Oz returns to Sunnydale with a cure for his lycanthropy, only to find that there have been a lot of changes in his absence.
If there’s one thing that’s characterized this season of Buffy, it’s characterization. As the leads have grown up and entered into new relationships with themselves and others, it’s been interesting to watch them mature. When Oz returns, it’s interesting to see how far they’ve all come, as has the story arc during the year.
However, the other aspect that has plagued this season is still present, ie the fact that the arc is moving forward very slowly. With only three episodes left, it’s time to build things to a climax, and this story gets some things out in the open and fractures the Scooby gang without them wanting it.
There are a lot of good things about this story: Riley’s final reckoning with the Initiative, Willow and Oz coming to terms with some hard facts, Spike finally looking as if he’s got something to do. However, whatever plan Adam is setting in motion seems to be too little too late. We viewers needed a bit more action on his part a few episodes ago when things needed shaking up after the high dramatic point of Maggie Walsh’s death. What looks like being more interesting is how everything plays out for the characters; who will live, who will die and whose lives will be changed.
After earlier complaints, I’m starting to come around to Adam now, as he’s far more interesting and dangerous as he seemed. In fact, to do him justice I think he should be kept for next season so we can really get into his make-up. Here again, he seems to be behind events but not taking an active role. There’s not a lot of action either, but this is made up for by some quality relationship time. Having said this, though, all credit to Seth Green for his portrayal of a werewolf in anguish; it’s a powerful display of what the Initiative do and they don’t seem like such good guys anymore.
While the problems between Buffy and Riley are nicely resolved, it’s the Willow-Oz-Tara love triangle that gets a thorough workover, and we finally come to some kind of resolution as Willow chooses between her past and her future and two people she cares for. It’s carefully and nicely written and certainly brings more than its fair share of tears to the eye. If anything, it seems a waste to send Oz packing again, as his character could really do with an extended stay in Sunnydale to work things through. Fabulously understated playing by Alyson Hannigan, Seth Green and Amber Benson make this essentially average episode a much better one.
****
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