<P> Not all viewers considered Willow and Tara's relationship a positive development . Some fans loyal to Willow reacted angrily as she chose to be with Tara when Oz made himself available, and they lashed out at Tara and Amber Benson on the fansite message boards . Whedon replied sardonically, "we're going to shift away from this whole lifestyle choice that Willow has made . Just wipe the slate . From now on, Willow will no longer be a Jew . And I think we can all breathe easier ." However, he seriously explained his motivation, writing "My show is about emotion . Love is the most powerful, messy, delightful and dangerous emotion...Willow's in love . I think it's cool ." Hannigan was also positive about the way the character and her relationship with Tara was written: "It is not about being controversial or making a statement . I think the show is handling it really nicely . It's about two people who care about each other ." </P> <P> Contrasting with some of the more sexual relationships of the other characters, Willow and Tara demonstrate a sentimental, soft, and consistent affection for each other . Some of this was pragmatic: the show was restricted in what it could present to viewers . Willow and Tara did not kiss until the fifth season in an episode that diverted the focus away from the display of affection when Buffy's mother dies in "The Body". Before this, much of their sexuality is represented by allusions to witchcraft; spells doubled for physical affection such as an erotic ritual in "Who Are You?" where Willow and Tara chant and perspire in a circle of light until Willow falls back on a pillow gasping and moaning . Within the Buffy universe, magic is portrayed in a mostly female realm . As opposed to it being evil, it is an earth - bound force that is most proficiently harvested by women . The treatment of the lesbian relationship as integral to magic, representative of each other (love is magic, magic is love), earned the series some critical commentary from conservative Christians . To avoid large - scale criticism, scenes had to be shot several different ways because censors would not allow some types of action on screen . In the fourth and fifth seasons, the characters could be shown on a bed, but not under the covers . Hannigan noted the inconsistent standards with the other relationships on the show: "you've got Spike and Harmony just going at it like rabbits, so it's very hypocritical". As a couple, Willow and Tara are treated by the rest of the Scoobies with acceptance and little fanfare . Susan Driver writes that younger viewers especially appreciate that Willow and Tara are able to be affectionate without becoming overly sexual, thus making them objects of fantasy for male enjoyment . Willow and Tara's influence on specifically younger female viewers is, according to Driver, "remarkable". </P> <P> Academics, however, comment that Willow is a less sexual character than the others in the show . She is displayed as "cuddly" in earlier seasons, often dressing in pink fuzzy sweaters resulting in an innocent tomboyishness . She becomes more feminine in her relationship with Tara, who is already feminine; no issues with gender are present in their union . Their relationship is sanitized and unthreatening to male viewers . When the series moved broadcast networks from the WB to UPN in 2001, some of the restrictions were relaxed . Willow and Tara are shown in some scenes to be "intensely sexual", such as in the sixth season episode "Once More, with Feeling" where it is visually implied that Willow performs cunnilingus on Tara . When Willow and Tara reconcile, they spend part of the episode in "Seeing Red" unclothed in bed, covered by red sheets . </P> <P> Willow is more demonstrative in the beginning of her relationship with Tara . Where in her relationship with Oz she described herself as belonging to him, Tara states that she belongs to Willow . Willow finds in Tara a place where she can be the focus of Tara's attention, not having to appease or sacrifice as she has in the past . Tara, however, eclipses Willow's role as the moral center of the Scoobies, and as Willow becomes more powerful and less ethical, Tara becomes a maternal figure for the group . Willow acts as a sort of middle child between Xander's immaturity and Buffy's weighty responsibilities . She becomes completely devoted to and enamored of Tara, and then manipulates her to avoid conflict when Tara does not conform to what she wants . Displeased with how Willow abuses her power, especially toward herself, Tara leaves Willow while continuing to counsel Dawn and Buffy . Long after Tara's death, Willow faces the choices she made: in the Season Eight episode "Anywhere But Here", Willow tells Buffy that she is responsible for Tara's death . Her ambition to bring back Buffy from the dead inevitably led to Tara getting shot and killed . In the one - shot comic, Willow is offered Tara as a guide for her mystical path to understanding her own powers, but rejects her as being an illusion, too much of a comfort, and not a guide who will force her to grow . She begins a relationship with Kennedy . </P>

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