The only part of your essay that I didn't find very persuasive was your attribution of Willow's dislike of Anya to her negative first impression of Anya.
I guess Willow's dislike of Anya started because what happened in Doppelgängland. But then knowing Anya's past, Willow figured that once Xander upsets Anya, she might hurt him like she hurt men all these centuries. She was right, once Xander left Anya, she returned back to be a vengeance demon and sought Xander's friends to wish him death. Willow's fears are accurate.
ANYA: Oh. You think I'm gonna hurt Xander? I would *never* hurt Xander! (Willow looks skeptical) You really think I would do that!
WILLOW: Anya, it's what you do. You spent what, a thousand years hurting men? You got your "thousand years of hurting men" gold watch.
ANYA: I was a demon then, and, and I don't even have any powers now! Is this the spell?
WILLOW: Only if you want him to double in size, and grow extra arms, which ... let's not. A-and by the way, you weren't a demon when you turned Olaf into Lord of the Hammers. You managed that. Also, there's ... other ways to hurt Xander.
You'd think at some point they'd have some status apart from their relationship with a particular Scooby.
I think because Buffy, Xander and Willow were best friends for so long, they have a stronger bond with each other than with the others. It's understandable they'd confidant on each other.
To me the Scoobies had a healthy relationship with Tara and Anya, they weren't best friends with them, but they did consider them friends. Tara gets invited to Buffy's birthday and Xander's wedding even after she broke up with Willow. Xander keeps reminding Buffy that Anya is her friend in Selfless. I remember when Anya came back after the wedding that didn't happen, Willow hugged her with excitement. Willow actually considered hating Xander for what he did to Anya. That from the Scooby member who didn't get along with Anya.
As for deaths, people usually gloss over Buffy and Xander's reaction to Tara's death, the way they looked at her body, shocked and upset. The way Xander approved of killing Warren because he killed Tara. They really cared about her. The minimal reaction to Anya and Spike's death had more to do with Joss wanting it to have a lighter ending, I'm sure the Scoobies mourned off-screen. At least Buffy had tears when she told Spike she loved him and he was the lost word she said when the series ended. Xander risked his life looking for Anya in a falling building until Dawn pulled him out, there were tears in his eyes and voice when he talked with Andrew.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2007-07-04 07:50 pm (UTC)I guess Willow's dislike of Anya started because what happened in Doppelgängland. But then knowing Anya's past, Willow figured that once Xander upsets Anya, she might hurt him like she hurt men all these centuries. She was right, once Xander left Anya, she returned back to be a vengeance demon and sought Xander's friends to wish him death. Willow's fears are accurate.
ANYA: Oh. You think I'm gonna hurt Xander? I would *never* hurt Xander! (Willow looks skeptical) You really think I would do that!
WILLOW: Anya, it's what you do. You spent what, a thousand years hurting men? You got your "thousand years of hurting men" gold watch.
ANYA: I was a demon then, and, and I don't even have any powers now! Is this the spell?
WILLOW: Only if you want him to double in size, and grow extra arms, which ... let's not. A-and by the way, you weren't a demon when you turned Olaf into Lord of the Hammers. You managed that. Also, there's ... other ways to hurt Xander.
You'd think at some point they'd have some status apart from their relationship with a particular Scooby.
I think because Buffy, Xander and Willow were best friends for so long, they have a stronger bond with each other than with the others. It's understandable they'd confidant on each other.
To me the Scoobies had a healthy relationship with Tara and Anya, they weren't best friends with them, but they did consider them friends. Tara gets invited to Buffy's birthday and Xander's wedding even after she broke up with Willow. Xander keeps reminding Buffy that Anya is her friend in Selfless. I remember when Anya came back after the wedding that didn't happen, Willow hugged her with excitement. Willow actually considered hating Xander for what he did to Anya. That from the Scooby member who didn't get along with Anya.
As for deaths, people usually gloss over Buffy and Xander's reaction to Tara's death, the way they looked at her body, shocked and upset. The way Xander approved of killing Warren because he killed Tara. They really cared about her. The minimal reaction to Anya and Spike's death had more to do with Joss wanting it to have a lighter ending, I'm sure the Scoobies mourned off-screen. At least Buffy had tears when she told Spike she loved him and he was the lost word she said when the series ended. Xander risked his life looking for Anya in a falling building until Dawn pulled him out, there were tears in his eyes and voice when he talked with Andrew.