Characterization In The Buffyverse — ‘Buffy The Vampire Slayer’ Season 4, Episode 6

This is part of a bi-weekly series concerning the characterization of Buffyverse characters. The first installment in this series can be found here. Arguably the best place to begin reading this series is at the beginning, but that is up to each reader. As a reminder this column will cover major and some minor characters from the shows Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997-2003) and Angel (1999-2004). Other Buffyverse media, such as the graphic novel Spike: Into The Light (2014) are not pertinent to this series. Also there will be no referencing real world events in this bi-weekly series

This week: Oz (Seth Green) learns a secret about Veruca (Paige Moss). Also, Spike (James Marsters) returns to seek vengeance.

(Warning of spoilers from this point on!)

(Trigger warning for mention of suicidal ideation)

Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) gets some episodic characterization in that she impresses one of her teachers and Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan). This is not to say that she is dumb, but that it is rare for her to impress anyone academically. She also acts as a supportive friend to Willow regarding her trouble with Oz. She also expresses disappointment and slayer-level resolve when she goes to Oz for help finding Veruca. Lastly, there is the moment she freezes up before trying — and failing — to save Willow from a car. Her severe hesitation will occur in quite a number of future episodes.

Rupert Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) is stilling trying to find a purpose for himself without a job — including being an official Watcher. Thus, his only real purposes in this episode are to be comedic relief and and act as sound board for Buffy’s exposition dump.

Willow briefly displays an inclination toward suicidal depression after walking in front of a car. Yes, she seems to be in a daze before she is about to be hit, but she also expressed wanting to end things. There is also a case for a homicidal tendency thanks to the wording of the spell she almost attempts. Considering the way her spells aren’t always right, the stuff about “hearts” could result in the literal breaking Oz and Veruca’s hearts. As far as the rest of the episode goes, she is a woman whose romantic relationship is ending in an abrupt and negative way.

Oz cheats, lies, murders, and then leaves town in this episode. Whether any of this is truly due to his being blind to what his werewolf self does is unclear. Yet, what is clear is that Oz’s human side is at least partly choosing to do them. For instance, he chooses not to tell Willow or Buffy about Veruca. He also chooses to attack Veruca before his final transformation begins in this episode. Thus, one could say that Oz leaving to find control is a bit of a lie and a bit of an honest choice.

Veruca is both a plot device and a character. She acts as the reason for Oz and Willow to break up, and is thus a plot device. This also causes her to fit the role of seductress and antagonist. But one could say that she is not a true villain until she tries to kill Willow. Although, that argument is rather weak considering she essentially admits to running wild, and thus, probably eats people. Also, she expresses what being a werewolf could be like more clearly than how the stoic Oz attempts in an earlier episode (Season 4, Episode 4, ‘Fear Itself’).

Xander Harris (Nicholas Brendon) really only serves to support Willow as her best and oldest friend. Besides having little purpose in this episode he also gets no growth as a character.

Riley Finn (Marc Blucas) has next to nothing to do in this episode, and this is presuming he is the commando Buffy runs into the woods to find. While he saves Willow, it is not really a moment that provides true character development.

Professor Maggie Walsh (Lindsay Crouse) comes across as a helpless professor rather than the calculating monster she will turn out to be. She does have a moment of obvious scientific curiosity, though, when peaking through the bushes to see her werewolf assailants again.

Spike makes what amounts to a cameo in this episode. However, this brief appearance sets-up the start of the first of many changes he will have throughout the rest of Buffy and Angel.

The bassist (Carla Betz) and the keyboard player (George Sarah) are nameless members of Veruca’s band. They serve no purpose in the story other than being ambulatory props.

This entire episode mostly focuses on Willow and Oz. Therefore a case can be made that it is an episode meant to wrap-up their relationship and portions of their character arcs. Yet, this is to the detriment of any major development for the other characters. Also, it is extremely abrupt when it comes to Oz’s negative actions, such that one could say it is a character assassination. Finally, Willow’s attempts to shortcut things with magic versus technology technically begins in this episode.