From: Murray mjsmith@tcd.ie
The problem is that I didn't see anything like that happening regarding this aspect of Willow. For example, there wasn't any evidence that she had fantasies involving or was attracted to members of her own gender, or that she felt 'unlike' other girls.
What about the Vampire Willow-- that seemed to be a big hint, esp. when Angel pointed out that people's personalities don't change when they become vampires (contrary to what Xander thought).
Sadly, I have to conclude that this aspect of Willow was introduced in order to boost the ratings. If not, I feel that a better job would have been made of it.
Dunno about that. My experience of American television has suggested to me that they have to be more circumspect than most of the rest of the world with regard to how they present homosexuality-- I mean, Babylon-5 caught flak for having what has to have been the most understated lesbian scene in history. Even after they come out, Willow and Tara barely even hold hands, after all. So I suspect that there wasn't much scope for the writers to do a whole blown-out and properly dealt-with lesbian storyline; they had rather to keep it at a level which would keep the network happy.
I don't get the impression Buffy particularly *needs* a ratings boost, to be honest.
Fiona
The Posthumous Memoirs of Secretary Rontane Available for public perusal at http://nyder.r67.net
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