Tara and Willow's relationship on Buffy the Vampire Slayer was iconic, especially for gay viewers in the nineties and for viewers finding them now. But, like every character, Tara has her flaws. From the shy girl who falls for Willow right away to the lackluster last words that she utters when she's shot dead by Warren in Season 6, Tara unfortunately just gets worse and worse as the series goes on.
Her character's redeeming qualities mostly fall under Willow's love for her and the way the rest of the gang defends her when her family comes for her. But the rest of her is self-righteous in ways that don't mesh well with the group.
She Teased Willow When They First Met
In the fourth season, Tara and Willow meet during the episode "Hush." Willow knows from the beginning that Tara isn't the typical chanting nature lover like the rest of the Wicca group where they meet. Tara's pronounced stammer and inherently shy nature have her appearing adorable and curious. She entices Willow with her knowledge of magic and the potential power that they could have together. She knows that Willow is interested, but instead of just saying she likes her, she makes Willow believe that she's using Tara.
Tara Continues To Entice Willow With Magic
As their relationship continues, Willow keeps coming to Tara to do spells together all the way through season 4 but doesn't introduce her to her friends or take Tara out with her. Tara is the first woman Willow likes and she lets Willow get away with everything. In Episode 14, "Who Are You?" Faith escapes the hospital after waking up from a coma and magically switches places with Buffy right when Willow decides it's time to introduce Tara to the gang. Tara recognizes that something is wrong with Buffy and suggests a spell that's pretty advanced, with her as Willow's anchor into the spirit world while Willow finds the real Buffy. She says the famous line that begins their codependent relationship, "I am ya know. Yours." Tara is hooked.
All Of A Sudden, Tara Is One Of The Gang
All the way near the end of season 4, after this back and forth with Tara and Willow, Oz returns to Sunnydale. The beginning of the season had Willow distraught over her breakup with Oz and this is where we find out that Tara isn't a rebound. Oz smells Willow on Tara when he finds Tara wearing Willow's sweatshirt and the secret is out. Willow awkwardly tells Buffy about her newfound homosexuality and subsequent relationship. They have to save Tara when Oz goes into a frenzy from Willow's smell. It's not the first time Tara runs to Willow hoping to be saved. She's part of the Scoobies now, even though no one knows her but Willow.
The Entire Storyline With Tara's Family
In Season 5, Tara's birthday is coming up and her family comes to town. They tell Tara that her friends will basically disown her when they find out who she really is. The mystery of Tara falls completely flat when it turns out her family is just a bunch of bigots who want to take her home to a misogynistic community. The whole thing is vague and weird with it seeming like Tara's family is part of a cult. Willow and the whole Buffy gang stick up for her but not before Tara casts a spell hiding all demons from their view and almost killing everyone. Even weirder, no one ever talks about Tara's family again, even when she dies.
She Has No Sense Of Self
Aside from the weird storyline with Tara's family, there aren't many scenes where Tara is not with or in reference to Willow. She has pretty fantasy dresses, talks softly with a stutter when she's upset, and is knowledgeable about all things magic....but that's about it. Tara and Willow's relationship is so entwined and codependent that when Tara is killed, Willow goes completely off the deep end and almost destroys the entire world.
Tara Is Obsessive Over Willow
Her entire being revolves around Willow and what they do together. She doesn't have much of anything that is all her own. After her family leaves and shuns her, Tara fully integrates into the Buffy family. She automatically cares about everyone Willow cares for but hasn't built any relationships with them individually.
They become her family solely because they are Willow's family. Anything that Willow does that could be dangerous, Tara wants to be with her or deter her from it. Tara is the first woman that Willow loves and her second real relationship. Eventually, her codependence becomes a liability when Glorificus comes to town.
Becomes A Useless Brain Sucked Burden
As if Tara's lack of personality wasn't enough, she is used by Glorificus the demon goddess to find "the key." Tara refuses to give up the information that Dawn is the key and shrinks into her stuttering self. All the witchy knowledge she possesses cannot stop what happens next. As Willow and the gang waste time looking for her, Tara has her brain sucked out by Glorificus. After that, she is difficult to control, can't contribute anything to the group, and is Willow's sad burden throughout the rest of season 5.
Willow Becomes Addicted To Dark Magic And Tara Leaves
In Season 6, after playing house with Tara and Dawn, Willow uses dark magic to bring Buffy back from the dead and then becomes addicted to the high it gives her to have immense power. Willow spirals and, at one point, she even uses a forget spell on Tara, with Tara later finding out. When the going gets really tough, Tara leaves. She doesn't want to see Willow unravel even more. It wasn't long before that Willow had nursed a drooling and irate Tara with her brain sucked out but when Willow needs her the most, Tara leaves.
The Righteous Anger Of Tara Maclay
When Tara leaves Willow, her anger feels misplaced throughout the episodes that she is gone. She still tries to be Dawn's mother but refuses to come home like it's a badge of honor she wears loud and proud. Dawn practically begs her to come back but she won't. Either she doesn't have the self-control to stay away from Willow or she was trying to punish her. Either way, she ends up giving in and wanting to be with Willow again but polices her every move when she comes home.
The Terrible Ending (And Not Just The Nature Of It)
Willow is overjoyed to have Tara back at home and the two spend a good couple of days in bed together celebrating. Dawn is ecstatic that Mom and Mom are back together. Then, right after that period, Tara is killed by stray gunfire when Warren comes for Buffy at their home. Her last words, "your shirt" uttered in complete surprise before she collapses are lackluster and do no justice to the end of a major character's story. Even if you never liked Tara, that ending was pretty anticlimactic. After that, she's just gone. Willow goes dark just a few weeks after magic detox and wants to burn down the entire world to end their suffering.