Profile adapted from bbc.com
Strong, silent and lycanthropic Oz.
Quiet, but talented, Oz may seem to be a bit unexciting at first look. Don't dismiss him out of hand, though - this quietly confident guy is amazingly laid-back, plays guitar, has his own van and has a biting sense of humour. There are other things about him that the unwary may be surprised by - just make sure your first date doesn't fall on the full moon! Perhaps a trip to the Bronze to watch his band might be the way to his heart?

Quotes found at Buffyworld

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season Two
First appearance, episode 2.04: Inca Mummy Girl
Oz first appears in a scene with Cordelia and her then boyfriend Devon: Oz and Devon are in the same band: Dingoes Ate My Baby. Oz quietly loads the van while Devon and Cordelia talk, but once Cordy leaves is quizzed by Devon.

Devon: Oz, man! What do you think?
Oz: Of what?
Devon: Cordelia, man!
Oz: She's a wonderland tour.
Devon: You gotta admit, the girl is hot!
Oz: Yeah, she's a hot girl.
Devon: Let me guess: not your type? What does a girl have to do to impress you?
Oz: Well, it involves a feathered boa and a theme to 'A Summer Place'. I can't discuss it here.
Devon: You're too picky, man. Do you know how many girls you could have? You're lead guitar, Oz. It's currency!
Oz: I'm not picky. You're just impressed by any pretty girl that can walk and talk.
Devon: She doesn't have to talk.
Oz just smirks.

This scene introduces us to Oz, and tells us something about him: that he is the Dingoes lead guitarist, that he has a wry, sarcastic sense of humour, that Devon is clearly used to but bemused by his very different taste in women – that Oz sees past the superficial and is looking for something more. Also, he already knows Cordelia fairly well due to her relationship with his band mate Devon.

Later, the band play at the dance. Oz sees Willow for the first time, and is instantly intrigued – despite her Eskimo costume!

Cut to the stage. Oz notices a girl in the crowd and stares intently.
Oz: Hey.
Devon comes over to him.
Oz: That girl. Who is she?
Devon thinks he means Ampata.
Devon: She's an exchange student. I think she's from South America.
Oz: No, not her. The Eskimo!
Devon goes back to continue singing. Oz is enamored of Willow.

Sadly, when he tries to go over and talk to her, she is in the middle of rushing off with Buffy to save Xander from the Inca Mummy, and so doesn't see him.

Oz: Hey, I... (watches them go in surprise, then smiles) Who is that girl?

Oz next shows up in 2.06: Halloween.
He has a brief conversation with Cordy about Devon, and then bumps into Willow.

Cut to Oz checking his guitar at his locker. Cordelia comes into the hall wearing a tight-fitting catsuit and walks up to him.
Cordelia: Oz. Oz.
Oz: (looks up at her) Hey, Cordelia. Jeez, you're like a great big cat.
Cordelia: It's my costume. Are you guys playing tonight?
Oz: Yeah, at the Shelter Club.
Cordelia: Is Mr. I'm-the-lead-singer-I'm-so-great-I-don't-have-to-show-up-for-my-date-or-even-call gonna be there?
Oz: Yeah, y'know, he's just going by 'Devon' now.
Cordelia: Well, you can tell him that I don't care, and that I didn't even mention it. And that I didn't even see you. So that's just fine.
Oz: So, what do I tell him?
Cordelia: Nothing! Jeez! Get with the program. (walks off in a huff)
Oz: (sarcastically) Why can't I meet a nice girl like that?
Willow comes down the hall in her ghost sheet. Oz turns around and bumps right into her.
Oz: Oh! I'm sorry.
Willow: Sorry.
Oz: I'm sorry.
Willow: Sorry.
Oz: Sorry.
Oz and Willow continue down the hall on their separate ways.

Later:

Cut to the street. Oz is driving along in his van. He pulls to a stop at an intersection and sees Willow cross the street in front of him. He watches her as she continues away. "How She Died", by Treble Charger, plays on the van's stereo.
Oz: Who is that girl?

Oz's next cameo appearance comes in episode 2.09: What's My Line Part One
At the career's fair, Willow is taken into a separate room by the representatives of a computer company, who tell her she is one of only two students from Sunnydale High that have been selected for recruitment. It turns out that Oz is the other.

The two recruiters turn and leave through the curtain. Willow is a bit stunned, but stays and turns around to see who the other student is. Oz is sitting there on the couch studying a tray of canapé. She steps over to the couch and sits down on the other end. She folds her hands in her lap and looks over at Oz. He notices someone sit and turns to look. When he sees her he does a double take and realizes she's the girl he's noticed twice before. He looks down at the tray in his hand and offers it to her.
Oz: Canapé?

Later, Buffy is freaking out at school about the assassins on her tail, and Oz has the misfortune to run into her.

Cut to the halls at school. Buffy is wigged and tense as she walks down the hall. She holds her hands to the back of her neck and shoulders. She jumps when a boy barges through the doors in the hall in front of her. She walks through the doors and scans the students in the hall, paranoid about them looking at her. The police recruiter looks at her, and she stares back. A teacher comes down the stairs in front of her and looks at her as he runs a comb through his hair. Several students walk past her, giving her the occasional glance. Behind her Oz comes walking at a quick pace. She hears a locker slam behind her and spins toward the noise. Noticing Oz quickly bearing down on her, she takes him by the neck and shoves him into the wall.
Buffy: Try it!
Oz: (confused) Try what?
She realizes she's made a mistake, and lets go of his neck.
Buffy: Uh... (exhales) I-I'm sorry.
Oz: Still not clear what I'm supposed to try.
Buffy: Nothing. God, I'm... sorry, I...
She steps away from him, looks both ways down the hall and quickly heads off in the direction she was going. Oz moves away from the wall and shudders.
Oz: That is a tense person.

It is in the second part of What's My Line, episode 2.10, that we start to see more of Oz.

Buffy looks around and notices Oz looking over at Willow.
Buffy: (to Willow) Hey, Will, don't look, okay, but... (Willow looks) No, don't look! (smiles) That guy over there is totally checking you out.
Willow: (looks with her eyes) Oh, that's Oz. He's expressing computer nerd solidarity.
Oz gets up and starts to walk over.
Buffy: Really? Then why is he on his way over here right now?
Willow is surprised when she sees him coming.
Buffy: Told you! (makes a discreet exit)
Oz: Hey.
Willow: (smiles) Hey! (notices) Your hair! Is brown!
Oz: Oh, yeah, sometimes. So, uh, did you decide? Are you gonna be a Corporate Computer Suit Guy?
Willow: Oh. Uh, well, I-I think I'm gonna finish high school first. What about you?
Oz: I'm not really a computer person, you know. Or a work of any kind person.
Willow: Then why'd they select you?
Oz: Oh, I sorta test well. Y'know, which is cool. E-except that it leads to jobs.
Willow: Well, don't you have some ambition?
Oz: Oh, yeah! Yeah. E-flat, diminished ninth.
Willow: Huh?
Oz: Well, the E-flat, it's, it's doable, but that diminished ninth, y'know, it's a man's chord. Now, you could lose a finger.
Willow nods, pretending to understand.

So: more Oz information. He is clearly very bright, since he tests extremely well and was selected by the computer company, but is way too laid back to be ambitious, focusing more on his interests, such as playing the guitar. And yes, his hair does tend to change colour from one episode to the next. This trend will continue throughout the next two years, but no one else ever comments on it. Also, you've got to wonder if Oz recognises Buffy as the girl who came close to throttling him in the last episode – and if she remembers him from the same incident.

Moments later, an assassin starts to shoot up the school, trying to kill Buffy:

Buffy: GET DOWN!
She starts to run again, right past Oz and Willow. Patrice follows Buffy with her aim.
Oz: LOOK OUT!
He lunges for Willow and pulls her to the floor with him, but takes the next bullet meant for Buffy in the arm … (would-be assassin makes good her escape) … Buffy rushes over to Oz and Willow and kneels down next to them. Oz is holding his bleeding arm.
Buffy: How is he?
Willow: He's shot! (to Oz) Are you okay?
Oz: I, uh, I'm shot! (takes his hand away briefly and chuckles) Y'know. (laughs, in shock) Wow! It's odd! And painful.

So: bravery, taking a bullet for Willow.

Fortunately, it is soon confirmed that:

Giles: This, um, Oz chap, he, he, he's all right?
Willow: The paramedic said it was only a scrape. Thank goodness.

When it is all over, Willow and Oz connect.

Cut to the school lounge the next day. Oz is getting a box of animal crackers from a vending machine. His arm is in a sling. He straightens up and sees Willow there.
Oz: Oh, hey! (offers the box) Animal cracker?
Willow: (smiles) No, thank you. How's your arm?
Oz: (tries to open the box) Suddenly painless.
Willow: You can still play the guitar okay?
Oz: Oh, not well, but not worse.
They start to walk down the hall. Willow takes the box from him to open it, as he can't use his right hand properly.
Willow: Y'know, I never really thanked you.
Oz: Ooo, yeah, please don't. I don't do thanks. (Willow hands back the open box) I get all red. Have to bail. It's not pretty.
Willow: (smiles) Well, then forget that thing. E-especially with the part where I kind of owe you my life.
Oz: (pulls out a cookie and stops) Oh, look! Monkey! And he has a little hat. And little pants.
Willow: (smiles) Yeah, I-I see!
Oz: The monkey's the only cookie animal that gets to wear clothes, you know that?
Willow smiles brightly.
Oz: You have the sweetest smile I've ever seen.
Willow is surprised by the compliment.
Oz: (continues down the hall) So, I'm wondering, do the other cookie animals feel sorta ripped? Like, is the hippo going, 'Hey, man, where are my pants? I have my hippo dignity!'
Willow laughs.
Oz: And you know the monkey's just, (with a French accent) 'I mock you with my monkey pants!'
Willow laughs more.
Oz: And there's a big coup in the zoo.
Willow: The monkey is French?
Oz: All monkeys are French. You didn't know that?
Willow: No. (giggles)

It is all very cute. Also, all those people who call Oz emotionless, take note. He is sweetly animated here. And says plenty. He may not be the most talkative person in the world, but can chatter away happily enough when he wants to, such as here. But it is true that he finds verbalising emotions somewhat awkward and embarrassing – he says as much to Willow when she tries to thank him. He neatly diverts her from said 'thank you', but obliquely lets her know that the message is received and understood. Very sweet.
Also, his comments about his guitar playing not being affected have got to be to reassure Willow, rather than actually being able to play. If he can't even open a box with his arm strapped up like that, he isn't going to be able to strum a guitar until it is healed.

Oz is back again in episode 2.13: Surprise.
Before Oz is seen, his closing joke from his last appearance is obliquely referred to, when Willow appears in Buffy's dream.

Buffy finds Willow sitting at a table with a large cup of cappuccino and an organ grinder's monkey.
Willow: (to the monkey) L'hippo a pique' ses pantalons.
Translation: The hippo stole his pants.

Later:

Buffy looks over to the side and sees Oz sitting at a bench with his guitar.
Buffy: Hey, speaking of 'wow' potential, there's Oz over there. What are we thinking, any sparkage?
Willow: (smiles) He's nice. Hey, I like his hands.
Buffy: Mm. A fixation on insignificant detail is a definite crush sign.
Willow: Oh, I don't know, though. I mean, he is a senior.
Buffy: (stops) You think he's too old 'cause he's a senior? Please. My boyfriend had a bicentennial.
Willow: That's true. (unsure) Uh... I guess... I just...
Buffy: You can't spend the rest of your life waiting for Xander to wake up and smell the hottie. Make a move. Do the talking thing.
Willow: Well, what if the talking thing becomes the awkward-silence thing?
Buffy: Well, you won't know until you try.
She walks off leaving Willow to consider her next action. She looks at Oz, at Buffy walking away and back at Oz.

Cut to Oz on the bench. He's practicing with his guitar. Willow walks around the bench and stands next to him.
Willow: Hey.
Oz: (looks up) Hey. (gives her his attention)
Willow: Do you guys, uh, have a gig tonight?
Oz: Oh, no. Practice. See, our band's kinda moving towards this new sound where... we suck, so... practice.
Willow: (smiles) I think you guys sound good.
Oz (smiles): Thanks.
Willow: I bet you have a lot of groupies.
Oz: (nods) It happens. Now, I'm living groupie-free nowadays. I'm clean.
Willow: (smiles) Oh. (begins to feel awkward)
Oz: I'm gonna ask you to go out with me tomorrow night. And I'm kinda nervous about it, actually. It's interesting.
Willow: Oh. Well, if it helps at all, I'm gonna say yes.
Oz: Yeah, it helps. It-it creates a comfort zone. (Willow smiles) Do you wanna go out with me tomorrow night?
Willow: (cringes and slaps her hand to her forehead) Oh! I can't!
Oz: Well, see, I like that you're unpredictable.
Willow: Oh, it's just its Buffy's birthday, and we're throwing her a surprise party.
Oz: It's okay.
Willow: But you could come. If you want to.
Oz: Well, I don't wanna crash.
Willow: No, it's fine! Well, you could be m... my date.
Oz: (nods) All right. I'm in. (smiles)
Willow smiles back, and after a moment indicates she has to go. Oz nods to give her leave. She starts away, smiling widely.

So, progress is being made, slow but steady. It is sweet that Oz admits to being nervous about asking Willow out. He isn't afraid to go for it, though. At this stage, though, Willow is still fairly hung up on Xander, her childhood friend and long-time crush. But the attraction to Oz is there. He, meanwhile, has been interested in her since he first saw her.
Also, again Oz is highly self-deprecating about his guitar playing skills, and the ability of his band in general. Since they are regularly hired for gigs at the Bronze and elsewhere, they can't be all that bad. So is this self-deprecation another character trait – preferring to quietly put himself down rather than accept praise? Although he seems happy enough when Willow expresses appreciation of the band.

Oz accompanies Willow to Buffy's surprise party, which contains more than one surprise – especially for Oz.

Cut inside. The gang hears the fighting going on outside and looks toward a window. Cut to the window. Buffy and the vampire come crashing through and hit the floor. Everyone gets up to look. Buffy scrambles to her feet and kicks the vampire as he comes for her. He stumbles back a few steps. The others come closer to see. Buffy grabs a drumstick from a drum set, spins around with it, thrusts it into the vampire's chest and pulls it back out. The vampire explodes into ashes. Oz watches in astonishment. Cordelia jumps up from behind the pool table with her arms raised high.
Cordelia: Surprise!
The others all look back at her.
Oz: That pretty much sums it up.

Willow and Xander explain:

Willow: (to Oz) Are you okay?
Oz: Yeah. Hey, did everybody see that guy just turn to dust?
Willow: Uh, well, uh... sort of.
Xander: Yep. Vampires are real. A lot of them live in Sunnydale. (gestures between Willow and Oz) Willow will fill you in. (walks off)
Willow: I know it's hard to accept at first.
Oz: Actually, it explains a lot.

This is a typically laid-back reaction to an extraordinary event. This continues as Buffy is attacked by a severed arm in a box.

Willow: W-what was that?
Oz: It looked like an arm.

Later, while researching, Willow and Xander talk.

Willow: I can't get over how cool Oz was about all this.
Xander: Gee, I'm over it.
Willow: (smugly) You're just jealous 'cause you didn't have a date for the party.

And it is true: at this stage, Xander doesn't like Oz – mostly because he doesn't like any other man looking at Willow, despite not being interested in her himself and being confusingly (and secretly) involved with Cordelia.

The following episode, 2.14: Innocence, picks up the story.

First of all, Willow discovers Xander and Cordelia kissing, and is hurt.

Xander: Willow, we were just kissing. It doesn't mean that much.
Willow: No. It just means that you'd rather be with someone you hate than be with me.

So Willow's old feelings for Xander still exist, despite her interest in Oz.
Meanwhile, Angel has lost his soul, and he, Spike and Drusilla have raised 'The Judge' to create mayhem and destruction. Buffy and co. form a plan.

Xander: And we may need wheels.
Cordelia: Well, my car is...
Xander: It might have to be bigger.
Willow: No problem. I'll get Oz. He has a van.
Xander: Good. (looks at Cordelia) Okay.

Instant Scooby-gang membership. Oz drives Willow, Xander and Cordelia to an army base to help steal a rocket-launcher, without so much as batting an eyelid.

The camera comes down behind the barbed wire fence and pans over behind a supply building as Oz's van pulls up.
Xander: Wait here. When you guys see that window open get out the ladder, come up, we'll pass you the package, okay?
Oz: Okay.
Willow: Be careful.

While Xander and Cordelia do the stealing, Oz and Willow wait in the van.

Willow: I wish they'd hurry. (cut inside the van)
Oz: So, do you guys steal weapons from the Army a lot?
Willow: Well, we don't have cable, so we have to make our own fun.
Oz: I get you.
Willow: (after a pause) Do you wanna make out with me?
Oz: What?
Willow: (looks away) Forget it. I'm sorry. (decides she wants to know) Well, do you?
Oz: Sometimes when I'm sitting in class... You know, I'm not thinking about class, 'cause that would never happen. I think about kissing you. And it's like everything stops. It's like, it's like freeze frame. Willow kissage.
He nods his head and smiles to himself. Willow smiles over at him. He looks up at her.
Oz: Oh, I'm not gonna kiss you.
Willow: (confused) What? But freeze frame!
Oz: Well, to the casual observer, it would appear that you're trying to make your friend Xander jealous or even the score or something. And that's on the empty side. (looks off into space) See, in my fantasy when I'm kissing you, you're kissing me. (looks back at her) It's okay. I can wait. (sees the window open) We're up.
He gets out of the van. Willow watches him get out and smiles.

Quite a guy – perceptive and patient, not to mention understanding.

It is Oz who figures out where Angel and co. have gone to wreak destruction.

Oz: Uh, guys? If I were gonna line up, I know where I'd go.

He accompanies the team to the mall, where Buffy destroys the Judge. The pieces of the Judge then have to be collected and disposed of – not the most pleasant of tasks.

Cut to Willow bending down to pick up a piece of the Judge's armour. She's been soaked to the skin by the sprinklers. The camera pans from her over to Oz who has found an actual body part.
Oz: Uh... (points) Arm.

So, purely as a result of his attraction to Willow, and subsequent discovery of the 'occult underworld' at Buffy's party, Oz is initiated into the Scooby gang as an affiliate, even if not as a full-time member of the team yet. This is in much the same way as Cordelia has always helped out from time to time – albeit usually with much complaining – ever since she found out the monsters and demons were real.
It is clear from now on that Buffy, Xander and Willow are the core team – but as Xander and Willow's 'partners', Cordelia and Oz are increasingly drawn into the circle, and hence into battle.

And then we reach episode 2.15: Phases.
This is a highly Oz-centric episode, in which we learn an awful lot about him.

Sunnydale High. Cut to the hall by the trophy case. Oz is hunched over inspecting Catherine Madison's cheerleading trophy. He stares at its eyes as he moves his head from one side to the other. Willow enters the hall from outside and comes up to him.
Willow: (smiles) Hi.
Oz: (straightens up) Oh, that's what I was gonna say.
Willow: What cha looking at? (looks into the case)
Oz: (points) This cheerleading trophy. (moves and watches) It's like its eyes follow you wherever you go. I like it.
He stands back up straight again and gives his attention back to Willow. They start down the hall together.
Willow: So did you like the movie last night?
Oz: I don't know. T-today's movies are kind of like popcorn. You know, you forget about them as soon as they're done. I do remember I liked the popcorn, though. (stops walking)
Willow: (smiles) Yeah, it was good. And I had a really fun time with the rest. (gets a confused look from Oz) I mean, the part with you.
Oz: Oh, that's great. Uh, my time was also of the good.
Willow: Mine, too. (awkwardness sets in) Well, then...
Oz raises his eyebrows expectantly. Willow looks past him and sees Buffy down the hall.
Willow: Oh, there. (points) I have my friend. So I will go to her. (goes)
Oz: I'll see you then. Uh, later. (smiles)

So, the two have now been on their first real date, although they clearly haven't got past the initial, slightly awkward stage.

Larry and some other jocks come walking the other direction and stare at Willow and Buffy walking away. Larry bites his fist and comes over to Oz.
Larry: Man! Oz, I would love to get me some of that Buffy and Willow action, if you know what I mean. (laughs)
Oz: (nods) That's great, Larry. You've really mastered the single entendre.
Larry notices a pretty girl coming down the hall and ignores the insult to stare at her. As she goes by he taps her books, and they fall out of her hands.
Girl: Hey!
Larry: Oops!
She bends down to pick up her books, and Larry and the other jocks stare at her legs.
Larry: Ohhh! Oh, thank you, Thighmaster! (laughs)
The girl gives them a dirty look and leaves.
Larry: So, Oz, man, what's up with that? Dating a junior? Uh, let me guess. That little innocent schoolgirl thing is just, uh, just an act, right?
Oz: Yeah. Yeah, she's actually an evil mastermind. It's fun.
Larry: I mean, she's gotta be putting out, or what's the point? What are you gonna do, talk? (laughs) Come on, fess up. How far have you gotten?

It is worth pointing out that Larry is about twice Oz's height. Again we see that sarcastic wit, while it is interesting to see him interacting with fellow students and getting ribbed about his relationship with Willow. Oz may be very cool and in a band, but he is definitely not of the 'in-crowd', nor, one suspects, would he have any desire to be – he is too much of an individual, and to comfortable with who is to be worried what other people think of him.

But outside, Buffy and Willow are having a similar conversation.

Cut outside to Buffy and Willow walking along the colonnade.
Willow: Nowhere. I mean, he said he was gonna wait until I was ready, but I'm ready. Honest. I'm good to go here.
Buffy: Well, I think it's nice that he's not just being an animal.
Willow: It is nice. He's great. We have a lot of fun. But I want smoochies!
Buffy: Have you dropped any hints?
Willow: I've dropped anvils.
Buffy: Ah, he'll come around. What guy could resist your wily Willow charms?
Willow: At last count, all of them. Maybe more.
Buffy: Well, none of them know a thing. They all get an 'F' in Willow.
Willow: But I want Oz to get an 'A', and, oh, one of those gold stars.
They sit on a bench.
Buffy: He will.
Willow: Well, he better hurry. I don't want to be the only girl in school without a real boyfriend.

It is nice that Buffy encourages Willow to go for it with Oz right from the start, and seems to approve of him so much. Meanwhile, Oz and Willow's halting relationship is also on Xander's mind.

Cut inside Cordelia's car in a secluded area of the park that night. She and Xander are making out. Suddenly Xander breaks off.
Xander: But what could she possibly see in him?
Cordelia: Excuse me? We didn't come here to talk about Willow. We came here to do things I can never tell my father about because he still thinks I'm a... good girl.
Xander: I just don't trust Oz with her. I mean, he's a senior, he's attractive -- okay, maybe not to me, but -- and he's in a band. And we know what kind of element that attracts.

Xander is still suspicious of Oz. But just then, he and Cordy are attacked by a werewolf, and drive off hastily.

At school the next day, the 'gang' gather to survey the damage to Cordy's car and discuss the creature.

Buffy: And you're sure it was a werewolf? (gets off of the car)
Xander: Well, let's see, um, six feet tall, claws, a big old snout in the middle of his face like a wolf. Um, yeah, I'm sticking with my first guess.
Oz: Seems wise.

Giles has more news.

Giles: Well, it seems there were a, a number of other attacks by a wild dog around town. (hands the paper to Buffy) Several animal carcasses were found mutilated.
Willow: You mean, like bunnies and stuff? (upset) No, don't tell me. (looks at Oz)
Oz: (reassuringly) Oh, don't worry. I mean, they might not look it, but bunnies can really take care of themselves.
Willow: (calmer and smiling) Yeah.
Oz: Yeah.
Giles: (takes the paper back) Yes, uh, um, fortunately, no people were injured.

While Giles heads off to research, the students have a self-defence class to attend – apparently mixed seniors and juniors. While they sit listening to the coach…

Behind Willow Oz reaches up and turns the tag sticking out of her sweatshirt back inside. She looks back at him curiously.
Oz: Tag. (pats her on the back)

Sitting with Cordy, Xander is not impressed.

Xander: Would you look at that? He's all over her.
Cordelia looks over at Buffy, Oz and Willow.
Xander: Psst! Hey, buddy, this is a public forum here.
Cordelia looks back at him, as do Buffy, Oz and Willow.
Coach: ...then you can turn that advantage to yourself.
Cordelia: I think you splashed on just a little too much 'Obsession For Dorks'.

Again we see Xander's resentment of Oz's growing closeness to Willow.

Then Oz and Larry compare notes on recent bites they have received.

Larry: Oh, last week some huge dog jumped out of the bushes and bit me. Thirty-nine stitches. They oughta shoot those strays.
Oz: (next to Larry) I've been there, man. (holds up his finger) My cousin Jordy just got his grownup teeth in? Does not like to be tickled.

When Buffy takes 'self-defence' a little too far with lecherous Larry, typically only Oz has any comment to make.

Larry: Oh, Summers, you are turning me on.
He grabs her butt cheek hard with his other hand. Buffy isn't about to take that, and immediately flips him over hard onto the mats in front of them. Larry groans as he lies there. Willow shoots Buffy a look as she and Oz stand back up. The coach looks over at her also.
Oz: (points) That works, too.

Meanwhile, Giles has realised that the werewolf will be active for three nights a month: the full moon and the two nights surrounding it. It is also clear that straightforward slaying is not an option here.

Giles: Y-you see, uh, the-the werewolf, uh, is such a, a potent e-e-extreme representation of our inborn animalistic traits that it e-emerges for three full consecutive nights: the full moon and, uh, the two nights surrounding it.
Xander: Quite the party animal.
Giles: Quite. And it, uh, acts on-on pure instinct. No conscience, uh, uh, predatory and, and aggressive.

Giles: The point is that our wolfman could also be a-a-a wolfwoman, or-or anyone who was bitten by a werewolf.
Xander: So then I'm guessing your standard silver bullets are in order here?
Giles: No. No bullets. No matter who this werewolf is, i-it's still a human being, who may be completely unaware of his or her condition.
Buffy: So tonight we bring 'em back alive.

Out hunting that night, Buffy and Giles run into werewolf hunter Cain.

Buffy: You're looking for a party?
Cain: No, but the werewolf is. They're suckers for that whole sexual heat thing. Sense it miles away. Since this little doggie ain't here, I guess he found another place. (stands up)

More werewolf lore: is this ever referred to again?

Over at the Bronze, Willow and Cordelia are discussion Xander and Oz.

Cordelia: All a part of his little guy games. It's like he's there, but then he's not there, and he wants it, but then he doesn't want it.
Willow: He's so busy looking around at everything he doesn't have, he doesn't even realize what he does have.
Cordelia: Well, he should at least realize that you have Oz.
Willow: (frowns and raises an eyebrow) Mm, I'm not sure I do. (confused) Oz and I are in some sort of holding pattern, except without the holding or... anything else.
Cordelia: What's he waiting for? What's his problem? (rolls her eyes) Oh, that's right, he's a guy.
Willow: (disgusted) Yeah, him and Xander. Guys.
Cordelia: Who do they think they are?
Willow: A couple of guys.
Suddenly the werewolf drops down from above onto the table in front of them. They both scream and run from the couch in opposite directions. Panic sets in around them, and the werewolf just stands there at a half crouch, confused by all the noise.

Arriving at the Bronze, Buffy tries to capture the werewolf, but it escapes. Then, outside:

Cut to a loading dock area. The werewolf walks into the light next to a trailer and stops to sniff the air. It looks down and sees a large splotch of blood in the gutter. It continues along the side of the trailer. When it reaches the far end Theresa falls to the ground from behind the trailer with a vampire bite clearly visible on her neck. The werewolf looks down at her, but doesn't make a move to eat her. On the other side of her, Angelus steps up in his game face and growls at the werewolf. The werewolf bares its fangs at Angelus and growls more loudly. Angelus returns the growl, baring his own fangs and staring the werewolf down, warning him away from Theresa's body. Angelus slowly backs away and leaves. The werewolf looks down at Theresa again and growls, but makes no move to touch her.

Then the truth is revealed, to the viewers at least.

Giles: Buffy, we're gonna get this thing. We have another whole night. (Buffy looks at him) There's nothing more we can do now. It's nearly sunrise. That werewolf won't be a werewolf much longer.
Buffy looks down sadly.
Cut to a view of Sunnydale from atop a hill. The sun is coming up in the distance. Cut to the werewolf asleep on the ground in the woods. The camera pans from its hind paws over to its head. When sunlight hits the werewolf it morphs back into its human form. Oz wakes up, opens his eyes and looks around confused. He sits up and stares around at the forest. He looks down at himself and realizes he's naked.
Oz: (confused) Huh.

Which leads one to wonder just where he woke up the previous night, given his obvious confusion here.

Next comes one of the best scenes ever in this show, as the oh-so laconic Oz calls his aunt to try to get to the bottom of his transformation.

The dining room at Oz's house. He's on the phone with his aunt.
Oz: 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. [beat as he steels himself] Is Jordy a werewolf? [flatly] Uh-huh. And how long has that been going on? Uh-huh. What? No, no reason. Um... Thanks. Yeah, love to Uncle Ken.
He lowers the phone and turns it off. He stares off into space as the new knowledge that he is the werewolf sinks in.

Werewolf Jordy is never referred to again, and yet raises all kinds of questions. How did this child become a werewolf? How does his family deal with him? Do they lock him up, or let him run free? Are they aware that he can turn other people into werewolves just by biting them? Are they aware of the implications of his having bitten his cousin, Oz? So many questions, so few answers. However, this telephone conversation, and Oz's description of how Jordy came to bite him imply that his is a fairly close, loving family, werewolves not withstanding, which is nice to know.

In school that day, the reality of his new situation is clearly starting to sink in for Oz.

Cut to the halls at Sunnydale High. Oz walks slowly among the other students as he makes his way to the library. He looks down and around at everyone, still trying to deal with this new revelation about himself. When he reaches the library he stares at the door for a long moment.
Cut inside the library. Buffy paces. Willow is sitting at the table with Giles behind her, and Xander is leaning against the counter.
Buffy: I can't believe I let that thing get away. Cain was right. I shoulda killed it when I had the chance.
Oz comes in, and has overheard that last comment.
Oz: Killed what?
Buffy: Uh, the, uh, (ahem) the werewolf. It-it-it was out last night.
Oz: Is everybody okay? Did anyone get bitten or, or scratched?
Willow: No, we're fine.
Oz: Gladness.
Buffy: Yeah, but he got someone. Theresa.
Oz: 'Got', as in...?
Buffy just looks at him and briefly raises her eyebrows.
Oz: (shocked) Oh, I'm sorry.
Buffy: And I coulda stopped it. (sits)
Giles: Well, we, we have one more night.
Oz: (dismayed) Another night?
Buffy: Oh, yeah. Believe me, I'm gonna give that wolfie something to howl about.
Oz: Hmm.
Xander: (comes over) But while we hang here doing nothing, there's a human werewolf walking around out there, probably making fun of us.
Willow: (with a hint of sarcasm) The way werewolves always do.
Oz: But there's really no way to tell who it is.
Xander: Oh, sure there is. Giles knows stuff, and I'm practically an expert on the subject.
Willow: On account of once you were a hyena?
Xander: I know what it's like to crave the taste of freshly killed meat, to be taken over by those uncontrollable urges.
Buffy: You said you didn't remember anything about that.
Xander: (chuckles) I said I didn't remember anything about that. Look, the point is, is I have an affinity with this thing. I can get inside of its head. (closes his eyes and pretends to be the werewolf) I'm a big, bad wolf. I'm on the prowl. (sniffs) I'm sniffing, I'm snarling, I'm a slobbering predator, I'm... (opens his eyes) Wait a second! It's right in front of us. (Oz's eyes go wide with the fear of being recognized) It's obvious who I am. I'm Larry! (Oz breathes a sigh of relief) The guy's practically got wolf-boy stamped on his forehead. You got the dog bite, you got the aggression, not to mention the excessive back hair.

Beneath his typically laid-back exterior, Oz is obviously freaked by this all, and hearing Buffy's comments about killing the werewolf is clearly a major factor in his decision not to come clean. His fear of inadvertently hurting someone is obvious, as is his alarm at the prospect of another night of wolfiness, and he tries to distance himself from Willow. He just doesn't know what to do, or who to trust.

Giles: I-if none of that works, I think I may have an alternative. (goes into his office)
Buffy: Yeah, me and the werewolf alone in a cage for three minutes. That's all I ask. (gets up and follows Giles)
Willow: (to Oz) Are you okay?
Oz: (comes back to earth) What?
Willow: You kind of knew Theresa.
Oz: Oh, yeah, I, uh, I'm trying not to think about it. It's... it's a lot.
Willow: It is. But we can do stuff to help. Sometimes it feels good to help.
Oz: Uh-huh.
Buffy comes back to the office door, but holds back, not wanting to interrupt Willow with Oz.
Willow: Well, like... looking up stuff. I'm gonna be doing that most of the night. You could help me, help together?
Oz: (unsure what to do) I can't. Um, uh, I'm busy.
Willow: Oh. So...
Oz: I... I gotta go.
He jogs out of the library. Willow watches him go, confused about his behavior. Buffy looks sadly at her friend from the office doorway.

While Oz quietly panics alone, and Xander inadvertently 'outs' Larry, Willow and Buffy discuss Oz.

Willow: (looks back at her laptop) I'll keep looking. (goes back to work)
Buffy: I, um... noticed you were looking solo.
Willow: Yeah. Oz wanted to be someplace that was (looks up at Buffy) away... from me.
Buffy: I'm sorry.
Willow: (leans back in her chair) I can't figure him out. I mean, he's so hot and cold. Or luke-warm and cold.
Buffy: Welcome to the mystery that is men. I think it goes something like, they grow body hair, they lose all ability to tell you what they really want.
Willow: It doesn't seem like a fair trade. (stands up and puts her laptop in its case)
Buffy: Well, if you wanna up the speed quotient with Oz, maybe you need to do something daring. Maybe you need to make the first move.

Then Buffy realises something.

Xander: You're not boned, you're Buffy. Eradicator of evil. Defender of, um... things that need defending.
Buffy: Tell that to Theresa. She could have used my defending before she was ripped apart by that... (stops and considers)
Xander: Werewolf.
Buffy: Nowhere in any of the reports did it say anything about her being mauled. (looks up at Xander) I mean, they were linked to the animal attacks from the other night, so we just assumed werewolf.

They soon learn that Theresa was killed by a vampire (Angelus). More to the point, the werewolf did not maul her at all, despite having her dead body dumped in front of him, which raises questions about the supposedly 'beastly' nature of werewolves. Was he not hungry?

As the moon begins to rise, and hunter Cain prepares his silver bullets, Oz is preparing himself for another transformation, only to suffer an untimely interruption.
And Cain's use of silver bullets raises interesting questions. Can a werewolf really only be killed by silver in Joss-lore? If so, does that mean Oz can only be killed by silver? Does that only apply in wolf form? What would happen if he was (fatally) injured some other way? Can he still be killed in human form? This was never explored, and it would have been interesting.

Cut to Oz's dining room. He has a box full of shackles and locks, and dumps them out. He looks at them and considers a moment, then with a strengthened resolve starts to put one on. He's about to put the lock on when there's a knocking at the door. He ignores it and looks at the lock. As he moves to put it on there's another knock on the door. He looks at it in frustration, and sets the lock and shackles down. The knocking continues insistently as he goes over to the door. When he opens it he finds an irate Willow standing there, ready to knock even more.
Oz: Willow! What are you doing?
She pushes her way inside.
Willow: I had this whole thing worked out. (goes toward the dining room) And I had it written down, uh, but then it didn't make any sense (turns to face him) when I was reading it back.
Oz: Willow, this is not a very good time.
Willow: I mean, what am I supposed to think? First, you buy me popcorn (paces away) and then you're all glad that I didn't get bit. (paces back) (softly) And you put the tag back in my shirt. (harshly) But I guess none of that means anything because instead of looking up names with me, here you are all alone in your house doing nothing by yourself.
Oz: Willow, we'll talk about this tomorrow. I promise.
He tries to take hold of her to lead her out, but she shakes him off.
Willow: No, damn it! We'll talk about this now! Buffy told me that sometimes what a girl makes has to be the first move and now that I'm saying this, I'm starting to think that the written version sounded pretty good, but you know what I mean.
Oz: I know, I know, it's me. I'm, I'm goin' through some... changes.
Willow: Well, welcome to the world! Things happen. Don't you think I'm going through a lot?
Oz: Not like me.
Willow: Oh, what, so now you're special? (paces away into the dining room) You're special boy... (sees the shackles) With chains and stuff. (hesitantly) Why do you have chains and stuff?
Oz doubles over in pain and hugs his chest.
Oz: Willow, please! (heads for the door) Get outta here!
She stares at him, confused. He falls behind the couch out of her view. There he begins to rapidly grow hair and mutate into a werewolf.
Willow: Oz? Oz, what is it?
She slowly approaches the couch. Oz's fingers grow longer and hairier.
Willow: What's wrong?
She hears Oz moaning in pain. She looks carefully over the couch, and Oz the werewolf leaps to his feet and growls at her. She screams and jumps backward away from him.

It seems from this scene that the transformation is not painless, although we never really see the pain aspect of it again. And one has to wonder where he got the chains and shackles from at short notice! Did Uncle Ken and Aunt Maureen realise and come through with this stuff? Or are they from another source entirely?

With the werewolf chasing, Willow makes a run for it. Cain sees Wolf Oz, and joins the chase. Wolf Oz smells something and abandons his pursuit of Willow, who continues on in search of help.

Willow comes barging into the library.
Willow: It's Oz! It's Oz!
Buffy: Wh-what's Oz?
Willow: The werewolf.
Giles: Are you certain?
Willow: (frantic) Can't you just trust me on this? He-he said he was going through all these changes. Then he went through all these... changes.
Buffy: Where is he now?
Willow: In the woods.
Giles: Let's go. (starts out again)
Willow: (grabs and stops him) Go where? You're not gonna kill Oz! Yeah, he's a werewolf, but he doesn't mean to be.
Buffy: Don't worry, Willow. We're not going to hurt him.
They all start out of the library.
Giles: I put enough Phenobarbital in this thing to sink a small elephant. It should be enough for a large werewolf.

It is nice to see that one of Willow's immediate concerns on learning that her boyfriend is a werewolf is that those hunting him should not hurt him.

Events reach their climax out in the woods.

Cut to the woods. The werewolf has found what it's looking for. So has Cain, and he cocks his flintlock's hammer back and lifts it to his shoulder. The werewolf gets closer to the pile of meat Cain has left out for him.
Cain: That's it. Let me see you. Come on, suppertime.
The werewolf is on top of the bait now, and Cain takes aim.
Cain: Good, doggy. Now play dead.
He is about to pull he trigger when he gets kicked from the side. He falls to the ground, and his gun fires wild. The werewolf looks up from its meal at the commotion. Buffy grabs Cain's gun and wrestles him for it. She flips the rifle over and he follows, landing on his back and letting go of the gun in the process. As he tries to get up Buffy swings the butt of the rifle around and knocks him down and out. The werewolf comes at her, and she ducks his lunge. Giles and Willow arrive to see the werewolf grab Buffy and lift her off of her feet. She pushes him back using Cain's gun to keep from being bitten. Giles tries to get a clear shot, but the werewolf turns and holds Buffy up between them.
Willow: Careful!
Giles: (can't get a shot) Damn it!
He keeps looking for an opening, but is quickly getting frustrated. Buffy raises the rifle high and smashes it down on the werewolf's head. It drops her and falls back stunned. It quickly gets up and swipes at her, knocking the gun from her hands. Then the werewolf shoves Buffy away and right into Giles and Willow, bowling them over. It starts to come at them. Willow scrambles for the tranquilizer gun and brings it up to bear. The werewolf charges, and Willow pulls the trigger. The dart hits it in the chest, and it staggers backward a bit before falling over unconscious.
Willow: (looks up at Giles) I shot Oz.
Giles: You saved us.

Oz gets shot numerous times during his time on the show – mostly with tranquillisers rather than bullets, fortunately for him.
It is interesting that the werewolf would go after Cain's meaty bait, having shown no interest in the equally meaty and equally dead Theresa the night before. Very inconsistent – his behaviour in wolf form remains inconsistent.

Buffy gets rid of Cain, who leaves town never to return again – although this implies that Oz is only safe from the attentions of the werewolf hunter while in the vicinity of the Slayer. Then attention switches back to Oz.

Buffy looks down at Willow crouched next to Oz the werewolf and gets down with her.
Willow: You think it'll be okay?
They both look up at Giles.
Giles: He'll be a little sore in the morning, but... he'll be Oz.

The next day, everyone has to deal with recent events. Buffy and Xander have a delightfully confusing conversation.

Xander: This is all so weird. I mean, how are we supposed to act when we see him?
Buffy: Well, it's gotta be weird for him, too. Now that we know so much.
Xander: All I know is I'll never be able to look at him the same again.
Buffy: He's still a human being. Most of the time.
They stop at the vending machine.
Xander: Who are we talking about?
Buffy: Oz. Who are you talking about?
Xander (still freaked out at having outed Larry): No one.

While Buffy sets Xander straight about a few things, Willow and Oz have a lot to talk about.

Buffy: Weirdness abounds lately. Maybe it's the moon. That does stuff to people.
Xander: I've heard that.
Buffy: (sees Willow walk by) Certainly gonna put a strain on Willow and Oz's relationship.
Xander: What relationship? I mean, what life could they possibly have together? (counts off on his fingers) We're talking obedience school, paper training, Oz is always in back burying their things, and that kind of breed can turn on its owner.
Buffy: I don't know. I kinda see Oz as the loyal type.
Xander: All I'm saying is she's not safe with him. If it were up to me...
Buffy: (interrupts) Xander...
Cut outside to Willow walking over to Oz sitting on a table.
Buffy: It's not up to you.

Nice that in spite of it all, Buffy still has a high opinion of Oz, and approves of him for Willow. Even if Xander doesn't.

Willow: Hey.
Oz: Hey.
Willow: Did you want to go first?
Oz: I spoke to Giles. He said I'll be okay. I just have to lock myself up around the full moon. Only he used more words than that. And a globe.
Willow: I'm sorry about how all this ended up. With me shooting you and all.
Oz: It's okay. I'm, I'm sorry I almost ate you.
Willow: It's okay. I kind of thought you would have told me.
Oz: I didn't know what to say. I mean, it's not everyday you find out you're a werewolf. That's fairly freaksome. It may take a couple days getting used to.
Willow: Yeah. It's a complication.
Oz: So... (hops off of the table and they walk) Maybe it'd be best if I just... sorta...
Willow: What?
Oz: Well, you know, like, stayed out of your way for a while.
Willow: I don't know. I'm kind of okay with you being in my way.
Oz: (stops and faces her) You mean, you'd still...
Willow: Well, I like you. You're nice and you're funny. And you don't smoke. Yeah, okay, werewolf, but that's not all the time. I mean, three days out of the month I'm not much fun to be around either.
Oz: You are quite the human.
Willow: (smiles) So, I'd still if you'd still.
Oz: I'd still. I'd very still.
Willow: (smiles widely) Okay. (more seriously) No biting, though.
Oz: Agreed.
Willow walks off with a smile on her face. Oz turns around and watches her go. He smiles. Then he looks surprised to see her rushing back. She looks at him for an instant and then plants a kiss right on his lips. He watches her with a smile as she goes off again.
Oz: A werewolf in love.

So, weirdness might abound, but Oz and Willow are now full steam ahead, despite Oz's new situation. Impressively, to her the werewolf thing is not an insurmountable obstacle, while he is dealing with it remarkably well – having such a laid-back personality is a bonus at times like this! And the smoochies have begun.

Oz next appears in the following episode, 2.16: Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered

It is clear that Oz and Willow's relationship really is now going full steam ahead, despite the complications, and that Willow is delighted.

Amy: Hey. (pulls on her backpack) Are you guys going to the Valentine's Day dance at the Bronze? I think it's gonna be a lot of fun.
Willow turns to look at Buffy with a huge smile on her face.
Buffy: Go ahead. You know you wanna say it.
Willow faces Amy again, grinning broadly.
Willow: My boyfriend's in the band!
Amy: (smiles and laughs) Cool.
Willow looks back at Buffy.
Buffy: I think you've now told everybody.
Willow: Only in this hemisphere. (pulls on her pack)

Later, at the Bronze, Willow is still excited.

Cut to the Bronze for the Valentine's Day dance. Oz and Devon's band Dingoes Ate My Baby (Four Star Mary) are playing "Pain". Xander is at a table with Willow, turning a jewellery box around in his hands. The camera pans up to Willow watching the band play and bobbing her head to the beat. It pulls back to show Xander staring off in another direction, oblivious to the music. The camera focuses on the band as Devon sings.
Lyrics: Feeling I've been lost for years
Oz smiles over at Willow and then looks down at his guitar.
Lyrics: You can never understand me / Unless you've seen those tears / But you never get to sleep
Willow looks up at Oz and smiles. Oz smiles back as he plays.
Lyrics: When I'm away / I don't mind / The deeper...
Willow: (to Xander, smiling) Oz has his cool hair today.
Lyrics: ...that you lay
Willow: (excited) I think I'm a groupie! (looks back at the band)

Then, when Cordelia breaks up with Xander, he gets Amy to cast a love spell – only for said spell to go wrong, causing all the women in Sunnydale to fall in love with Xander, including Buffy and Willow. Wackiness ensues.

Under the spell's influence, Willow tries to seduce a panic-stricken Xander.

Xander: (backs his head away) It's not that I don't find you sexy.
Willow: (leans away to look at him) Is it Oz? (shakes her head) Don't worry about him. He's sweet, but... he's not you. (rubs his chest more)
Xander: Yes, he is. And you should go to him. 'Cause he's me. (grins)

Luckily, Xander rejects her. And yes, Oz is very sweet.
And Amy turns Buffy into a rat. While Xander attempts to catch Rat Buffy, Oz arrives.

Xander sees someone come up next to him and looks up. There he sees Oz standing over him, and the next thing he knows Oz has punched him in the face. He stumbles backward into the shelves. Giles is startled and looks up as well. Oz shakes out his hand. Buffy makes her escape from behind the bookcase and goes out of the library doors into the hall.
Oz: (still shaking his hand) That kinda hurt.
Xander: (rubbing his cheek) Kinda?! What was that for?
Oz: I was on the phone all night, listening to Willow cry about you. Now, I don't know exactly what happened, but I was left with a very strong urge to... hit you. (offers his hand to help Xander up)
Xander: (takes Oz's hand and gets up) I didn't touch her. I swear.

Willow is right. Oz really is very sweet. He is also in no way a fighter by nature – ironic that the guy who turns into a wolf three nights a month is also the gentlest guy ever seen on the show.

Giles: (upset) Xander! Where's Buffy? (starts looking again)
Xander: (to Oz) Amy turned her into a rat.
Oz: (looks around) Oh.
Giles and Xander get on their knees and look around while making squeaking noises. Oz crouches down to look as well.
Giles: I don't see her. If anything happens to her, I'll... (looks at Xander in disgust) Oh, just go home. (stands up) Lock yourself away. You're only going to cause more problems here. Now, Amy, Jenny and I will, uh... try and break the spell. (the women stand up) Oz, if, if you could aid us in, in finding, um... Buffy.
Oz: Sure. Absolutely.

Oz spends most of the episode looking for Rat Buffy.

Cut to the school basement door standing ajar. Buffy scampers in and hops down each step. She makes her way over to the boiler room. Oz has managed to track her and comes down the steps behind her with a flashlight. When he reaches the bottom of the steps he scans around, looking for where she went. Buffy goes into the boiler room, and Oz soon follows. A cat sees Buffy and meows meanly at her. Buffy squeaks and runs off. The cat chases after her.

Cut to the boiler room. Oz continues scanning with his flashlight.
Oz: Here, Buffy.
Cut to the trap. The camera pans up from it over to a pile of rags. Buffy climbs over the pile and heads for the trap.

Giles gets Amy to reverse the spell, returning Buffy to human form.

Cut to the boiler room. A bright light begins to flash from behind the crate where Buffy is. Oz holds up his flashlight and squints against the light. In a few seconds it's over.
Oz: Buffy?
She raises her head and looks around from behind the crate.

Cut to the boiler room. Buffy stands up and Oz raises his flashlight and shines it on her. She looks down at herself. He immediately raises the light away from her and turns it off. She hugs her arms around herself to cover up.
Buffy: (smiles) Hi, Oz!
Oz: Hi.
Buffy: I seem to be having a slight case of nudity here.
Oz: But you're not a rat. So call it an upside.
Buffy: You think maybe you could get me some clothing?
Oz: Yes, I can. Just, uh... don't go anywhere. (leaves)
Buffy: (looks around) Really not an issue.

Oz is quite the gentleman. And once it is all over, Xander and Cordy reunite.

Several Oz-less episode follow, in which Angel steps up his persecution of Buffy, and kills Giles' girlfriend, Jenny Calendar – Willow subsequently fills in for her teaching computer science. (Willow apparently enjoys the teaching – she really should have taken it up as a career). While going through Jenny's lesson plans, Willow also finds a lot of information about magic and paganism, and begins magical studies.

In 2.19: I Only Have Eyes For You, Willow's remark about love could be interpreted as referring to Oz.

Willow: Okay, the Angel thing went badly, I'm on board with that, but that's not your fault. And anyways, love isn't always like that. Love can be... (smiles) nice!

Oz next shows up in episode 2.22: Becoming Part 1

Xander describes to 'the gang' what happened when he went patrolling with Buffy.

Cut to Willow, Oz and Buffy at the opposite side of the table. Willow is sitting on Oz's lap.
Buffy: That's exactly how it happened.
Oz: Well, I thought it was riveting. Uh, I was a little unclear about some of the themes.

Yet again with the deadpan, sarcastic wit.

Willow: (to Buffy) Do you think you're ready to fight Angel?
Buffy: I wish people would stop asking me that. Yes, I'm ready. I'm also willing and able. Just the one test I might actually pass.
Willow: Don't say that! You're gonna pass everything. I will get you through this semester if I have to sweat blood.
Xander: Do you think you're likely to? 'Cause I'd like to be elsewhere.
Willow: It was only metaphor blood.
Oz: I think you'd sweat cute blood.
Willow: (gives Oz a smile) (to Buffy) Sixth period, after my computer class, we'll rock on chemistry.

In case I haven't said it before, Oz and Willow are just too cute. Sadly, Snyder breaks up the moment.

Snyder: That's enough of that. (to Willow) And you! Are we having a chair shortage?
Willow: I didn't read anything about... Oh. (slides off of Oz's lap and into her chair) I get it.
Snyder: These public displays of affection are not acceptable in my school. This isn't an orgy, people. It's a classroom.

Oz then disappears for the remainder of the episode, as Angel attempts to awaken the demon Acathla to destroy the world, as Willow attempts a spell to re-ensoul Angel, and as the other vampire slayer, Kendra, arrives to help out.

In the final episode of the season 2.22: Becoming Part 2, Oz is back.

There has been a lot of trouble: Buffy is wanted for murder, Giles is missing, Xander was injured and Willow lies in a coma. Xander is too busy worrying about Willow to remember Oz – it is Buffy (who approves so much of Oz for Willow) who points out that as her boyfriend, Oz really should be informed. (Cordelia was with them when it all went down – got to wonder why Oz wasn't included).

Xander: The doctor said it was head trauma. She can wake up at any time, but, um... the longer it lasts, the... less likely it is.
Buffy: I never should've let her try to do that curse. Angel must've known.
She reaches up to Willow's face and brushes back a few stray hairs.
Buffy: Where are her parents?
Xander: With relatives in Phoenix. I gave them a call. They're... they're getting on a plane back.
Buffy: Does Oz know?
Xander: (realizes his omission) Oh, man. Um... I didn't even think. Um... I'll call him.

At the hospital, Xander sits with Willow and confesses his love for her – just as she wakes up and asks for Oz, who arrives at just the right moment.

Xander: I love you.
Her face twitches and her hand gives his a squeeze. Xander's eyes widen in hope.
Xander: Willow?
She takes a few breaths before responding, with her eyes still closed.
Willow: (whispers) Oz? (speaks) Oz?
Xander leans away, taken aback. Oz hears her as he walks into the room.
Oz: I'm here.
Xander: (looks back at Oz) She's just starting to wake up.
He gets up to let Oz go to her. Oz takes her hand and leans over the bed. Willow still has her eyes closed.
Oz: Hey, baby.
Willow: (weakly) Hi.
Xander: I'm gonna go get a doctor. (leaves)
Oz: How you feelin'?
Willow: (weakly, eyes still closed) My head... feels big. Is it big?
Oz: No. It's head size.
He leans over her face and gently kisses her on the forehead. He leans back to look at her and strokes her hair with his other hand. She opens her eyes tentatively.

As Buffy tries to find a way to stop Angelus ending the world, Oz tends Willow as she recovers.

Willow's room at the hospital. Oz brings her a bowl of Jell-O. She's sitting up and on the phone with Buffy. She takes the bowl from Oz with a smile, sets it down on her lap and begins to play with the spoon. Oz pulls up a chair and sits down.
Willow: I'm okay, Buffy, really. I mean, I don't feel good, but... I'm awake, and I know my name and who's President and how many fingers, so they don't think my brain got mushed at all.

While Buffy heads off for the showdown, the others make plans of their own.

Cut to Willow's hospital room. Willow is sitting up in her bed with Oz in the chair next to her. Xander is sitting on the far side of the room.
Cordelia: (paces) So Buffy's going for the big showdown, huh? Wish we could help. (to Xander) You know, without dying.
Xander: I don't see how.
Willow: I wanna try again.
Oz: Try what?
Willow: The curse. We never got to finish it. Maybe we can restore Angel's soul.
Xander: I don't like it. You're talking about messing with powerful magic, and you're weak.
Willow: I'm okay.
Xander: You don't look okay. (to Cordelia) Does she?
Cordelia: You should listen to him. The hair, it's so flat, and the lips...
Xander: (to Cordelia) Could we stay on topic here, honey?
Cordelia: What?
Xander: (to Willow) Look, it's not a good idea.
Willow: There's no use arguing with me. Do you see my resolve face? (gives them her resolve face) You've seen it before. You know what it means. This can help Buffy. If we turn Angel back soon enough, we can stop him from ever awakening Acathla.
Oz: (gets up) Okay, I pretty much missed out on some stuff, didn't I? Because this is all making a kind of sense that's... not.
Willow: (to Oz) Go with Cordy to the library and get my things. She'll fill you in.
Oz: Sure. (kisses her hand) I'll drive.
He walks out of the room with Cordelia close behind. Xander gets up.
Willow: Xander, go to Buffy. Tell her what we're doing. Maybe she can stall.
Xander: But I...
Willow: (points to herself) Resolve face.
Xander: (gives in) Be careful. (leaves)

While Xander backs Buffy up, Oz and Cordelia help Willow with the spell.

Cut to Willow's hospital room. Cordelia and Oz are back with the Orb and the candles, and they have everything set up on the tray table over the bed: the Orb surrounded by the candles within a sacred circle. Cordelia stands on one side and waves burning herbs and incense over the Orb. Oz stands on the other side with an open Latin book. Willow sits up in her bed holding the printout of the Rumanian curse. The camera looks down from above and closes in on them.
Willow: Are we ready?
Cordelia: Stinky herbs are a go.
Oz: Did I mention I didn't take Latin?
Willow: Y-you don't have to understand it. You just have to say it. I hope.
Oz: Right.

Cut to the hospital room. Willow casts her stones and gives Oz his cue. Cordelia keeps waving the burning herbs and incense.
Oz: Quod perditum est, invenietur.
Translation: What is lost, return.
Willow: Not dead... nor not of the living. Spirits of the interregnum, I call.

His pronunciation doesn't sound that bad for someone who has never studied Latin.

Cut to the hospital. Willow gets weaker as she chants and breathes heavily.
Willow: Return. (pants) I call on... (pants)
Oz: (worried) Willow?
Cordelia: (worried) Are you okay?
Without warning Willow's head snaps back and she looks up with her eyes wide open. Her head snaps back down and her eyes stare into the Orb. She begins to chant steadily in Rumanian as though possessed.
Willow: Te implor, Doamne, nu ignora aceasta rugaminte.
Translation: I implore you, Lord, do not ignore this request.
Oz: (to Cordelia) Is this a good thing?
Willow: Nici mort, nici al fiintei...
Translation: Neither dead, nor of the living...
Cordelia: (freaked out) Hey, speak English!
Willow: Lasa orbita sa fie vasul care-i va transporta, sufletul la el.
Translation: Let this Orb be the vessel that will carry his soul to him.

Cut to the hospital. The table lurches hard. The camera pans around Willow and closes in on her face.
Willow: Asa sa fie! Asa sa fie! Acum!
Translation: So it shall be! So it shall be! Now!
Willow: Acum!
Translation: Now!
The Orb glows brightly for a brief moment and goes dark. Willow suddenly relaxes, and looks around blankly.

But it is too late. Alone, Buffy is forced to kill the re-ensouled Angel in order to save the world from the demon Acathla. She then disappears, leaving the confused gang with no idea what actually happened.

Cut to Sunnydale High School. Xander and Giles walk up to Oz pushing Willow in a wheelchair with Cordelia at their side. Giles' walk is a bit unsteady.
Lyrics: I know I can love you much better than this / Full of grace
Giles: Willow, are you sure you should be out of bed?
Willow: Look who's talking.
Giles: (smiles) Yes.
Cordelia: Any word?
Xander: You guys haven't seen her either?
Willow: No.
Oz: But we know the world didn't end, 'cause... (looks around) check it out.
Giles: (takes off his glasses and squints) Well, we, uh... we went back to the mansion. I-it was empty, um... and Acathla was, was... dormant.
Willow: I think the spell worked. I felt something go through me.
Cordelia: Plus the Orb did that cool glow thing.
Xander: Well, maybe it wasn't in time. Maybe she had to kill him before the cure could work.
Oz: Well, then, she'd wanna be alone, I guess.
Willow: Or maybe Angel was saved, and they want to be alone together.
Giles: Perhaps.
Cordelia: Well, she's gotta show up sooner or later. We still have school.
Willow: Yeah. (looks around for her) She'll be here in a while.
Lyrics: Where everything we said and did / Hurts us all the more
They all turn and head into the school.

Season two ends.

Season Three
Oz is now a series regular, appearing on the starting credits.
Episode 3.01: Anne
As the summer comes to an end, Buffy is still missing and her friends are trying to hold the fort in her absence.

Willow: That's right, Big Boy.
Cut to Willow.
Willow: (smiles mischievously) Come and get it.
Andrew suddenly hops to his feet and roars at her. Taken aback by this, Willow takes a few quick steps backward. The vampire takes two steps toward her. Xander grabs him by the collar of his suit and pulls him back away from Willow. Andrew loses his balance in the process.
Xander: I got him! Go!
Oz jumps out from behind a bush and starts to run toward them, but then hesitates a moment to get a stake from his jacket pocket.
Xander: Any time now...
Andrew has regained his balance, and using Xander's grip to stabilize himself, kicks up with both legs and does a double pike snapping kick to Oz's face. Oz stumbles backward and falls. Without pausing, Andrew leaps up again and does a back tuck over Xander's head. Xander tries to rush him, but Andrew uses his momentum to deflect him into Willow. They both go crashing to the ground. Willow moans, but quickly sits up to watch Andrew run away.
Willow: He's getting away! And... ow.
Oz scrambles to his feet and picks up his stake. He watches the demon running and holds his stake by the tip, preparing to throw it like a knife. Andrew leaps over a rock and continues running. Oz throws the stake. It whistles through the air as it flies end over end, and hits the rock, bouncing off of it with a loud thunk and flying wild.
Oz: (shaking his head) That really never works.
Willow and Xander get up, and Oz turns to them.
Oz: Are you guys all right?
Xander: First of all, what was with the acrobatics? How did that happen?
Oz: (looking in the direction that Andrew went) Wasn't Andy Hoelich on the gymnastics team?
Xander: (gestures with his arm) That's right, he was! (shouting after Andrew) Cheater!
Oz gives Xander a brief look and then stares into the distance again looking for Andrew.
Xander: (to Willow) Okay, and the, uh, second problem I'm having... 'Come and get it, Big Boy'?
Willow: Well... (stammering) W-well, the Slayer always says a pun or-or a witty play on words, and I think it throws the vampires off, and, and it makes them frightened because I'm wisecracking. Okay, I didn't really have a chance to work on that one, but you try it every time.
Oz: Uh, if I may suggest: 'This time it's personal.' I mean, there's a reason why it's a classic.
Xander: (steps away) I've always been amazed with how Buffy fought, but... (picks up his bag) in a way, I feel like we took her punning for granted. (steps back)
Willow: (gives Xander a scolding look) Xander, past tense rule.
Xander: Oh, sorry. I just meant we in the past took it for granted and, uh... we won't when she gets back.
Willow: Do you think Buffy knows school's starting tomorrow?
Oz: Tomorrow. (Willow looks at him) Right. Big day.
Willow: (goes to Oz) Oh, I'm gonna be busy a lot. But, but only till 3:00, and that's when you usually get up.
Xander: I can't wait to see Cordelia. (pauses) I can't believe I can't wait to see Cordelia.
Willow: (smiling) I wonder what our first homework assignment's gonna be.
Xander puts his hands on his hips and gives her a look.
Willow: Hey, you're excited over Cordelia, okay? We've all got issues.
Oz: I guess we should pack it in.
Xander: Yeah.
They all start to walk away from Andrew's grave.
Willow: Wouldn't it be great if Buffy just showed up tomorrow? Like nothing happened?
Xander: She can't just show up, she got kicked out.
Willow: Well, yeah, I-I know. I just wish... I wish we knew where she was.

Oz is now very much a part of the unit, and even seems to be getting along with Xander, who appears to have got over his jealousy of the other guy in Willow's life. Oz recognised the vampire from his human life and was even able to identify his speciality – this is not the first, or last time that we'll see how observant Oz is.

Oz's hesitancy at the mention of school is soon explained.

Willow turns to leave and sees Oz.
Willow: (smiles hugely) Hi! … You came to visit me. (sees his books) You came with books? Are they books for me?
Oz: Well, actually, they're kind of for me.
Willow: I don't get it.
Oz: Well, it's sort of a funny story. (they walk) You remember when I didn't graduate?
Willow: Well, I know you had a lot of incompletes, but that's what summer school was for.
Oz: Yeah. Well, you remember when I didn't go?

Willow: But you never said anything. How am I supposed to react to this rather alarming news?
Oz: Well, actually, I was pretty much banking on you finding it cute.
Willow: Well, traditionally, you know, repeating a grade isn't exactly a turn-on. (they stop by the lounge) A-and you're practically a genius. You're Mr. Test Scores. I-it's all a little weird.
Oz: So the cute thing is out?

Willow and Oz walk into the lounge on the other side of the tables.
Willow: I'm trying to get to cute, really. But I'm still sorta stuck on 'strange'.
Oz: Well, I'd be willing to bargain down to 'eccentric' with an option on 'cool'.

Later at the Bronze, Xander, Willow and Oz hang out.

Xander: Boy, I'm glad we showed up for 'Depressing Night'.
Willow: I wonder what she's doing right now.
Xander: Oh, I know what she's doin'. Gabbing to all of her friends about her passionate affair with Pedro the Cabana Boy, laughing about me, thinking how she still might have feelings about me.
He glances over at Willow and sees her sadly raise her eyebrows at him.
Xander: Oh, it's possible you were talking about Buffy.
Willow: It's possible. The Bronze just never seems the same without her.
Oz arrives, hands Xander a drink and sits down next to Willow.
Xander: Yeah, and the slaying isn't getting any easier, either.
Oz: I don't know. I think we're kinda getting a rhythm down.
Xander: We're losing half the vamps.
Oz: Yeah, but... rhythmically.
Willow: We just need to work on our timing, I think.
Xander: (looks up) No, I know what we need.
Oz: A Vampire Slayer?
Xander: Next best thing.
Willow follows his gaze and sees Cordelia coming into the Bronze with a few friends.
Xander: Bait.

So the four of them head out once more.

Cut to the Sunnydale cemetery. Xander, Cordelia, Willow and Oz walk along a pathway. Oz is twirling a stake.
Cordelia: Why do I have to be bait? I'm always bait. Why can't Willow be bait?
Xander: He's already seen Willow. And could you complain louder so that all the vampires leave?
Oz: I think this is a good spot.
They all stop and look around.
Oz: Is everybody packin'?
Willow and Xander each pull out a stake. Willow also has a cross.
Oz: Let's do it.
Willow, Oz and Xander split up and look for places to hide, leaving Cordelia alone out in the open.

While Xander and Cordelia argue, Willow is attacked.

Willow: Help!
Their attention is immediately diverted to Willow, and they begin to run to her aid. Oz is quicker and beats them there. He jumps over Andrew and grabs him on the way, using his momentum to pull Andrew off of Willow and then throw him aside. Andrew and Willow both quickly get to their feet. Oz holds up his stake, ready to attack Andrew. Willow runs away. Oz lunges at Andrew, but he just diverts Oz to the side and sends him rolling to the ground. Next Xander comes at Andrew, stake held ready, but Andrew grabs his staking arm by the wrist with one hand and his shoulder with the other, and they begin to struggle. Cordelia watches them struggle, worried.
Cordelia: Xander!
She decides to join the fight, and attacks Andrew from behind, pushing him and Xander down to the ground. They end up with Andrew sandwiched between Xander on the bottom and Cordelia on the top. With Cordelia's weight on top of him and Xander's leverage against the ground, Andrew can't hold back the stake any longer, and it plunges into his chest. He explodes into ashes between them, and Cordelia falls down on top of Xander. The two of them look at each other for an instant, then grab each other and start kissing passionately.

Fighting kind of really isn't Oz's thing – or any of them, really – but points for trying.

At the end of the episode, Buffy returns home to her mother.

Episode 3.02: Dead Man's Party
Buffy comes looking for her friends and finds them out doing their bit to reduce the vampire population.

The vampire tackles Xander and sends him reeling backwards into a chain link fence. Buffy tries to stake him, but he sidesteps her and shoves her into the fence as well. Xander tries to come up behind him, but the vampire swings out with a backhand fist to Xander's face, knocking him to the ground. Buffy gets to her feet and sweep blocks two punches from the demon. She high clocks his third punch and gets a hand under his chin to hold him at bay. He pushes her back into the fence as the two struggle for control. Now Willow, Cordelia and Oz come running. The two girls grab the vampire by the arms and drag him off Buffy and across the alley, slamming him hard into a steel roll-up door. Buffy catches her breath as she looks on in astonishment. The vampire growls at the girls as Oz tries to move in with a stake, but the vamp roundhouse kicks Oz, sending him to the pavement next to Xander. He then shoves Cordelia away, and Buffy quickly moves to catch her so she won't get hurt. The vampire then throws Willow aside, and she falls onto Xander and Oz.
Cordelia: (recognizes) Oh, hey, Buffy.
Buffy pushes her aside and wields back her stake when she sees the vampire come after them. Cordelia loses her balance and falls to the pavement next to Willow. Buffy plunges her stake cleanly into the vampire, and he bursts into ashes. As the dust settles down, she looks over at her friends staring up at her from the ground. They are all breathing hard. Buffy gives them a little wave and a weak smile.
Buffy: Hey, guys.
They just keep staring back. Xander lets his head drop back to the pavement.

They all accompany Buffy to Giles' place, to let him know she is back.

Cut to Giles' living room. Oz, Willow, Buffy and Xander are all on the couch. Cordelia is sitting in a facing chair. Giles is leaning on the backrest of another chair.

Oz: Hey, so you're not wanted for murder anymore.
Buffy: Good. That was such a drag.

Buffy: You guys seem down with the slayage, all tricked out with your walkies and everything.
Cordelia: Yeah, but the outfits suck. This whole Rambo thing is so over. I'm thinking more sporty, like Hilfiger maybe.
Willow: Still, we were getting good. We dusted (nods) nine out of ten.
Oz: (whispers to Willow) Six out of ten.
Willow: Six out of ten.
Xander: Whatever, we were kicking a little undead booty.

Oz is a realist. At least, more so than the others.

While Buffy's mother arranges a get-together for all Buffy's friends, a new problem arises in the form of a zombie cat.

Cut to the library. The caged cat is on the table. Oz is inspecting it closely, apparently not bothered by its stench. Willow is engrossed in research. Cordelia keeps her distance while Xander shares Oz's fascination, but from a bit further off.
Oz: It looks dead. It smells dead. (Xander nods in agreement) Yet it's movin' around. That's interesting.
Cordelia: Nice pet, Giles. Don't you like anything regular? Golf, USA Today, or anything? (sits opposite Willow to help research)
Giles: (comes down from the stacks) I'm trying to find out how and why it rose from the grave. It's not as if I'm going to take it home and offer it a saucer of warm milk.
Oz: Well, I like it. I think you should call it Patches.
Willow: What about Buffy's welcome home dinner tonight? I had told her mom we'd help out. Bring stuff.
Cordelia: I'm the dip.
Everyone looks at her. She doesn't notice and continues reading.
Xander: Uh, you gotta admire the purity of it. (chuckles)
Cordelia: (looks up at everyone) What? Onion dip. Stirring, not cooking. It's what I bring.
Oz: (leans back in his chair) We should figure out what kinda deal this is. I mean, is it a-a gathering, a shindig or a hootenanny?
Cordelia: What's the difference?
Oz: Well, a gathering is brie, mellow song stylings; shindig, (nods to Cordelia) dip, (Cordelia smiles) less mellow song stylings, perhaps a large amount of malt beverage; and hootenanny, well, it's chock full of hoot, just a little bit of nanny.
Xander: Well, I hate brie.
Cordelia: I know. It smells like Giles' cat.
Giles: It's not my...
Xander: (interrupts) And what'll we talk about at a gathering anyway? 'So, Buffy, did you meet any nice pimps on your travels? And oh, by the by, thanks for ruining our lives for the past three months.'
Willow: Xander...
Xander: You know what I mean. She doesn't want to talk about it, we don't want to talk about it, so why don't we just shut up and dance?
Willow: Well, Buffy said she did want to loosen up, you know, have some kid time. (to Oz) Aren't you guys rehearsing tonight? Why don't you play at the party?
Oz: Yeah, I think I could supply some Dingo action.
Giles: Uh, I-I'm not sure that, a, a, um... shindig...
Oz: Hootenanny.
Giles: H-hootenanny i-i-is really the order of the day. Uh, uh, it should... Maybe something a little more intimate. I-I-I mean, Buffy has just got home. I'm, I'm sure she's still feeling a little disoriented.
Willow: All the more reason to make her feel welcome, a-and a big party says, 'Welcome, Buffy.'
Xander slaps Giles on the back. Giles turns to give him a look.
Xander: Okay, so one vote from the Old Guy for a Smelly Cheese Night, and how many votes for actual fun, huh?
Everyone but Giles raises their hand and smiles.
Giles: All right, all right. Have it your way. I'm just glad to have her home.

Oz gets the best dialogue – when he says anything at all.

Later, the party is in full swing, and Oz has indeed persuaded his band to play, despite the short notice. Maybe they just enjoy a good party, or prefer actual playing to rehearsing.

Cut to later. Lots of people are there, and the party is in full swing. Dingoes Ate My Baby (Four Star Mary) are set up in the corner of the living room and are playing "Never Mind". The camera pans from the drummer past Oz on his guitar and Devon at his mic into the crowd. Half of Sunnydale High must be in attendance, the place is so densely packed with people. The camera settles on Willow leaning against a table and smiling at Oz while moving to the beat of the music.

Buffy tries without success to talk to Willow.

Willow indicates to the band and makes like she totally can't hear Buffy. She turns her attention back to Oz and smiles at him.

Buffy senses that Willow is more into watching Oz play with the band than anything else at the moment, and decides to leave her alone.

Later, Buffy and Willow argue.

Willow: This isn't easy, Buffy! I know you're going through stuff, but... so am I.
Buffy: I know that you were worried about me, but...
Willow: No! I don't just mean that. I mean, my life! You know? I, um... I'm having all sorts of... I'm dating, I'm having serious dating with a werewolf, a-and I'm studying witchcraft and killing vampires, and I didn't have anyone (starts sobbing) to talk to about all this scary life stuff. And you were my best friend.

The argument spreads, stopping the party dead. Oz plays referee, which takes some courage – stepping in between the Slayer and her target. Got to admire how he remains neutral throughout the argument.

Buffy: God, Xander! Do you think you could at least stick to annoying me on your own behalf?
Xander: Fine! You stop acting like an idiot, I'll stop annoying you!
Buffy: (steps up to Xander) Oh, you wanna talk acting like an idiot? Nighthawk?
Oz: Okay. I'm gonna step in now, (gets between them) being Referee Guy.
Willow: No, let them go, Oz. (gets a look from him) Talking about it isn't helping. We might as well try some violence.

But just then the party is invaded by a whole load of zombies.

A zombie grabs Xander, and they start to wrestle. Another one grabs the Stoner's head and twists it violently, breaking his neck. Xander gets the upper hand on the slow-moving zombie and throws him back out of the window. Willow and Oz scramble to help out. A zombie dives through the kitchen door window. The remaining party guests all try to drive the zombies out, but aren't very organized about it.

Buffy: We got to get 'em back outside!
Joyce: On three!
Devon grabs the zombie by the back. Oz and Joyce each grab an arm.
Joyce: One... Two... Three!
Together they drag him to the front door, where Buffy is waiting to slam it shut. The three of them throw the ghoul out and barricade themselves against the door. The zombie slams himself against it, trying to get back in.

Hey – Devon got in on the action. How much of the Sunnydale freakiness is he aware of, anyway? Does he know his lead guitarist is a werewolf? Does he care?

Cordelia rushes into the living room to help while Xander ties up the zombie. Cut to the front door. Some of them scramble to get something to barricade the door while others lean against it to keep it closed.
Oz: Grab that table!
He goes to grab the small table. Devon takes his place at the door. Oz drags the table back and positions it against the door. He leans into it while Devon goes off to get another one. Xander shows up to help, too. Suddenly the zombie punches through the door and makes a grab for Oz's shoulder.
Buffy: Upstairs!
She runs up the stairs and into her mother's room. Willow, Xander and Joyce follow her.

Hey. Willow just abandoned her beloved boyfriend! While he was being attacked by a zombie! Nice to see him taking charge of the defence a little.

Cut below. The stand at the door has to be abandoned. Devon runs out the back. Cordelia helps Oz get away from the zombie outside the door, and they try to run up the stairs, but another zombie grabs Oz from behind and pulls him down to the floor.
Cordelia: Oz!
She reacts quickly and comes back down holding her hand out to Oz, but he waves her off.
Oz: GO! GO!
She starts to run toward the back, and Oz scrambles out of the zombie's reach, running right behind her.

So Devon has made a break for it and left the others to the fight, and Cordelia was the only person who bothered to help Oz. Interesting. Got to wonder if the Dingoes will do Oz any favours ever again!

Inside a downstairs closet. It's absolutely dark.
Cordelia: I don't hear anything. Should we check?
Oz: (exhales) Let's go for it.
He opens the door and looks out. No zombies. He looks the other way. The coast appears to be clear. They can, however, hear noises coming from upstairs. Oz gives Cordelia a glance and looks around again to be absolutely sure that at least there isn't anything going on downstairs. Cordelia sees a pair of ski poles in the closet and hands one of them to Oz.
Cordelia: Here.
Oz: Thanks.
Together they start down the hall toward the stairs. They reach the kitchen door. Cordelia looks in and startles when suddenly Giles appears there, having come in through the back door. She holds her ski pole up to his neck. Oz holds his ski pole pointed at Giles' gut.
Giles: Cordelia, it's me! It's me!
Cordelia: How do we know it's really you and not zombie Giles?
Giles: Cordelia, do stop being tiresome.
Cordelia: It's him.
She and Oz both draw back their weapons. The noises upstairs seem to get louder. They start moving toward the stairs again.
Oz: I think the Dead Man's Party's moved upstairs.
Giles: That makes sense. It's the mask in Joyce's bedroom they're after.
Cordelia: Mask?
Giles: The mask holds the power of a... zombie demon, called Ovu Mobani--Evil Eye. I don't think we can get past them.
They crouch by the stairs and try to look upstairs.
Oz: Well, what happens if they get the mask?
Giles: If one of them puts it on, they become the demon incarnate.
Cordelia: Worse than a zombie.
Giles: Yes, worse.

Cordelia and Oz are amusing together.
Sadly, upstairs a zombie manages to get the mask on. Buffy fights it, and they go flying out a window.

Cut to Giles, Oz and Cordelia on the stairs. They hear the crash through the window.
Giles: Out back!
They rush back down the stairs, but a zombie appears from the dining room and takes Giles by the neck.

Cut to the stairs. Oz and Giles try to use a ski pole to hold the zombie at bay, but it's not working very well.
Giles: Tell Buffy Mobani's power lies in his eyes!
Oz kicks the zombie twice in the shoulder, trying to force him back so he can get down the stairs. The zombie isn't fazed, so Oz just hops over the stair railing instead.
Giles: She has to go for the eyes to defeat him!

Cut outside. Buffy gets to her hands and knees and scrambles over to the shovel. Behind her Mobani is coming for her again. Buffy turns around with the shovel raised, but the demon flashes its eyes at her again, this time making her freeze. Behind them Oz comes running out of the kitchen door.
Oz: Buffy!
This distracts Ovu Mobani and brings Buffy out of her trance. Mobani flashes its eyes at Oz, making him freeze on the porch. Buffy stands back up and raises the shovel.
Buffy: Hey, Pat!
Ovu Mobani snaps its head around to look at Buffy again, who jams the shovel into the demon's eyes, embedding it in its head. Mobani grabs the shovel handle and tries to pull it out, but can't.
Buffy: Made you look.
In a flash of brilliant white light Ovu Mobani disappears.

Cut outside. Buffy just stares where Mobani was. On the porch Oz shrugs.
Oz: Never mind.

Cut inside. Giles and Cordelia come down the stairs. Behind them Joyce runs down and into the living room, looking for Buffy. She sees her and Oz come in through the kitchen.
Joyce: Honey!
She embraces her daughter tightly. Buffy hugs her mom back.
Joyce: Oh!
They release their embrace. Oz sees Willow come into the living room and goes to her.

Willow and Oz hold hands, and then turn to face Buffy. Xander comes into the living room through the kitchen. Cordelia joins them. Joyce looks around at the mess in the house.
Xander: (to Buffy) Nice moves.
Buffy: You, too.
Willow smiles, and goes to hug her best friend. They hold each other close for a long time. Giles looks on from the other side of the room and breathes deeply.

So, all's well that ends well. And look: Oz is a useful member of the team even after everyone abandons him to the zombies.

Episode 3.03: Faith, Hope and Trick

This episode kicks off with the funny.

Lunch hour at Sunnydale High School. The camera pans at a very low angle along the sidewalk past the stairs at the front of the school. Seniors are coming and going. The camera comes to rest on two pairs of legs, one standing calmly, the other rocking back and forth, heel to toe. The camera pans up to Willow and Oz, waiting for Xander and Cordelia so they can go. Oz is characteristically calm, but Willow is swaying around, almost nervously.
Willow: (smiling) I'm giddy.
Oz: Oh, I like you giddy. Always have.
Willow: It's the freedom! As Seniors, we can go off-campus now for lunch. It's no longer cutting. It's legal! Heck, it's expected! Wow, it's, uh, also a big step forward, a Senior moment, one that has to be savored.
Oz looks back and sees Xander and Cordelia coming.
Willow: You can't just rush into this, you know?
Xander heads for Willow's side opposite Oz, and the two boys each grab an arm and start to pull her across the street.
Willow: Ohh!
She starts to resist, leaning backward with all of her weight.
Willow: No, I can't!
Oz and Xander just lift her by the arms and pull harder. Cordelia smiles at the spectacle.
Xander: You can.
Oz: See, you are.
Willow: Oh, but, no! What if they changed the rule without telling? What if they're lying in wait to arrest me a-and, and throw me in detention and mar my unblemished record?
They reach the other side of the street, and Oz and Xander steady her on the sidewalk.
Xander: Breathe. Breathe.
Willow takes a breath and lets it out, calming herself.
Willow: Okay. Hmm...

Love Xander and Oz taking Willow in hand, and Cordelia's amused acceptance of it.

Oz takes Willow by the hand and Xander puts his arm around Cordelia. They begin walking into the small park in front of the school.
Willow: (relaxed) This is good! This is... Hey, we're Seniors! (with an attitude) Hey, I'm walkin' here! (giggles)
They see Buffy just inside the park. She has laid out a blanket in the shade of a palm tree by a bench, and is setting out serving plates of food and bottles of drinks. The group begins to walk toward her.
Xander: Ahh. Buffy and food.
Willow: Maybe we shouldn't be too couple-y around Buffy.
Cordelia: Oh, you mean 'cause of how the only guy that ever liked her turned into a vicious killer and had to be put down like a dog?
Xander: (admiringly) Can she cram complex issues into a nutshell, or what?
They come up behind the tree just out of Buffy's view.
Oz: All right, prepare to uncouple...
They take a few more steps.
Oz: Uncouple.
They let go of each other as they come around the tree. Willow crosses in front of Xander so Buffy sees girls on the right, boys on the left.

The uncoupling scene is so much fun. Oz taking control, which he does so rarely. He is more go-with-the-flow guy.

Xander: Buffy, banned from campus, but not from our hearts, how are you and what's for lunch?
Oz climbs onto the bench and sits on the backrest. The others kneel on the blanket.
Buffy: Oh, I just threw a few things together.
Cordelia: (impressed with Buffy's offerings) When did you become Martha Stewart?
Buffy: First of all, Martha Stewart knows jack about hand-cut prosciutto. (hands out drink bottles)
Xander: I don't believe she slays, either.
Oz: Oh, I hear she can, but she doesn't like to.
Buffy: (opens her bottle) Second of all, way too much free time on my hands since I got kicked out of school. (takes a drink)
Willow: Oh, I know they'll let you back in. (takes a drink)
Xander: Don't you and your mom have a meeting with Principal Snyder?
Buffy: We're seeing Snyde-Man tomorrow.
Willow: (notices a boy) Ooo, Scott Hope at eleven o'clock. (Buffy looks) (to Buffy) He likes you. He wanted to ask you out last year, but you weren't ready then. But I think you're ready now, or at least in the state of pre-readiness to make conversation, or-or to do that thing with your mouth that boys like.
Buffy snaps her head around at Willow and gives her a shocked look.
Willow: (realizes her slip-up) Oh! I didn't mean the bad thing with your mouth, I meant that little half-smile thing that you... (glares at Oz) You're supposed to stop me when I do that.
Oz: (smiles and shakes his head) I like when you do that.

It is great to see them all just hanging out together as a group of friends. Nice also to see Oz and Xander getting on well, now that Xander has accepted Oz as Willow's boyfriend and part of the group. Love Oz enjoying Willow's babbling (he probably would have also liked Fred, who several years later joined Angel's team in LA – she was likewise a babbler. Sad that she died without ever meeting him, although she really didn't need any more men in her life).

That night, they all hang out at the Bronze.

A couple is sitting on the loveseat having some romantic smoochies.
Buffy walks into view from behind carrying drinks and heads for them. Cut to the couple on the loveseat. It's Willow and Oz. Buffy crosses in front of the camera and sits in an adjacent chair.
Buffy: Don't let me interrupt.
Willow and Oz look up from their kissing. Willow sits up. Buffy smiles and hands Oz one of the drinks.
Oz: Thanks.
Willow notices Buffy's cheery mood and smiles as Oz accepts another drink from her and passes one to Willow.
Willow: Are you... (to Oz) Is she all glowy?
Buffy rolls her eyes up to the right and gives them an innocent look.
Oz: Yeah, I suspect happiness.
Buffy: (smiles) I passed my English makeup exam, hangin' with my friends. Hello, my life, how I've missed you.

Scott Hope tries to ask Buffy out, only to be rebuffed.

Scott: Okay, you know what? I'm just gonna go stand by the dance floor. If you change your mind, you can mosey on over, and then if not, then you don't mosey. No harm, no foul, right?
Buffy: (halfheartedly) Right.
Scott walks off to find a place to wait. Buffy rolls her eyes and flops her head back, mentally kicking herself for the way she handled that.
Willow: (very disappointed) Come on, Buffy. I mean, the guy is charm, a-and normal, which is what you wanted to get back to.
Oz: Plus bonus points for use of the word 'mosey'.

Got to admire Oz's style. He is just so off-beat and unconventional.

Then Cordelia and Xander point out a girl dancing with a vampire, and heading outside with him. The gang rush out to help … just in time to witness a spectacular vamp-dusting by the girl.

Oz: (to Willow) I'm gonna go out on a limb and say there's a new Slayer in town.

Back inside, Faith is hanging out with the group, and they are all getting along great. But Oz is a little concerned.

Oz: (interrupts) Something occurring. Uh, now, you both kill vamps, and who could blame you, but, I'm, I'm wondering about your position on werewolves.
Willow: (put her hand on his shoulder) Oz is a werewolf.
Buffy: It's a long story. (grins)
Oz: (shrugs) I got bit.
Buffy: Apparently not that long.
Faith: (considers briefly) Hey, as long as you don't go scratchin' at me or humpin' my leg, we're five-by-five, you know?
Oz: Fair enough.

Nice to see this concern – acknowledgement that not everyone out there will be as accepting of his 'condition' as this group of friends.

Eventually, Buffy agrees to go out with Scott, and reveals that the spell Willow cast in 2.22 to restore Angel's soul did work.

Episode 3.04: Beauty and the Beasts
It is unclear just who in this episode is designated as 'beauty' and whether Oz is included as one of the 'beasts'.

The episode opens at night on a full moon. Wolf Oz is locked up in the book cage at the library – and how interesting that it has taken this long to find out just how he copes at full moon. Willow is standing guard, reading to him.

Willow: 'He was sounding the deeps of his nature and the parts of his nature that were deeper than he, going back into the wombs of time. The rabbit could not...'
Suddenly werewolf Oz leaps up against the cage door and rattles it at her. She startles and steps back.
Willow: Okay. Uh, maybe we should try a less stimulating passage.
She flips through the pages of the book while Oz growls at her and settles back down in the cage. Xander walks into the library, carrying a thermos and a couple of magazines, looking very tired.
Xander: Private Harris reporting for Oz watch.
Willow: (looks up from the book) Xander! Oh, good.
Xander yawns as he walks up to her and takes the book out of her hands.
Xander: Oh! 'Call of the Wild.' Aren't we reading the Cliff Notes to this for English?
Willow: Some of us are. (takes back the book) Anyway, it'll help you stay awake. It's good and, and very wolfy. (looks at Oz) Seems to soothe the savage beast.
She takes Xander's arm and leads him away from the cage toward the table. As the camera pulls back with them the towels draped across most of the cage come into view.
Willow: (quietly) Except for the parts about... (whispers) rabbits.
Oz hears that, and he jumps against the cage, banging it loudly. Xander and Willow both jump and look back at him.
Xander: (snags the book) Rabbis? (looks it over)
Willow: (takes the book back again) It... seems to make him a little overexcited. (puts it on the table) Okay. Now, he's had his 2:00 feeding, and, uh, after sunrise, if he forgets where his clothes are, they're on top of the file cabinet in his cage. (indicates the cage) I put those towels up for privacy.
Xander: Uh, no worries. I can handle the Oz Full Monty. (smirks) I mean, not 'handle' handle, like 'hands to flesh' handle.
Willow: (nods) Mm, okay. (with lots of nervous gesturing) Well, it's not for you. It's for me, 'cause I'm still getting used to half a Monty.
Xander: Oh. Good. (realizes) Half? You and Oz? Which half?
Willow: (with a big smile) Wouldn't you like to know? Anyway, he's more manageable tonight and on the third night. Tomorrow night, the total full moon, that's when he's a real wolfer. (reaches across the table) But in case there's trouble... there won't be, but if...
She holds up the dart rifle. Xander takes it from her with his right hand while still holding his things with his left, and slips his index finger into the trigger guard.
Xander: Sleepy time. Gotcha.
He holds the stock of the weapon against his shoulder.
Willow: Thanks again for doing this. I wouldn't have asked, but I have this test.
Xander: No big. You can count on me. (looks at his things) I got my coffee, magazines. Figured I'd read, maybe (points with the gun) run the stairs over there a little bit. (chuckles) I'm good.
Willow isn't thrilled with the way he's handling the rifle, and so takes it out of his hand, giving him a nervous smile. She sets it down on the table, gives him a little wave goodbye and starts out. On the way past the cage she gives werewolf Oz a little wave, too.
Willow: Bye.
Oz raises his head and growls as he watches her go. Xander picks the book up from the table, inspects the cover and looks up at Oz. He decides to make things easy on himself. He climbs onto the table, sets the book down at one end and lies on his stomach, using the book as a pillow. He smiles as he settles himself for a relaxing nap. In the cage Oz lets out a loud growl.

Interesting. Does Willow stand guard every month? Is that absolutely necessary? How does Oz feel about that? Also, was he really reacting to the word 'rabbit'? Wouldn't that imply some kind of awareness while in wolf form? The ability to hear and understand language? I thought it had been established that in wolf form he has absolutely no human understanding whatsoever?

The next day in school:

Sunnydale High School. Willow, Oz and Buffy climb the outside stairs from the quad up to the balcony.

Scott: Hey Buffy!
She looks along the balcony to see him approaching at a quick pace. Willow gives Oz a smile.
Scott: That's what I stopped you for, basically. Hey.
Buffy: Okay. (smiles) Hey.
Scott's friends Debbie and Pete approach the group. Oz notices them and holds up his hand in greeting. Debbie is holding a bouquet of flowers.
Oz: How do, Debbie?
Debbie: Hi, Oz. Hey, you're not doing jazz band this year?
Oz: Oh, can't take the pressure. It's not the music that's hard; it's the marching.
Buffy: We have a marching jazz band? (looks at Scott inquisitively)
Oz: Yeah, but, you know, since the best jazz is improvisational, we'd be going off in all directions, banging into floats... Scary.
Willow: (smiles at everyone) He's just being Oz.
Oz: Pretty much full-time. (smiles at Willow)

Oz was in the marching jazz band? How does that mesh with his ultra cool image? Or is that part of his ultra cool image? Nice to see that he still has friends outside the Scooby group. The conversation continues.

Debbie: Platt creeps me out. I would totally quit going, but I'm flunking senior bio, and my teacher says I have success issues. (giggles)
Oz: Senior bio? I kinda aced that final.
Willow: (needles Oz) And how did you do that? Oh, right. You showed up.
He takes Willow's jibes good-naturedly.
Oz: (to Debbie) If you want my notes, they're yours.
Debbie: Thanks! That'd be great!

Nice reminder that in spite of repeating a year, Oz actually borders on brilliant.

But once they hit the library, trouble hits – and strikes hard at Oz.

Cut to Giles' office. He and Xander look up from reading an article in the paper and head out into the main area.
Giles: We need to recheck every possible exit avenue.
Xander: I'm telling you, it's a waste of time. I was here all night.
They notice Willow and Oz coming into the library.
Giles: Right. (smiles stiffly) It's good to see you. Um, no need to panic.
Oz: Just a thought: poker: not your game.
Willow: (worried) What's the deal, Giles?
Giles: (starts to pace) Now, uh, bear in mind, uh, most likely, there, there, there is no deal, (stops and looks at Xander) but um, if, if, if there was a deal, then it, um, would concern murder... last night. A male student was, was found i-i-in the woods.
Willow: Which student?
Giles: Jeff Orkin.
Oz: Jeff? He was...
He looks over at Xander. Xander looks down at the floor.
Oz: I knew him.
Giles: I'm afraid he was, he was, um, terribly mauled. Now, uh, much as I hate to think it, i-i-it could be the handiwork of, of...
Oz: Me.
Willow: (very concerned) Wolf you, not you you.
Xander: But it's not. Not wolf you, not you you. The room was secured, the gate was locked, (heads into the cage) and the window unbreakable, and... (looks up at the window) open!
He points up at it as he comes back out of the cage.
Willow: (upset) Oh, God.
Giles and Oz both go over to check the window, too.
Xander: Not to freak. I rested my eyes now and then. That's all.
Willow gives him a betrayed look.
Giles: (looks down from the window) How long... exactly did you... rest your eyes for? (glares at him)
Oz just stares into space, turning the implications over in his mind.
Xander: A little now, uh, a little then. But I never heard Oz leave, and he was here in the morning when I, um... (searches for words) when I...
Giles: (angrily) WOKE UP!
Xander: You could put it that way if you want to, Mr. Technical.
Oz walks over to Willow, looking at her sadly.
Willow: Oh, God.
She takes his hand to comfort him. He looks at Giles imploringly.

Injuring someone – or worse – while in wolf form is Oz's biggest nightmare, so to be accused like this, even gently and by friends, is terrible for him. He reacts by withdrawing, becoming even more silent than usual. And again, we see evidence of his friendships outside the Scooby gang. Shame so few of them survive.

Cut to the library. Buffy comes in and finds Giles pacing and everyone else sitting on the steps and looking gloomy. She sets her bag on the table.
Buffy: I'm afraid to ask. (crosses her arms)
Cordelia: Oz ate someone last night.
Willow: (glares) He did not!
Xander: (annoyed) Oz does not eat people. (Cordelia rolls her eyes) It's more werewolf play. (Buffy looks at Giles inquiringly) You know, I bat you around a little bit, like a cat toy. I have harmless, wolf fun. Is it Oz's fault that, (Oz lowers his head) you know, side effect, people get cut to ribbons, and maybe then he'll take a little nibble and... (Willow gives him a hurt look) I'm not helping, am I?
Giles: No. Oz may have got out of his cage last night.
Oz: Or maybe there's a, another werewolf roaming the woods.
Giles: Perhaps. Perhaps it's something else entirely.
Buffy: It's okay. We'll work together, and we'll figure this out.
Giles: Yes. Um... (thinks) Buffy. Uh, you, uh, you patrol the woods. Uh, the others, um, check out the morgue.
Willow: (hopeful) Right! We can see if it's a werewolf kill or not. (glances at Oz next to her) But what about Oz?
Giles: Um... Well, I have some research materials at home I need to look up. Uh... W-w-we could ask Faith to watch over him.
Buffy nods and looks at Oz. Oz looks up at Giles.
Oz: What, you're having a Slayer watch me? Oh, good, we're not overreacting.
He gets up to leave, not willing to listen to any more of this. Willow gives Buffy a concerned look and gets up to go after him. She reaches out and touches him on the shoulder. He stops and turns to face her. She tries to give him a reassuring smile.
Oz: Okay. Uh, you know that thing where you bail in the middle of an upsetting conversation? (inhales) I have to do that. (exhales) It's kinda dramatic, I know, but... sometimes, it's a necessary guy thing.
Willow: And I want you to... do the guy thing, but...
She glances and gestures at the clock on the wall and sighs. Oz looks over at it, too. 5:34pm. Almost sunset. He looks back at her and the others, realizing this isn't the time to do the guy thing, and lets out a heavy sigh. He looks over at the cage, and reluctantly goes to lock himself up. Willow follows him. The door squeaks when he pulls it open and again as he pulls it closed. It locks shut with a clang.
Willow: Oz?
Oz: (unwilling to look at her) Get away from the cage.
Willow: (confused by his tone of voice) What?
Oz: (still not looking at her) It's gonna happen soon.
Willow still won't go.
Oz: Get away from me.
He turns his back to her. Willow is hurt and confused by his behavior.

He really does prefer to be alone when in trouble, to think things through by himself. To distance himself from those he is close to, in case they too get hurt.

That night, while Buffy makes the shock discovery that Angel is back from hell, Willow, Xander and Cordelia sneak into the morgue to examine Jeff.

Xander: Doesn't look good for Oz, does it?
Cordelia: It really doesn't. (they look up at Jeff) This guy was ripped apart by a big wild animal.

Confused by her discovery of an Angel wild from his years in hell, Buffy doesn't know what to do. She relieves Faith of Oz-watch at the library, and spends the night researching, trying to find out how Angel could have returned.

Cut to morning. Sunlight pours in through the cage window and down on Oz lying there naked. The camera pans up to Giles arriving with a cup of coffee in his hand. He looks down at Oz to make sure he's not a wolf, unlocks the door and pulls it slightly open. He takes a sip from his cup and heads over to where he sees Buffy in the stacks curled up and asleep in a chair with a book on her lap and a drawer from the card catalog next to her on a step-stool.

How come it is okay for Buffy to sleep on Oz-watch and not for Xander?

Willow shows up unexpectedly, bringing a box of donuts with her.
Willow: I thought Faith was on duty.
Buffy: Oh, hey. Change of plans. (comes down to her)
Willow: Glazed or cake? (smiles) It's fun to watch them make them. (gestures) They use this spritzy thing, and they drop the batter into this...
Buffy: Couldn't sleep, huh?
Willow: (sighs) I've been at Mister Donut since the TV did that snowy thing.
Behind her Oz has dressed and comes out of the cage.
Willow: How come you're the Wakey Girl? I mean, this time, it's not your boyfriend who's the cold-blooded...
She notices Buffy look behind her with wide eyes. Oz slips on his outer shirt and comes up next to her.
Willow: Jelly doughnut? (offers the box)
Oz: (ignores the donuts) Everything all right?
Buffy: Yeah. Uh, what happened with the inspection of the body?
Willow: (smiles, avoiding the issue) Anyone? They're yummy delicious!
Buffy: Willow, come on. Was it werewolf?
Willow sets the box down on the table. Her expression shows that she's not overly anxious to say.
Buffy: Was it a vampire?
Willow: I-it wasn't conclusive.
Buffy: How could it not be conclusive? What did it look like? Was he bit?
Giles: Let her finish, Buffy.
Buffy: (looks back at him) No, it's just...
She realizes the sensitivity of the issue with Oz standing right there.
Buffy: I'm sorry.

Fond Buffy might be of Oz and Willow, but although she now knows there is another suspect for the murder, she doesn't tell them, instead allowing Oz to continue to suffer the fear that it might have been him. Not being such a good friend.

Later that day, while Buffy makes the shock discovery of a second murder – school counsellor Mr Platt, Oz waits to meet Debbie to hand over those bio notes.

Giles: This creature is especially brutal. I believe the phrase coined by the coroner when describing Mr. Platt was 'pureed'. But he did confirm that Platt was killed shortly before Buffy found him.
Faith: Which means that he was killed during the day.
Willow: (elated) Yes! (raises her fist)
They all give her looks.
Willow: Sorry. I got... (lowers her hand) I've just been... it's horrible, horrible. (swallows)
Buffy: It's okay, Will. We're all glad Oz is off the hook.
Giles: Indeed. (checks his watch) Shouldn't he be here by now? The sun sets at 5:30.

Cut to the quad. Oz looks around one last time and starts to head for the library. Just then Debbie comes running.
Debbie: Sorry I'm late. (smiles) Did you bring the notes?
Oz: (notices her black eye) Yeah. Um... You okay? (hands her the notes)
Debbie: What? Oh, yeah! (laughs) I'm such a klutz! I, um, oh...
Oz: Fell down? Hit your... eye?
Pete watches them from around a corner.
Debbie: Doorknob. (laughs) Um... Thanks. (starts to go)
Oz: (stops her with his hand) Hey, um... (concerned) If you wanna talk...
Debbie: (shakes her head and smiles) Thanks again for the notes. (leaves)
Oz: Yeah...
He looks up at the sky again and quickly heads for the library. Pete turns around and stalks off.

Giles: Our task now is to determine what sort of killer we are dealing with. Clearly, we're looking for a depraved, sadistic animal.
Oz: (comes in) Present.
Willow smiles, jumps up and goes over to him, pushing Giles aside in her eagerness to reach him.
Oz: Hey, I may be a cold-blooded jelly doughnut, but my timing is impeccable.
Willow: (touches him with both hands, smiling) But you aren't! I-i-it's-it's a kill-in-the-day monster! A hundred percent for sure.
Oz: (very relieved) Okay. (smiles)
Willow puts her arm around him and faces the group along with him, smiling.
Giles: Uh, I wish we had time to celebrate properly. However, we have two victims: Jeff Orkin and, uh, now Platt. Uh, maybe there's something they had in common.
Faith: Missing internal organs.
Giles: Besides that.
Oz: Debbie. (Giles looks at him) Well, victim number one, Jeff. He was in jazz band with us. They used to horse around.
Faith: They were screwing?
They all give her a look.
Oz: I don't think so, but he hid her music comp book once.
Buffy: And we know that Debbie knew Platt. I mean, she was seeing him and way vocal about not having love for the guy.
Oz: Add this and stir. I just saw Debbie a minute ago sporting a nasty black eye.
Willow: Okay, so pretend Debbie wanted Platt dead. Maybe he fought back.
Buffy: (shakes her head) No. Platt was dead in an instant. (exhales) He didn't even drop his cigarette. (has a thought) Now, what if boyfriend Pete's the one doling out the punishment?
Giles: We should find them both immediately.
He and Buffy grab their coats.
Oz: Well, Debbie was in the quad a minute ago.
Giles: All right. We'll split up. Um, Faith, you and I team. Willow, stick with Buffy.
Willow gives Oz a saddened look and follows the others out.
Oz: And I'll... go lock myself in the cage.

Unfortunately for Oz, being a werewolf does exclude him from full moon activities. But he has again shown how perceptive he is, putting the clues together and coming up with a new suspect. However, he remains unaware that he has become the next target of Pete's jealousy.

Cut to the library. Oz is alone in the cage, pacing, waiting to change. The door opens, and Pete comes in and goes right up to the cage.
Pete: (angry) Since when do you touch my girl? (grabs the cage)
Oz: Hey, Pete. This is kind of a bad time.
Pete: Well, I guess you didn't think about that when you put the moves on Debbie! (rattles the door)
Oz glances up at the window to see if the sun has set yet.
Oz: We talked, yeah, but it was move-free.
Pete rattles the cage hard.
Oz: About this cage? When that sun sets...
Pete: (whispers threateningly) You won't be alive to see it!
He rattles the cage again and steps back from it, seething with anger.
Oz: I'm serious. Something's gonna happen that you... probably won't believe.
Pete screams as his head whips around and he transforms into his alter ego again. He looks at Oz with murder in his eyes when the change is complete. Oz is amazed, and takes a step backward.
Oz: Or you might.

Interesting thought: does Oz sacrifice a set of clothes every time he changes? It would make more sense to strip off, although the modesty issue comes into play here. Maybe he would have if Pete hadn't come along when he did.

The library. Pete lunges at the cage and grabs the door. He yanks at it a few times, and it suddenly breaks free. He throws it aside and roars at Oz. He runs into the cage, grabs Oz and throws him out the door and to the floor.

Cut to the library. Pete heaves Oz up over his head and down onto the table. It smashes under the strain of the impact, and Pete falls on top of Oz because he didn't think to let go of him. He scrambles to his feet, pulls Oz up and punches him hard in the face. He grabs Oz by the shoulders and shakes him hard.
Pete: (very angrily) Did you kiss that whore? Huh? Did she like it?
He heaves Oz overhead again and onto the stairs. Oz slides down them and turns around at the base. Pete attacks him, but Oz gets his leg up in time to stop him, and push kicks him off. Pete goes sliding across the floor. Oz looks through one of the arched windows at the sky as he gets up and sees that the sun has set. He looks over at Pete, who is just now recovering from his fall.
Oz: Time's up. Rules change.
Oz morphs into a werewolf and growls, baring his teeth at Pete. He leaps onto Pete, and they start to wrestle on the floor. Oz tries to bite Pete, but can't, so he kicks him away. Pete scrambles to his feet and backhand punches Oz as he attacks again. Oz isn't fazed: he leaps onto Pete again, and they crash into the stairs. This time Oz has Pete's arm, and he bites hard, making Pete scream out in agony.

Before changing, Oz was definitely getting the worse of the fight, being a little guy and Pete having his super-monster powers. He should be extremely bruised and stiff the next day after getting tossed around like that.
Oz bit Pete. If Pete didn't end up dead by the end of the episode, would he have become a werewolf on top of his other monster issues?

Cut to the library. They all come barging in. Giles looks at the cage and sees it open. Then he sees the two of them fighting on the stairs. Oz has his jaw clamped hard on Pete's arm, and Pete repeatedly punches him in the gut.
Giles: Get the dart gun!
Buffy reaches behind the counter and grabs the dart rifle.
Buffy: Got it!
Unfortunately, Debbie throws Buffy's aim off, and she hits Giles instead.
The drug takes effect quickly, and Giles staggers and falls to the floor, pushing a table into Oz as he tries to get away. Oz runs through the door to behind the counter, leaps over it and runs out of the library. Buffy tries to take aim but can't get a clear shot. Buffy tosses the rifle to Faith.
Buffy: You get the wolf!
Faith: Got it!

While Faith and Willow go after Oz, Buffy handles Debbie and Pete. Sadly, Pete kills Debbie before Buffy can save her, and the still traumatised Angel kills Pete to protect Buffy.

Cut to the stairs by the lounge. Oz comes leaping down and stops by the vending machine. Faith rushes down after him. He jumps on her, and she drops the gun as she's pulled down to the floor. Behind her Willow screams.

Cut to the lounge. Faith struggles to keep Oz at bay and not get bitten. The rifle is under her legs, and she can't see it.
Faith: Where's the gun? (screams) WHERE'S THE GUN?!
Willow gets behind Oz and yanks his tail.
Willow: Get off her!
She starts to run down the hall. Oz releases Faith and starts to run after her.
Willow: Get the gun! Get the gun!
Faith scrambles to her feet with the rifle.
Willow: Hurry!
Faith takes aim and shoots, hitting Oz in the butt. He yelps and whimpers for a moment, then falls unconscious.

Definitely going to be sore in the morning.

Then when it is all over, the gang take stock.

Cut to the quad the next day. The group comes walking along the colonnade. Willow and Oz hold hands, as do Xander and Cordelia.
Willow: It's all over school, what happened with Debbie and Pete. Except for the Pete-was-a-monster part.
Oz: Yeah. A freshman told me that Pete had eight iced café mochas and just lost it.
Buffy: That's better than the oestrogen theory. I heard he took all of his mother's birth control pills.
Cordelia: He didn't? (to Xander) Pete was a monster? (Xander nods) Where have I been?
Xander: In your special place, Cor, which is why I adore you.
Cordelia: So, what's the true story? What happened?
Willow: Well, we got a hold of, uh, Pete's lab books and stuff, and Mr. Science was doing a Jekyll/Hyde deal. He was afraid Debbie was gonna leave him, so he mixed this potion to become super mas macho.
Buffy: The only thing was, after a while, he didn't need the potion to turn into a bad guy. He did it just fine on his own.
Cordelia: So it was like a real killing. He wasn't under the influence of anything?
Buffy: Just himself.

Kind of ironic that Pete chose to become a monster and it took complete control of him, whereas Oz became one by accident and goes to great lengths to protect others from that side of him. And Buffy is still keeping Angel a secret.


Part Two