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Date Posted: 08:12:26 02/12/04 Thu
Author: fiRechild
Author Host/IP: 203.48.107.226
Subject: The Essence of ...

Oz

How can you not like a guy, whose hair changes more often than the female cast. A character so stoic, he walked the very fine line of being one dimensional, but was essentially the counterpoint to Cordelia (who pretty much said every thought that ran through her mind). Being so grounded, he was also a great choice to become the “out of control” werewolf, and the perfect foil to Willow’s flighty character (as she was in the early Seasons).

Oz first spots Willow in ‘Inca Mummy Girl’, seeing straight through her Eskimo costume to the lovely girl underneath. He spots her again in ‘Halloween’, and even takes a bullet for her in ‘What’s My Line Part 1’. Oz had lots of great defining moments early on in Season 2. In ‘Surprise’ he asks Willow out for the first time, and learns the truth about Vampire’s with his usual aplomb, but the first episode I’d include in his DVD Set would be …

2.14 Innocence
He doesn’t have a lot to do in this episode, but his “Willow kissage” speech serves as the perfect way to introduce his character to the uninitiated. Willow falls in love with him, and so do we.

2.15 Phases
Lots of great moments, and Oz precursors ‘Wild at Heart’ by suggesting they end the relationship to keep Willow safe. Also, their first kiss.

4.06 Wild at Heart
Oz’s actions in this episode have been much debated. Was he acting in the best interests of the General Population, or did Animal Attraction cloud his judgement? Whichever camp you’re in, get the tissues handy for Oz’s farewell.

4.19 New Moon Rising
Answering the question, what would Oz do if he found out Willow was gay (A: He’d lose control of the werewolf within and try to eat her lesbian lover.) Unfortunately this story (Oz’s last) doesn’t give him any real closure. Luckily for us, we have Kuz’s fanfic for that.

Oz was a character that said very little, and so the things he said counted for a lot more. Every episode he was in had gems of dialogue that could have warranted inclusion, as I said ‘Surprise’ was a close run thing. Another episode that could have been in there is ‘Amends’, where Oz and Willow repair the damage done by her affair with Xander. Lots of good moments, where their relationship is reaffirmed. ‘Fear Itself’ was another also ran, foreshadowing his fear (obviously) and the reasons (or one of them at any rate) that he leaves.

I am disappointed that his arc wasn’t tied up neatly, ‘New Moon rising’ being more about Willow, and her reactions to his return (reasonable enough, her character being more important than his). I am left wondering though, what would have happened if he’d returned in later Seasons, say, after Willow/Tara broke up, or even after Tara was killed.

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Replies:

[> Ah, Oz... -- Kuzibah, 09:06:05 02/12/04 Thu (12.175.117.195)

I loved Oz. Unfortunately, I'm really bad at your "essence of..." exercise (which is why I haven't been answering), but one of my favorite moments of his was in "Amends," where Willow has the whole sweet seduction thing going as a counterpoint to the Earth-shattering angst that is Buffy and Angel. Then Oz shows up, gets as rattled as he ever does, and tells Willow that she's not ready, and he's not going to take this gift from her until he knows she won't regret it. Big awww...

Also liked his one moment of rage, where he throws over the library podium when Willow is kidnapped, and his fear that he'll lose control in the college Halloween episode.


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[> Re: The Essence of ... -- wwolfe, 11:03:49 02/17/04 Tue (161.149.63.110)

I liked that Oz and Willow snuck off to be together in the van before the Mayor turns into a snake in "Graduation." It's important to have your priorities straight.

I would have liked to have Oz there at the end, both because I liked his character and because he could have turned into a werewolf and eaten Kennedy.


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