Cassie/Tara/The first?

[FaithyFivebyFive]

We all know the reason Cassie passed on messages as Tara in the episode 'Conversations with dead people', was because Amber Benson said no to appearing as Tara... And we also know the it was actually 'The first' all along...

But she said some personal things to Willow about her and Tara, do you think Tara had anything to do with it at all? Or was it 'The first' all along messing with Willow's head...?

[Edmund Blackadder]

Well, The First tells us that it is in everyone, so it would be aware of things.

Also, if we take into account that The First was able to take on the Slayer line because of Buffy being brought back then it is safe to assume that it watched Buffy and the gang throughout season 6.

I do like to believe, however, that the reason he doesn't take the form of Tara(forgetting the actual AB reasons) is because Tara is the epitomy of goodness, a kind and warm soul with no evil inside, thus giving the First nowhere within this woman to reside.

The information that the First as Cassie uses to try to get Willow to kill herself is pretty open stuff, stuff that the whole gang would know so its not like it divulges some great secret, however it does manipulate what it does know to make its attempt more plausible.

[Joyce Summers]

I basically was going to all that Bored of the Dead did. About a lot being general knowledge. But also, when The First was speaking to Faith as the Mayor he said something about even though he isn't really that person, taking on that form allows The First to take some part of them as well, become them literally in a way, retaining all their memories all that they knew.
And we know Cassie Knew things, Saw things, so it could be possible through Cassie's power that The First would know intimate things like the amazon reference which is what Tara said to Willow in The Body.
The First never makes anything up, but like Angelus, he lies with the truth.

[Randy Giles]

I definitely don't think Tara had anything to do with The First in this episode. Just wouldn't make sense.

[FaithyFivebyFive]

I guess I didn't think this through too much. And I can sometimes over analyse things! Especially Buffy related.

[UlaGan]

I think it was the First only business. Like, remember the sayings: You're Not My Mother/Him/Her .. etc.. Just taking various trusted and familiar forms to effectively confuse/scare/misinform the Slayer&Gang - in this case - Willow.

[Keanoite]

I think it was just the First which was basically why AB wouldn't come back. She didn't want the purity of Tara's memory tampered with.

[The Chosen]

I think it was just the First which was basically why AB wouldn't come back. She didn't want the purity of Tara's memory tampered with.

Yep. Amber said that she didn't want to ruin Tara for the fans. Although obviously she would have done that particular scene great and it would have made us all love Tara more...

I still respect Amber's decision though. To not come back and see everyone again probably would have been tough.

[Keanoite]

Yep. Amber said that she didn't want to ruin Tara for the fans. Although obviously she would have done that particular scene great and it would have made us all love Tara more...

I still respect Amber's decision though. To not come back and see everyone again probably would have been tough.

I think you have to have respect for an actor who cares that much about their character. Kudos to Benson.

[Edmund Blackadder]

Yep. Amber said that she didn't want to ruin Tara for the fans. Although obviously she would have done that particular scene great and it would have made us all love Tara more...

I still respect Amber's decision though. To not come back and see everyone again probably would have been tough.

She was, apparently, willing to come back and do this episode HAD she enough time to do the planned end of season storyline where she was brought back due to a wish from Buffy.

Sadly, as she wasn't free, she didn't want Tara's last episode to be one where she was evil.

I love Amber Benson

[Randy Giles]

I'm really glad they DIDN'T bring Tara back at the very end, that would have been lame in my opinion. She was not major enough for me for the show to close on her.

[Edmund Blackadder]

I'm really glad they DIDN'T bring Tara back at the very end, that would have been lame in my opinion. She was not major enough for me for the show to close on her.

You have no idea how much I just fought my urge to give you negative Karma!!!!

Not major enough?!?!?!

She was DEFINITELY the character that Willow needed NOT Kennedy.
She would also have been a beacon of hope to the entire gang. No matter what happens they'd have hope of something, the enduring will of man to carry on.
She was a great part of 3 characters lives and would have had an impact on the whole story,

[Randy Giles]

I liked Kennedy just fine, and it wouldn't have been fair to her character if Tara came back, and also I just don't think I would've liked the show to end with Willow seeing Tara. I just think the finale was perfect as it was.

[Edmund Blackadder]

I liked Kennedy just fine, and it wouldn't have been fair to her character if Tara came back, and also I just don't think I would've liked the show to end with Willow seeing Tara. I just think the finale was perfect as it was.

Kennedy was last minute and felt like it all the way

[FaithyFivebyFive]

I think I remember Joss saying that Kennedy was his way of saying that someone could move on and still honour Tara's death... Something along those lines, I can't remember the exact words!

Edit:

It wouldn't allow me to edit my last post. :(

I wanted to correct: That Willow could move on and still honour Tara's death...

[Keanoite]

Kennedy was the real big bad of season 7! I really don't think she was a way of honouring Tara at all, and I don't even like Tara!

[TabulaRasa]

Well, The First tells us that it is in everyone, so it would be aware of things.

Also, if we take into account that The First was able to take on the Slayer line because of Buffy being brought back then it is safe to assume that it watched Buffy and the gang throughout season 6.

I do like to believe, however, that the reason he doesn't take the form of Tara(forgetting the actual AB reasons) is because Tara is the epitomy of goodness, a kind and warm soul with no evil inside, thus giving the First nowhere within this woman to reside.

The information that the First as Cassie uses to try to get Willow to kill herself is pretty open stuff, stuff that the whole gang would know so its not like it divulges some great secret, however it does manipulate what it does know to make its attempt more plausible.

Can't disagree with ya! And this is what I would have said, just in my own words.

[Aussie]

I think It would have been bad if tara had come back as the first. As previously discussed it would have tarnished the innocence of her character. Regardless of whether amber could have returned to the show or not I think the right thing was done in portraying cassie as being a vessel/conduit. It just would have been to sad/hard to see the character of tara evil! I cried when it was cassie, imagine what it would have been like if it was tara!