Willow -- Buffy's Best Friend

It's overdue that I talk about Willow -- Willow Rosenberg, Buffy Summers' best friend. I love Willow. She is amazing. Smart, funny, sexy and geeky. She's a great role model for all of us geeky girls.

One of the first ones I bought (and still, maybe my favorite) is "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" Series 1 Willow (which is a Clayburn Moore figurine). It's classic high school Willow. She is wearing this cute, cute top. She's got her Chuck Taylors on and she's got books and a laptop for accessories. I think it's my favorite because it really captures Willow -- and looks very much like Alyson Hannigan.

Another great Moore figurine is "Transformation Willow." Willow is a bit older, but maybe not any wiser.... The figurine is from Season 5 of the series and sports the shorter hair style and clothes of that season. This figurine has the black eyes of the darker Willow which makes it an interesting counterpoint to the Series 1 Willow.

One of the fun aspects of Willow's character is her clothes. She wore such interesting outfits in the series. I'm looking forward to starting the series all over again to enjoy the subtler aspects of the storyline, the acting and let's face it, the wardrobe. Willow, Buffy, they both always look fabulous.

At one point there was talk of doing a "Halloween" Willow action figure. I wish they had. I love that episode -- to see Willow go from wearing a sheet to celebrating her changing body was really wonderful. Is there anyone who doesn't have at least the tiniest crush for Willow?

The question is do you like good Willow or bad Willow, because you have your pick! The "vampire" Willow figurines are great. I think they did a great job of blending the vamp features with Willow's sweetness. Episodes "The Wish" and "Doppelgangland" give Vampire Willow lots of screen time. And later we get "Dark" witch Willow, contrasted with the "White" witch in the "Chosen" action figure.

That Willow, she's complex. I think that's what I love about her. She goes through so much in seven years. Shy, geeky high school girl to strong, powerful magic user. We get to share in the journey and be inspired by it.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Girl Power Activate!

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, both the series and the character, are all about girl power. I guess that's why I love the show and why I'm looking forward to sharing it with my daughter, Shannon, in a few years. She's still a little young, I think for the violence. And the sex. But in a couple of years, we'll sit down and watch the complete series together. I hope, anyway, that she'll want to do that. By the time she's old enough to appreciate the show, it might be too painful to have to hang out with mom.

I remember reading that Joss Whedon purposefully wanted to have this strong feminine hero in Buffy and these days it's hard to believe that the network would balk at that idea! But he had to sell the heck out of it. And it seemed like every season, it was a question of whether it would be back.

Looking back at all of that now, the stereotype of the sexy woman sold the show. I mean once Sarah Michelle Geller was a little older, it was nothing to see her in tight dresses or that famous red leather bustier on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. So it's like sex object and hero all at the same time. And I guess, what ca you do about that right? It's partly just the way the world is and partly I think -- it's OK. Because I think I'm strong and sexy and Shannon can be too. I want that for her. You lose a part of yourself if you're only one or the other. So women who get mad about the sexy side of Buffy are missing something important about the idea of Girl Power -- it becomes Woman Power.

Each of the female characters in BtVS is strong -- but of course Buffy and Willow are the main characters, so they get the spotlight often. Looking at supporting characters from Cordelia all the way to Kennedy, the women are strong and independent. Maybe they follow the cultural norms, makeup and high heels, but they seem to decide for themselves that this is what they want. I don't care if my daughter wears makeup and skirts. She can dress however makes her happy. Because her strength isn't in the clothes she wears -- it's what is inside her heart.