Willow and Giles Alike (The Best Willow Redemption Theory)

[wildfeed]

I started to notice how many things Giles and Willow have in common. It began to make sense that in season 7, or at least part of it would be focused on the Giles and Willow relationship probably around redemption of Willow and return of Tara. My hypothesis is based on the following facts:

The season 7 opener is being filmed in London with Willow and Giles.

1. Both Giles and Willow are very intellectual, very smart, very geeky. But both have dark sides that were not initially known or developed.

2. Both Giles and Willow's dark sides were briefly shown or mentioned in episodes previous to Two to Go. Giles nickname is Ripper and there was a Willow Vamp.

3. Both Giles and Willow have saved Buffy's ass majorily ...more than any of the other characters.

4. Buffy tends to rely on Giles and then Willow more (after Giles leaves) to be her "big gun" in tough spots.

5. GILES is very familiar with Black/Dark Majick. This is known from season 2, with introduction of Ethan. Giles also has many books on Dark majick. He was attracted to Black majick as young man in his twenties, when he was in college. he said because he was "bored" and looking for excitment. We know that Willow is very attracted/addicted to majick, especially Black majick. She gets her knowledge from books Giles has (first in his library and then from his store). She becomes more heavily involved with Black majick in college and her twenties.

5. Both Giles and Willow lost someone they loved (Jenny & Tara) at the hands of someone evil (Angelus & Warren).

6. Both have killed. Giles twice (his friend who was possessed by a demon & Ben)and Willow twice (Warren & Rack). Albeit all those killed were not really innocents ...they were evil or possessed.

7. Giles is the only one besides Tara to challenge Wills about her misuse of majick. When Willow and Tara get into about her misuse Tara leaves or sulks in frustration. When Giles challenges Willow she always seems to be much more angry, almost hostile like it's a competition or lack of recognition of by Giles of her growth and power...like she's competing not with Buffy but with Giles.

There are probably more similarities that I have not thought of or have missed. Anybody else notice?

[Bagheera]

These are useful parallels and your post is well thought out. It probably also indicates how empty the creative well is at ME that they are recycling their character arcs in this way. Sadly, I don't see where in all of this W/G parallel there is room for Tara's return except in visions and flashbacks (like Jenny, I guess, who was never a major character in the way that Tara was).

100 episodes was a good round number to go out on.

[tyche]

Okay, I've been thinking about this over the last few days, and the more I think about this, the more I think that Wesley is going to die next season. (Which depresses me, cause Wes, Willow and Tara are my favourite characters in the Buffyverse.)
Wesley and Tara are both the moral centres of their respective shows. They both overcame childhood abuse. They are both loyal, kind people who tried to live good lives. And as a result, Tara (according to ME's twisted logic, which allows rapists to be rewarded) apparently 'deserved' to die. Wesley is next. This is entirely speculation on my part, but if I'm right, then you heard it here first.
*sigh*

[EffieBlue]

I think if as suggested and seems likely, season 7 is the last, then I am sure it will be Willow who dies.
It was that throw away statement by Joss ..."Oh and Willow dies" that convinces me. He has been called a liar so much after the death of Tara, that when it happens to Willow at the end of season 7 he can say...."I told you all months ago she would die...why didn't you believe me???"

as for the redemption of Willow in season 7, i think that will come through having retained something of Glory when she returned Taras mind to her. It has been said several times "It's not Willow" that it makes me think that this is the "out" that the writers have, to allow Willow to recover from killing Warren and Rack. Glory says that Willow made a hole when she took Taras mind back from her, and we know Tara didn't get any of Glory but Willow certainly changed. Even using some of Glory's speech patterns in the last 2 episodes..Glory hated to be interrupted when on one of her rants...and Willow considered it "rude" when she was interrupted. Glory couldn't understand why anyone wanted to live in this world and Willow wanted to end everyones misery, not just her own.. there's also the don't piss me off comment to Giles in the kitchen when he returns after Buffy is back, it's like just for a second Willow isn't there and she actually takes a breath and changes her stance when she has finished and says to Giles she doesn't want to fight with him.
It just seems to me to indicate Willow isn't alone in her head....

[wildfeed]

I think you make some really good points. That's the thing about this show there are so many holes to fall in...so many storylines unexplained or unexplored. Everybody, keeps saying how brilliant Joss and his writing staff are. Quite frankly, I think a lot of the success of the show is just pure luck. The under development of so many storylines in six years, the whimsy of killing off characters when it doesn't make sense and above all else that really stupid statement about "giving fans not what they want but what they need"...that is the most insulting and stupendously stupid thing I have ever heard! ...it's all a cover for lazy and sloppy writing. I don't even think these guys have an imaginative hair on their head a lot of what they write is recycled mythology, religion and philosophy. I saw an interview with Marti Noxon where she stated the storyline is developed first and then the writers refer to mythology books to find an appropriate demon or villain to fit into the storyline. Well, in season six they must have run out of ideas and started to recycle the Giles theme through Willow. Even after saying all this it is obvious I am still a BTVS fan, but I just hate the fact that everybody thinks Joss is this guy who walks on water and he is not.

[Bagheera]

I'm still in denial about Joss's throwaway line about Willow dying, but deep down I think you're right, which is so many kinds of depressing. JW = Bastard.

[Kalita]

If we'd had a smidgen of intelligent writing this season (ie, actual empowered women and no lesbian cliches), I would have loved to have seen Willow take on the Watcher role after recovering from her magic abuse. She'd be perfect for the role, mainly due to the reasons listed above.

Well, she may still in S7, but as I doubt I'll be watching it, I can't seem to care...

[slayer747]

then yeah, better that be the end of buffy (wonder why s6 wasn't) ...there won't be any more reason for watching anyway. and if she dies, then i guess if she'll be with tara, then i'll be happy. sad that i won't see her anymore getting all babble-y though i don't think she'll be in S7 since she'll be all depressed... grr... slayer747 here not making sense... arrrghhh...

anyway my point: if willow dies and gets to be with tara again... then i guess it'll be okay for me. we'll write of fanfics of them in heaven (both literally and uhm... figuratively!)

ps
sorry for the rant -- haven't slept...