This is the episode where Oz and Willow break-up. They're just about the cutest couple ever on BTVS and it's so sad to see Oz leave. BTVS is reinventing itself this season. With Angel, Cordy, Wes and now Oz gone, we're back to the four main Scoobies again. Buffy, Xander, Willow and Giles have to rebuild the show with a new supporting cast. Riley will soon be Buffy's new love interest. Anya is starting to appear more and more. By next episode, Spike will join the cast full-time. And Tara will be introduced in "Hush." The show is changing and "Wild at Heart" is one of the last episodes of the old regime.
The episode centers around Oz and Willow. Oz is still a werewolf, of course, and he's picking up on some weird vibes from the new girl Vercua. It turns out that she's a werewolf, too, and she's wants Oz. After Oz accidentally gets out of his cage during the full moon, he and Veruca sleep together. Oz wakes up in the forest, naked with her and is immediately scared that Willow will learn the truth. Willow, meanwhile, is suspicious of the way that Oz had been acting around Veruca. Especially after Oz refuses to sleep with Willow. (He doesn't want her to see the scratches that Veruca left on his back.) Willow goes to Xander for advice and he tells her to talk to Oz about her concerns.
When Willow tracks Oz down the next morning, he's in his werewolf cell... But Veruca is with him. Buffy has been tracking reports of werewolf attacks and Oz, afraid that she might find Veruca, drug Veruca into is cage with him. The two of them slept with each other again and now Willow is horrified to see them together. She and Oz argue, then she runs off to talk to Buffy. Buffy and Oz go looking for Veruca, that evening. But, she's not roaming the campus as a werewolf... She's going after Willow. She confronts Willow in the chemistry lab and tries to attack her. Oz arrives just in time to save Willow. After he kills Veruca, he decides to leave Sunnydale.
There are some good parts to this episode. The scene where Willow confronts Oz and Veruca is great. Especially, when Oz tries to defend himself with by bringing up Willow's kiss with Xander last season. And Willow dismisses that excuse, along with his "I was trying to stop Vercua from hurting people" rational. She's getting stronger and the argument just works really well. I also love the final talk between Oz and Willow. The way her voice breaks when she asks him, "Don't you love me?" And his face when he whispers, "In my whole life, I've never loved anything else." It's so beautiful. Have I mentioned that I adore them together? I also like that Willow nearly fried Oz and Veruca with her powers. She has a darkside to her that will be explored further in season six.
On the downside, I really hate Veruca. Just seeing her on screen annoys me. And I love Oz and Willow together so seeing them split-up is just heartbreaking. Nothing against Tara, but I wish Oz could have stayed. Also, I get they're trying to make me like Riley, but having him save Willow from a speeding car is just... Lame. And why would super-government-scientist Professor Walsh walk around talking about being attacked by "wild dogs" Doesn't she know supernatural happenings from a couple of strays? Finally, I wish that Xander had gotten a scene with Oz once the truth came out about Veruca. Xander is so protective of Willow, that I'd like to see him go tearing into Oz for hurting her.
My favorite part of the episode: Spike getting "zapped" by the Initative, right in the middle of his evil monologue.
The episode centers around Oz and Willow. Oz is still a werewolf, of course, and he's picking up on some weird vibes from the new girl Vercua. It turns out that she's a werewolf, too, and she's wants Oz. After Oz accidentally gets out of his cage during the full moon, he and Veruca sleep together. Oz wakes up in the forest, naked with her and is immediately scared that Willow will learn the truth. Willow, meanwhile, is suspicious of the way that Oz had been acting around Veruca. Especially after Oz refuses to sleep with Willow. (He doesn't want her to see the scratches that Veruca left on his back.) Willow goes to Xander for advice and he tells her to talk to Oz about her concerns.
When Willow tracks Oz down the next morning, he's in his werewolf cell... But Veruca is with him. Buffy has been tracking reports of werewolf attacks and Oz, afraid that she might find Veruca, drug Veruca into is cage with him. The two of them slept with each other again and now Willow is horrified to see them together. She and Oz argue, then she runs off to talk to Buffy. Buffy and Oz go looking for Veruca, that evening. But, she's not roaming the campus as a werewolf... She's going after Willow. She confronts Willow in the chemistry lab and tries to attack her. Oz arrives just in time to save Willow. After he kills Veruca, he decides to leave Sunnydale.
There are some good parts to this episode. The scene where Willow confronts Oz and Veruca is great. Especially, when Oz tries to defend himself with by bringing up Willow's kiss with Xander last season. And Willow dismisses that excuse, along with his "I was trying to stop Vercua from hurting people" rational. She's getting stronger and the argument just works really well. I also love the final talk between Oz and Willow. The way her voice breaks when she asks him, "Don't you love me?" And his face when he whispers, "In my whole life, I've never loved anything else." It's so beautiful. Have I mentioned that I adore them together? I also like that Willow nearly fried Oz and Veruca with her powers. She has a darkside to her that will be explored further in season six.
On the downside, I really hate Veruca. Just seeing her on screen annoys me. And I love Oz and Willow together so seeing them split-up is just heartbreaking. Nothing against Tara, but I wish Oz could have stayed. Also, I get they're trying to make me like Riley, but having him save Willow from a speeding car is just... Lame. And why would super-government-scientist Professor Walsh walk around talking about being attacked by "wild dogs" Doesn't she know supernatural happenings from a couple of strays? Finally, I wish that Xander had gotten a scene with Oz once the truth came out about Veruca. Xander is so protective of Willow, that I'd like to see him go tearing into Oz for hurting her.
My favorite part of the episode: Spike getting "zapped" by the Initative, right in the middle of his evil monologue.