Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 4, Episode 6: Wild at Heart
Written by Marti Noxon; Directed by David GrossmanWhen Seth Green suddenly announced that he was leaving to pursue a career in the movie business, the writers basically had one episode in which to manufacture a convincing exit for a character who had been in the show for just over two years. Not an easy task, as I'm sure you'll agree, and so, the fact that the end result is not only powerful but also thematically logical has got to be something of a miracle.
We'll never know precisely what Joss Whedon had planned for the Willow/Oz relationship before this drastic rewrite took place, but either way, I have a feeling we got the better end of the deal. Green was apparently bored of playing the character, and to be honest it shows. Oz's "trademark stoicism", to quote Buffy, was beginning to feel more like complete disinterest rather than cool, and, while I'm not one of those people who feels that a show can only be entertaining if it's continual gloom and heartbreak, the relationship wasn't really going anywhere and, to be honest, was becoming a little tiresome. Props, therefore, to all those involved for creating a thoroughly emotional conclusion (although, given that Oz returns for two more episodes later in the season, it's not quite the end yet).
On a side note, this is definitely some of Alyson Hannigan's finest acting in the entire series. I'm amazed she continues to languish in comedy roles rather than getting offered anything more dramatic.
Overall rating: 9/10.
Next time: The Initiative.
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