I was so worried that Buffy would loose it’s charm when it no longer had high school as a background. But the show got so much more complex and the characters grew in surprisingly satisfied ways. I’m going to say something out loud. I really don’t rewatch seasons 1-3 except for my favorite stand alone episodes or arcs. Season 4 on are my personal favorites. Season 5 & 6 are my favorites. The last season I have mixed emotions about but still solid.
This is such a moving episode. All three are so unselfish in their love, so genuine in their desire that the other be happy, your heart just aches for all of them.
I love this episode. It resolves the love triangle without making any of the three the "bad guy." Oz's greatest weakness is that he tries to handle his problems without asking for help. We see this all the way back in Phases. In most circumstances that's not a huge problem, but he's a werewolf. He's a great guy, and a great character, and this was a necessary way to give us, and Willow, closure for that relationship. And then there's Tara, who is just wonderful. 😍
"Oz's greatest weakness is that he tries to handle his problems without asking for help. We see this all the way back in "Phases"."Also in"Wild at Heart".He just had to ask Buffy to keep Veruca in a separate cage!X-[
I really appreciate the concept embedded in this episode: the people you loved are always going to be a part of you and of your life. When a relationship is not toxic, but based on true love it lasts forever. People change, circumstances change, but, no matter what you went through, with time and patience you can find a little piece of your heart for those who are worth it. As Willow said: 'some part of me will always be waiting for you'
She’s a good person and knows Oz is a good person that Willow cares about. I don’t think she had much choice but to help Oz. Glad she didn’t go all game of thrones on him and eliminate the competition. 🤔 Might be kinda hard to maintain all that wholesomeness after a Machiavellian move like that.
The whole episode's problem is based around the one part of Willow and Oz's relationship they didn't deal with before he left: communication. It is why I enjoy the talk they have at the end of this episode. It is a nice moment of closure for their story before Willow officially moves forward with Tara. It also fixes the divisive nature of Oz's leaving last time and Willow's reaction to what he was going through in that episode (both onscreen and fan issues). The writer's really knew what to make Oz's return all about.
There are so many little details to love about this episode, and so many nuanced emotional moments. And, of course, first direct acknowledgement of Willow/Tara!
I went through something very similar to that coming out scene with my best friend in college. I was trying to be cool, but there was a lot of me just standing there with my mouth hanging open because it was so completely unexpected.
Seems like a lot of people have best friends coming out. I had one in college come out, and I was fine with it (it really didn't change anything between us), and then my best friend from high school came out later, but not directly to me, so there was no shock value.
I love willow so much. Both willow and tara and willow and Oz are really amazing couples. Its a bit sad Oz leaves kinda like a "bad guy", but I pove their goodbye scene. They left as friends who grew apart. Its bittersweet. And Tara is just amazing 💜 Growing up I always identified a lot with willow, and then she has a coming out story, so rare those days. Such a powerful character
I loved season 4 as it was Buffy's first year in college. Both Willow and her were experiencing independence and new romances. Willow's new haircut and height makes look more adult. Spike and Faith's return was very welcome. Anya's prickly and blunt dialogue works great with Xander and Giles. The Initiative season arc was interesting with Dr Walsh playing two roles. Overall, a great mix; throw in an Angel crossover, or two, and I am very happy.
Yeah, that was all of us, absolutely gobsmacked. And like every gut punch on Buffy, it was set up so meticulously: starting out showing Will and Tara getting close and setting up house together. This show is masterful at emotional shocks
In Riley's defense, he's not only in the Initiative, he's in the military. You can't just leave if you disapprove of what's happening--if you don't serve as you're told, you're AWOL, and that's an actual crime that you can go to prison for, depending on the circumstances. When Riley says he's an anarchist, not only is he repeating the word his superior officer used to denigrate Buffy, he's adopting an identity that puts him in direct opposition with the law and which undermines the government that he swore to obey in the process. Speaking as someone raised in a military family: the military is very good at indoctrination, and from the moment Riley went to boot camp, I guarantee he was taught one thing before all others: you follow orders, no ifs, ands or buts about it. Riley doesn't get enough credit for the difficulty of what he does in this season when he rebels against so much of what he's been taught (and which has no doubt been reinforced over and over) in order to follow Buffy's example.
Glad you mentioned that, agree that the difficulty of Riley betraying the military was not given enough weight. Also, Riley isn’t just a grunt, the Initiative is some kind of elite covert unit that is probably very difficult to get into. Riley must have sacrificed and been very committed to get where he is. Throwing all that away could not have been easy.
most people don't have personal experience with the military, and i honestly don't think the show does a very good job of depicting it. the whole initiative often doesn't ring very true, and that hurts the show's ability to sell anything that's built on top of that, like riley.
Yes, very good point that I haven't seen mentioned in any other reviews. Also, Riley is in command of a unit in a covert military operation, so he's likely a graduate of a military academy like the Naval Academy, so his military commitment is at a very high level. Punching your commanding officer is a bit much, but I guess that just shows how betrayed Riley was feeling in that moment.
Sorry. No kisses between two girls yet on daytime tv. I love that both Oz and Tara want Willow to choose who Willow wants. As someone else said: No one is the bad guy. It's life. It's relationships. And I loved that as soon as the Initiative took Oz, Tara ran to tell Willow. Speaks highly of her character. I think you're going to love season 5 since you mentioned how much you love 2. I can't wait for you to watch it! It's my fav season.
The coming out scene was well advanced for the years in which the series aired, today we do not realize it because the situation of homosexuals, at least in some countries, has improved compared to then. Willow went through a major character evolution of her, her second one after becoming a witch, and it was a great idea to use this to allow Buffy and Riley to have their own growth as well. The protagonist learned by accepting Willow prioritizing her love for her to be understanding of her boyfriend's struggles with the idea that not all demons are evil (yep, her hostility was due to Angel). Riley made a really tough choice by abandoning his friends and everything he believed in, and for that alone he deserves respect despite the fact that he still has a way to go to become a very good character. Oz and Willow were a beautiful couple, but their time was up, but it's good that they had this second chance to say goodbye in an affectionate way, with a fond memory of each other. What about Tara? She is truly a girl's love :) Floppy disck Boy Scout LOL
Werewolf problems aside, if Willow's love for both are equal, then her current relationship should take precedence. I believe that's the right choice, before even factoring in the fact that Oz left w/o any communication afterwards regardless of his reasons.
"if Willow's love for both are equal, then her current relationship should take precedence"Or they could just form an OT3 like they did in"Siren"...but I guess it was too soon for that...🙄it's already a *miracle* we got to have such a wonderful and deeply explored LGBT couple...!
@@jp3813 Not necessarely...there's an OT3 in the australian soap-opera"Neighbours"with a relationship with 2 men and 1 woman(Levi,Ned&Amy) with both Levi&Ned in love with Amy and Amy in love with both Levi&Ned but Levi&Ned not being in love with each other. In this scenario,Willow would be Amy and Oz&Tara would be Ned&Levi.
Oz was such a good guy, WillOz was a great ship and what Willow needed at that point in her life. Her life is different now and Tara is a great person too and fills her current need. I'm sure you're right, Willow still loves Oz and always will, but he's not what she needs right now. Whatever Buffy says, she was a little freaked. She needed a little time to process and then she would not be freaked. It doesn't change the fact that Willow is her best friend.
When I watched this with my wife for the first time many years ago, she found the breakup with Oz (even though she liked Tara) to be so upsetting that she said she could never watch it again. She wasn't kidding - I had the episode on a few months later, and she came in and said "I TOLD you I could never watch that again!" She wasn't being obnoxious, she really felt that emotional about the episode.
So I don’t think the Season is bad. There were some great and important things happen. Just the Riley/Adam story line is a bit light, distracting. Otherwise. It’s a “GREAT!” Season.
I think the actors leaving the show, forcing the writers to come up with new scenarios might have compromised the season arc/villain story line. Otherwise, there’re some great episodes. I think people’s negativity is around that storyline and not necessarily the individual shows. There’s also Reilly as a polarizing addition to the cast. I don’t get it. It’s not like he’s a big purple dinosaur hosting a kids show. Maybe he just gives off that kind of vibe?
I completly agree with you about the season. The main plot is probably not the best and the villain certainly not the more charismatic, but it has so many wonderful and funny stand alone espisodes that is probably my favourite
Three episodes this season are in my top 10, with zero from s3. Don't get me wrong, I love s3 and wouldn't even necessarily rank it below s4, but good god does s4 have some absolute bangers. For me that trumps the meh quality of Adam and the Initiative.
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 which overall isn't the best of seasons. I totally disagree with Sophie here about S4 being better than S3, no way! Adam was the worst Big Bad in whole show, you couldn't compare him to The Mayor. As you say you heard S5 is good, well it's totally brilliant! Enjoy.
Is him controlling the wolf - even at full moon - really the issue about Oz' here? And is always Willow the reason? Last time he cheated and felt animal magnetism to another werewolf. But he also did not tell about the werewolf, neither Willow nor Buffy. All of it had not been discussed the last time he left. And now he comes back and says, I am in control of the wolf. Let's get back together again.
For me the overall main plot of season 4 wasn't very good. But the season is just packed with moments and scenes and half-episodes and sometimes full episodes that are just soo terrific it's impossible to rate the season lowly. But I liked season 5 better.
Mr. Iowa is the product of the midamerica farmland. He's a good Christian boy scout from a traditional family upbringing. He's trying to break out of that limited black and white mindset but it is hard. When you are taught that from birth, it is hard to see anything else from outside that binary lens, whether is demons, relationships, race, butter or not butter, or literally anything. Christians are comfortable in the military because they are taught to be soldiers of God. The military encourages that black and white good guy & bad guy thinking.
I think the reason this season gets a bad rap is because it’s almost like a soft-reboot with it being a new setting. It didn’t really know what it wanted to do. * It had some issues with growing pains.
Communication is key in any relationship. Oz left and as far as we know he never wrote to Willow, never called her, not even when he sent for his things. He just expected her to be waiting there for him to return some day. And Willow should have told him she has feeling for Tara even though they're undefined. No there's no guy in her life but there is a girl, a really nice girl. Willow shouldn't have kept it such a secret from her friends either and especially not from Tara.
This season (4) better than 3?? No no no. But I will say this is a great episode wrapping up the Willow and Oz storyline (Seth Green left the show to go do movies) and also Buffy's acceptance of Willow's coming out moment like you said was so realistic and well done. Homosexuality was still a difficult thing for some people to accept and for media to portray over 20 years ago when this episode aired, so one of Buffy's greatest achievements will always be its portrayal of a lesbian relationship in a natural and organic way.
I was waiting for you to get to this episode knowing what you suspected about Willow and Tara. “Can we get a kiss or is that asking too much?” The thing is with it being the 90’s/early 2000’s, LGBTQ representation on TV was really hard to come by and essentially discouraged by many networks of the TV landscape at that time. The WB was one of those networks. I hope this doesn’t spoil anything for you but I will say that they do change networks for this show in the last two seasons and there is a lot more leeway with the LGBTQ representation because of it. I won’t say anything more than that. For now, you’ll just have to make do with metaphors and dialogue indicating sexual intimacy between Willow and Tara. Feel free to delete this moderators if I’ve overstepped the line. Just thought I’d explain.
SPOILER I will forever hate the choice they made regarding Willow&Tara's 1st kiss. I *understood it* but,to me,it forever tainted the memory of their 1st kiss with a painful one. I find it profoundly unfair.💔
@@Nicamon yes, believe it or not. Because it takes away from the context of the kiss being romantic. Back then, that’s how controversial it was to show two women kissing on screen. Should have seen the hoops the Xena cast had to jump the rough just to show any romantic intimacy between Xena and Gabrielle whatsoever. The 90’s was a very different climate for LGBTQ representation. You were lucky if you got any.
@@Girl4Music SPOILER "The 90’s was a very different climate for LGBTQ representation. You were lucky if you got any." I know. I struggle _to these days_ to find decent stories with 2 girls in love(who are possibly still both alive at the end of the story).🙄Anyway,this doesn't change what I was saying. I don't care what the _reason_ was:the point is to these days,20 years later,that scene is still"ruined"and it forever will be.And that sucks!X-((( Also because *it's stupid!* Everyone knew,by then,that Willow&Tara were a couple,it was pretty damn clear and..a kiss on the lips *is a kiss on the lips!* The context doesn't suddenly make it a non-romantic interaction when *you know* the 2 characters involved *are* a romantic couple!!So it's *twice as unfair* to make them kiss in *that* context for the 1st time *just because they are girls!!X-0* I'm not gonna go into the Xena&Gabrielle discussion because I grew up with them as well as with"Buffy"but I have a view on their relationship that is 100% personal and I now know that,but...still. It's complicated for me to discuss about _them_ from an _objective_ perspective,let's put it that way.
This episode was a bit harsh on Oz, but it really had to be. The show writers really didn't treat lesbianism as it were on a pedestal, but as any other relationship which is empowering to LGBT+. Other shows, even in 2021, deal with it as a joke, just a fling, or that perfect couple. But also the writer probably knew that the 90's audience only saw it as a "fad that college kids do and then get over it" and not as a fact that yes, Willow is a lesbian( or more realistically probably bisexual... but that's a bit complicated for TV and leaves too much open). This show says, yes, Willow is a lesbian and it is as normal as any other TV lover couple who meets the Ex.
I really wish polyamory, ethical nonmonogamy, had been an accepted thing then. Both Oz and Tara wanted Willow to be happy; both were willing to give her up so that she could be. I think that both Oz and Tara could have learned to share, provided Oz managed to get just a bit more control... A V relationship with Willow in the middle is my ship... Tarwilloz...
I'm pretty sure FOX didn't allow same sex couples to kiss on television yet unless it was a joke or the characters were villains. You gotta wait a bit longer but fear not! you'll get there eventually but there's gonna be a lot of other emotions going on when it happens.
@@plottwisted172 Yeah, in the writer's defense, it IS something Riley would say. So..... I actually find it really believable that Riley wouldn't actually know what an anarchist is. lol
Everytime I rewatch this episode,I always skip pretty much all the scenes that are not about Oz,Willow&Tara...they're honestly *the only thing I care about!* 🧡❤🤍 S2 is my 2nd-least favorite of them all,TBH.Unpopular opinion,I know. 02:35 - 02:50 YES.......................................😶#Shock 03:10 Tara..!!😥💘 *Riley:* 03:26 - 03:29 *Literally everyone:* 03:29 - 03:32 03:58 - 04:21 ❤❤🧡🧡I can't...😭😭 05:18 - 05:27 YES!🖤 Buffy...💛 Tara...!!😭😭🤍🤍🤍🤍 09:36 Oz is so tiny compared to Riley!!T^T 🧡 10:33 - 10:46 Aaww.💚 10:50 - 10:59 , 11:46 - 11:51 💔💔 11:57 - 12:13 ❤🧡 12:32 - 13:02 ❤🤍 If Willow *had* to choose between Oz&Tara without the wolf-problem,I think she would have chosen Tara,but I am *SO GLAD* she didn't have to do it! I mean..she _did_ but..not in the most brutal way possible.
BTVS 5x07 and Angel 2x06 are now up on Patreon. For full reactions + more: www.patreon.com/SoFieReacts
I was so worried that Buffy would loose it’s charm when it no longer had high school as a background. But the show got so much more complex and the characters grew in surprisingly satisfied ways. I’m going to say something out loud. I really don’t rewatch seasons 1-3 except for my favorite stand alone episodes or arcs. Season 4 on are my personal favorites. Season 5 & 6 are my favorites. The last season I have mixed emotions about but still solid.
Good to know you are already on season 5, hope you enjoyin it, looking forward to watch your reactions
Cant wait to see your reaction to BTVS 5X07!!!
This is such a moving episode. All three are so unselfish in their love, so genuine in their desire that the other be happy, your heart just aches for all of them.
I love this episode. It resolves the love triangle without making any of the three the "bad guy." Oz's greatest weakness is that he tries to handle his problems without asking for help. We see this all the way back in Phases. In most circumstances that's not a huge problem, but he's a werewolf. He's a great guy, and a great character, and this was a necessary way to give us, and Willow, closure for that relationship. And then there's Tara, who is just wonderful. 😍
"Oz's greatest weakness is that he tries to handle his problems without asking for help. We see this all the way back in "Phases"."Also in"Wild at Heart".He just had to ask Buffy to keep Veruca in a separate cage!X-[
I really appreciate the concept embedded in this episode: the people you loved are always going to be a part of you and of your life. When a relationship is not toxic, but based on true love it lasts forever. People change, circumstances change, but, no matter what you went through, with time and patience you can find a little piece of your heart for those who are worth it. As Willow said: 'some part of me will always be waiting for you'
I loved it.This episode was the perfect way to allow me to love both the ships for all the eternity!!❤🧡&❤🤍!!
Tara is the sweetest, most adorable person in the entire show.
When you ship the new ship and the old ship shows up, and you become conflicted on which ship to ship.
This is me *each and every time* I rewatch this episode or someone reacting to this episode! I just love all 3 of them too damn much!!!!T^T 🧡❤🤍
So yeah, Tara is awesome. Immediately tries to help Oz despite him trying to get Willow back and attacking her.
She’s a good person and knows Oz is a good person that Willow cares about. I don’t think she had much choice but to help Oz.
Glad she didn’t go all game of thrones on him and eliminate the competition.
🤔 Might be kinda hard to maintain all that wholesomeness after a Machiavellian move like that.
Coming out scene is really well done, such an important episode for Willow and one of the best of the season
The whole episode's problem is based around the one part of Willow and Oz's relationship they didn't deal with before he left: communication. It is why I enjoy the talk they have at the end of this episode. It is a nice moment of closure for their story before Willow officially moves forward with Tara. It also fixes the divisive nature of Oz's leaving last time and Willow's reaction to what he was going through in that episode (both onscreen and fan issues). The writer's really knew what to make Oz's return all about.
There are so many little details to love about this episode, and so many nuanced emotional moments. And, of course, first direct acknowledgement of Willow/Tara!
4:40 "You don't understand the struggle that I'm in right now." -- we all understand the struggle that you're in right now. :)
I went through something very similar to that coming out scene with my best friend in college. I was trying to be cool, but there was a lot of me just standing there with my mouth hanging open because it was so completely unexpected.
Seems like a lot of people have best friends coming out. I had one in college come out, and I was fine with it (it really didn't change anything between us), and then my best friend from high school came out later, but not directly to me, so there was no shock value.
I love willow so much. Both willow and tara and willow and Oz are really amazing couples. Its a bit sad Oz leaves kinda like a "bad guy", but I pove their goodbye scene. They left as friends who grew apart. Its bittersweet. And Tara is just amazing 💜 Growing up I always identified a lot with willow, and then she has a coming out story, so rare those days. Such a powerful character
I like the fact they avoid the Trope: Ex came back and turned Villain. It would make it easy.
I loved season 4 as it was Buffy's first year in college. Both Willow and her were experiencing independence and new romances. Willow's new haircut and height makes look more adult. Spike and Faith's return was very welcome. Anya's prickly and blunt dialogue works great with Xander and Giles. The Initiative season arc was interesting with Dr Walsh playing two roles. Overall, a great mix; throw in an Angel crossover, or two, and I am very happy.
My FAVORITE thing about watching Buffy reaction videos is watching people fall in love with Willow + Tara the way I did 🥰🥰🥰
Great reaction! This is one of my favorite episodes to watch people react to. Like when Oz comes to the door. I loved the look on your face then! lol
Yeah, that was all of us, absolutely gobsmacked. And like every gut punch on Buffy, it was set up so meticulously: starting out showing Will and Tara getting close and setting up house together. This show is masterful at emotional shocks
2:41 another famous Whedon gut punch
“Oh f**k”
Same, honey, same
In Riley's defense, he's not only in the Initiative, he's in the military. You can't just leave if you disapprove of what's happening--if you don't serve as you're told, you're AWOL, and that's an actual crime that you can go to prison for, depending on the circumstances. When Riley says he's an anarchist, not only is he repeating the word his superior officer used to denigrate Buffy, he's adopting an identity that puts him in direct opposition with the law and which undermines the government that he swore to obey in the process. Speaking as someone raised in a military family: the military is very good at indoctrination, and from the moment Riley went to boot camp, I guarantee he was taught one thing before all others: you follow orders, no ifs, ands or buts about it. Riley doesn't get enough credit for the difficulty of what he does in this season when he rebels against so much of what he's been taught (and which has no doubt been reinforced over and over) in order to follow Buffy's example.
Glad you mentioned that, agree that the difficulty of Riley betraying the military was not given enough weight. Also, Riley isn’t just a grunt, the Initiative is some kind of elite covert unit that is probably very difficult to get into. Riley must have sacrificed and been very committed to get where he is. Throwing all that away could not have been easy.
most people don't have personal experience with the military, and i honestly don't think the show does a very good job of depicting it. the whole initiative often doesn't ring very true, and that hurts the show's ability to sell anything that's built on top of that, like riley.
Yes, very good point that I haven't seen mentioned in any other reviews. Also, Riley is in command of a unit in a covert military operation, so he's likely a graduate of a military academy like the Naval Academy, so his military commitment is at a very high level. Punching your commanding officer is a bit much, but I guess that just shows how betrayed Riley was feeling in that moment.
👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👌🏾 Thank you for putting some respect on Riley's name.
Sorry. No kisses between two girls yet on daytime tv. I love that both Oz and Tara want Willow to choose who Willow wants. As someone else said: No one is the bad guy. It's life. It's relationships. And I loved that as soon as the Initiative took Oz, Tara ran to tell Willow. Speaks highly of her character. I think you're going to love season 5 since you mentioned how much you love 2. I can't wait for you to watch it! It's my fav season.
The coming out scene was well advanced for the years in which the series aired, today we do not realize it because the situation of homosexuals, at least in some countries, has improved compared to then.
Willow went through a major character evolution of her, her second one after becoming a witch, and it was a great idea to use this to allow Buffy and Riley to have their own growth as well. The protagonist learned by accepting Willow prioritizing her love for her to be understanding of her boyfriend's struggles with the idea that not all demons are evil (yep, her hostility was due to Angel). Riley made a really tough choice by abandoning his friends and everything he believed in, and for that alone he deserves respect despite the fact that he still has a way to go to become a very good character.
Oz and Willow were a beautiful couple, but their time was up, but it's good that they had this second chance to say goodbye in an affectionate way, with a fond memory of each other.
What about Tara? She is truly a girl's love :)
Floppy disck Boy Scout LOL
Werewolf problems aside, if Willow's love for both are equal, then her current relationship should take precedence. I believe that's the right choice, before even factoring in the fact that Oz left w/o any communication afterwards regardless of his reasons.
"if Willow's love for both are equal, then her current relationship should take precedence"Or they could just form an OT3 like they did in"Siren"...but I guess it was too soon for that...🙄it's already a *miracle* we got to have such a wonderful and deeply explored LGBT couple...!
@@Nicamon Wouldn't that require Tara & Oz to be also in love w/ each other?
@@jp3813 Not necessarely...there's an OT3 in the australian soap-opera"Neighbours"with a relationship with 2 men and 1 woman(Levi,Ned&Amy) with both Levi&Ned in love with Amy and Amy in love with both Levi&Ned but Levi&Ned not being in love with each other. In this scenario,Willow would be Amy and Oz&Tara would be Ned&Levi.
This is 2000, you'll have to wait for the kiss...
Oz was such a good guy, WillOz was a great ship and what Willow needed at that point in her life. Her life is different now and Tara is a great person too and fills her current need.
I'm sure you're right, Willow still loves Oz and always will, but he's not what she needs right now.
Whatever Buffy says, she was a little freaked. She needed a little time to process and then she would not be freaked. It doesn't change the fact that Willow is her best friend.
When I watched this with my wife for the first time many years ago, she found the breakup with Oz (even though she liked Tara) to be so upsetting that she said she could never watch it again. She wasn't kidding - I had the episode on a few months later, and she came in and said "I TOLD you I could never watch that again!" She wasn't being obnoxious, she really felt that emotional about the episode.
I agree - season 4 is fantastic, my top 3 of all the seasons.
So I don’t think the Season is bad. There were some great and important things happen. Just the Riley/Adam story line is a bit light, distracting. Otherwise. It’s a “GREAT!” Season.
I think the actors leaving the show, forcing the writers to come up with new scenarios might have compromised the season arc/villain story line.
Otherwise, there’re some great episodes. I think people’s negativity is around that storyline and not necessarily the individual shows.
There’s also Reilly as a polarizing addition to the cast. I don’t get it. It’s not like he’s a big purple dinosaur hosting a kids show. Maybe he just gives off that kind of vibe?
season 4 has a lot of great bottle episodes. its the overall arc that many people take issue with
I completly agree with you about the season. The main plot is probably not the best and the villain certainly not the more charismatic, but it has so many wonderful and funny stand alone espisodes that is probably my favourite
Three episodes this season are in my top 10, with zero from s3. Don't get me wrong, I love s3 and wouldn't even necessarily rank it below s4, but good god does s4 have some absolute bangers. For me that trumps the meh quality of Adam and the Initiative.
I love this season too. I don't get the hate
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 which overall isn't the best of seasons. I totally disagree with Sophie here about S4 being better than S3, no way! Adam was the worst Big Bad in whole show, you couldn't compare him to The Mayor. As you say you heard S5 is good, well it's totally brilliant! Enjoy.
Yes, Oz's biggest weakness is how he tries to handle his problems by himself instead of asking for help. We see this all the way back in Phases.
I’ve forgotten, did Xander know Willow and Tara were romantically involved?
@@seanmcmurphy4744 no one of the Scoobies did until Willow comes out to Buffy.
@@Girl4Music 👍
I think the worst Villain is the 1st...or was it the last...?🤔;-P
I love tara and willow
This entire reaction is so well said.
The play button keeps randomly catching me off guard and I have to stop myself from clicking on it lol
Is him controlling the wolf - even at full moon - really the issue about Oz' here? And is always Willow the reason? Last time he cheated and felt animal magnetism to another werewolf. But he also did not tell about the werewolf, neither Willow nor Buffy. All of it had not been discussed the last time he left. And now he comes back and says, I am in control of the wolf. Let's get back together again.
You can judge 👨⚖️ it like you want. That’s Buffy. Same with Angle, Giles and Spike. 😎
“I don’t think Reilly is a bigot.” Then carefully explains how Reilly really IS a bigot. 🤣🤣🤣
For me the overall main plot of season 4 wasn't very good. But the season is just packed with moments and scenes and half-episodes and sometimes full episodes that are just soo terrific it's impossible to rate the season lowly. But I liked season 5 better.
Mr. Iowa is the product of the midamerica farmland. He's a good Christian boy scout from a traditional family upbringing. He's trying to break out of that limited black and white mindset but it is hard. When you are taught that from birth, it is hard to see anything else from outside that binary lens, whether is demons, relationships, race, butter or not butter, or literally anything. Christians are comfortable in the military because they are taught to be soldiers of God. The military encourages that black and white good guy & bad guy thinking.
I think the reason this season gets a bad rap is because it’s almost like a soft-reboot with it being a new setting. It didn’t really know what it wanted to do.
*
It had some issues with growing pains.
Communication is key in any relationship. Oz left and as far as we know he never wrote to Willow, never called her, not even when he sent for his things. He just expected her to be waiting there for him to return some day. And Willow should have told him she has feeling for Tara even though they're undefined. No there's no guy in her life but there is a girl, a really nice girl. Willow shouldn't have kept it such a secret from her friends either and especially not from Tara.
and now i'm at the end of your current reactions to buffy :(
This season (4) better than 3?? No no no. But I will say this is a great episode wrapping up the Willow and Oz storyline (Seth Green left the show to go do movies) and also Buffy's acceptance of Willow's coming out moment like you said was so realistic and well done. Homosexuality was still a difficult thing for some people to accept and for media to portray over 20 years ago when this episode aired, so one of Buffy's greatest achievements will always be its portrayal of a lesbian relationship in a natural and organic way.
I prefer season 4 to season 3 as well. It may be a minority opinion, but you're still far from alone!
I was waiting for you to get to this episode knowing what you suspected about Willow and Tara.
“Can we get a kiss or is that asking too much?”
The thing is with it being the 90’s/early 2000’s, LGBTQ representation on TV was really hard to come by and essentially discouraged by many networks of the TV landscape at that time. The WB was one of those networks. I hope this doesn’t spoil anything for you but I will say that they do change networks for this show in the last two seasons and there is a lot more leeway with the LGBTQ representation because of it. I won’t say anything more than that. For now, you’ll just have to make do with metaphors and dialogue indicating sexual intimacy between Willow and Tara. Feel free to delete this moderators if I’ve overstepped the line. Just thought I’d explain.
SPOILER
I will forever hate the choice they made regarding Willow&Tara's 1st kiss. I *understood it* but,to me,it forever tainted the memory of their 1st kiss with a painful one. I find it profoundly unfair.💔
@@Nicamon it was the only way they could get it passed the censors.
@@Girl4Music SPOILER
What?Making it about a sad thing instead of a happy thing?🤨I honestly can't see the logic... 👉👈
@@Nicamon yes, believe it or not. Because it takes away from the context of the kiss being romantic. Back then, that’s how controversial it was to show two women kissing on screen. Should have seen the hoops the Xena cast had to jump the rough just to show any romantic intimacy between Xena and Gabrielle whatsoever. The 90’s was a very different climate for LGBTQ representation. You were lucky if you got any.
@@Girl4Music SPOILER
"The 90’s was a very different climate for LGBTQ representation. You were lucky if you got any." I know. I struggle _to these days_ to find decent stories with 2 girls in love(who are possibly still both alive at the end of the story).🙄Anyway,this doesn't change what I was saying. I don't care what the _reason_ was:the point is to these days,20 years later,that scene is still"ruined"and it forever will be.And that sucks!X-((( Also because *it's stupid!* Everyone knew,by then,that Willow&Tara were a couple,it was pretty damn clear and..a kiss on the lips *is a kiss on the lips!* The context doesn't suddenly make it a non-romantic interaction when *you know* the 2 characters involved *are* a romantic couple!!So it's *twice as unfair* to make them kiss in *that* context for the 1st time *just because they are girls!!X-0*
I'm not gonna go into the Xena&Gabrielle discussion because I grew up with them as well as with"Buffy"but I have a view on their relationship that is 100% personal and I now know that,but...still. It's complicated for me to discuss about _them_ from an _objective_ perspective,let's put it that way.
This episode was a bit harsh on Oz, but it really had to be. The show writers really didn't treat lesbianism as it were on a pedestal, but as any other relationship which is empowering to LGBT+. Other shows, even in 2021, deal with it as a joke, just a fling, or that perfect couple. But also the writer probably knew that the 90's audience only saw it as a "fad that college kids do and then get over it" and not as a fact that yes, Willow is a lesbian( or more realistically probably bisexual... but that's a bit complicated for TV and leaves too much open). This show says, yes, Willow is a lesbian and it is as normal as any other TV lover couple who meets the Ex.
so i assume ur way past season 5 at the point of this comment so u seen willow and taras first on screen kiss
You look pretty
I really wish polyamory, ethical nonmonogamy, had been an accepted thing then. Both Oz and Tara wanted Willow to be happy; both were willing to give her up so that she could be. I think that both Oz and Tara could have learned to share, provided Oz managed to get just a bit more control... A V relationship with Willow in the middle is my ship... Tarwilloz...
I'm pretty sure FOX didn't allow same sex couples to kiss on television yet unless it was a joke or the characters were villains. You gotta wait a bit longer but fear not! you'll get there eventually but there's gonna be a lot of other emotions going on when it happens.
Season 2 is one of my favorite seasons of Buffy, also. It's tied for first with one other season (not this one).
"No sir, I'm an anarchist." Appreciate the sentiment Riley but I don't think you know what that word means.
Really glad to see this around. Agreed!
Every time I see that scene I yell “no, you’re not!” at the TV 😂
@Sax Mann it's so bad but almost in character for him lol
@@plottwisted172 Yeah, in the writer's defense, it IS something Riley would say. So..... I actually find it really believable that Riley wouldn't actually know what an anarchist is. lol
Everytime I rewatch this episode,I always skip pretty much all the scenes that are not about Oz,Willow&Tara...they're honestly *the only thing I care about!* 🧡❤🤍
S2 is my 2nd-least favorite of them all,TBH.Unpopular opinion,I know.
02:35 - 02:50 YES.......................................😶#Shock
03:10 Tara..!!😥💘
*Riley:* 03:26 - 03:29 *Literally everyone:* 03:29 - 03:32
03:58 - 04:21 ❤❤🧡🧡I can't...😭😭
05:18 - 05:27 YES!🖤
Buffy...💛
Tara...!!😭😭🤍🤍🤍🤍
09:36 Oz is so tiny compared to Riley!!T^T 🧡
10:33 - 10:46 Aaww.💚
10:50 - 10:59 , 11:46 - 11:51 💔💔
11:57 - 12:13 ❤🧡
12:32 - 13:02 ❤🤍
If Willow *had* to choose between Oz&Tara without the wolf-problem,I think she would have chosen Tara,but I am *SO GLAD* she didn't have to do it! I mean..she _did_ but..not in the most brutal way possible.
Season 4 is so much better than Season 5, 5 just gets really emotionally wrought and loses too much of the comedy. Fortunately it comes back in 6.
The *comedy* comes back in season *6?!* You mean the most *depressing* season of the *whole show?!?* X-P