While we're sharing, I guess I've never really talked much about it (besides the obvious) but this seems a good time... Tara's my hero. I mean, there are plenty of characters I like who are heroes in various fashions, Major Kira and Aeryn Sun and She-Hulk and so on, not just because they tend to leave bad guys in ruins (that's fun) but for the usual things like courage and conviction and taking the high road even when it's not the easy one, but I'm never going to be a superhero or a soldier or a freedom fighter (I mean, I hope not, I'd be awful at them). Right from the start (especially from the start, shy and awkward and hesitant to speak up) I could identify with Tara, I felt like - in spite of her obviously being ridiculously gorgeous - there was someone like me. And the fact that (regardless of swinging the occasional axe when circumstances demanded it) she never had to be reworked into some kind of action-hero type to be one of the heroes, that really meant the world to me. Having never been blessed with an over-abundance of self-esteem, it was huge to find this character who I could admire, but also actually hope to emulate in my own life. Tara made me feel it was okay to be me, and still does.
(And yes, I know I often tend to write her as ultimate-action-hero on a level even Buffy would find over the top. I'm aware of the irony.
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