Welcome to Rewatching Buffy, the part of the blog where I rewatch Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Each Tuesday evening, you’re invited to join me as I attempt to rediscover what made me love this show 21 years ago.

Wild at Heart

• It’s a normal night on the UC Sunnydale campus.
• Buffy’s being chased by a vampire.
• She was just trying to get him away from onlookers. And then she easily stakes him.
• Spike is watching from a distance. And he starts monologuing again. This guy loves to hear himself talk.
• But he’s the only one. Because as he’s making idle threats, he’s tasered by some unseen force.
• I’m guessing it’s the on-campus commandos we’ve seen roaming around from time to time.
• The gang is hanging out at The Bronze. And Giles shows up. To hang out. It’s awkward.
• Ugh… Veruca’s band is playing again.
• Oz seems very aware that they play every Wednesday. How great.
• The next day, Oz reminds Willow that the next three nights are werewolf nights.
• In psych class, Buffy is asked by Professor Walsh to lead a discussion group. Willow’s a little jealous. And proud at the same time.
• Willow goes to meet Oz at the cafe. And he’s sitting with Veruca… ugh.
• Oh it’s awkward. Like, worse than Giles at The Bronze awkward.
• And then Oz leaves… Willow alone with Veruca… more awkward.
• That night, Oz locks himself away.
• Since the school blew up, he’s built himself a cozy little cage inside a crypt.
• Which is not as sturdy as the library’s book cage, since he’s easily able to break out in the middle of the night.
• Professor Walsh, leaving her classroom late, is confronted by Oz the Werewolf.
• And another werewolf. A blonde werewolf.
• The two werewolves then ignore Walsh and go at it. Not sure if it’s fighting or… something else…
• Oz wakes up the next morning… spooning Veruca.
• Well, I guess we know why he’s been so attracted to her over the last few episodes.
• She’s totally into it. He’s less than…
• Veruca seems surprised when Oz mentions having a cage. Her take on being a werewolf is way more liberal than Oz’s.
• Professor Walsh is talking about being attacked by two huge wild dogs on campus. She tells Buffy to be careful walking around at night.
• Willow and Oz have an awkward encounter. Mostly because Oz doesn’t want her to notice the scratches that were given to him by Veruca.
• Buffy goes to Giles about the possibility of multiple werewolves.
• Willow goes to Xander for guy/Oz advice. His advice is to talk to Oz about it.
• Buffy’s next stop is to see Oz as he’s repairing his cage. She informs him that he could be getting a roommate.
• Oz invites Veruca to stay in his cage with him. Not just because she could hurt someone, but because he knows Buffy is hunting her.
• As the sun sets, Oz gives in to his attraction for Veruca as they slam the cage shut.
• And, of course, Willow arrives with breakfast the next morning to see them together.
• Oz tries to explain that she’s a wolf, so he had to lock her in with him. Doesn’t stop Willow’s heart from being broken.
• Distraught, Willow nearly gets hit by a car. Buffy runs to save her but Riley saves her first.
• What a great guy.
• Buffy tells Willow not to blame herself. She needs to put the blame where it belongs.
• So she turns to dark magic. An anti-love spell, I’m guessing.
• Meanwhile, Oz helps Buffy track Veruca. But Veruca left her clothes in the woods to throw him off the scent.
• Willow has a change of heart and stops the spell. Just as Veruca walks in.
• She wants to kill Willow so she can have Oz to herself.
• ‘Cause that’ll win him over. Kill the woman he loves when he’s rational and not a teen wolf.
• Buffy tries to follow Oz but gets postponed when she runs into a commando in the woods.
• Oz gets to Veruca before she can transform and hurt Willow.
• Once they both turn, they fight. Oz wins.
• Before wolf Oz can attack Willow, Buffy tranqs him.
• The next day, Buffy goes to Giles to let him know about the commandos. She wants to know who they are.
• Willow goes to see Oz and he’s packing up. He’s leaving town. He tells Willow it’s for her safety.
• Body count: Vampires – 1; Werewolves, – 1