I must confess that selecting my favourite Big Bad has not been an easy task at all. I have wavered between The First, Angelus and Dark Willow for quite some time. Whilst I love the other two and I will be writing about them eventually, I have reached the conclusion that Dark Willow is my absolute favourite.
Recently, I had written an essay about why Willow is my favourite character and in that, I touched upon her exploits as Dark Willow. I was inspired to write about Dark Willow more extensively after my friend on twitter suggested I write about my favourite Big Bad. Do brace yourself, because this is going to be long and almost certainly feels inducing!
First, I would like to start with how Dark Willow came to be. Simply put, it was years of bullying, low self esteem, and an inferiority complex that had built up over the years. Those things combined with Willow suddenly realising just how powerful she was ("Tough Love" to an extent and both parts of "Bargaining") did not mesh well whatsoever. Not to mention that over the years, Willow had lost a lot of people she cared about, the most recent of which being her best friend, Buffy and by the end of the season, her soulmate Tara. Take all of those aforementioned circumstances into account along with Willow's naturally sensitive nature and you can see why she was so damaged and broken by the end of season six.
Magick had started becoming an important part of Willow's life at the end of season two after she had successfully restored Angelus' soul ("Becoming, Part 2"). Beforehand, Giles had warned her that once she started using magick, she may open a door that she would never be able to close. That certainly turned out to be some great foreshadowing.
In my opinion, Dark Willow had been a long time coming, so it wasn't a huge surprise to me when everything finally reached breaking point. Season three's "Doppelgangland" is an excellent example of how Willow truly felt about herself, particularly when she says, "She bothered me. She's so weak and accommodating. She's always letting people walk all over her, and then she gets cranky with her friends for no reason. I just couldn't let her live.". Although she was posing as Vamp Willow, it is obvious that what she said was how she felt about herself.
"The Wish" and "Doppelgangland" are good episodes to look back on when looking for foreshadowing regarding Dark Willow. Vamp Willow was essentially the embodiment of Willow's hidden desires, so we already got a taste of what an evil Willow would be like in the middle of season three. Now if Willow already had those hostile desires in the middle of season three, what on earth was she suppressing three seasons later?
Recently, I had written an essay about why Willow is my favourite character and in that, I touched upon her exploits as Dark Willow. I was inspired to write about Dark Willow more extensively after my friend on twitter suggested I write about my favourite Big Bad. Do brace yourself, because this is going to be long and almost certainly feels inducing!
First, I would like to start with how Dark Willow came to be. Simply put, it was years of bullying, low self esteem, and an inferiority complex that had built up over the years. Those things combined with Willow suddenly realising just how powerful she was ("Tough Love" to an extent and both parts of "Bargaining") did not mesh well whatsoever. Not to mention that over the years, Willow had lost a lot of people she cared about, the most recent of which being her best friend, Buffy and by the end of the season, her soulmate Tara. Take all of those aforementioned circumstances into account along with Willow's naturally sensitive nature and you can see why she was so damaged and broken by the end of season six.
Magick had started becoming an important part of Willow's life at the end of season two after she had successfully restored Angelus' soul ("Becoming, Part 2"). Beforehand, Giles had warned her that once she started using magick, she may open a door that she would never be able to close. That certainly turned out to be some great foreshadowing.
In my opinion, Dark Willow had been a long time coming, so it wasn't a huge surprise to me when everything finally reached breaking point. Season three's "Doppelgangland" is an excellent example of how Willow truly felt about herself, particularly when she says, "She bothered me. She's so weak and accommodating. She's always letting people walk all over her, and then she gets cranky with her friends for no reason. I just couldn't let her live.". Although she was posing as Vamp Willow, it is obvious that what she said was how she felt about herself.
"The Wish" and "Doppelgangland" are good episodes to look back on when looking for foreshadowing regarding Dark Willow. Vamp Willow was essentially the embodiment of Willow's hidden desires, so we already got a taste of what an evil Willow would be like in the middle of season three. Now if Willow already had those hostile desires in the middle of season three, what on earth was she suppressing three seasons later?
As I previously mentioned in this essay, Willow had been through a hell of a lot before she finally unleashed her evil side. Tara's death was not the cause of Willow's turn to the dark side, it was merely the catalyst. Along with the other Scoobies, Willow endured a lot of strife in season six. By abusing her power, she ultimately ended up hurting those around her whom she loved, even going so far as erasing Tara's memories on more than one occasion ("All The Way" and "Tabula Rasa"). I am not a fan of the whole "magick = drugs" metaphor, so I like to think of Willow as having a power addiction. She realised how powerful she really was so she ended up becoming arrogant and selfish. Giles was right about her being arrogant ("Flooded"), but she was certainly no amateur.
Speaking of Giles... in a sense, he could have helped prevent Dark Willow. I am aware that he was Buffy's Watcher, but he was a father figure to Willow and Xander, too. He was aware of her practicing magick, but he didn't try to train her, or even point her in the direction of somebody who could. I would argue that it was irresponsible on his behalf, especially when you factor in that he was a magick practicioner in his younger years.
What is most striking to be about Dark Willow as a villain is that she could not be beaten with sheer force. Instead, she was brought back to her senses through love and compassion, thanks to Xander. Though her actions as Dark Willow were considered to be evil, she still had a soul and she was a human being.
There was one moment in particular with Dark Willow that I relished, and that was when she was cruelly mocking Dawn at Rack's place:
Speaking of Giles... in a sense, he could have helped prevent Dark Willow. I am aware that he was Buffy's Watcher, but he was a father figure to Willow and Xander, too. He was aware of her practicing magick, but he didn't try to train her, or even point her in the direction of somebody who could. I would argue that it was irresponsible on his behalf, especially when you factor in that he was a magick practicioner in his younger years.
What is most striking to be about Dark Willow as a villain is that she could not be beaten with sheer force. Instead, she was brought back to her senses through love and compassion, thanks to Xander. Though her actions as Dark Willow were considered to be evil, she still had a soul and she was a human being.
There was one moment in particular with Dark Willow that I relished, and that was when she was cruelly mocking Dawn at Rack's place:
"You used to be some ... mystic ball of energy. Maybe that's why you're crying all the time, Dawnie. 'Cause you don't belong here. Wanna go back? End the pain? You'll be happier. I'll be happier. We'll all be a lot happier without listening to the constant whining."
Dark Willow, to me, is perhaps the Scooby's most fearsome foe. Despite her being referred to as Dark Willow - making her almost seem like a separate character -, that was still Willow. She very nearly killed all of her friends, but she didn't stop there, she was extremely close to ending the entire world. Whilst other Big Bads had tried to bring about the apocalypse, they were not long-time devoted friends to the Scoobies (Angel hadn't been around anywhere near as long as Willow in the friendship group).
Along with being fearsome, Dark Willow was a very tragic figure. After all, at the centre of it, this was a widowed young woman crying for help. We knew what Willow was like for years before: sweet, unassertive, gentle, etc, we knew that she wasn't an inherently evil person. She is certainly the most sympathetic villain in the series, it's difficult not to root for her. Although she had attempted to end the world, she did so because she could feel everybody's pain (after previously absorbing Giles' magick) and she wanted the suffering to end. Twisted, maybe, but it makes sense when you consider how much empathy she was shown to have throughout the series.
Along with being fearsome, Dark Willow was a very tragic figure. After all, at the centre of it, this was a widowed young woman crying for help. We knew what Willow was like for years before: sweet, unassertive, gentle, etc, we knew that she wasn't an inherently evil person. She is certainly the most sympathetic villain in the series, it's difficult not to root for her. Although she had attempted to end the world, she did so because she could feel everybody's pain (after previously absorbing Giles' magick) and she wanted the suffering to end. Twisted, maybe, but it makes sense when you consider how much empathy she was shown to have throughout the series.
The quote I placed above is very effective. Not just because of Alyson's superb delivery, but also because it was a nod to the viewers, who generally dislike the character of Dawn.
Some other noteworthy moments involving Dark Willow were her fight with Buffy and Giles, and her targeting Andrew and Jonathon. Willow was straight-up terrifying and I, for one, thoroughly enjoyed watching her kick everybody's backsides. Her battle with Buffy in The Magic Box was nothing short of epic, and when Giles suddenly appears and traps her with magick? Supreme. All of the acting that took place in the Dark Willow arc was excellent; Alyson Hannigan's especially. The way she spoke lowly and threateningly was a huge departure from Willow's usual hesitant, upbeat tone. If Willow's appearances in the previous scenes were not enough to convince you that Alyson is a great actor, then the Dark Willow arc will surely be enough.
Some other noteworthy moments involving Dark Willow were her fight with Buffy and Giles, and her targeting Andrew and Jonathon. Willow was straight-up terrifying and I, for one, thoroughly enjoyed watching her kick everybody's backsides. Her battle with Buffy in The Magic Box was nothing short of epic, and when Giles suddenly appears and traps her with magick? Supreme. All of the acting that took place in the Dark Willow arc was excellent; Alyson Hannigan's especially. The way she spoke lowly and threateningly was a huge departure from Willow's usual hesitant, upbeat tone. If Willow's appearances in the previous scenes were not enough to convince you that Alyson is a great actor, then the Dark Willow arc will surely be enough.
The scene where Dark Willow flays Warren alive with a wave of her hand is often revered as being the most gruesome moment from the entire series, to which, I agree. However, it is not just that moment alone that makes Warren's death gruesome, it is the lead up to it. Dark Willow had strung him up to a tree, slowly driven a bullet through his chest and psychologically tortured him before she delivered the final touch, after saying two simple words: "Bored Now.". That particular quote links into my previous musings about the foreshadowing from Vamp Willow. Of course, I believe that Dark Willow was completely justified in what she inflicted upon Warren, he deserved every second of it.
Admittedly, I am not a huge fan of season six, but I do love the Dark Willow arc, it's the season's saving grace as far as I am concerned. The writers really upped their game and they delivered some heart-breaking and simultaneously action-packed scenes. "Grave" makes the season come into full circle as Buffy once again crawls out of a grave, but this time, she is very much invigorated.
Dark Willow's actions actually end up playing an even bigger part in season seven, as Willow had to face the consequences of what she had done -- "Lessons", "Conversations with Dead People" and "The Killer in Me", especially, are largely about Willow's redemption and her struggle with her conscience.
That's how I feel about Dark Willow, how do you feel about her? Was she justified or was she just a plain ol' bitca? Let me know what you think!
X
Admittedly, I am not a huge fan of season six, but I do love the Dark Willow arc, it's the season's saving grace as far as I am concerned. The writers really upped their game and they delivered some heart-breaking and simultaneously action-packed scenes. "Grave" makes the season come into full circle as Buffy once again crawls out of a grave, but this time, she is very much invigorated.
Dark Willow's actions actually end up playing an even bigger part in season seven, as Willow had to face the consequences of what she had done -- "Lessons", "Conversations with Dead People" and "The Killer in Me", especially, are largely about Willow's redemption and her struggle with her conscience.
That's how I feel about Dark Willow, how do you feel about her? Was she justified or was she just a plain ol' bitca? Let me know what you think!
X