did she do in S7? Did Kennedy help? What did Willow learn about love?

Thoughts? Comments? Anything? Please come bringing insights, because I'm flailing.

Comments

[debris4spike]

I have often wondered about Willow/Kenendy - that mabe it was a bit like Biyffy used Spike to feel alive in S6. Willow wanted to know that she could cope with a relationship - but maybe didn't want to be hurt - so chose someone not looking at the long term. Both Oz and Tara were hard choices for her - and as Buffy had suffered they both left her.

Don't know whether what I am trying to say makes sense - but that has always been at the back of my mind when I have thought of the relationship - Kennedy was someone to help her escape and get through the next day

[elisi]

Kennedy was someone to help her escape and get through the next day
Yes. I think that's a very good thought. And in a way quite like Buffy/Riley, which would have worked a lot better if they both wanted the same from it. (Of course what Kennedy wants is fairly opaque, but she's very young, and I doubt that she's looking for something eternal...)