sorry, but what did people want from anya. “she killed people." technically she didn’t kill anyone, but people might’ve died from her spells. she was just a girl and i don’t mean it in the overused meme way, but she was genuinely a product of her time. she was born in damn 860 Sweden. she had no family, no friends, and not even people who talked to her. they all found her weird (and continued to in sunnydale). all she had was olaf who cheated on her CONSTANTLY. the only person she had treated her like crap so she wanted to get back at him. her spells of vengeance were painful and powerful so d'hoffryn took advantage of her and granted her demonness. of course she accepted, and started doing vengeance spells on unfaithful men. we never learn what happens specifically to vengeance demons souls but i think they get clouded by the demon and the longer you are one the more clouded it gets. i mean i understand she wreaked havoc and hell even helped start the russian revolution, but honestly can you blame her. she was ostracized by her family and community for being herself and she didn't understand why. she didn't have anything until she found vengeance, and once she did she immediately got recognition and praise from the man who would then give her powers.
“Vengeance is what I do, Halfrek. I don't need anything else. Vengeance is what I am.”
when she lost her powers she tried to get them back. she lost everything she knew, and was forced to live life as a lonely human with no one...AGAIN. then she fell in love again. people like to say she was only helping the scoobies out for him and yea she was for a while, but can we remember she was born in the 6th century and hadn't been a human since. she was going back to what was familiar, but i don't believe it was her entire motivation. she had to become a human again and learn what that meant. we see this in her speech in The Body. we see this when she helps dawn in season 5 resulting in her arm breaking. we see this in her final moments.
“When it's something that really matters, they fight. I mean, they're lame morons for fighting but they do. They never... they never quit. So, I guess I will keep fighting too.”
she became a vengeance demon again after the man she loved tore out her heart and spat on it. she was hurt by a lover again, and d'hoffryn called for her to come back to him. once again, going back to safe familiarity. this time was different however, and we see how she feels remorse for her actions. how broken she is when the 12 frat boys bodies are on the floor bleeding with their hearts ripped out. something i'm sure was similarly gruesome during her first vengeance years, but she couldn't go through with it. so she pleaded for it to be reversed which she thought would result in HER death. she was willing to give up her life to do the right thing.
anya proved again and again that she was a good person. yet people still want to say she didn't do enough and completely misunderstand her character. they don't say these same things for spike who similarly went good and helped the scoobies for love.
