Steps of Evolution

[PandoraSpocks]

How did our sweet Tara become the woman she is now? When did she turn from the nervous stuttering "Oh, yes" to calling everyone "sweety". I thought it would be interesting if everyone told what in their mind was a pivitol turning point for Tara's character. It can be little moments or big moments, the stepping stones of her life. A big moment would have to be in 'Family' where she was accepted into the scoobies, and of course meeting Willow. I know there were smaller moments in the show, but more important to Tara then she let on...What sutle moments for the show, where big moments for her and we as an audience only got a glimpse of Tara's perspective.

[Sweetjane]

I think Tara gained more and more subtle confidence between Willow choosing her over Oz onwards - i mean with all the "just trying a little spicy talk" comments and everything

but for me the defining moment for tara apart from in 'Family' was when she actually left willow (sorry for bringing it up , not a pleasant topic) in Tabula Rasa . although Tara had been building on her own insecurities it was the action of leaving Willow when she needed to that defined a new era of Tara Maclay as her increased confidence and self-assuredness as a woman are more clear .

i mean the whole levitating thing in OMWF couldn't have hurt either ......not hurt at all i think .......quite to the contrary....


Sweetjane

[PandoraSpocks]

Sweetjane, I totally agree, but now that she's done that I want them together as soon as possible. I think we can all agree on that.

[Kalita]

Another big factor would have been resisting Glory. Not that the brainsuck was any good for her, but knowing that she did the right thing by protecting Dawn. And, of course, Willow did bring her back in the end.

Plus, she was a surrogate parent for Dawn for a lot of last year. that must have been an enlightening, and also uplifting, situation. I'm sure Tara will make an awesome mom someday.

[AutumnT]

Maybe a smaller step, but I always count from "The I in Team" when she answers her door and lets Willow in, because rather than her head down shy look she had at the start of the episode, at this point she realizes she has some power and gains confidence.

[Still Waters Run Deep]

I actually think it was between S5 and S6 when she took control after Buffy's demise.
as the only one who had gone through something similar before, she was the only one who could cope with Buffy's mum dying and would have looked after Dawn whilst everyone got themselves together. IMO, along with Giles, it was probably Tara who held the Scoobies together in those dark days immediately after Buffy's death.
Thus, through adversity of a kind no-one else could handle except her, she gained confidence, and had gone through the 'O, grow up' period before S6 even started.

[Katharyn]

For me it really was a progression. In "The I in Team" she realised that she [i:6fad534cdd]could[/i:6fad534cdd] have a love forever.

In "NMR" she realised that [i:6fad534cdd]did[/i:6fad534cdd] have a love forever.

"Family" marked her acceptance to the gang, but more than that the breaking of ties to the past.

Actually I figured that the Tough Love brainsuck simply showed us the Tara that had always been there rather than moving her along. The one that was concerned for others above herself. The one who would always protect what was innocent.

I would point to "the Gift" and it's aftermath. Willow brings her back and from then Tara knows that she can deal... with anything as long as she has Willow. Thus the hunting (which she had pretty much not been involved in) over summer. The summer also saw a development of relationship with Dawn of course and taking on the grown-up role that no one else could take - though I suspect that there were some "discussions" about bringing Buffy back before finally - the decison made - she sticks up for Willow when Xander wavers.

The strength to leave Willow is the last big step that I think she has taken so far. She loves Willow of course but leaving her was the only thing that she could do, for herself and for Willow. She had tried persuasion... there was no other way to bring Willow back from the edge. That is a strength that is rare - to leave someone [b:6fad534cdd]because[/b:6fad534cdd] you love them. And it worked.

Katharyn
----------
You hear that baby? I am going nowhere