Best TV Couple #12: Willow Rosenberg & Tara Maclay

On WB/CW's Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Willow (Alyson Hannigan, right) and Tara (Amber Benson, left) found magic together.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Willow Rosenberg had two beloved pairings-- both individuals making significant contributions on her relationship journey. With laid back, sweet natured, werewolf boyfriend, Daniel "Oz" Osbourne, Willow had a complicated first love. Whereas Tara Maclay granted Willow an honest, humbling, unexpected love. Willow and Tara's undeniable similarities including a strong connection to the Wiccan world offered one of television's first portrayals of women falling in love.

As Willow and Tara perform more powerful spells together, their bond becomes deeper, sensual.

In the beginning, Willow was the shy, bubbling computer nerd with the biggest unrequited crush on childhood best friend, Xander Harris. As the most resourceful and reliable Scooby Doo member with Buffy in charge and Giles providing the knowledge, Willow's intellect often helped save the day. Meanwhile, she had always been a magic novice, dabbling, eventually growing strong enough to uninvite vampires to everyone's homes, restore Angel's soul, and levitate pencils.

Willow's character changed so much with Tara. And Tara changed alongside Willow.

Willow dated Oz in season two and had a minor separation from him (due to being caught with a case of stolen smooches with Xander). They resumed, consummating in season three's Graduation Day Part II. However, in season four, Oz's wolfy nature became a catastrophe, especially once in contact with another she-wolf. He left to find himself, to find a way of reining in the beast.  It left college freshman Willow devastated. She focused on a better acquaintance with magic (with some humorous snafus along the way) and Tara, an awkward, soft spoken girl-- Willow's former persona.

Willow and Tara gave the sweetest hugs.

Doppelgänger, a humorous season three episode, often comes to mind.

"I think I'm a little gay."

Perhaps alternate universe Willow revealed Willow's true path.

From the time of Tara's introduction in season four's tenth episode, Hush, something simmered on the surface, an unchartered territory in the Buffyverse. Sunnydale had been hit silent by The Gentleman. Without words, Tara, watching Willow struggle to move the heavy vending machine against the door, takes her hand. In complete silence, they perform the difficult telekinesis spell together. In that moment of joined hands, breathes synced, eyes concentrated on the other, a new chapter was born.

All the Scoobs know that Willow is powerful, remarkable, but Tara tells her that she's special. And Tara sees Willow in a way one else can.

Willow and Tara's love story explored honesty, betrayal, and loss.

In Willow and Tara's blossoming romance, they were growing confident, maturing as individual characters. Willow became a self assured witch of phenomenal ability strengthened by Tara's generous heart. Tara, whose noticeable stammer and quiet docility lessened, spoke her mind and defended those in need.

Once adult situations arose (the death of Buffy's mother, Tara's brainwashing by Glory, and Buffy's sacrifice), the girls were faced with tough situations of grief, fear, and tragedy all while still young. At the start of season six, Willow and Tara are living in the Summers house raising Dawn (who just adores them). By this time, Willow's been casting serious spells, very strong ones. This worries Tara. Willow's magic addiction is a foray into her descent into darkness. Tara can separate herself from her talents, but Willow is so consumed that she couldn't last a week without. They then breakup.

Seeing Red, behind episodes The Body and The Gift, is a solid tearjerker. Willow and Tara have reconciled and Tara Benson's name is in the opening credits. Yet it wasn't meant to be. The biggest twist: Oz was the monster in Willow's world. With Tara, Willow herself became the monster, eventually becoming one of Buffy's saddest unfortunate Big Bads.

Willow and Tara, one of television's best female pairings couldn't have happened without Alyson Hannigan and Amber Benson. They were sublime as these two characters falling in love in such a surprisingly organic way. Their unforgettable chemistry was real and searing, like something out a witchy fairytale Alphonse Mucha would illustrate. They weren't overtly sexualized as lesbians usually are depicted in media. In fact, they had this humble sexiness that was private, intimate. Plus, exceptional Benson bullied for her weight deserved all the praise. Her terrific Tara complemented with Hannigan well.