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Wild At Heart

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Neill Shaughness

For timeline reference, this episode came out the same year as Austin Powers 2

Gail Hislop

such a pivotal episode for the character of Oz and for Willow going forward. Their relationship was one of the sweetest in the series and it was so hard to see it end this way. But Oz made the best decision for himself and for her at this time. And yes this was the episode that Spike first used the phrase Big Bad to describe himself and it entered the Buffy lexicon and beyond. Love you noting the growth in Xander too and it continues. RIP to Nicholas Brendon

Lyla

God Alyson Hannigan is such a great actress and an absolutely heartbreaking crier. She always gets to me in any emotional scenes. Poor Willow!

Christopher simeon

Remember Giles was paid as watcher AND was a librarian for three years so he must have been saving his money with that extra income and no wife or girlfriend.

Pam Nail

- "Big bad" has been used before, bit this episode is a pretty iconic example. Supposedly the *first* reference was in the commentary for "Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered" (S2) and it was used in an actual episode in "Gingerbread" (S3). But I do think Spike's use of it in this episode is the first use of it as a kind of title or honorific. - So Seth Green had a chance to do a movie, and this was how the writers gave him an out -- without killing him off, so he could come back if he wanted to. I wish they could have found a way to do it without so brutally ripping Willow's heart out. And ours. Any time she feels something on this show, I feel it with her. - Green jealousy metaphor outfit for the win! - Giles was paid by the Watchers Council, but I think he was also supposed to have some independent family wealth, which makes it possible for him to be a gentleman of leisure in Sunnydale. - Ugh, Veruca. She's written as such a "not like other girls" girl. I know we could have had some more story with her, but I'm kind of glad Willow is spared that. And that Oz is the one to take Veruca out. - I'm really glad we've moved at least a little beyond the short cameos from those commando guys. Love that Buffy instantly takes what little she knows to Giles and that we seem to be filing info away for future use.

danzthename

Willow crying absolutely destroys me. This is a well-done episode I think, but I hate it. It's just too sad.

I🖤Kraken

"My whole life? I've never loved anything else." It's one of my favorite lines in television history. Gutted.

Leah W.

I love the rollercoaster that is the intro of this episode. It's very much "Oh hey, it's Spike! Hel- WHAT?! Bye, Spike, I guess" lol

Neill Shaughness

How do you guys feel about Giles' development in s4 so far?

Erica

I will cry if i talk about the main storyline, so I'll just pop in to say that the comment on buffy's hair at the beginning is the sign of a true buffy fan 😂 we have many, many opinions on buffy's hair. Idk if such a game exists, but i think most fans could name an episode solely based on a hairstyle lol

Carl Wilson

Agree with you completely that this story happens too fast - it feels like it should have been a two-parter. I suspect there were production reasons around Seth Green's availability. But in some way the suddenness has an emotional resonance with the shocking speed with which a relationship can be broken up when you discover an affair. And yeah, the line from Oz about remembering how it feels is him being defensive in a lousy way - but I also think it's there to remind the viewers of the whole long arc of their story, and how much they've been through to get to the good place they were in until a moment ago. So very very sad.

Sarah P

While devastating, this episode is a testament to everything this show has built up to this point — the strength of the characters, actors, its sense of self and trust in its audience. The funny gag they pulled with Spike — using the wonderful sense of humor fans are familiar with while introducing us to Spike being back in the show AND foreshadowing the fact that we’re going to get an intersection of him and the commandos — stellar episodic storytelling! The writing of Willow and Oz’s relationship is some of my favorite in the show, and it’s a testament to the show at large that this heartbreaking episode does nothing to lessen my appreciation of it.

Suzanne Whyte

I love Oz but it’s always been frustrating that he doesn’t really open up to people or ask for help. He did the exact same thing when he first became a werewolf and it’s frustrating that he continues to make the same mistakes.

Suzanne Whyte

Xander did give decent advice this episode but I felt uncomfortable seeing Willow discussing the relationship issues she and Oz were having with the person she cheated with. I know she and Xander are still best friends and they’re past the romantic feelings but it feels like it’s crossing a line to discuss your sex life after everything that happened.

Jamie Morgan

I know it's kinda by-the-by in this episode but every glimpse into Xander's home life makes me sadder and sadder, and the line "she won't let me put a lock on my door" gives me major ick. He's paying rent and they won't even grant him the basic decency of privacy? Ugh. Anyway, I know some people think this is out of character for Oz, but I disagree. Whenever something bad is happening to other people, or even if something bad is happening to him, he usually handles it extremely well. For example, when he found out about Willow and Xander, he navigated that perfectly, communicating his thoughts, feelings and boundaries and making sure Willow observed them without making it all about her. However, when *he* is responsible for the bad thing, he usually keeps it to himself. When he first started turning, he told no one and ordered some manacles to his house in the hope that he could just deal with it alone, ironically putting Willow in danger when she showed up unexpectedly. He's made no real effort to confront the wolf side of him - which is why it was his nightmare in Fear Itself - choosing to just lock himself away for 3 nights and pretending it doesn't exist for the other 25. While I'm a Beer Bad defender, I still believe ditching that in favour of making this a two-parter would have been better. Ah well.

HereBeMeghan

Alison Hannigan is so good at crying and making you feel those feelings. :( Well, on the upside, there are a stretch of all timer episodes coming up that I can't wait for you two to react to!

Roland

As Neill Shaughness and others indicated, Seth Green went off to play Scott Evil. I don't think Scott Evil was an acting stretch, but let's be real, Oz wasn't exactly the most dynamic character either. While it's a shame Seth Green wasn't given a two-parter to showcase his talents upon exit, it's a bigger shame that Seth wasn't given the opportunity earlier, unlike the rest of the Entourage, all of whom already had amazing showcase episodes. "Moody guy that bottles it all up. Oh, and plays the guitar. And flips into a dog once a month, but has no control or memory of it". That is not exactly a grand tableau for the writers or the actor to work with. IIRC Oz's greatest arc was being the ping-pong ball in two other characters' romantic trainwreck. For context, here are Seth's scenes as Scott Evil, spoilerific obviously: https://youtu.be/-7O7sBg-iJc?si=dSrnijS8EX9cRbnT

Roland

If you want a proper werewolf experience, John Landis' 1984 'An American Werewolf In London' is a classic for a reason, with physical special effects that still hold up today. I also have a soft spot for Jack Nicholson's 1994 movie 'Wolf', a romantic werewolf movie that was out long before Buffy or Twilight came along.

Lola Lirola

Such a heartbreaking episode, but I am glad Oz existed in this show as a consistently good partner (up until this very episode where they had to write a reason for him to leave!). Also, Joe, if you need women werewolves in your life, check out Ginger Snaps and Blood and Chocolate! I am always baffled that there aren't more female werewolf tropes around. The idea is basically built for women! Once a month, on a moon cycle, a normally meek person becomes a raging, hungry, lustful, hairy, bloody beast. We can relate!!

CobbleAUS

Xander in S4 is probably when he is at his best. Not a fan of him other than this season tbh 😂

Kevin L

A lot of fans haven't cared for Paige Moss as Veruca, but I think she was well-cast and made a great pairing with Seth for this story. Very sexually tense scenes at the cage and in the laundry, both are memorable and give interesting perspective from another wolf, which we'd not had before. And then Alyson, omg she is so fantastic here, one of her best showcases yet. 😢