Month of Awesome Women: Tara Maclay (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

[such_heights]

"Yeah. You learn her source, and, uh, we'll introduce her to her insect reflection."

Tara Maclay



So here's a fannish confession: I'm not a huge Buffy fan. Not because I don't like it! But because I have watched it erratically at best - I wasn't interested when it was airing, and I have watched random episodes at random times since. Most of what I know about the show I learned from Wikipedia.

However, my familiarity with a given episode is likely to be about 10 times better if Tara was in it. I LOVE HER SO MUCH.

In a show filled with characters who are always ready with a witty quip or a charming smile no matter how socially inept they might be, Tara is strikingly and heartbreakingly quiet and unassuming when we first meet her. She's also wise, and smart, and brave, and powerful. Oh, and she's adorable with cats, and she's gay. How am I supposed to hold out against that kind of package? <3

She has this wonderful gentleness to her, but that doesn't mean she's not made of strong stuff, because she completely is. She was so, so good for Willow, for the rest of the characters, and oh, damn you, Joss.

Vid Rec: Calling the Moon by butterfly (Tara/Willow)
Love, magic, and a moment of grace.

Comments

[ontology]

Tara is basically everything I aspire to be in life. (And a girl shaped like me on television, o delight!) Just watching her episodes -- she has this amazing calming, steady presence. I love how her relationship with Willow begins with Willow helping her out of her shell, but as it continues on Tara's innate strength and warmth comes out and she becomes Willow's anchor. And her friendship with Dawn, the other unintentional outcast, and the little family Dawn and Willow and Tara have for a while: MADE OF SUNSHINE. ♥

[such_heights]

eeee, yes, all of this! And Willow and Tara and Dawn together are so completely adorable, I cannot even. <3333

[gorgeousnerd]

Taraaaaa. ♥ She's the single character that made my I-think-I'm-kinda-gay lightbulb go off! To this day, I get a little blushy whenever I see Amber Benson around.

[such_heights]

Aw, hurray! That's lovely. :D

[zahrawithaz.livejournal.com]

LOVE this point, and Tara! Sadly I have not seen beyond the end of S5 of Buffy, which means not enough Tara, but she really did draw me into the show in a new way, and I found myself eagerly scanning the credits for Amber Benson's name (and cursing those who decided to note include her in the main cast). You said it all.

[such_heights]

Yes, she brings a lovely new element to the show, I think. <3

[gozer]

There is a picture of Neil Gaiman that he posted to his blog where he's standing next to Amber Benson and it's awesome-cakes. I was so happy to see it.

[such_heights]

I know, that completely made my day too. :D

[some_stars]

I got into Buffy right after Tara showed up, and she was my favorite immediately. Like, I of course read more fic about the others and got all involved in their drama, but if Tara was in a scene my eyes were always on her. She is just so amazing.

[such_heights]

*draws all the hearts!*

[st_aurafina]

Tara! I love her so much! For a while there, BtVS was a really lovely, perfect place for me, with the Willow/Tara relationship, and the way that Willow and Tara looked out for Dawn, and helped Buffy keep things together. My favourite season.

[such_heights]

Gosh, yes, that was all so gorgeous.

[miss_haitch]

Oh, I love Tara so much. She's the character I can relate to the most, and I love her expression of strength - not in physical ass-kicking or social banter, but in her kindness and warmth.

[such_heights]

Absolutely, that's a great way of putting it. <333

[out_there]

Tara is such a TV girlfriend of mine -- you know, one of those characters that you utterly adore and would happily spend the rest of your life living with? That's Tara -- and you summed this up so well. Tara was brave when she had to be, but she was gentle and compassionate. As much as I loved her relationship with Willow, I loved her friendship with Dawn, Buffy and Anya just as much. She was a caring, stabilising influence on all who knew her, and she had a cute sense of humour and was a bit of a geek and was all-around adorable too. (And gorgeous. Let's be honest.)

[liseuse]

I remember watching Buffy religiously and being so so happy when Tara turned up. She is just so lovely and nice and quiet, but really strong at the same time. Also! A girl who looks like me! On the television! And happy!

Damn you, now I want to go and rewatch Buffy.