Marvelous. When Oz left Sunnydale, I think I was as broken up as Willow. I hated to see him leave. He was the most unusual and endearing of werewolves, and people. I always loved this dialogue when he suspects and then confirms it (no violins, no gypsy lady warning of when the moon becomes full):

Aunt Maureen. Hey, it's me. Um, what? Oh! It's, uh... actually it's healing okay. That's pretty much the reason I called. Um, I wanted to ask you something. Is Jordy a werewolf? Uh-huh. And how long has that been going on? Uh-huh. What? No, no reason. Um... Thanks. Yeah, love to Uncle Ken.

Tonya J | January 10, 20:24 CET

My most favorite, among many, many Oz-isms was when Buffy could read his thoughts, and he was going a mile a minute about existence and nothingness, and the only sound that came out was, "Unh."

Classic.

Chris inVirginia | January 10, 20:38 CET

I still loved the discussion between Oz and Xander in "restless".

Madhatter | January 10, 21:52 CET

"Is Jordy a werewolf? Uh-huh. And how long has that been going on? Uh-huh. What? No, no reason. Um... Thanks. Yeah, love to Uncle Ken."

Logical me always thought that pointing out to his Aunt and Uncle that they need to be really careful about Jordy biting people might have been appropriate, but yeah, loved the low key nature of the exchange. Along with the examples everybody else has mentioned, Oz and Xander in The Zeppo on the nature of "cool" always sticks in my mind along with "That explains a lot." when he is told vampires are real. No two ways about it, Oz was a cool character.

My friend who has been watching BtVS and Ats for the first time and is almost totally spoiler free, finally admitted that the reason she is stuck at Beer Bad (she's killin' me I tell ya, she's killin me)is because she knows something bad is about to happen with Willow and Oz.

My Friend: "I love Willow. I don't want Willow to be hurt. I'm assuming that Seth Green has got to go and make 'Austin Powers' sometime in here. If they break up, will Oz leave the show?"

Me: "Everybody loves Willow. I admit there will be pain, but there will be lots of other stuff too. Now go watch the next two episodes before I go crazy."

When she then told me how much she was beginning to like Doyle, I actually started feeling kind of guilty. Be honest, have I delivered her to Satan?

newcj | January 10, 22:13 CET

No, you've delivered her to glorious new worlds ~~

[ edited by Tonya J on 2007-01-10 20:23 ]

Tonya J | January 10, 22:23 CET

I feel privileged because I love both Oz and Tara (Willow had good taste) but it irks me no end when it is implied (as in this, admittedly trivial, item) that Seth Green left BtVS because JW wanted to give Willow a girlfriend (or variations on this theme). He left because he wanted to.

My favourite Oz scene is from Innocence when he tells Willow why he won't kiss her. Werewolf or not, he was just the coolest.

moley75 | January 10, 22:26 CET

Great link. Loved Oz. Love Seth Green.

I had been seeing the title Blood and Chocolate around, seeming sponsor of that site, and when I clicked on the link I realized that I read the book.
Might be interesting.

And Teen Wolf, a stupid movie that had one scene that made the whole thing worthwhile. When Michael J. Fox is in the bathroom turning into the wolf and his dad is banging at the door and then he finally opens the door and....
I will never forget that. I laughed so freaking hard.

Xane | January 10, 22:35 CET

Thanks for the reassurance Tonya J, that's what I keep telling myself.

newcj | January 10, 23:36 CET

Funny, I watched Phases last night!

Joss rules! | January 10, 23:55 CET

I'm rather fond of the Seth "Innocence"-kiss-moment, too - as Joss said (in a DVD commentary, I think) he wrote that moment to make viewers fall in love with Oz, and it hella worked.

I also like the "Amends-why-I-won't-sleep-with-you-now" moment - interesting that two of his great moments involve not doing the usual "jumping at the the chance of some" thing.

There are so many great Oz moments, which is what made it so hard to let go of his character, and also why (aside from Alyson's insane ability to convey and make you share her pain) you feel Willow's loss of him so keenly.

(And thanks for the Seth interview link, moley75; it's a great interview and I'd never seen it.)

QuoterGal | January 11, 00:40 CET

Well, newcj, you've delivered her to Joss Whedon. Your call.

barboo | January 11, 05:15 CET

I was on a thread where somebody asked advice about how to deal with a possible girlfriend, and I said, "Treat her like Oz did when Cordy and Xander were breaking into the armory, and you'll be fine..."

Got tons of positive results.

Oz. Gotta love him.

Chris inVirginia | January 11, 06:32 CET