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Date Posted: 22:10:39 07/25/06 Tue
Author: Rich
Subject: Willow & Buffy comparison
In reply to: Dlgood 's message, "Re: Another take on Willow." on 05:27:00 07/24/06 Mon

Before facing Mayor Wilkins, Buffy tells Joyce that she wishes she were smarter or a better student "but there's one thing I do better than anyone else"* - I don't recall the exact wording. In S6, Willow describes her pre-wicca self as "just some girl - Tara didn't even know that girl". Both woman tend to define themselves, at least partly, by their power; it's what sets them apart, makes them unique, and gives them value.

During her walkabout in S5, Buffy tells the Spirit of the 1st Slayer (if that's what it was) "If I have to kill vampires to make the world a better place, then I kill vampires". She acts for the greater good, and she decides what that means. In "Selfless" she says this explicitly : "I am the Law" - she doesn't see herself as an agent of any authority, she is the authority. Willow, IMO, has a very similar attitude; she uses her magic to "fix" things that she sees as wrong, and she's not accountable to anyone else. After all, Buffy doesn't take orders from anyone, so why should Willow ? I think Willow sees herself as simply following in Buffy's footsteps; if so, she's not the only one (Angel and Spike being the two most obvious exaples).

However, Buffy does recognize what might be called jurisdictional limits - she is the law, but only for certain crimes and certain suspects. She rejects the "want, take, have" approach to Slaying. She recognizes that there are somes things she shouldn't do, killing humans obviously being at the top of the list, and she accepts responsibility when she believes she's done wrong. She even fights Willow (a friend) to protect Andrew and Jonathon (enemies). This is where Willow falls short.She has the power, she has good intentions (at least at first), but she doesn't have Buffy's sense of responsibility.

*this scene reminded me of my favorite mutant -"I'm the best there is at what I do, but what I do isn't very nice"

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