Speaking from experience, I don't think Buffy's awkward reaction to Willow's revelation was because she was freaked about her being gay, but because she was afraid she would make the wrong reaction to it. It took me time to be natural in such situations.
Much as I enjoyed Oz, Tara and Willow will always be my favorite couple in the show. The actresses have such great chemistry and the characters just work wonderfully together even as the show runners had to fight with the network for basically every step of the way to making it happen. Even after this they still kept having to fight to let them do simple things like show physical affection.
When they first introduced Tara, I was not a fan at all. I thought Amber was overacting at times when it came to the shyness and insecurity, and it took me out of the flow. That said, as her character arc developed, and she found her strength, I loved her.
This episode will always be one of my favorites from season 4. Having Oz return gave not only Willow closure but the audience closure as well. And with that closure we get more Willow & Tara scenes. 🙂
I’m not sure if Willow or Buffy are the best cryers, but it’s between those two for me. Maybe if Giles had more opportunities, he would rank. Spike would kill it, but it would mostly be out of character. I mean, there’s a ton of talent in the pool.
"Do you like cats?" "More of a dog person, myself. But I'm not like 'death to all cats'." Oz is the dog and Tara's the cat. Look how Willow's clutching a stuffed dog (and, I think loosening her grip on it during the conversation) when she tells Buffy about Tara. Also, on the DVD the first chapter of this episode (where they're talking about getting a cat and being Willow-friendly and holding hands) is called "A New Pussy". Make of that what you will.
To be fair to Buffy, Willow had never mentioned Tara being anything other than a new friend, and never shown interest in women before. I think she was just surprised. Of course, Willow was just figuring it out herself, so she didn't have to say anything. But really, at this point, the only one who read the signs was Faith ;) I even see that a lot of people watching this episode seem to miss the meaning of Willow's scent being all over Tara, even though Tara is wearing Willow's outfit from the previous scene... In any case, it was nice to have Oz back for this episode, to give everyone closure. This show never fails to give what you used to want, now that you no longer want it =)
Oh boy... Oz really has a great timing... But overall I was glad they brought him back. Cause him and Willow clearly needed closure. But now it is time to move on... cause Tara is clearly the right one for Willow.
I am happy for Willow finding happiness with Tara after feeling down for so long after OZ left, but my heart was ripped out when he showed up, cuz all the feels I had for their relationship rushed back in. My heart ached for him, knowing all he went through to make himself a better man and to get back to her to make things right again. I loved them together. But that's what this show does to you. Spins your emotions about. It keeps you paranoid.👀 👀 There's always something ready to pull the rug right out, but you don't know when or where the strike will come.😂😂
Isn't it amazing that a show could make us love a character (Willow) with two totally different people? I would have said Oz and Willow were end game couple goals because they were so wonderful together, but at the same time I really love her new dynamic with Tara as well. I never would have thought I'd say that when Oz left - I was so heartbroken for Willow. But they've really made me love Tara too. Great writing!
I'm so glad you finally got the Willow/Tara confirmation you were waiting for, so you don't have to worry about it being queerbait / gaslighting anymore! Also, it's amusing how Wild At Heart just erased itself from your memory. XD
I think with regards to the Buffy and Willow conversation… we the audience have seen a lot more of Willow/Tara than Buffy has. I mean, Willow even hid Tara from the group for a while. So, Buffy not noticing isn’t too far fetched.
This was a good send off for Oz. It’s gonna be sad not having him around. Even though he was in less than half of this season, he played such a huge part.
Due to growing up during a time when society wasn't too keen on the idea of same sex relationships combined with myself never having a problem with them, Buffy's reaction is very natural. She doesn't know what to say because she's surprised, doesn't want to say the wrong thing, and is unknowingly setting a bar for society (as all people were back in those days) for how to handle reactions well in comparison to disownment or even "Have you tried not being ________" She collects herself and her thoughts quick and tells Willow an honest truth, which I'm sad to say, Willow didn't, and needed to do with Oz during the night they talked, and technically before she ever found Veruca in his cell. Because in both Wild at Heart and this episode, she is the one who doesn't handle the situations well. This episode was needed for both the audience to have closure, but also Willow and Oz. Willow and Tara definitely would have been in a holding pattern until the decided nothing could happen if Oz hadn't of returned.
I think younger viewers don't realize how much culture has changed with regards to the perception of the LGBTQ+. This was one of the first 'coming out' scenes on a major tv show. So, that awkwardness from Buffy felt very real. There was a genuine concern as to how friends would react. On a lighter note, they foreshadowed this in season 3, Dopplegangland, when Willow encounters her vampire-self. "... and I think I'm kind of gay."
And I believe the first time a main character was in a gay relationship. Even many shows after this having gay main characters a lot of the LGBTQ community complained that though they were gay, they were never shown in a gay relationship. "That guy, he's gay, but you only know that because we said it, you'll never see him actually date another guy, while all the 'straight' characters have relationships".
Certainly for young viewers. There was a lesbian relationship in LA Law, after the first lesbian kiss on TV in 1991. Yet, for a younger audience, BTVS was definitely a ground breaker.
This episode is so good. It finally shows how Tara and Willow really feel. Also, it's actually better on the rewatch, as there is more going on here than a first time watcher can pick up. I'm not going to say what, just keep this in mind going forward.
I think Buffy's reaction of freaking out a bit about what to say was really realistic for the time. It would be different now (Yay!) but even just 20 years ago a friend would freak a bit, especially as Buffy doesn't have anyone openly gay in her life (apart from Faith who is DEFINATELY bi in my opinion). I do think it was more Argh what do I say? rather than anything mean or nasty. Nice reaction as always x
Oz was perfect for high school Willow because his chill, stoic, quietly strong nature meshed with her more chatty, nervous, understatedly determined self; so they were great together. Then the breakup happened, and Willow changed as she recovered from it. Now we have a more confident, stronger, but still determined Willow who meshes perfectly with the more shy, perceptive, open hearted Tara... who are the best couple on the show as far as I'm concerned! Willow will always have a special place in her heart for Oz because he was her First Love - but there's a reason why the majority of us go on to find new people to be our till death do us part love. We all need time to become butterflies.
The conversation with Buffy and Willow in their dorm room was Willow’s coming out confession since she didn’t get an entire coming out storyline. Buffy was the very first person (besides Tara, obviously) she told about her and Tara being more than friends and Buffy was taken aback by it. So no. Buffy didn’t know and didn’t have any suspicions about them. Neither did any of the Gang. The only other person to know was Faith but only because she assumed it and took it as true because Tara doesn’t deny it. That’s why she brings up Oz. She knew Tara would be uncomfortable by him being mentioned. Trying to make it out as she was a “for the moment” thing. She’d take Oz back. I have an interpretation that in ‘Superstar’ Willow and Tara staged a “goodbye” scene while in front of Buffy. Willow was fully intending to go up to Tara’s dorm with her but couldn’t because Buffy was with them. I assume she went back to her when Buffy left so it’s likely they had being sexually intimate then. Even if it was just making out. And given Willow tries to make a move on Tara in the frat house in ‘Where The Wild Things Are’, it’s not too far of a reach to say that she was comfortable or familiar with being physical with her. Everybody’s hormones were on high in that episode so it’s not an illogical conclusion to come to that theirs were too. However, I think the ending scene of this episode was their actual “first time”. I think you’re to understand Tara blowing out the “extra-flamey” candle as Willow and Tara finally acting on their desires and choosing to consummate their sexual relationship. What else could it be with Willow’s line before it: “I’m going to make it up to you starting right now”, Tara asking for clarification: “Right now?” and Willow nodding in the affirmative.
So now Oz has had a real farewell & proper end to his relationship with Willow. She's come out to one of her friends & let Tara know that she's more committed to their relationship (not just through introducing Tara to the rest of the Scoobies). Buffy has told Riley about Angel (which because it's off camera, you have no idea how much or how little she's telling him). And Spike has been recruited by Adam.
To be honest, at this point Buffy had only seen the 2 together a couple of times and only with the other scoobies.. All she knew was that Tara is the only other witch that Willow met at college. Nothing seemed like they are more the friends. Not to mention that Willow up to this point only showed interest in Boys. First she had a huge crush on Xander, then she was in love with Oz and was extremely heartbroken when he left... there were no indications for Buffy to even have a hint. Of course from our perspective it was totally different. But Tara and Willow were alone with each other for most of the season.
Totally agree with you Smido83! I don't think that Buffy is "so self centered" at all. As a viewer we have an overall situation of what's happening to the characters. This episode was the first one in which Tara was officially introduced to the gang (it was her first Scooby meeting). How/when Buffy could have guessed? Willow always kept her relationship with Tara private. She finally introduced Tara to Buffy not because she wanted to but more because she was a bit forced to (Faith/Buffy episode at the Bronze). It made me laugh that you (Jayne!) thought that "Jonathan" was the previous episode. You said you enjoyed it but "Where the wild things are" is not a memorable episode!! 😉
@@chrisallen19821982 Sorry, but at that point it was just a gag. There were no plans at that time to make Willow gay. Dont forget that Vampire Willow was together with Vampire Xander, cause Willow had still a crush on Xander at that time... It was more that Vampire Willow loved herself and wanted to be with herslef... cause she was a selfish soulless Demon! Tara was only casted after Seth asked to leave the show early in season 4, cause his career was so busy that he didnt have time to play Oz full time anymore. So either you already knew when you watched Buffy first, or you are a fortune teller that can predict the future. If so, I would like to know the next Lottery Numbers. Cause at the time, noone predicted Willow was actually gay after Doppelgangland. And even if YOU could predict it... doesnt mean that Buffy the character could! And thats what my comment was about.
Well… Joss Whedon did state that he had early intentions of making one of the characters gay. He had plans for it to be Xander, but later changed it to Willow. So it was in the cards.
@@benpoem7813 like I said... at that time there were no plans to turn Willow gay... you just proved my point. I never said there were no plans to turn anyone gay... did I?
@@Smido83 I wasn’t trying to refute your comment. Just an interesting fact that it was planned for one of the major characters to be gay from the start. They may not have mapped it out to be Willow early on, but there is another indication in Doppelgangland when Willow says “and I think I’m a bit gay” Buffy reassures her that it’s the demon acting out and it has nothing to do with the person they used to be. Angel interjects “Well, actually…” and gets cut off by Buffy’s disapproving stare. 😂 ..if I remember that correctly.
The fates in this show (read “the writers,” but mostly Joss) are as cruel as in the great Greek tragedies. Like bowling pins, they set you up for ultimate happiness, then knock you down with ultimate tragedy.
I'm totally with you here ! Willoz is my 2nd favorite couple of this show, and it was painful to see it sink when I first discovered S4 (though I kinda was spoiled during S3 that Willow would get a girlfriend, so I knew it would be coming). But Tara is so adorable, I couldn't have blamed her, and Tillow didn't take much time to become my #1 couple (So yes, Willow definitely trusting the podium here). So, of course, through rewatches, this episode obviously became one of my favorite not only of the season, but of the whole show, by not only establishing my favorite couple, but also giving a much more satisfying end to my 2nd favorite one than what we had in Wild at Heart. And I can only hope it will be the same for you.
In Buffy's defense, Willow did keep Tara away from Buffy and the Scoobies for most of the season. Add in that Buffy always does have enormous weight on her shoulders ("it's the end of the world" "again?"), it's not really a surprise that it took her a moment to process what Willow told her. But once she did, she was one hundred percent supportive.
25:10 I think unfortunately back then, and in some places and contexts even to this day, there was/is a bit of a denial when people see something gay in someone they "know" to be straight, It's like they see it but don't actually notice, like they'd rather think it's anything other than the person being gay. Or at least that's what it felt like to me growing up closeted and passing. That's why it feels true to me for Will and Tara to almost hold hands in front of Buffy and her not "noticing".
Man, the Oz reveal was EVERY BIT as amazing as I thought it would be. It's EXACTLY how I felt, the mix of happy and scared. Once again "be careful what you wish for" because after half a season of hoping he returns... when he shows up, you no longer want it :D I love how sensitively they treat this situation. People made mistakes, people got hurt, but nobody was REALLY the bad guy. Not during the breakup, not during this reunion. A lesson many people could do with learning and internalising. Sometimes things fall apart and there is no fixing them, and it's okay. You can still love, still be kind, and still be true to your feelings without everyone getting what they want or having their imagined ever after. While it's true that LGBT representation in the late 90s early 00s was... complicated, the fact that this was brave of Buffy WAS downstream of most culture. I understood Buffy's awkwardness and think it fairly accurate (even to this day tbh) but I never shared it. I was 15 when my family started hinting that they thought I was gay (I'm not, I'm just weird) so it's very hard to be offended by something that even those you care about assume of you. My own brief foray into homophobia came at 17 when two guys kept coming on to me until my uncle drove them off. Spent about 2 weeks upset (and angsty that so many assumed I'm gay) before I got over it. They didn't actually touch me or do anything mean or predatory, so I should just take the compliment. I think Buffy's (the show) handling of this relationship has aged SO MUCH better than a lot of queer representation from the time (much of it appearing stereotypical) Subtlety has its merits, even when it isn't THAT subtle :P As for Buffy herself not realising: She's not privy to what we've seen. She met Tara for the VERY first time only 3 episodes ago. And then only during the trauma of the body swap, so call it 2 episodes. One of which was Jonathan's episode... so, one episode? The one where Buffy and Riley are a little.... busy. So for Buffy this REALLY is out of nowhere. Her best friend of 4~ years who she has only known pine after Xander and Oz SUDDENLY introduces her to a new friend who is a witch... and THEN she's suddenly in love. With a girl. After never expressing any such interest before. Buffy's self involvement is DEFINITELY a factor and certainly intentional... but lets not be too hard on her ;) And anyone who DOESN'T fall in love with Tara is probably a monster. But honestly, even the monsters would probably love her... :P
"NOW???!!!" That's the thing with this show. Be careful what you wish for. They'll give it to you, just at the worst time, rather than when you wanted it. "I hope Angel and Buffy get together" They do and he loses his soul. "I want Angel to get his soul back" He will, then Buffy has to kill him" Some people wanted Xander and Willow to get together early on. Nah, we'll wait until they are both in other relationships and screw everything up. "I wish Oz would come back" Okay, but only after Willow has finally moved on to a great girl. And the hits just keep coming. 2 good rules of thumb, just when things seem good, don't get comfortable, because it means something bad is about to go down. And the fun episodes are nice, but expect severe trauma in the next couple after them though.
I think the word you were looking for was timid - "showing a lack of courage or confidence; easily frightened." We saw that in the Wicca group where Willow and Tara met, when Tara tried to speak up, but the bitchwiccan in charge got all up in Tara's face and Tara backed down - Tara isn't very confident, and tends to stutter when flustered, and be quite...she is unsure of herself, she lacks self-confidence.
It was important for Oz to return so that Willow could close that chapter in her life, and begin a new one with Tara. Tara IS a meek person, stay tuned to find out why she is like that.
I like Oz. I think he is a great character as an individual that can teach you a lot. But I’m not going to lie. I think he is a violent character. Similar to Pete from ‘Beauty And The Beasts’. He seems like a nice guy. Cool, calm and collected on the surface but under closer observation, and at a deeper level, is very much the opposite to that. You would never expect it of him. Don’t bottle up your emotions kids… it does things to you eventually that you can’t be in conscious control of all the time. But it will still be your responsibility to prevent it. Oz does that by locking himself in a cage or by leaving town. By removing the danger. But I think his theme is violent masculinity. At least as far as his arc in Season 4 goes. I think his character represents the restriction of emotional expression and the pressure to conform to expectations of dominance and aggression. As a supernatural werewolf storyline this is mostly justifiable. But looking at it non-supernaturally, of which the show provides a supernatural metaphor for with almost every theme, storyline and character… what it’s getting at is how aggression takes control of a person when their base instincts are capitalised on and their senses are heightened. Oz’s story, at least to me, isn’t one of keeping the beast at bay - it’s exacerbating it. I know that wasn’t always the plan for his character because the actor had to leave abruptly. But it’s still a story worth telling and a lesson worth teaching. It’s a very interesting and compelling story to be engaged with. Can we ever be consciously in control of our emotions if we don’t ever take the opportunity to release them and would rather keep them bottled up because then we can at least say we’re trying not to let them get the better of us and cause our loved ones any harm?
It was oz fault. He left whithout saying when he come back, or where he willbe, no messages, he took all his stuff from his bedroom, and was he specting to willow to wait for him? He even didnt say he will come back.
Posting my BUFFY REWATCH recap for ‘New Moon Rising’. May contain spoilers. Well, this is it. This is the big reveal. And it’s finally a narrative that I can work with for writing my meta. A brief summary: Oz is back. In this episode he learns that his werewolf condition has nothing to do with being based on the lunar cycle but it does have to do with when he gets angry or is subjected to negative energy of any kind. This is especially true surrounding his feelings for Willow. Oh, but that’s not the BIG ISSUE of this episode. No. The BIG ISSUE is Willow now has someone else. She has Tara and she’s falling deeper and deeper in love with her every day. And uh oh,... here is her first real love driving back into her life asking for her back, a lost love that she has mourned for the first half of the season, a love she still feels something for even now despite being in a relationship with Tara... What the bloody hell does she do? THUS, CONFLICT. ANGST. DRAMA. AND GOD DAMN GOOD FUCKING ACTING PERFORMANCES ENSUES. THIS EPISODE IS INCREDIBLE! I have chosen to quote the confession scene between Buffy and Willow just because it sums up the entire story the best - and it shows you how Buffy reacts which is incredibly important for the validation of both Willow’s acceptance of her sexuality and acceptance of the relationship she has with Tara now that Oz is back in the picture. The conclusion to this episode is a double self-affirmation for Willow, and for anyone watching that has her as their self-insert character and that relates to and resonates with her difficult situation in this episode: “I have chosen to be with a woman I have feelings for.” AND “I have chosen to be with a woman I have feelings for even when a man wants me. A man I have previously loved and still have feelings for.” Yes, there’s the added complication that Oz still wolfs out and particularly while around Willow - but they’ve dealt with that before, they could deal with it again. No, Willow has made an INFORMED CHOICE. She CHOSE Tara over Oz. Oz: “But you’re happy *being with Tara*?” Willow: “I am.” This is incredibly important validation not just for closeted lesbians - but also for private WLW couples who constantly have men coming in and out of their life that they’re being assigned to or suited with by the company they keep. That they may have even been in a relationship with previously - either by their own free will or by force/pere-pressure from their family, friends and community. This episode is HUGE validation for that AUDIENCE specifically and solely. Respect!
I think Willow needed closure with Oz to accept a romantic/sexual relationship with Tara. And that’s something I really like about this whole storyline. It’s not so much choosing between a boy or a girl. It’s just choosing between Oz or Tara. She chose Tara. Gender doesn’t come into it and to be perfectly honest - it never really does when it comes to Willow. It’s just the assumption that she is straight. She never actually says she is. Like at any point in the show thus far. So it does throw you off a tad when it’s revealed she’s with Tara and so your reaction would be similar to Buffy’s even though you know more was going on between them than she did. This was when same-sex relationships weren’t as accepted on TV so they had to be so careful with how they went about representing it. I think they handled it really well given the times. As I said - making it about Willow choosing between a person rather than a gender since gender is irrelevant.
9:42 🤘 Renagade 4 Life Spike😂, Ahhh I hated him as a kid I hate him as a Adult dumb solder boyfriend lol I dispise him more than Ketch from spn and that's saying something ah I digress, Yep Seth Green last episode always loved him as Oz, Have a great one Dakara 👊👍
HEY!! Thought you were a SUPERNATURAL fan. And the supernatural rule is......NO CHICK FLICK MOMENTS!.. ... I guess that rule is kinda out the window here, EH?!?.....I'm telling DEAN!!!.....
Unpopular opinion, but I really wanted Willow to get back with Oz. I can't help it, I just love them together. Having said that, I do love Tara, and really do love her and Willow together as well. ❤
The only mistake Oz made was not telling Buffy in Wild At Heart what had happened. He never had control over the wolf inside. He tried his best but it was all beyond his control that's why he had to leave because he loved Willow so much but knew it was her that would always bring the wolf out in him. Xander gave him the impression in this episode that she was still single. It's a tragic love triangle with three people, who we really like so much. It's great that Riley shows how much he cares for Buffy by helping to free Oz. Oz makes the ultimate sacrifice again knowing they can never be together as Willow is the trigger for his transformation. It was great to see Tara and Willow back together again. One the better episodes of S4.
Oz made a few mistakes. The rather huge one being not just making no effort to stay in touch directly with Willow, but actively preventing communication by ensuring she had no way to even get a letter to him. Long distance relationships are hard but they entirely could have kept in touch and tried to work through it while he searched for his cure, but he made that impossible. Then he just randomly show's up out of nowhere and, unintentionally, effectively forced Willow to out herself before she may have been ready to do so. He handled the whole thing pretty badly from the start and really did just kind of assume, even if he didn't consciously mean to, that she would effectively put her life on hold waiting for him.
@@troikas3353 Mistakes? or a human being a human. What I think happens in this episode is some viewers see Oz as a threat to a relationship that they love. So they are over critical of Oz and give Willow a pass. So when Oz said 'that i check with Zander and said there was no guy' was he making assumptions that Willow was waiting for him? And when Willow did not reply 'there is no guy, but there is someone' was this not a mistake Willow made? Or is this 2 people under emotional stress, different emotion for each, not doing and saying, what in hind sight is the correct thing.
@@yziib3578 What he did were absolutely mistakes. Even in a vacuum if you ignore everything except him cutting off all contact with her; anyone in a relationship, be it romantic or platonic, who just ghosts someone for months at a time is in the wrong in that scenario. Communication is the absolute bare minimum element to any relationship. Storming out on and ghosting someone for months is not how you go about maintaining any kind of relationship. And definitely not how you go about trying to repair a romantic relationship. Even in the 90's it only takes five minutes to call someone or send a postcard. That's the absolute lowest amount of effort you can invest into a relationship to demonstrate you still want to be a part of a persons life, and let them know you are safe and well, and the least you can do for someone who is supposedly important to you. If that's too much to ask then you don't get to be shocked should you show up randomly out of nowhere and find out the other party is less than thrilled to see you. And no it was not a mistake for Willow to not tell Xander. If Oz wanted to know how Willow was doing and if she had someone new, he could have called her. Willow has not, up to this point, been ready to come out to anyone. Coming out can have massive consequences to a persons life on multiple levels and the only correct time for them to do it is when they feel ready. Oz showing up randomly out of nowhere effectively forced Willow to out herself and while Oz could not have known.. he could have done her the basic courtesy of calling ahead and asking if she even wanted to see him. Which she'd be entirely justified if she told him no. What he should have done is called Willow herself in private, let her know he was back in town and let her know that he'd like to see her for coffee or some other low-pressure meetup when she was ready and if she wanted too. Randomly ambushing her in front of all her friends and putting her on the spot was about the worst possible move he could have made even if his intentions were genuine.
Dakara messaged on Patreon that she's feeling quite ill, she might not have got the episode up due to that. It was edited a bit later than Buffy was, but we'll give her a pass due to her being ill.
For whatever reason my posts got deleted, whenever i tried to give this information to a Buffy reactor. Dakara, before editing the next episode four twenty, you should watch a one minute sequence in After Show Reactions video to it and add this to yours. This starts at ten minutes an fourty three seconds. It will show you a funny part, wich is probably mindblowing. It's kinda tradition for Buffy reactors to do so. And Tara - just love her, one day you would connect to her in an almost uninmaginable way.
I think Reactors should edit their videos as they see fit, and not be "copying" other reactors sequences, although, the editing is done by someone else (as credited in the description)
@@AngelDove Noo, she bulild sth extra. Usually she send this part to others (like LexiCrowd and SoFieReacts), but she is not always aware, when someone else reach that point. Its an extra part, made by Shannan, so no copied reaction, it's an interlude.
Does anyone else think Oz’s reaction to finding out Willow and Tara are involved in ‘New Moon Rising’ is a little extreme? Like he straight up turns into a werewolf and tries to attack Tara based on that information alone. I’d like to say that he’d react like that even if it wasn’t Tara or if it was another male - Xander or some other dude - but I don’t know. It was a pretty blatant “oh my god, Willow is in love with a girl?!” reaction to me. Of course there were better ways of him finding out. Like Willow telling him the night before when she talked with him all night… but I feel like he would have reacted the very same anyway. It was just,.. a bit much. Especially for Oz. Borderline violent masculinity behaviour from him there at the thought that Willow could possibly be dating Tara. All for the shock factor I suppose. 🤷♀️ And I can’t really decide whether that “Run” was a warning or a threat.
@republicoftexas3261 yeah, I figured his character and condition was a metaphor for violent masculinity. It just makes sense. Kinda sad, but at the same time, fascinating. The conversation with Willow in the van when he tells her that it turns out what brings the wolf out of him is her and that she wouldn’t be safe if she made him angry. It was woah. Like that was a lot. Obviously because it’s a condition of him turning into a werewolf, it’s justified. But taking the supernatural out of it. It’s horrific. Oz is a cool, calm and collected guy. His violence comes in his werewolf id. The total opposite.
I think the fact that it was a woman heightened the surprise factor for Oz, making it difficult for him to control his emotions / change. He asked Willow earlier (after speaking to Xander) if there was another guy in her life, and she said no. If she had told him yes at that moment, his mental barriers were up, and he would not have lost control.
@Girl4Music He would have been hurt and confused, particularly because it was another woman, and not a guy. However, I still think he was mentally prepared for rejection. I also have trouble seeing Oz losing control and directly attacking Willow. His animal instinct perceived Tara as a threat or challenger.
This episode always makes me wish that polyamory was an accepted relationship format all along, that the whole "all relationships have to be exclusive couples, preferably heterosexual" BS had just been replaced in the 60s. Both Tara and Oz want Willow to be happy more than they need to assert their own "claim" to her - they both left it up to Willow to decide what was best for her. Willow loves both of them in different ways. If Tara and Oz were willing to share her with each other, and Oz could learn to control the beast's desire for exclusivity, to control the beast, not just suppress it, what a serious power trio they would make! Two witches more powerful together than each is alone, and a werewolf able to control his shape to bring out the beast only when needed...
Speaking from experience, I don't think Buffy's awkward reaction to Willow's revelation was because she was freaked about her being gay, but because she was afraid she would make the wrong reaction to it. It took me time to be natural in such situations.
It was really well done
Much as I enjoyed Oz, Tara and Willow will always be my favorite couple in the show. The actresses have such great chemistry and the characters just work wonderfully together even as the show runners had to fight with the network for basically every step of the way to making it happen. Even after this they still kept having to fight to let them do simple things like show physical affection.
When they first introduced Tara, I was not a fan at all. I thought Amber was overacting at times when it came to the shyness and insecurity, and it took me out of the flow. That said, as her character arc developed, and she found her strength, I loved her.
Oz steals every scene he's in - and we love him even more every time he's on screen.
Tara is a ray of sunshine.
No joke. “I am my thoughts. If they exist in her, Buffy contains everything that is me and she becomes me.”
Silver bullet who?! The real enemy of the werewolf is the chair 😂😂
This episode will always be one of my favorites from season 4. Having Oz return gave not only Willow closure but the audience closure as well. And with that closure we get more Willow & Tara scenes. 🙂
When Willow cries, we all cry
I’m not sure if Willow or Buffy are the best cryers, but it’s between those two for me. Maybe if Giles had more opportunities, he would rank. Spike would kill it, but it would mostly be out of character. I mean, there’s a ton of talent in the pool.
"Do you like cats?" "More of a dog person, myself. But I'm not like 'death to all cats'." Oz is the dog and Tara's the cat. Look how Willow's clutching a stuffed dog (and, I think loosening her grip on it during the conversation) when she tells Buffy about Tara.
Also, on the DVD the first chapter of this episode (where they're talking about getting a cat and being Willow-friendly and holding hands) is called "A New Pussy". Make of that what you will.
Oh wow, I never made the “wolf/dog” connection
This will always be a favorite episode, and it's probably when fanfiction exploded. ❤
OMG, Dakara you’re such a Spike simp! I can’t wait for you to get to the later seasons 😂.
To be fair to Buffy, Willow had never mentioned Tara being anything other than a new friend, and never shown interest in women before. I think she was just surprised. Of course, Willow was just figuring it out herself, so she didn't have to say anything. But really, at this point, the only one who read the signs was Faith ;) I even see that a lot of people watching this episode seem to miss the meaning of Willow's scent being all over Tara, even though Tara is wearing Willow's outfit from the previous scene... In any case, it was nice to have Oz back for this episode, to give everyone closure. This show never fails to give what you used to want, now that you no longer want it =)
Oh boy... Oz really has a great timing...
But overall I was glad they brought him back. Cause him and Willow clearly needed closure.
But now it is time to move on... cause Tara is clearly the right one for Willow.
I love how reactors constantly mistake Tara’s chair throw as being responsible for taking out Oz! I don’t remember ever thinking that 😂
I think it's MEANT to be a split second "how?!" before the guys with tranqs walk up :P
I am happy for Willow finding happiness with Tara after feeling down for so long after OZ left, but my heart was ripped out when he showed up, cuz all the feels I had for their relationship rushed back in.
My heart ached for him, knowing all he went through to make himself a better man and to get back to her to make things right again. I loved them together.
But that's what this show does to you. Spins your emotions about.
It keeps you paranoid.👀 👀
There's always something ready to pull the rug right out, but you don't know when or where the strike will come.😂😂
Isn't it amazing that a show could make us love a character (Willow) with two totally different people? I would have said Oz and Willow were end game couple goals because they were so wonderful together, but at the same time I really love her new dynamic with Tara as well. I never would have thought I'd say that when Oz left - I was so heartbroken for Willow. But they've really made me love Tara too. Great writing!
I'm so glad you finally got the Willow/Tara confirmation you were waiting for, so you don't have to worry about it being queerbait / gaslighting anymore!
Also, it's amusing how Wild At Heart just erased itself from your memory. XD
I think with regards to the Buffy and Willow conversation… we the audience have seen a lot more of Willow/Tara than Buffy has. I mean, Willow even hid Tara from the group for a while. So, Buffy not noticing isn’t too far fetched.
This was a good send off for Oz. It’s gonna be sad not having him around. Even though he was in less than half of this season, he played such a huge part.
Willow Cries Dakara Cries.. Loved your reaction to this ep... keep'em coming
TBF after the put Oz's pants on the other soldiers were dissapointed they didn't get to see the thunder so they resolved the situation. Lol
"We don't choose who we love", J. Lannister.
The fabric of Oz & Willow meeting in Istanbul would be awesome!
Damn auto correct FANFIC
Tara is such a pure soul.. i love her so much
Due to growing up during a time when society wasn't too keen on the idea of same sex relationships combined with myself never having a problem with them, Buffy's reaction is very natural. She doesn't know what to say because she's surprised, doesn't want to say the wrong thing, and is unknowingly setting a bar for society (as all people were back in those days) for how to handle reactions well in comparison to disownment or even "Have you tried not being ________" She collects herself and her thoughts quick and tells Willow an honest truth, which I'm sad to say, Willow didn't, and needed to do with Oz during the night they talked, and technically before she ever found Veruca in his cell. Because in both Wild at Heart and this episode, she is the one who doesn't handle the situations well.
This episode was needed for both the audience to have closure, but also Willow and Oz. Willow and Tara definitely would have been in a holding pattern until the decided nothing could happen if Oz hadn't of returned.
So glad you weren't spoiled by Oz coming back - your reaction was incredible!
I think younger viewers don't realize how much culture has changed with regards to the perception of the LGBTQ+. This was one of the first 'coming out' scenes on a major tv show. So, that awkwardness from Buffy felt very real. There was a genuine concern as to how friends would react.
On a lighter note, they foreshadowed this in season 3, Dopplegangland, when Willow encounters her vampire-self. "... and I think I'm kind of gay."
And I believe the first time a main character was in a gay relationship. Even many shows after this having gay main characters a lot of the LGBTQ community complained that though they were gay, they were never shown in a gay relationship. "That guy, he's gay, but you only know that because we said it, you'll never see him actually date another guy, while all the 'straight' characters have relationships".
Certainly for young viewers. There was a lesbian relationship in LA Law, after the first lesbian kiss on TV in 1991.
Yet, for a younger audience, BTVS was definitely a ground breaker.
This episode is so good. It finally shows how Tara and Willow really feel. Also, it's actually better on the rewatch, as there is more going on here than a first time watcher can pick up. I'm not going to say what, just keep this in mind going forward.
Oz is back❤
Riley shirtless, starting to do push-ups...
Dakara: Yep. You want to do some stretching, feel free.
😆🤣
Nice view in the morning, eh? 😉
I think Buffy's reaction of freaking out a bit about what to say was really realistic for the time. It would be different now (Yay!) but even just 20 years ago a friend would freak a bit, especially as Buffy doesn't have anyone openly gay in her life (apart from Faith who is DEFINATELY bi in my opinion). I do think it was more Argh what do I say? rather than anything mean or nasty. Nice reaction as always x
Oz was perfect for high school Willow because his chill, stoic, quietly strong nature meshed with her more chatty, nervous, understatedly determined self; so they were great together. Then the breakup happened, and Willow changed as she recovered from it. Now we have a more confident, stronger, but still determined Willow who meshes perfectly with the more shy, perceptive, open hearted Tara... who are the best couple on the show as far as I'm concerned!
Willow will always have a special place in her heart for Oz because he was her First Love - but there's a reason why the majority of us go on to find new people to be our till death do us part love. We all need time to become butterflies.
and, great insight, thanks for a great reaction-
The conversation with Buffy and Willow in their dorm room was Willow’s coming out confession since she didn’t get an entire coming out storyline. Buffy was the very first person (besides Tara, obviously) she told about her and Tara being more than friends and Buffy was taken aback by it. So no. Buffy didn’t know and didn’t have any suspicions about them. Neither did any of the Gang. The only other person to know was Faith but only because she assumed it and took it as true because Tara doesn’t deny it. That’s why she brings up Oz. She knew Tara would be uncomfortable by him being mentioned. Trying to make it out as she was a “for the moment” thing. She’d take Oz back.
I have an interpretation that in ‘Superstar’ Willow and Tara staged a “goodbye” scene while in front of Buffy. Willow was fully intending to go up to Tara’s dorm with her but couldn’t because Buffy was with them. I assume she went back to her when Buffy left so it’s likely they had being sexually intimate then. Even if it was just making out. And given Willow tries to make a move on Tara in the frat house in ‘Where The Wild Things Are’, it’s not too far of a reach to say that she was comfortable or familiar with being physical with her. Everybody’s hormones were on high in that episode so it’s not an illogical conclusion to come to that theirs were too. However, I think the ending scene of this episode was their actual “first time”. I think you’re to understand Tara blowing out the “extra-flamey” candle as Willow and Tara finally acting on their desires and choosing to consummate their sexual relationship. What else could it be with Willow’s line before it: “I’m going to make it up to you starting right now”, Tara asking for clarification: “Right now?” and Willow nodding in the affirmative.
So now Oz has had a real farewell & proper end to his relationship with Willow. She's come out to one of her friends & let Tara know that she's more committed to their relationship (not just through introducing Tara to the rest of the Scoobies). Buffy has told Riley about Angel (which because it's off camera, you have no idea how much or how little she's telling him). And Spike has been recruited by Adam.
To be honest, at this point Buffy had only seen the 2 together a couple of times and only with the other scoobies.. All she knew was that Tara is the only other witch that Willow met at college. Nothing seemed like they are more the friends. Not to mention that Willow up to this point only showed interest in Boys. First she had a huge crush on Xander, then she was in love with Oz and was extremely heartbroken when he left... there were no indications for Buffy to even have a hint. Of course from our perspective it was totally different. But Tara and Willow were alone with each other for most of the season.
Totally agree with you Smido83! I don't think that Buffy is "so self centered" at all. As a viewer we have an overall situation of what's happening to the characters. This episode was the first one in which Tara was officially introduced to the gang (it was her first Scooby meeting). How/when Buffy could have guessed? Willow always kept her relationship with Tara private. She finally introduced Tara to Buffy not because she wanted to but more because she was a bit forced to (Faith/Buffy episode at the Bronze). It made me laugh that you (Jayne!) thought that "Jonathan" was the previous episode. You said you enjoyed it but "Where the wild things are" is not a memorable episode!! 😉
@@chrisallen19821982 Sorry, but at that point it was just a gag. There were no plans at that time to make Willow gay. Dont forget that Vampire Willow was together with Vampire Xander, cause Willow had still a crush on Xander at that time... It was more that Vampire Willow loved herself and wanted to be with herslef... cause she was a selfish soulless Demon!
Tara was only casted after Seth asked to leave the show early in season 4, cause his career was so busy that he didnt have time to play Oz full time anymore.
So either you already knew when you watched Buffy first, or you are a fortune teller that can predict the future. If so, I would like to know the next Lottery Numbers. Cause at the time, noone predicted Willow was actually gay after Doppelgangland.
And even if YOU could predict it... doesnt mean that Buffy the character could! And thats what my comment was about.
Well… Joss Whedon did state that he had early intentions of making one of the characters gay. He had plans for it to be Xander, but later changed it to Willow. So it was in the cards.
@@benpoem7813 like I said... at that time there were no plans to turn Willow gay... you just proved my point. I never said there were no plans to turn anyone gay... did I?
@@Smido83 I wasn’t trying to refute your comment. Just an interesting fact that it was planned for one of the major characters to be gay from the start. They may not have mapped it out to be Willow early on, but there is another indication in Doppelgangland when Willow says “and I think I’m a bit gay” Buffy reassures her that it’s the demon acting out and it has nothing to do with the person they used to be. Angel interjects “Well, actually…” and gets cut off by Buffy’s disapproving stare. 😂
..if I remember that correctly.
The fates in this show (read “the writers,” but mostly Joss) are as cruel as in the great Greek tragedies. Like bowling pins, they set you up for ultimate happiness, then knock you down with ultimate tragedy.
6:50 Objection! You look beautiful hon.
if it's any consolation, you're great crier as well! great reaction!
"I am, you know. .... Yours." Couldn't find a cheeky thumbs up so I gave you a normal one.
I'm totally with you here ! Willoz is my 2nd favorite couple of this show, and it was painful to see it sink when I first discovered S4 (though I kinda was spoiled during S3 that Willow would get a girlfriend, so I knew it would be coming). But Tara is so adorable, I couldn't have blamed her, and Tillow didn't take much time to become my #1 couple (So yes, Willow definitely trusting the podium here).
So, of course, through rewatches, this episode obviously became one of my favorite not only of the season, but of the whole show, by not only establishing my favorite couple, but also giving a much more satisfying end to my 2nd favorite one than what we had in Wild at Heart. And I can only hope it will be the same for you.
In Buffy's defense, Willow did keep Tara away from Buffy and the Scoobies for most of the season. Add in that Buffy always does have enormous weight on her shoulders ("it's the end of the world" "again?"), it's not really a surprise that it took her a moment to process what Willow told her. But once she did, she was one hundred percent supportive.
25:10 I think unfortunately back then, and in some places and contexts even to this day, there was/is a bit of a denial when people see something gay in someone they "know" to be straight, It's like they see it but don't actually notice, like they'd rather think it's anything other than the person being gay. Or at least that's what it felt like to me growing up closeted and passing. That's why it feels true to me for Will and Tara to almost hold hands in front of Buffy and her not "noticing".
Man, the Oz reveal was EVERY BIT as amazing as I thought it would be.
It's EXACTLY how I felt, the mix of happy and scared. Once again "be careful what you wish for" because after half a season of hoping he returns... when he shows up, you no longer want it :D
I love how sensitively they treat this situation. People made mistakes, people got hurt, but nobody was REALLY the bad guy. Not during the breakup, not during this reunion. A lesson many people could do with learning and internalising. Sometimes things fall apart and there is no fixing them, and it's okay. You can still love, still be kind, and still be true to your feelings without everyone getting what they want or having their imagined ever after.
While it's true that LGBT representation in the late 90s early 00s was... complicated, the fact that this was brave of Buffy WAS downstream of most culture. I understood Buffy's awkwardness and think it fairly accurate (even to this day tbh) but I never shared it. I was 15 when my family started hinting that they thought I was gay (I'm not, I'm just weird) so it's very hard to be offended by something that even those you care about assume of you. My own brief foray into homophobia came at 17 when two guys kept coming on to me until my uncle drove them off. Spent about 2 weeks upset (and angsty that so many assumed I'm gay) before I got over it. They didn't actually touch me or do anything mean or predatory, so I should just take the compliment.
I think Buffy's (the show) handling of this relationship has aged SO MUCH better than a lot of queer representation from the time (much of it appearing stereotypical) Subtlety has its merits, even when it isn't THAT subtle :P
As for Buffy herself not realising: She's not privy to what we've seen. She met Tara for the VERY first time only 3 episodes ago. And then only during the trauma of the body swap, so call it 2 episodes. One of which was Jonathan's episode... so, one episode? The one where Buffy and Riley are a little.... busy. So for Buffy this REALLY is out of nowhere. Her best friend of 4~ years who she has only known pine after Xander and Oz SUDDENLY introduces her to a new friend who is a witch... and THEN she's suddenly in love. With a girl. After never expressing any such interest before. Buffy's self involvement is DEFINITELY a factor and certainly intentional... but lets not be too hard on her ;)
And anyone who DOESN'T fall in love with Tara is probably a monster. But honestly, even the monsters would probably love her... :P
"NOW???!!!" That's the thing with this show. Be careful what you wish for. They'll give it to you, just at the worst time, rather than when you wanted it. "I hope Angel and Buffy get together" They do and he loses his soul. "I want Angel to get his soul back" He will, then Buffy has to kill him" Some people wanted Xander and Willow to get together early on. Nah, we'll wait until they are both in other relationships and screw everything up. "I wish Oz would come back" Okay, but only after Willow has finally moved on to a great girl. And the hits just keep coming. 2 good rules of thumb, just when things seem good, don't get comfortable, because it means something bad is about to go down. And the fun episodes are nice, but expect severe trauma in the next couple after them though.
I think the word you were looking for was timid - "showing a lack of courage or confidence; easily frightened."
We saw that in the Wicca group where Willow and Tara met, when Tara tried to speak up, but the bitchwiccan in charge got all up in Tara's face and Tara backed down - Tara isn't very confident, and tends to stutter when flustered, and be quite...she is unsure of herself, she lacks self-confidence.
Joss Whedon; "Alysson Hannigan, queen of pain".
Dakara, by now, knows that. 😉
I'm not generally a fan of season 4 but this episode was the most enjoyable of the season because it represents an evolution of Willow.
Since you are up to S6 ep14, I am guessing you have more a connection with Tara and know how great she is
It is better to not mention episodes and let her watch
It was important for Oz to return so that Willow could close that chapter in her life, and begin a new one with Tara. Tara IS a meek person, stay tuned to find out why she is like that.
I like Oz. I think he is a great character as an individual that can teach you a lot. But I’m not going to lie. I think he is a violent character. Similar to Pete from ‘Beauty And The Beasts’. He seems like a nice guy. Cool, calm and collected on the surface but under closer observation, and at a deeper level, is very much the opposite to that. You would never expect it of him.
Don’t bottle up your emotions kids… it does things to you eventually that you can’t be in conscious control of all the time. But it will still be your responsibility to prevent it. Oz does that by locking himself in a cage or by leaving town. By removing the danger. But I think his theme is violent masculinity. At least as far as his arc in Season 4 goes. I think his character represents the restriction of emotional expression and the pressure to conform to expectations of dominance and aggression. As a supernatural werewolf storyline this is mostly justifiable. But looking at it non-supernaturally, of which the show provides a supernatural metaphor for with almost every theme, storyline and character… what it’s getting at is how aggression takes control of a person when their base instincts are capitalised on and their senses are heightened. Oz’s story, at least to me, isn’t one of keeping the beast at bay - it’s exacerbating it. I know that wasn’t always the plan for his character because the actor had to leave abruptly. But it’s still a story worth telling and a lesson worth teaching. It’s a very interesting and compelling story to be engaged with.
Can we ever be consciously in control of our emotions if we don’t ever take the opportunity to release them and would rather keep them bottled up because then we can at least say we’re trying not to let them get the better of us and cause our loved ones any harm?
It was oz fault. He left whithout saying when he come back, or where he willbe, no messages, he took all his stuff from his bedroom, and was he specting to willow to wait for him? He even didnt say he will come back.
Posting my BUFFY REWATCH recap for ‘New Moon Rising’. May contain spoilers.
Well, this is it. This is the big reveal. And it’s finally a narrative that I can work with for writing my meta.
A brief summary: Oz is back. In this episode he learns that his werewolf condition has nothing to do with being based on the lunar cycle but it does have to do with when he gets angry or is subjected to negative energy of any kind. This is especially true surrounding his feelings for Willow. Oh, but that’s not the BIG ISSUE of this episode. No. The BIG ISSUE is Willow now has someone else. She has Tara and she’s falling deeper and deeper in love with her every day. And uh oh,... here is her first real love driving back into her life asking for her back, a lost love that she has mourned for the first half of the season, a love she still feels something for even now despite being in a relationship with Tara...
What the bloody hell does she do?
THUS, CONFLICT. ANGST. DRAMA. AND GOD DAMN GOOD FUCKING ACTING PERFORMANCES ENSUES. THIS EPISODE IS INCREDIBLE!
I have chosen to quote the confession scene between Buffy and Willow just because it sums up the entire story the best - and it shows you how Buffy reacts which is incredibly important for the validation of both Willow’s acceptance of her sexuality and acceptance of the relationship she has with Tara now that Oz is back in the picture. The conclusion to this episode is a double self-affirmation for Willow, and for anyone watching that has her as their self-insert character and that relates to and resonates with her difficult situation in this episode:
“I have chosen to be with a woman I have feelings for.”
AND
“I have chosen to be with a woman I have feelings for even when a man wants me. A man I have previously loved and still have feelings for.”
Yes, there’s the added complication that Oz still wolfs out and particularly while around Willow - but they’ve dealt with that before, they could deal with it again.
No, Willow has made an INFORMED CHOICE. She CHOSE Tara over Oz.
Oz: “But you’re happy *being with Tara*?”
Willow: “I am.”
This is incredibly important validation not just for closeted lesbians - but also for private WLW couples who constantly have men coming in and out of their life that they’re being assigned to or suited with by the company they keep. That they may have even been in a relationship with previously - either by their own free will or by force/pere-pressure from their family, friends and community. This episode is HUGE validation for that AUDIENCE specifically and solely. Respect!
I think Willow needed closure with Oz to accept a romantic/sexual relationship with Tara. And that’s something I really like about this whole storyline. It’s not so much choosing between a boy or a girl. It’s just choosing between Oz or Tara. She chose Tara. Gender doesn’t come into it and to be perfectly honest - it never really does when it comes to Willow. It’s just the assumption that she is straight. She never actually says she is. Like at any point in the show thus far. So it does throw you off a tad when it’s revealed she’s with Tara and so your reaction would be similar to Buffy’s even though you know more was going on between them than she did. This was when same-sex relationships weren’t as accepted on TV so they had to be so careful with how they went about representing it. I think they handled it really well given the times. As I said - making it about Willow choosing between a person rather than a gender since gender is irrelevant.
For the Algorithm 🌹
those glasses with that hair, dang girl you're like an 80s pin up
9:42 🤘 Renagade 4 Life Spike😂, Ahhh I hated him as a kid I hate him as a Adult dumb solder boyfriend lol I dispise him more than Ketch from spn and that's saying something ah I digress, Yep Seth Green last episode always loved him as Oz, Have a great one Dakara 👊👍
HEY!! Thought you were a SUPERNATURAL fan. And the supernatural rule is......NO CHICK FLICK MOMENTS!.. ...
I guess that rule is kinda out the window here, EH?!?.....I'm telling DEAN!!!.....
Dean loves chick flick moments - he admits it himself haha! (S11 finale)
So, um, is Angel 1x19: Sanctuary getting uploaded this week?
Unpopular opinion, but I really wanted Willow to get back with Oz. I can't help it, I just love them together. Having said that, I do love Tara, and really do love her and Willow together as well. ❤
Yes, SMG is a GREAT cryer, but Alyson Hannigan is the worlds best as far as I can see.
The only mistake Oz made was not telling Buffy in Wild At Heart what had happened. He never had control over the wolf inside. He tried his best but it was all beyond his control that's why he had to leave because he loved Willow so much but knew it was her that would always bring the wolf out in him. Xander gave him the impression in this episode that she was still single. It's a tragic love triangle with three people, who we really like so much. It's great that Riley shows how much he cares for Buffy by helping to free Oz. Oz makes the ultimate sacrifice again knowing they can never be together as Willow is the trigger for his transformation. It was great to see Tara and Willow back together again. One the better episodes of S4.
Oz made a few mistakes. The rather huge one being not just making no effort to stay in touch directly with Willow, but actively preventing communication by ensuring she had no way to even get a letter to him. Long distance relationships are hard but they entirely could have kept in touch and tried to work through it while he searched for his cure, but he made that impossible. Then he just randomly show's up out of nowhere and, unintentionally, effectively forced Willow to out herself before she may have been ready to do so. He handled the whole thing pretty badly from the start and really did just kind of assume, even if he didn't consciously mean to, that she would effectively put her life on hold waiting for him.
@@troikas3353 Mistakes? or a human being a human. What I think happens in this episode is some viewers see Oz as a threat to a relationship that they love. So they are over critical of Oz and give Willow a pass.
So when Oz said 'that i check with Zander and said there was no guy' was he making assumptions that Willow was waiting for him? And when Willow did not reply 'there is no guy, but there is someone' was this not a mistake Willow made? Or is this 2 people under emotional stress, different emotion for each, not doing and saying, what in hind sight is the correct thing.
@@yziib3578 What he did were absolutely mistakes. Even in a vacuum if you ignore everything except him cutting off all contact with her; anyone in a relationship, be it romantic or platonic, who just ghosts someone for months at a time is in the wrong in that scenario. Communication is the absolute bare minimum element to any relationship. Storming out on and ghosting someone for months is not how you go about maintaining any kind of relationship. And definitely not how you go about trying to repair a romantic relationship.
Even in the 90's it only takes five minutes to call someone or send a postcard. That's the absolute lowest amount of effort you can invest into a relationship to demonstrate you still want to be a part of a persons life, and let them know you are safe and well, and the least you can do for someone who is supposedly important to you. If that's too much to ask then you don't get to be shocked should you show up randomly out of nowhere and find out the other party is less than thrilled to see you.
And no it was not a mistake for Willow to not tell Xander. If Oz wanted to know how Willow was doing and if she had someone new, he could have called her. Willow has not, up to this point, been ready to come out to anyone. Coming out can have massive consequences to a persons life on multiple levels and the only correct time for them to do it is when they feel ready. Oz showing up randomly out of nowhere effectively forced Willow to out herself and while Oz could not have known.. he could have done her the basic courtesy of calling ahead and asking if she even wanted to see him. Which she'd be entirely justified if she told him no.
What he should have done is called Willow herself in private, let her know he was back in town and let her know that he'd like to see her for coffee or some other low-pressure meetup when she was ready and if she wanted too. Randomly ambushing her in front of all her friends and putting her on the spot was about the worst possible move he could have made even if his intentions were genuine.
No Angel today?
Right? 😢
Dakara messaged on Patreon that she's feeling quite ill, she might not have got the episode up due to that. It was edited a bit later than Buffy was, but we'll give her a pass due to her being ill.
@@PurpleNurpleSPN Fair enough.
For whatever reason my posts got deleted, whenever i tried to give this information to a Buffy reactor. Dakara, before editing the next episode four twenty, you should watch a one minute sequence in After Show Reactions video to it and add this to yours. This starts at ten minutes an fourty three seconds. It will show you a funny part, wich is probably mindblowing. It's kinda tradition for Buffy reactors to do so.
And Tara - just love her, one day you would connect to her in an almost uninmaginable way.
I think Reactors should edit their videos as they see fit, and not be "copying" other reactors sequences, although, the editing is done by someone else (as credited in the description)
@@AngelDove Noo, she bulild sth extra. Usually she send this part to others (like LexiCrowd and SoFieReacts), but she is not always aware, when someone else reach that point. Its an extra part, made by Shannan, so no copied reaction, it's an interlude.
I think I know what you mean - and she's watched it but it's a patreon exclusive I believe.
🩵Tara
hey dakara please the grimm 3x20 episode uploaded
Does anyone else think Oz’s reaction to finding out Willow and Tara are involved in ‘New Moon Rising’ is a little extreme? Like he straight up turns into a werewolf and tries to attack Tara based on that information alone. I’d like to say that he’d react like that even if it wasn’t Tara or if it was another male - Xander or some other dude - but I don’t know. It was a pretty blatant “oh my god, Willow is in love with a girl?!” reaction to me. Of course there were better ways of him finding out. Like Willow telling him the night before when she talked with him all night… but I feel like he would have reacted the very same anyway.
It was just,.. a bit much. Especially for Oz. Borderline violent masculinity behaviour from him there at the thought that Willow could possibly be dating Tara.
All for the shock factor I suppose. 🤷♀️ And I can’t really decide whether that “Run” was a warning or a threat.
It was a warning. Remember, he was having to actively suppress the change. His werewolf transformation was like a rabid dog on a very thin leash.
@republicoftexas3261 yeah, I figured his character and condition was a metaphor for violent masculinity. It just makes sense.
Kinda sad, but at the same time, fascinating.
The conversation with Willow in the van when he tells her that it turns out what brings the wolf out of him is her and that she wouldn’t be safe if she made him angry. It was woah. Like that was a lot.
Obviously because it’s a condition of him turning into a werewolf, it’s justified. But taking the supernatural out of it. It’s horrific. Oz is a cool, calm and collected guy. His violence comes in his werewolf id. The total opposite.
I think the fact that it was a woman heightened the surprise factor for Oz, making it difficult for him to control his emotions / change.
He asked Willow earlier (after speaking to Xander) if there was another guy in her life, and she said no. If she had told him yes at that moment, his mental barriers were up, and he would not have lost control.
@@pcoleman1971 yeah but if she said “No, actually, a girl” do you think he would have reacted the same way?
@Girl4Music He would have been hurt and confused, particularly because it was another woman, and not a guy. However, I still think he was mentally prepared for rejection.
I also have trouble seeing Oz losing control and directly attacking Willow. His animal instinct perceived Tara as a threat or challenger.
The executives let her be gay, but bisexual was apparently too much.
This episode always makes me wish that polyamory was an accepted relationship format all along, that the whole "all relationships have to be exclusive couples, preferably heterosexual" BS had just been replaced in the 60s.
Both Tara and Oz want Willow to be happy more than they need to assert their own "claim" to her - they both left it up to Willow to decide what was best for her. Willow loves both of them in different ways. If Tara and Oz were willing to share her with each other, and Oz could learn to control the beast's desire for exclusivity, to control the beast, not just suppress it, what a serious power trio they would make! Two witches more powerful together than each is alone, and a werewolf able to control his shape to bring out the beast only when needed...