The season-ending story arc of UPN's Buffy the Vampire Slayer - in which Tara (Amber Benson) dies and her lover, Willow (Alyson Hannigan), turns evil - is prompting a backlash among fans who argue in part that the finale undermined the series' otherwise positive portrayal of a lesbian relationship. Though many fans were dismayed at the loss of a crucial character, still others saw the turn of events as a repudiation of one of television's few realistic gay relationships.

"Devoted followers of Buffy the Vampire Slayer are left devastated by the producers' ... decision to destroy what many have felt was a wonderful portrayal of a loving, honest and natural long-term lesbian relationship," wrote Florida gay-rights advocate R. Zeke Fread on the 365gay.com Canadian Web site. "Especially because such a relationship as that of Tara and Willow is rarely depicted on television programs."

More than 1,000 fans have signed a petition to resurrect Tara. Others have written in protest to various Buffy fan sites, Salon magazine, the Boston Herald and elsewhere.

"Examine that body count for a moment," the Herald wrote. "The most significant character deaths - Jenny Calendar, Joyce Summers and now Tara - are all women. The show's two gay characters, Tara and high school jock Larry, both slain. (Alyson Hannigan's Willow does not count. Creator Joss Whedon told the Herald last year that she is at best bisexual.) The show's black characters? Kendra, Mr. Trick and, oh, yeah, that guidance counselor who hung around for half an episode - all dead. We knew Buffy lived on a hellmouth. Who knew she lived in Klan country?"

For his part, Whedon wrote on the official UPN Buffy posting board, The Bronze, shortly after the finale aired: "I killed Tara. Some of you may have been hurt by that. It's very unlikely it was more painful to you than it was to me. I couldn't even discuss it in story meetings without getting upset, physically. Which is why I knew it was the right thing to do. Because stories, as I have so often said, are not about what we WANT. And I knew some people would be angry with me for destroying the only gay couple on the show, but the idea that I COULDN'T kill Tara because she was gay is as offensive to me as the idea that I DID kill her because she was gay. Willow's story was not about being gay. It was about weakness, addiction, loss ... the way life hits you in the gut right when you think you're back on your feet. The course of true love never did run smooth, not on my show. (Only [NYPD Blue's] Dennis Franz has suffered more than my characters.) I love Amber, and she knows it. Eventually, this story will end for all of them. Hers ended sooner."

As for whether Whedon will bring back the character next season, he told SCI FI Wire cryptically, "Tara will not be back. But Amber will."

(Note from Liz: I believe this cryptic remark referred to Amber appearing in Conversations With Dead People. According to rumours, Amber was invited to be in the episode, in the scenes with Willow in the library, but she turned down the invitation. If this is true, then kudos to Amber - that would have been just too freaking cruel.)

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