This understandably feels like a major story arc condensed into one episode, since it was intended to be a story that lasted most of the season. With that in mind, you can almost forgive the show for Veruca's shabby characterization, her iffy motives for wanting to murder Willow, and Oz's eagerness to leave. It feels remarkably fast, and takes away from what should have been a far heavier story. However, the show still manages to make us feel Willow's pain and sense of betrayal. In that regard, the rapid storytelling is almost spookily helpful. Oz's departure comes out of nowhere, and you can totally see that reflected on-screen.You can understand why Seth Green wanted to leave. While he's a fine character, there were wide breadths of season three where he literally just hung around on the sidelines with a couple of lines each episode. At the time, Green had a major movie career going, so you get his motives. Personally, I felt his presence didn't add a whole lot to the show. In general, I liked him, and I liked his relationship with Willow. But I never felt he 'gelled' with the rest of the cast at all, and the moments where Oz was thrown together with other members of the ensemble always felt a little contrived. It got to the point where the writers were even referencing that, especially in his recent scene with Cordelia over on Angel.
Wild at Heart tries its damn hardest at depicting a 'first love' that unsurprisingly goes south. It also raises some interesting points about embracing your true nature, and the problems with trying to suppress it. But the show tries to throw so many different plot strands into this episode that it becomes a little overcooked, and there's only a hint of the emotional resonance that could have been if the story had unfolded over a longer period of time. However, I'm not sure I could stand Paige Moss' annoying acting or that heinous voice she mimed along to for longer than a couple of episodes. Eh. So long, Oz. You were fine, but I'm not gonna miss you. C+
Credits
Guest stars Marc Blucas (Riley Finn); Paige Moss (Veruca); James Marsters (Spike); Lindsay Crouse (Maggie Walsh)
Writer Marti Noxon Director David Grossman
I've always wondered why this was so rushed. I'm glad he was written out. He only ever fit in with Willow, and absolutely nobody else; although, there was a small bit of a bro-mance with him and Xander I liked! It was never him leaving that upset me, it was seeing Willow in pieces.
ReplyDeleteAll that being said, it was still a decent episode. Great review as always =)
People really loved Oz, but I never got it. I loved him with Willow, but as a character he was pretty expendable.
ReplyDeleteLike always, thank you so much for reading and commenting.