Willow Rosenberg

Willow Rosenberg is a fictional character in the popular television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer, played by Alyson Hannigan.

Willow's powers

Before Willow and the rest of the "Scooby Gang" had graduated from Sunnydale High School, Willow, who had begun performing simple spells after she met Jenny Calendar, was a quite powerful witch. In fact, Willow's increased power as a witch allows her to restore Angel's soul -- a feat she would repeat 5 years later.

Related Topics:
Scooby Gang - Sunnydale - Jenny Calendar

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Willow's magical skills first peaked in "Bargaining", the opening episode of Season 6, where she joined with other members of the Scooby Gang to raise Buffy from the dead. Afterwards, she became obsessed with using magic constantly, which was portrayed as being analogous to a drug addiction. Her magic addiction eventually led to Tara leaving her, and Buffy's sister Dawn being injured, the emotional consequences of which finally forced Willow to attempt to give up magic for good. Late in the 6th season, Willow's fury at Tara's tragic death unleashed the dark energies once again, and her vengeance reached a climax when Willow magically murdered Warren, Buffy's nemesis, who had fatally shot Tara. Willow's rage continued until she became so powerful that she attempted to cause an apocalypse. She was saved in the end by her friend Xander. This "evil" Willow is normally refered to by fans as Dark Willow (a reference to the Dark Phoenix Saga in Marvel Comics' X-Men comics - Joss Whedon was known to be a fan and has since come to write Astonishing X-Men) in contrast to Evil Willow which is the name they use to refer to her doppelganger vampire self.

Related Topics:
Bargaining - Drug addiction - Dawn - Vengeance - Murder - Apocalypse - Dark Phoenix Saga - Marvel Comics - X-Men - Joss Whedon - Astonishing X-Men

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Willow would not make another attempt to abandon the use of all magic. Rather, she was forced to deal with her magical nature, and come to grips with her place in the universe. This is evidenced in an important crossover in which she magically battles Jasmine, the then-current villain on Angel, while trying to restore Angel's soul and wins. After her battle, she returns from Los Angeles with Faith, an important character during Season 7.

Related Topics:
Crossover - Jasmine - Villain - ''Angel'' - Angel - Faith

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During Season 7, Willow slowly regained control of her powers and entered a new relationship with the potential Slayer Kennedy. In the concluding episode of the final season "Chosen", it is through Willow's magic that the potential Slayers are turned into full Slayers and are able to destroy The First Evil's army of ubervamps, saving the world. During her performance of this magical process, Willow temporarily has a goddess-like appearance, as Kennedy, who is assisting her, remarks.

Related Topics:
Kennedy - Chosen - The First Evil - Goddess

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Willow's hair color is used in Seasons 6 and 7 to mark her state: Red for "normal" Willow, black for "evil" Willow, white for "goddess" Willow. At various times in the show, different characters use "Red" or other references to her hair as a nickname. She follows the stereotype of the witch with red hair and greenish eyes.

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