Never liked Tara

[Wilkins]

This is strange to me - Everywhere I turn, I hear nothing but saluting words about Tara. Personly I never really liked her (the actress who portraid her, I mean - Not the caracter) I think she was a bad actor, and all to often when she said something it just felt out of place and embarrasing.

And also, it disturbs me that she refused to gueststarr in season seven as "the first". Like if she was to good for that. How pretentious! It was a show with very wide and sudden twists, didn't she get that? An apperence would not have hurt the caracter Tara att all.

[Wicked]

This is strange to me - Everywhere I turn, I hear nothing but saluting words about Tara. Personly I never really liked her (the actress who portraid her, I mean - Not the caracter) I think she was a bad actor, and all to often when she said something it just felt out of place and embarrasing.

That was the point though

And also, it disturbs me that she refused to gueststarr in season seven as "the first". Like if she was to good for that. How pretentious! It was a show with very wide and sudden twists, didn't she get that? An apperence would not have hurt the caracter Tara att all.
I thought it was due to scheduling conflicts or something?

[Ladybug]

Hm. I myself really like Tara (so if I start sounding biased, my bad), she was a pretty good character in my opinion. Tara's whole character was supposed to be out of place, at least a little, because she didn't appear in the show until the 4th season, so it's like she was never really part of the group. She always felt like she wasn't. It made me feel bad for her.

Woah - Amber Benson, not a good actor? Never heard that before. What makes you say that she's not a good actor? :confused3

It definetly would've hurt Tara's character (not to mention Willow's) if Tara herself had showed up in Conversations with Dead People. If Tara had been shown in there, Willow would've most likely been left with more questions (like Cassie didn't leave her with enough questions O.o). I think Amber Benson did a good thing in not showing up there.

Basically, I don't really agree with anything you've said here.

[What happened to good TV?]

Get prepared to be proven wrong, then insulted for poor judgement, then proved wrong many a times :P lol, just kidding. (But seriously, be prepared)

Personally love the actress. I think your comment about the dialogue is true in her early appearances. And rightly so. she was insecure and felt out of place with the scoobs. The ep where buffy moves out of her college dorm and everyone helps her move is perfect example of that. I think Amber Benson portrays this quite frankly amazingly.

Also I think the fact that she felt so strongly about her character Tara is admirable. Some actors would jump at the chance of another appearance and another paycheck. I think her helping out with other projects such as the video game voice over and graphic novels and stuff shows it wasnt her dedication to the show or her lack of knowledge about the 'very wide and sudden twists', I think it shows that she related to the character so much that it would take away her essence of being an innocent (especially the her powerful death) if she was to come back evil.

[Lyri]

that is not the reason Amber wouldn't guest star as The First. she was asked to return to the show three episodes before the end, but she couldn't because she was already commited to another project. Joss then asked her to return as The First, using Tara's image, but Amber turned him down, stating that she didn't think it was fair to the fans. Tara is a favorite character of many people, myself included, and Amber didn't think it was fait that the last memories the fans would have of Tara was something completely different to the sweet natured person she was. Amber had her fans in mind when she turned Joss down. She's also said that is her diary had been clear, she would have jumped at the chance to return as the real Tara for the last three episodes.

[Black Eye Guy]

Yeah I gotta agree with everyone that likes Tara, she's one of my favourites. And I love Amber Benson, I think she's an amazing actress.

I also agree with her decision not to return as the first, I think her being there (Even if she was the first) would have taken away from her death, although it would have been interesting to see an Evil Tara.

Also I think the fact that she felt so strongly about her character Tara is admirable. Some actors would jump at the chance of another appearance and another pay check. I think her helping out with other projects such as the video game voice over and graphic novels and stuff shows it wasnt her dedication to the show or her lack of knowledge about the 'very wide and sudden twists', I think it shows that she related to the character so much that it would take away her essence of being an innocent (especially the her powerful death) if she was to come back evil.

Also agree with every syllable in this paragraph! I think it's amazing how much work amber did outside of the show for the show. Especially since they didn't even make her a regular until the episode she died!

[Lyri]

I think it's amazing how much work amber did outside of the show for the show. Especially since they didn't even make her a regular until the episode she died!

to be fair though, that was Amber's desicion. she asked to be made a series regular in the episode Tara died, so that she could say thank you to her fans.

[Wicked]

I thought it was Joss's decision. Something about wanting to kill someone just in the credits but he couldnt afford to put Jesse in the credits in episode 1.

[Lyri]

he did that with Doyle...i can't remember where i read that, i think it might have been here somewhere, but i do remember it.

[Wicked]

Yeah but Doyle was in 9 episodes :)

[Lyri]

true, but that was always the plan, i guess. people might have expected it if she died in the first ep.

[Buffy Summers]

I didn't really like Tara, but I don't have anything against Amber Benson.

[eponinethen]

Well, I personally love Tara/Willow. And I've liked Amber Benson since the second I saw her on BtVS the first time. However, I don't think she's an amazing actress. She's ok, sometimes she's great, sometimes not great – that doesn't make me like her less though.. I just have some kind of strange admiration for her, I've always sort of wanted to be like her, she seems awesome, mhm..

I don't see how you can hardly notice Tara though, heh, I mean she's there in most episodes for over two seasons ;)

[Ladybug]

Agreeing muchly with Epo here. I started noticing that odd fondess earlier this week when I was watching Tough Love... again... but yeah, I would love to be like Tara. I always feel so bad for her, you know, since she's always sort of left out.

[watcher1006]

Amber Benson is a person of multiple artistic talents, and someone who is very kind to her fans.

Actors have their own projects, schedules and commitments. And their own preferences. Nothing obligates an actor to come back and reprise his or her role on a show. I'm one of those people who think "Conversations With Dead People" might have been even greater than it was if it had been Tara who was impersonated by The First, but heck, I can't reproach Amber Benson if she declined.

Remember AB's first performance as Tara was in S4 "Hush", an acting triumph for the players involved, having to play their characters without dialogue. I like her mute scene with Willow where she communicates to her without words what they can do together with their powers, blocking the Gentlemen. Thus does their bond begin!

In Season 4 and into Season 5, AB played Tara well as the outsider, someone who was Willow's new friend but still not quite meshed into the group of her old friends. It's intriguing how she plays such a big part in S4 "Restless", in the dreams of the original Scoobies. Tara's role within the group steadily grew more important as the show proceeded through Season 5 and then went into Season 6.

I'm not a fan who goes into raptures over Tara and the Willow-Tara relationship, but I liked the character of Tara as part of the post-Sunnydale High School Buffy world.

[eponinethen]

Agreeing muchly with Epo here. I started noticing that odd fondess earlier this week when I was watching Tough Love... again... but yeah, I would love to be like Tara. I always feel so bad for her, you know, since she's always sort of left out.
Oh I didn't mean I wanted to be like Tara, but like Amber, just so you know ;)

I don't think Amber the greatest actor or director or writer, but she does all those things, and she gets better and good, she tries all these different things and is never scared, she's funny, she seems very kind and sweet, and yeah, she is talented, mhm :)

[Wilkins]

This is strange to me - Everywhere I turn, I hear nothing but saluting words about Tara. Personly I never really liked her (the actress who portraid her, I mean - Not the caracter) I think she was a bad actor, and all to often when she said something it just felt out of place and embarrasing.

And also, it disturbs me that she refused to gueststarr in season seven as "the first". Like if she was to good for that. How pretentious! It was a show with very wide and sudden twists, didn't she get that? An apperence would not have hurt the caracter Tara att all.

Okey, I realize that my words came out a bit harsher then I intended, so, I gotta cut her some slack - She was OUTSTANDING in One's more, with feeling.

[Wiccaness]

Personally I love both the character and the actress. And i agree with every one that says the positive abour her....But there are some scenes or lines where its just awkward. But i think Tara was an important character to the show and to willow.

[Your Creamy Coolness]

Was Josh planning of resurrecting her in the finale with a wish or something? I have heard a bit about this but not much.

Personally I love Amber Benson. I think she was a little stiff in her first few eps, but I think she definately got better. And she can outsing any of the women in Once More With Feeling. She is great in that ep. I thought she was good in "Family" "Tabula Rosa" "Restless" and "Hush!"

[Your Creamy Coolness]

Did I call him Josh in another thread? I meant to edit this one. I know his name is JOSS....It was a typo. Sorry! I know that probably aggravates people. The fact is long before I watched Buffy, I always thought his name was Josh...so it was really hard for me to get out of the habit of referring to him as Josh. Anyhoo....

[StillMissTara]

Tara's character was shy and stuttered, she was supposed to be uneasy at first....it's acting........then through season 6 it was nice seeing Tara become her own person, forming friendships with Dawn and Buffy apart from Willow.

Edit:

Oh and the reason she would not come back for season 7 is that so many fans were upset by Tara and how she died, that the actress didn't want the character's memory to be marred. People came up to Amber benson crying about tara in public.

[LittleMissLikesToFight]

I never had anything against the actress... but i was indifferent to Tara as a character. I thought she was going to be so much more after that scene in hush (it WAS hush, right?) where her and willow put their hands together and find the power to move the vending machine (i think thats what it was?) over the door. And i was like, cool, theres gonna be something great here with the combined power of willow and tara. But then... i dunno... it kind of went flat for me. Over all she did not have the affect on me that it seems she had to other fans. She was just "eh" for me as a character.

[Keanoite]

I think maybe you have to be Willow fan to like Tara, and while I LOVE high school Willow I like her less and less after Oz left. I don't really care for Tara one way or another.

[LittleMissLikesToFight]

I actually am quite a fan of willow, ive always loved her and thought she got really cool when she was getting into the magicks and all. But Tara just didnt do it for me.

[Keanoite]

I actually am quite a fan of willow, ive always loved her and thought she got really cool when she was getting into the magicks and all. But Tara just didnt do it for me.

I stand corrected!::huh1::

[TrueVengeance]

Hmm I loved Tara. I didn't care for her much in the fourth season, but in seasons 5&6 I loved her! I understand why people find her boring and such though. I think what made me like her was my love for Tillow. Then I just fell on love with her (not in the gay way though :p ).

[GATEGOD]

I actually am quite a fan of willow, ive always loved her and thought she got really cool when she was getting into the magicks and all. But Tara just didnt do it for me.

Amen ! Down with tara! ;) lol jking for all you tara fans out there ;) But she never made me like her, too shy and stuttery and , I don't have any good reasons except I loved Oz, Willow and Oz were perfect, and there is no way! that Tara could ever compete with Oz. Therefore I see her as nothing special and by taking Oz's place she just urks me even more >.< But enough with the Tara bashing :) Willow/Oz for eternity!

[Keanoite]

too shy and stuttery

I don't like Tara but that was on the mean side.

[GATEGOD]

I don't like Tara but that was on the mean side.
I know but that was still a reason, for me. Main one is that I like oz, that's just in the back of my head. So what if it's mean, it's still a reason, no matter how iffy and stupid. That was part of her character Shy, and stuttery. I didn't like it.

[white avenger]

Two questions for Mr Wilkins:

1) If you liked the character but not the actress, who would you have picked to play the part if you were Joss?

2) If you resent Amber not appearing in the Buffy finale, do you feel the same way about Sarah for not appearing in the Angel finale?

I believe the lady did an excellent job with the material that she had to work with, but I also believe that the character was too much "Willow's girlfriend," and not enough her own person. Her song in OMWF about living her life in Willow's shadow was exactly right, and she really can't be faulted for playing the character the way she was written.

As for her refusal to return to the show for the last episode, we sometimes forget that while these characters are very real to their fans (which, to me at least, is the sign of a talented actor), the people who portray them are first and foremost professionals, and if scheduling, pay, or any of a dozen other factors come into conflict with reprising a role, then the role doesn't get reprised.

[Keanoite]

I know but that was still a reason, for me. Main one is that I like oz, that's just in the back of my head. So what if it's mean, it's still a reason, no matter how iffy and stupid. That was part of her character Shy, and stuttery. I didn't like it.

Fair enough but I just think to not like someone because they stutter is right up their with disliking someone because they are fat.

[GATEGOD]

Fair enough but I just think to not like someone because they stutter is right up their with disliking someone because they are fat.

No. I dislike her because the way she acts and how shy she is around everything. More so like saying you don't like Anya because she'd greedy. Or Faith because she's a slut. Or Cordy because she's shallow. Those kind of reasons. Character flaws, traits, whatever you call them. That is why I don't like Tara

[Keanoite]

No. I dislike her because the way she acts and how shy she is around everything. More so like saying you don't like Anya because she'd greedy. Or Faith because she's a slut. Or Cordy because she's shallow. Those kind of reasons. Character flaws, traits, whatever you call them. That is why I don't like Tara

Stuttering isn't a character flaw, it's something pysically wrong with someone that can be extremely difficult to overcome.

[TrueVengeance]

Therefore I see her as nothing special and by taking Oz's place she just urks me even moreSIZE]

Its not her fault she took Oz's place, its the writers fault for wanting someone to take Oz's place as Willow's other. Tara didn't push Oz away and want Willow for herself when Oz came back. She even said that Willow should be with the one she loved, and to do what made her happy. No one forced Willow to choose Tara.

^That may not be what you meant by "Taking Oz's place" but I understand where your coming from. I sometimes feel that way toward Kennedy :p

[GATEGOD]

Stuttering isn't a character flaw, it's something pysically wrong with someone that can be extremely difficult to overcome.:lmao:

I could care less that she stutters. It's just annoying. see 'mean again' but it is. Anyway That's probably the lowest reason I have. I hate her because she took Oz's place.

[palabravampiress]

I liked Tara. Overall, I liked AB's portrayal of her, too. I thought Tara was a breath of fresh air. She was so genuinely good at heart that it made her a nice contrast to Willow's steadily darkening character. The white witch to the black. She also tested the other characters a lot. In some ways, because she was an outsider, she made them have to deal with the outside world a lot. The scoobies were becoming rather insular. Tara was a reminder that there was a world beyond the demon killing gig. Also she was a much needed stabalizing force in season 6.

That said, like all of the actors, she had moments that really resonated with me and she had moments in which I didn't so much buy her performance. I don't think she was a bad actor, but I can see some room for criticism. That's the case with all of the actors, though. I mean, no show with a 7-year-run is perfect. Some writing days are better than others. Sometimes the direction's off. Sometimes the art direction, the wardrobe, the graphics guys, the stunt coordinators, etc. screwed up. Some mistakes are to be expected. That's just the nature of a show with a 7-year run.

[Bangelxx]

awww i have to disagree with you there,Wilkins! Tara is one of my fave characters! she's so sweet, and smart and caring and everything! i wish she hadn't died.

[ninjashoes]

lets just say theres a reason why they killed her off

[GATEGOD]

lets just say theres a reason why they killed her off

Buffy Summers agrees: Right on ;)

I was going to say that!!! :lmao:

But i just watched that scene and it was so sad :cry: when she says "Your shirt..." with her blood splattered all over Willow, and then dies :cry: Maybe I shouldn't hate tara so much. Maybe just slightly dislike her? But then again Idk, I was sad for Willow, more than i was sad that Tara died :cry: am I a bad person :cry:

[Buffy Summers]

She was getting better...and then she was dead. lol

[GATEGOD]

She was getting better...and then she was dead. lol

lol :lmao: Yea!! I liked her for maybe a few moments, somewhere during the whole show!! lol Rest, not so much, but her death was sad, as most are.

[Randy Giles]

Amber Benson is fine, but I've never been that fond of Tara. I don't hate her but I don't really care much for her either. I don't really understand all the passion for her. *shrug*

[Dlou444]

I always liked Tara. I think the shy awkwardness was GENIUS with the other characters. Willow used to be more shy and awkward, but she grew out of it. Xander is just a goof. Buffy's always "Miss Power Gonna Whoop Butt". Oz was more quiet, but not shy or awkward. And once you throw Anya and her demeanor in there...and Riley and his stiff Army Man ways...I think she had to be kind of the shy quiet cliff note at the bottom. And she doesn't LOOK like she fits in either. Which I also liked.
The fact that she seemed to so OBVIOUSLY not fit in was what got me. Two episodes and I was hooked. Everyone has felt that way at one point or another. Meeting new people, first day at a new job. Like there is a NEON SIGN over your head saying, "OUTCAST HERE". And I think they purposefully had her looking AND acting so awkward for so long so that we'd feel that.

And to have her ever so slowly be more and more comfortable to the point where she's like Miss Everything Together when she's talking to Buffy about sleeping with Spike.

I just think it's genius.

[Bangelxx]

yeah me too. Willow used to be shy and quiet and so tara is just so perfect for her!!

[Gabrielle]

Well, I would like to join the Tara Anti FanClub. I don't like her at all. The only episode where I didn't find her annoying was Once More With Feeling. Apart from that, I could really miss out her from the whole bunch of events happening around Buffy and Co. The only meaning of her being part of Buffyverse (at least for me) was the end of season six, when she died. The reason: her death unleashed the powers lying in Willow, and thanx to this event, season six could have such a great ending with the whole Xander - Willow dialogue in the very end of the last episode in that season.
But the question is: why I hate Tara? Because OK, she annoyed me, but this is just one side of my problem with her. The other is (simply, in one word): Willow. I really loved the pre - Tara Willow, who was just a nice and a bit shy high-school girl. I loved that reliable girl and friend who had such a cool boyfriend as Oz. She was just so different before meeting Tara, and I couldn't get to love the post - Tara Willow as much. Then the Willow - Oz couple was my second favourite couple in the Buffyverse. Then Tara came, and even if Oz had returned, he was shown the door by Willow. (OK, there were tears and hugs while the two of them separated for ever, but still... I missed Oz. I liked him even more than Tara.)

[GATEGOD]

Well, I would like to join the Tara Anti FanClub. I don't like her at all. The only episode where I didn't find her annoying was Once More With Feeling. Apart from that, I could really miss out her from the whole bunch of events happening around Buffy and Co. The only meaning of her being part of Buffyverse (at least for me) was the end of season six, when she died. The reason: her death unleashed the powers lying in Willow, and thanx to this event, season six could have such a great ending with the whole Xander - Willow dialogue in the very end of the last episode in that season.
But the question is: why I hate Tara? Because OK, she annoyed me, but this is just one side of my problem with her. The other is (simply, in one word): Willow. I really loved the pre - Tara Willow, who was just a nice and a bit shy high-school girl. I loved that reliable girl and friend who had such a cool boyfriend as Oz. She was just so different before meeting Tara, and I couldn't get to love the post - Tara Willow as much. Then the Willow - Oz couple was my second favourite couple in the Buffyverse. Then Tara came, and even if Oz had returned, he was shown the door by Willow. (OK, there were tears and hugs while the two of them separated for ever, but still... I missed Oz. I liked him even more than Tara.)

I'm with you all the way! Oz/Willow was one of my Favorite Buffyverse couples, after seeing Willow/Oz, then Tara/Willow it's clear Oz/Willow were better! Well to me anyway. I thought she was annoying too!! But everyone else says that's her character the shy stuttering girl. I get that, It still doesn't mean I liked it! I didn't know there was a club though :p

[Kimz]

i liked tara, i think the point of tara was to show she was shy etc...so i think she was portrayed really well...
and as for amber, i think shes fab! and seems like such a lovely girl, ive heard only good things about her...i think buffy meant a lot to her and her character of tara, im sure she would of guest starred as the first, but i think it conflicted with something else. which is fair enough.
x

[Elithustra]

I always thought that Amber Benson deliberatly played Tara the way she did. At first I recall thinking 'How meek, mild and what can come of this?' and lookit what happened!

I guess it was just to portray how someone's life can change, how indeed their very personality can blossom, when they find true love.

[calicott]

Just watched season four again and when she first came on I cringed. The actor is the worst – her scenes are so stilted and corny and awful. I also hate the character – a total doormat. Especially when she said something like ‘I’m Yours’ to Willow – ugh, it’s such an unequal relationship. And I know we’re all meant to empathise and feel sorry for her b/c she has no confidence and feels left out but she’s just dull as dishwater and the actress’ portrayal is so dire I feel nothing but hatred whenever she’s on my screen. Frankly amazes me that people even vaguely like her, let alone love her. Of course I also dislike Willow (espec post high school Willow) and love Oz so that could factor in…

[Joyce Summers]

See, I think you're all mistaking Tara's character for bad acting. The scenes are meant to be stilted and awkward because Tara is. After all, Joss wanted Tara to be even more shy and bird-like than Amber was. He wanted someone very thin and wispy to play the part. So Amber was putting that across through her acting skills.

I immediately loved Tara. She was a sweetie and really, the only flawless one in the entire scooby gang. She was never selfish, she always tried to see the best in people, she was never corrupted by magic, she constantly tried to help others and strived to help Dawn not feel excluded in season 5. And she really helped Willow come out of her shell. With her being even more shy than Will, Willow was able to blossom into a very confident individual and you see the same happens to Tara; they bring out the best in one another.

I mean by season 5 Tara has become a lot more confident in the group dynamic after the events of family. I love her line in 'I was made to love you' where she finishes a sentence about the robot with 'stamped on her ass!' and when everyone looks at her with 'you're Tara you don't say things like that' expressions she excuses herself with 'just trying a little bit o spicy talk'.

Tara always made me smile. And as much as I love Willow/Oz that was a nice relatioship for the high school scene, but Tara/Willow wins hands down for me. I mean I'll admit at first I was reluctant to the whole 'Willow is gay' thing, but then it seemed more natural for the character when I realized that it wasn't she was attracted to women but that she was in love with one woman. She had found her soul mate and it just happened to be a woman, happened to be Tara.

But fine, I accept that some people will not like her character. I mean that's the way it goes; we all like different characters more. However, what I don't accept is saying that Amber is a terrible actress! Where is the evidence for that?? She played Tara exactly how she was meant to be played. I mean Amber is not that shy or willowy in real life. The awkwardness of Tara is not a failure on her acting, it is a success because that was the type of mood and atmosphere she was supposed to create as regards to the characters.

And Calicott- the 'I'm Yours' line I thought was beautiful. It showed no matter what Willow did Tara had an unconditional love for her and that is something very special. A kind of certainty that comes but once in a lifetime.

[WatcherByBirthright]

I love Tara! There's something so sweet and endearing about her, particularly in the way Amber Benson portrayed her. Though she became Willow's girlfriend, Tara still felt shy and awkward with Willow's friends - and only gradually got accepted into the group. I always think it's a shame there was never more explorations of Tara and her background beyond 'Family' (which is a great stand-out episode in season five). She was also very much of a contrast to Willow, more into the traditional Wicca spell-making though still a powerful witch in her own right. I think her death is one of the true creative missfires in the entire production history of the on-screen Buffyverse. I will always believe there was so much more that could have been done with that character, then just ultimately regulating her to a plot device.

[Aethra]

Had to revive this thread because I never really liked Tara either. I was starting to think I was the only one, because so many of you love her. Well I don't hate her, and I certainly don't think that Amber Benson is a bad actress. I just never really got into her character. I always just thought she was okay, and I wasn't upset at the end of Seeing Red.

I disagree with some others who didn't like Tara, though. As much as I love Oz, I do think Tara was the one for Willow. It's evident that Willow was completely in love with Tara. Both Tara and Oz left her at some point--Tara because of magic and Oz because of Xander. When Oz left, she game him the space and time he needed; when Tara left, she was lost, she didn't know what to do without her, and she worked hard to get her back. And let's face it, if Oz had been killed, Willow wouldn't have turned evil and threatened to destroy the world.

[LorneyTunes]

Tara' s great and i think Amber Benson made the the right choice not to guess star, imagine how horrible the first would have been as Tara so very wrong, it would be like Angel coming back to taunt Buffy x

[Buffanator]

Throwing in my *Ick Tara* factor.

I didn't hate Tara - and I thought AB did a wonderful job portraying her. Tara WAS meek, mild, even mousy. But when she was around Willow, she was different. Remember how she defended Willow in Older & Far Away? And I liked the way she & Willow *joined forces* in Hush... and a few other times they did magic together. But I never bought the whole Tillow relationship of "great love". I saw more love in Willow & Oz. But that's not the point.

The point is that Willow NEVER showed any signs of being gay (except for Vamp Willow) until Season 4 when Tara came onto the show. I don't mind her being gay, but it just seemed way too contrived for me. I mean, the first two seasons, she was mad-crushing on Xander, and then of course, Oz. And suddenly in S-4.... *gay now*. :rolleyes: Way too forced. I thought it would have been better if Willow AT LEAST had a crush on a girl.... Amy, maybe? Then it would have made more sense.

AB was wonderful in OMWF. Other than that, she was simply a catapult character (her death led to Dark Willow... and I LOVE ME some Dark Willow!!) The only other time I even liked Tara at all was when Buffy confided in her about Spike. Think about it...she didn't confide in Willow or Xander who are supposedly her very best friends in all the world... and not her sister, of course... she confided in Tara. An "outsider" who wasn't as likely to judge her, & if she DID turn away from Buffy then it certainly wouldn't have hurt Buffy as much.

But I digress. Tara's character was never that important. Notice she NEVER got billing in the opening credits? It was always after the main theme song, "and Amber Benson as Tara".

Just my .02

[The Kinslayer]

Notice she NEVER got billing in the opening credits?
Never? ;) But yeah, it had it´s reason.

Now somebody must remind me. I have a lousy memory and nowdays I always skip the opening credits. Did ever Oz, Cordelia or Anya appear in the opening credits?

[Bluebird]

Oz, Cordelia and Anya all appeared in the opening credits and Tara appeared only once in 'Seeing Red'.