You say this based on what, exactly?
I remember reading interviews where Whedon did talk about planning out the entire season of seasons 2, 3, 4, 5 and he even admitted he was heavily involved in 6 and 7. So those two were not entirely “The Toxin’s” fault.
Although I enjoyed season 7 overall. But it probably would have worked better as a miniseason like season 1.
Hence the immortal lyric from “Once More With Feeling.”
“It’s do or die. Hey, I’ve died twice.”
I don’t particularly like the actress that portrayed Anya, although I liked her character quite a bit… in any event, though, my understanding was that Xander was slated to be the gay character, but between Seth Green asking to leave the show and the Xander/Anya relationship working so well, Willow ended up being the best character to catch the gay. 
Gasp! Yay! I’ve met another Xandrew fan!
For you: Xander/Andrew kiss
Miller’s either gay or bi, so I think he might have a little bit of experience in that field. I am too, for that matter, and still fool plenty of people into thinking I’m straight when I’m an equal opportunist. As a matter of fact, I actually just had a conversation with a colleague this past Saturday when she found out I like the sweet gay lovin’ and just couldn’t reconcile it with the fact that I’ve got a kid on the way.
Also, put me down for the Xander should’ve been gay camp. It is so obvious he wanted both Oz and Riley. And who could blame him, really? Not me, certainly. I may prefer the ladies on the whole but those three men are my biggest crushes from that universe.
I’ve known quite a few lesbians who loved men with all their hearts in their younger years. I think if you called their relationships a performance you’d be looking for your teeth.
Personal life experience.
Yes, but I’d wager very few of them would claim that they had been heterosexual at the time, and had at some point since then become lesbians. My point (and, I think, yours as well) is that a person can be in a heterosexual relationship, be in love with their partner, and still realize later in life that they are not, in fact, heterosexual, or even appreciably bisexual. Anyone who thinks that Willow’s later characterization is unrealistic simply on the basis of her prior relationship with Oz is, I think, somewhat naive about the coming out experience of many gay and lesbian men and women, which often mirrors what was portrayed in the show precisely.
Well, except for the vampires and werewolves.
“Performace” probably wasn’t the appropriate word. My sister has friends who got married to oppsote gender partners before they really, trully had teh self-awareness to realize they’re gay. “Performance” is not the right word, but I don’t think Miller meant it to be a boob.
I never had a problem believing that Willow did truly, madly, deeply love Oz and later on realized that there was something else that was even more significant. Oz was right for Willow. Tara was even more right for Willow.
Yeah, but what about Kennedy?
To be fair, they did all think they were marching off to their deaths at the end of season seven.
Kennedy was/is the rebound relationship. They are having problems in Season 8.