30 Day's of Buffy: Day 21
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30 DAY'S OF BUFFY
DAY 21: BEST WILLOW-CENTRIC EPISODE
DOPPELGANGLAND
This episode is the epitome of greatness! Combining early season Willow with her alternate reality vampire self was really ingenious, and made for some fantastic viewing. There are so many memorable scenes and quotes in this episode, it is always a pleasure to watch.
Looking back it is amazing just how many nods to the later seasons this episode gives. Especially in relation to Willow's character. We see that Vampire Willow is liberal in her affections, quiet possibly a Lesbian or Bi. With Willow making a comment 'And i think i'm kinda gay.' It is the first reference, and one made for laughs that foreshadow's Willow's own sexual exploration from season 4 onwards.
Vampire Willow is, in some way's the physical manifestation of Willow's subconscious, the darker thoughts and urges she keeps hidden. It isn't until season 6, with the arrival of Dark Willow that we see that Willow had this darkness inside her all the time, it just needed a catalyst to be released. I find it really interesting that both Vampire Willow and Dark Willow utter the phrase 'Bored Now' before they do violence.
One of the other things i really loved about this episode was how Willow used her other self to help her friends. She dressed up as Vampire Willow and tried to help, it didn't turn out all the well, but it was great seeing Willow trying to act all tough.
Willow: I'm a blood sucking fiend! Just look at my outfit!
It is also really sweet at how the end she opts to send Vampire Willow back to her own dimension rather then dust her. Saying she couldn't. It shows just how sympathetic Willow is in the early seasons.