Buffy: Willow's Magic

[Anonymous]

I watched Buffy last night. Why is Willow’s magic viewed negatively? Her magic is how it is defined on the show. Buffy is allowed to wield considerable power without the accusation of corruption. What is different in Willow’s case? I'm not a regular watcher.

I’m looking forward to seeing Spike sing next week, but some of them shouldn’t try. It will be embarrassing for a few.

[Dr T Non-Fan]

I only saw the end, in which she used her craft for her own personal gain (to make her friend forget why she was angry), and not to save the world (like Buffy, who can apparently take quite a beating).

[Roy Hinkley]

I think they're trying to parallel (make a metaphor of) Willow's use of magic with drug/alcohol addition -- increased dependence and inability to function without it, irrationality, etc.

[tiger]

Let's not forget that Willow is sometimes a little scatter-brained. Like when they bring Buffy back from the dead, they do the spell, but forget that she is buried, and has to dig her way out.

[Anonymous]

What is the harm if Willow uses her magic for her own personal gain? Has the show indicated a negative implication to magic? I cook for my own personal gain. Cooking doesn’t have a negative implication. I can see Willow causing her ugly friend to forget as mischievous, but their were other references in the show where magic could have been beneficial but not absolutely necessary to the situation. Why does there need to be a reputable cause?

The drug/alcohol addiction angle is interesting. Good insight.

[Dr T Non-Fan]

Your analogy lacks something. You're not using magic to conjure up your meal, are you? When you could do it the old-fashioned way -- read the directions and set the microwave.

It's the basic Superman premise: you have a gift; use it for good. It allows for it to be on TV.

[Anonymous]

Where would be the harm in conjuring up a meal? You see it. The Buffy fanatic I know sees it. I don’t see it. This is what I want explained. Would it be naughty to use magic to tickle a kitten? I’m trying to understand and not just being troublesome. Some people have a gift for bartending. Should they not mix drinks for a casual party? “No, I must save my gift for a higher calling.” Willow wanted to separate the crowd to help the kid sister but this act wasn’t worthy of magic so deemed the ugly friend. What? Huh. Help me out.

[General Kenobi (ret.)]

I don’t see it.


Of course not. You're a greedy, selfish Slytherin.

I'm not up on the specifics of the Buffy series, but the Superman analogy is a pretty good one. Those who have special gifts are supposed to use them in the service of others, not for themselves. This is another one of those fantasy conventions.

[Dr T Non-Fan]

Maybe all this is caused by your choice of a pseudonym? Maybe good acts are considered evil by you, and vice versa.
This makes the most sense (and it will be easy for me in the future whether to respond or not), but we'll continue searching for other answers.

On the more serious note (and I'm stretching here): Even in this fantasy world of Buffy, you don't use superpowers when regular powers will do. Buffy doesn't knock down every door she wants to pass.
I'm at a slight disadvantage since I didn't see the whole show (kids were still up, I don't need to be woken at 2AM to settle either of them down, and "Charlie Brown" special was on), but I can see how this can be confusing. OTOH, even people on TV disagree and have arguments, and it's possible that some of these won't be resolved as quickly as other TV shows would.
Also, I don't think that these powers are public knowledge in the Buffy world. But then we'd have to discuss the varying intelligence level of the Buffy population from show to show.

[Anonymous]

I don’t understand the Superman DC analogy. Perhaps a Marvel Spiderman analogy is fitting. With great power comes great responsibility. Spiderman can’t just sit on his laurels and let bad things happen. He is liable for omission of action when he could use his power for good. This doesn’t mean he can’t use his webby talents to impress the ladies.

I’m not baiting you. I don’t see the harm in innocently using magic. Yes, causing someone to forget is bad, but Willow was also chastised for using magic to spruce up the pad for a celebration. Why is that bad? I do see magic for bad is bad and magic for good is good, but why is magic for cheerfulness bad? I can see that magic wasn’t absolutely necessary in these situations but why does that make it bad?

Possible answers, but I don’t watch the show to know. Willow has limited power. By using magic for one thing, she then can’t use it again for another. Willow will inspire jealousy. By using magic her friends will become envious. Willow causes a deprivation in universal balance somewhere else. By using magic to supply water to her friends she causes a drought somewhere else.

[Dr T Non-Fan]

I didn't mean to imply that you were baiting me. I apologize if I wrote anything that could be construed as such.
Matter of fact, I enjoyed your dissection and extrapolation of the four HP books in the WC a few months ago.

Superman has the same thing, except for that one time he sent Lois around the world. He made her forget it later, though. Even when Lois baited him at Niagara Falls in #2, he tried to find a way to use regular powers.

Or perhaps Bruce Springsteen (or was it the the dealer in Marrekesh with the Monkey Paw in a Simpsons Halloween episode?) said it best: "With every wish, there comes a curse."

Or maaaaybe, it comes from Harry's first conversations with Hagrid. If the Muggles knew about the wizards, they'd want them to do everything for them. So they keep to themselves.

[Cloister]

I think the reason why there is concern about Willow's use of magic is that she's casting these spells without considering the possible consequences. She was about to toss a spell off the top of her to send a whole room of people to an alternate dimension just to see if Dawn was in the room - what if she messed it up and the people didn't come back. Also, use of magic in the Buffy universe has been shown to have unfortunate side effects at times (the demon that got created when Buffy was brought back for one).

[Dr T Non-Fan]

In other words, she's not too good at it.
Maybe she needs an extended stay at Hogwarts.

[Anonymous]

I've heard that they're gradually going to turn Willow evil this season...so Buffy's big enemy will be from within the Scoobies.

She has gotten very powerful, usually for good, but ya gotta admit that her killing that deer for that final ingredient for the resurrection spell was, well, a sign. And, she loves to use magic to solve every problem.

Sorry folks, our sweet Willow is going to the dark side! :sad:

[Anonymous]

Did anyone watch the "Musical Episode"?

I thought it was cool. Interesting way to reveal all the secrets.

Willow should not be allowed to sing again. Anya, Dawn, and Tara weren't too good at the singing either.

[Dr T Non-Fan]

Caught bits and pieces. Didn't hold me.
Simpsons Halloween Special pre-empts all activity in house.

[Smash Puny Human]

As for the show: I thought it was great. Everyone had a decent voice, and I could look at Anya all day in that red outfit. I'm sorry but I think that Tara (Willow's ugly friend) is hot too. I don't know if it's the whole lipstick lesbian thing or what.

As for Willow's use of magic: I use a cutting torch to cut rusted bolts from my truck's suspension. It's a dangerous tool, but the risk of using it outweighs the cost of having someone else do the work. When I need to remove a nut from the toaster, the torch probably would work too, but should I use it? Willow is tapping into an unknown power for frivoulous reasons. To tickle a puppy using magic might not be evil, but it seems like an unecessary (sp?) risk, when you can just go over wub his cute wittle tum-tum. Maybe if she was had more experience using her power, it would be less frowned upon, but her magical abilities are newly found.

[Rockhound]

Did anyone watch the "Musical Episode"?

I thought it was cool. Interesting way to reveal all the secrets.

Willow should not be allowed to sing again. Anya, Dawn, and Tara weren't too good at the singing either.


I just watched this again the other night. I still think it's great--every word of the dialog and the songs is crafted nearly perfectly.