Do you think Tara should have had more?

[PJ]

i am sorry but don't u guys think that joss was a little mean not putting tara (amber benson) on the opening credits in season 5-6? (not just on seeing red where she dies in) i thought she was an important person in the show, and also seeing that anya had got on the credits when she was xanders girlfriend, and tara was willows girlfriend. im not saying i don't like anya its just, was that fair that tara was not a regular on the show when she was in like each episode?

[ambersknight]

Now on this point in regards to Tara I will defend Joss to a point. The decision not to include Amber in the credits was not Joss' but AMber's. As a full cast member she would have to have been at work the whole time, whether she was actually needed in a scene straight away or not. But as a guest star she was only needed on thos days she was genuinely filming which allowed her to concentrate on her other projects.

My only annoyance is that he put ehr in that one ep which was either a thank you to Amber or, and this is my personal opinion but others believe as well, a really cruel practical joke.

But Joss was not responsible up until that point. he respected Amber's wishes to allow her the freedom to concentrate on the other aspects of ehr career.

[xaphania]

I remember reading that Joss's reason for putting Amber in the credits in Seeing Red, is that he had wanted to put a character in the credits and kill them off in the same episode. He'd wanted to do it with Jesse in S1, but couldn't afford to. Or something like that!

[Just Willow]

if it was Amber's decision, then that's fine by me. I do think Tara deserved to be in the credits, though. And the decision to put her in the credits in Seeing Red was just something Joss wanted to do, because we would see her there and assume she would be on full time, and then she dies. I thought it was a stroke of genius, even if it was a little mean.

[ambersknight]

I wouldn't cal it genius. Childish would be more accurate. I certainly think that Amber should have had her place in the credit but she was happy with guest star status. But it was hardly genius to put ehr in for that one episode, it was a very childish, and rather cruel, practical joke by Joss.

[Mathieu]

Jun 14, 2009 13:52:52 GMT -5 @ambersknight said:

I wouldn't cal it genius. Childish would be more accurate. I certainly think that Amber should have had her place in the credit but she was happy with guest star status. But it was hardly genius to put ehr in for that one episode, it was a very childish, and rather cruel, practical joke by Joss.

I thought it was genius to have her appear in the credits that one episode. Totally something Joss would do. And it's genius because 7 years later we are still talking about it.

[buffyfan21]

I don't think it really matters, honestly. I've never thought much about it myself. Tara was a great Character and Amber a great actress. We got a lot from the character of Tara during her time on the show. We got to see her grow and develop as a character, first as Willow's love interest, then later on as her own person separate from Willow. Recurring or main character, Tara was awesome and went on to become one of the most beloved characters in the verse. Whether or not Amber appeared in the opening credits in no way takes away from her beautiful performance as Tara. So, who really cares either way? It would have been nice sure, but it's not a huge deal. Besides, even though Amber's name never appeared in the opening titles, she was still included in them through scenes of episodes. So, I feel that Joss attempted to include her in some way, even though she was never listed as a main cast member.

[buffyfan21]

Jun 14, 2009 13:55:47 GMT -5 Mathieu said:

Jun 14, 2009 13:52:52 GMT -5 @ambersknight said:

I wouldn't cal it genius. Childish would be more accurate. I certainly think that Amber should have had her place in the credit but she was happy with guest star status. But it was hardly genius to put ehr in for that one episode, it was a very childish, and rather cruel, practical joke by Joss.

I thought it was genius to have her appear in the credits that one episode. Totally something Joss would do. And it's genius because 7 years later we are still talking about it.

I agree that it is totally what Joss would do. It's just his way.

[ambersknight]

It might be what Joss does, but its hardly genius. Cruel practical jokes aren't genius. I don't rememebr it cos it was great, I remmebr it because it was plain nasty.

[Just Willow]

it wasn't that cruel. Amber didn't have anything against it, so neither should we. i thought it was funny....

[henzINNIT]

Credits never really bothered me. Tara could have been included in them far earlier, but I really don't care one way or the other.

As for Joss' mislead, yeah he wanted to do it with Jesse in the first episode. He has an obsession with taking away important people. He didn't feel Jesse was long term enough for the impact he wanted, so Doyle's roll played out like it did as attempt two. He said he later regretted that, as the fans had become attached and weren't impressed.
As for Tara's situation, I think it was a bit of a cunning play on the relationship between a viewer and weekly television. "Permenant characters get credit time" He loves to break down those comforts and punish us.

[Just Willow]

I have never heard of that Doyle one. And Joss couldn`t bring him back either, because Glenn Quinn died...

[henzINNIT]

I'm glad Doyle was never milked. I thought he exited perfectly, even though he had such a short stay. He's my favourite charcater I think. It's a shame about the actor's fate though. Only 32 if I recall.

I've heard mixed reports about his short stay. Some sources said that 9 episodes was always the plan. Some say he was written out because Quinn was difficult to work with, some say Doyle was hard to write because he clashed with Angel's character. It may have been all of the above to some extent.

[Just Willow]

i dunno what it was. i think his exit was very good, also. i never actually cared for him much, but i was sad in Hero, it was very well written.

[Just Willow]

exactly, Raz. maybe Amber was all like "Dude, that would be awesome!" too bad no one ever thought of that question when i was doing a Q and A with her. The only question answered about her death was that she wanted to be mauled rather than shot, but it didn't fit with the story...

[Just Willow]

VampSlayer: What was your reaction when you found out that Tara was being killed off?
AB: I was a little sad, but I felt it was right for the storyline. I did ask if she could be maimed instead, but that didn't really fly.

aaah, it was maimed, not mauled.

[ambersknight]

I do not see what Joss did was an act of genius but then again, I'm not a masochist.

[Midnight Butterfly]

I always hated the fact that Tara wasn't on the season five startings yet Riley was.
She should have been on the season four startings to be honest. She only got put on the startings on the episode she died. Its like "YAY, Tara finally got her place on the startings" and then BANG she is dead ;(

[ambersknight]

Personally I think it would have been better and dare I say it, more moral if they hadn't have put her in the credits for Seeing red. it just seemed like a sick joke to me.

[Midnight Butterfly]

Jun 15, 2009 11:47:54 GMT -5 @ambersknight said:

Personally I think it would have been better and dare I say it, more moral if they hadn't have put her in the credits for Seeing red. it just seemed like a sick joke to me.

I dont think it was a joke to them.
Tara wasnt major important in the start of season six and thats why they didn't put her in the startings. At that point they probably hadn't planned on killing her.
It would be costly and time consuming to edit the startings in mid season. So when they decided that Amber was going to get killed of they probably pulled alot of strings to get her in the credits because she deserved to be in them. Even if it was only for the one episode.