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Season 4, Episode 19
Written by Marti Noxon
Directed by James A. Contner
Original Airdate: 1 May 2000
Tara "No, I understand. You have to be with
the person that love."
Willow "I am."
REGULAR CAST
GUEST CAST
CO-STARRING
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James Michael Conner as
Scientist #1
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Mark Daneri as
Scientist #2
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Doron Keenan as
Commando #2
SYNOPSIS
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Willow and Tara talk about Tara getting a cat as a
pet. At the Scooby Gang meeting, Buffy explains that there is little
going on, but as usual, Giles knows that means trouble. As the meeting
ends, Oz shows up in the doorway, shocking everyone into silence. Oz
arranges to talk with Willow later, and after Oz leaves, Tara also
leaves the incredibly uncomfortable situation. Buffy and Riley talk
about how bad Willow and Oz's break-up really was, and Buffy
accidentally mentions that Oz is a werewolf. Buffy goes off on him when
he negatively comments on Willow dating a werewolf.
Oz takes Willow for a walk outside during a full moon, showing her that
he's not in werewolf mode. While in Tibet, with the help of herbs,
charms, chanting, and meditation, he's learned to control the wolf
inside. Oz wants to get back together with Willow, but she is reluctant.
Graham patrols with a team and they are all attacked by a couple of
werewolves. Willow and Oz talk all night about their lives while they
were away. Tara comes by while Willow is away, and upon having Oz answer
the door she gets nervous and leaves.
Buffy wakes up at Riley's, but she's very distant from him. They talk
about the night before in the graveyard and Riley's reaction to Oz, then
Riley leaves after hearing news about Graham getting hurt. Willow shocks
Buffy with the news about Oz being able to control the wolf. Buffy is
even more shocked as Willow subtly explains that her relationship with
Tara is now serious and that it complicates things with Oz. Adam goes to
Spike for his help, and in exchange will remove the chip from Spike's
head.
Willow tells Tara that she and Oz only talked the night before, and then
they hug. Oz and Tara have a confrontation and after smelling Willow on
Tara, Oz concludes that the two are romantically involved. He loses
control, and starts to change into a werewolf. Werewolf Oz chases Tara
into a classroom, and then Riley and Initiative guys take Oz away. The
gang meets up and makes a plan to free Oz. Oz is kept caged at the
Initiative and just as Riley is about to shoot him dead, he changes back
into his human form.
Despite Riley's attempts to help, the scientists start performing tests
on Oz. Spike shows up at Giles's place and offers to lead Buffy and the
gang into the Initiative. Riley sneaks in, gives Oz some clothes and
tries to help him escape. On the way out, they get caught. Colonel
McNamara lectures Riley about betraying the Initiative on so many levels
and how he will be court marshalled. Dressed as commandos and
scientists, Spike and the gang sneak into the Initiative through a back
door. Adam secretly helps them by running operations through a computer
and helping them shut down the power for most of the city.
Holding the Colonel hostage, Buffy gets Riley and Oz free, Riley leaving
the Initiative for good. Now that his life is in danger, Riley camps out
underground with Buffy at his side. He confesses that he was wrong about
Oz, and then Buffy volunteers to tell him about her past, and hopes that
it won't destroy their relationship. In Oz's van, Willow and Oz say
their sad goodbyes and then Oz leaves town again to escape the
Initiative and Willow, who unintentionally is the cause of him turning
into a werewolf. Willow goes to Tara's, bringing her a candle. Willow
tells her she is with the person she loves, and Tara blows out the
candle.
AMBER BENSON'S COMMENTS
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After this episode aired in America, some fans
where extremely annoyed that Willow chose Tara over Oz. They were unkind
towards Tara, and especially towards her weight. Amber Benson was
naturally upset about this and bravely went online on May 4th, 2000 with
the following message:
"I've been thinking a lot about what people said about Tara on the
internet after the last episode aired. At first, I was very hurt. I
tried to disassociate myself from feeling bad by saying: This is Tara
that they are talking about, not me. But I couldn't. I guess it hurts
when someone calls you ugly or makes nasty comments about your weight
whether or not it is really you they are referring to. I am just a human
being and I feel like I deserve to be treated as such. I also feel that
Tara deserves to be treated with a little more kindness and compassion.
Yes, I am not a stick. I am a normal, healthy (I was gonna say Girl,
but...) woman. I have breasts and hips and I am very happy that they are
part of me. I weigh 118 and I am 5'4. If you saw me in real life, you
would think I was on the thin side. But on TV, next to my very petite
co-stars, I do look heavier. I am proud to be normal. A body is a
beautiful thing to waste. Believe me, I have seen enough of my friends
and peers waste away to nothing so that they could work in this
industry. So that they could perpetuate the lie that anorexia is
beautiful. It is not. You are beautiful. All of you. Just for being.
You all can judge me and Tara for being 'fat', 'gay' and 'shy'. I
suppose that my being on TV gives you that right. But I do not have to
read what you say. I have enjoyed being a lurker. But my feelings just
can't take the criticism. Those of you (you know who you are) with
sensitivity will understand. Thank you for sticking up for us. Tara and
I both appreciate it. I think that being a beautiful, heavy, lesbian
witch rocks! No matter what happens I'm glad I get the chance to walk in
Tara's shoes. All you girls and guys out there who think that starving,
binging and purging and exercising yourself to death is gonna change how
you feel inside - It's not. Don't buy all the media crap. Love yourself
for who you are, not what others think you should look like. It's
definitely more important in this life to love each other despite our
imperfections."
TRIVIA
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Seth Green returns as Oz in this episode.
His intent is to woo back Willow. His character leaves Sunnydale for
good in this episode, but Seth returns one last time in Willow's dream
in
Restless.
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Robert Patrick Benedict, who played Jape in
Superstar, was credited in the
opening guest cast list for this episode but his scenes were cut.
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For the first time, Emma Caulfield was
listed with the regulars in the script, though she has not yet been
added to the opening credits. She had signed a contract confirming this
though, and appears on the credits as of
Buffy Vs. Dracula.
CONTINUITY
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There are many references to earlier events
this season, in particular Oz's departure in Wild at Heart,
which Riley remembers as being heartbreaking for Willow since he saved
her from a speeding car.
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Tara attends her first meeting with the
Scooby Gang and is officially inducted into their ranks. She also
discusses getting a cat with Willow, which turns up in
The Yoko Factor.
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Giles mentions that they'll have to
infiltrate the Initiative again, which Buffy and Xander did in
The I in Team.
GOOFS
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In the scene after Willow and Oz have been
up all night, Oz's necklace keeps moving around, even when he's not
moving.
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When Willow leaves her dorm room to brush
her teeth, hardly any time passes between when she leaves and when Tara
knocks on the door. They should have seen each other in the hallway.
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When Oz is chasing Tara, he begins to run
down a row of seats, getting a few feet down before the camera cuts to
Tara. When it cuts back to Oz, he's at the beginning of the row,
starting to run down the aisle again.
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When Tara throws the chair at Oz, Riley
nails him with a tranquilizer dart at the same time. Oz falls to the
floor, with no dart in his back. Riley steps over him, and the dart is
now in his back.
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Adam confronts Spike in his crypt during
the daytime. There's lots of sunlight around, yet Spike doesn't dust.
The Freshman |
Living Conditions |
The Harsh Light of Day |
Fear, Itself |
Beer Bad
Wild at Heart |
The Initiative |
Pangs |
Something Blue |
Hush |
Doomed
A New Man |
The I in Team |
Goodbye Iowa |
This Year's Girl |
Who Are You |
Superstar
Where the Wild
Things Are |
New Moon Rising |
The Yoko Factor |
Primeval |
Restless
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