The I in Team Revisited

[xita]

It's been a while since we did one of this. I thought it was time again. I so love this episode, easly one of my season 4 favorites. I still think that something happened when Willow spent the night. I am thinking at least kissing, some fondling. I think def. a turning point in their relationship. But that's not the only issue in this ep.

Here's a pic from my favorite scene.
1. I love the way Tara breathes out Willow.
2. Tara dimples. They are like fireworks in this episode.

I got this pic from Romance on BTVS.

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Tara: And see those stars along there? That's the bottom of the pineapple.
Willow: It's big.
Tara: Hence the name.

[This message has been edited by xita (edited December 26, 2000).]

[Gudanov]

I always thought of the I in Team as the first episode that something happend. They put in a pretty heavy handed clue when Willow refuses the doll's eye crystal and then shows up with it the next morning.

I remember Tara being very cute in that episode. From being crushed when Willow refuses the crystal to being so happy when she shows up unexpectedly.

[Dr.G]

Awwww...Just look at that face....sigh.

I didn't notice Willow having the crystal in the morning. I was still blind at the time, either that or stupid. I get to rewatch TIIT in a few weeks though. I'll be paying pretty close attention then. I can see perfectly now. My sympathy for Tara started with this episode, when I saw how hurt she was by Willow's unintentional tactlessness. Feeling more than symphathy now.

[Hugin]

The expression on Tara's face as she opens the door to let Willow pass into her room is priceless. It's not just happiness (though clearly she's happy), there's almost like, a smugness there. A sort of "Ah, the hundred bucks I paid that oafish Finn fellow to monopolize the Summers girl's time is paying off in spades. Advantage: MacLay!"(Try reading that to yourself in the voice of Mr. Burns from the Simpsons, it helps)

-len

[xita]

He he hugin, the thought of Tara paying off Riley is really funny. I am amazed that wasn't one of the theories about Tara.

[BBOvenGuy]

For those who missed it before, or may want to read it again, my "missing scene" from this episode was called Crystallization.

I'm one of the people who hold that nothing overtly sexual happened after Willow went over to Tara's. In the next episode, Tara says it was a spell, and so that's what I think it was. However, that doesn't mean that absolutely nothing happened. This episode is one of the major turning points in the entire relationship. Tara was already a goner - you can tell that Willow was already her world by this time. I think this is where Willow really started to fall for Tara in a big way as well.

So by now has everyone seen Dennis Nedblake's W/T fan-comic, Be Still My Heart? The reason I bring it up is that he drew Willow wearing Tara's shirt from this episode - the one in the pic that Xita posted. I always thought that was a nice touch.

[tommo]

Yes, the crystal says so much. Kind of how it should be.

[Zahir]

This ep was my first introduction to Tara. Of course it was obvious how this shy blond felt about Willow (and who could blame her?). Little clues like the crystal I missed--although her lying later to Buffy was awfully interesting. My strongest memory was how Tara took Willow showing up at her room--not sickeningly grateful, nor smugly triumphant. Just happy to see her. How I warmed to her at that moment!

Like many, I feel something happened that night. However, I'm all but positive what happened was not overtly sexual. They almost certainly did do spells--but as we know, spells in the Buffyverse (and especially between these two) can be intense. Methinks they were exhausted after a few hours, and so Willow spent the night--in the process becoming vastly aware of the lovely lady in bed next to her.

I also like to think they woke up with their arms around each other.

(awwwwww...)

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"O let my name be in the Book of Love.
If it be there, I care not of
That other book Above...
Strike it out! Or write it in anew.
But let it be in the Book of Love!"
--Omar Kyam

[This message has been edited by Zahir (edited December 26, 2000).]

[Roxton]

The way that Tara reacted when Willow showed up at her door said it all. She was completely head over heals in love with Willow.

While I don't believe anything overtly sexual happened, this night was definitely a turning point in their relationship. It was the the night when Willow started to realize exactly how strong her feelings for Tara were.

[This message has been edited by Roxton (edited December 26, 2000).]

[Spring]

Let's not forget that we went over the 'next day' scene with a fine toothed comb. Why was the Willow's sweater frayed? Accident or intent? Did the costumers on set know that her sweater was dangerously frayed? Why all the secrecy? Did something happen that night?!?!?
My position has always been that in college when you come back in the morning to your dorm room from whatever you did the night before, this is known as The Walk of Shame. Willow and Buffy had obviously engaged in The Walk of Shame that morning. Naughty, naughty...

[april]

ahh, tiit, as some of us affectionately call it...

i go back and forth about what happened in tara's room that night. it might have been too early for sex (i can't decide about this one), but i definately think that something more than platonic happened. i wouldn't be surprised if they had their first kiss then. (and god damn the WB for not letting us see it - isn't one of the biggest TV tropes the build-up to a couple's first kiss, that's so exciting to watch when the viewers finally get to see it?)

because after all, something happened to convince willow to take that crystal with her after all, and i don't think that platonic spells were that something. i like to think that they managed to pull off a cool and difficult spell, sitting across from each other, and when they were done they locked eyes just like they did right after moving the soda machine in hush, and slowly starting moving toward each other, hardly aware of what they were doing...

and the next morning, willow woke up, snuggled up around tara, and realized that she had a girlfriend. and smiled to herself.

that's what i like to think.

[BBOvenGuy]

quote:

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Originally posted by Spring:
Why was the Willow's sweater frayed? Accident or intent? Did the costumers on set know that her sweater was dangerously frayed?

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Much has been made of the frayed sweater since this episode aired. I hereby submit the following photographic evidence:

Aly wearing Willow's sweater

It's a picture from the Australian magazine Big Hit (I think that's the name), and as you can see, there's Alyson Hannigan wearing the very same sweater from The I In Team. As you can see, it's got threads hanging off all over the place.

Why someone would design a sweater like that, let alone wear one, is beyond me, though...

quote:

[Beautiful Tara's Girl]

quote:

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Originally posted by BBOvenGuy:
So by now has everyone seen Dennis Nedblake's W/T fan-comic, Be Still My Heart? The reason I bring it up is that he drew Willow wearing Tara's shirt from this episode - the one in the pic that Xita posted. I always thought that was a nice touch.

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I just now read it - took forever for the pics to download, but it was worth it! Great art, great story (though the title baffles me - I would've named it "Breakfast In Bed," all things considered)! I loved seeing Tara and Buffy fight together, although Willow's dream was - whoa, this fic ain't for kids, kids. Dang.

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