New Moon Rising (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

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"New Moon Rising" is the 19th episode of season 4 of the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Oz returns to Sunnydale after learning to control his werewolf instincts. However, he loses control when he suspects Tara and Willow's relationship, and is subsequently caught by the Initiative. The episode is notable for the main character Willow coming out as queer.

Plot[]

Willow and Tara walk around the school grounds holding hands and talk about Tara getting a cat as a pet. At the Scooby Gang meeting, Buffy explains that there is little going on, but, as usual, Giles knows that means trouble. Riley indicates the Initiative is very busy rounding up more demons than ever. As the meeting ends, Oz shows up in the doorway, shocking everyone into silence. Oz arranges to talk with Willow later, and, after Oz leaves, Tara also leaves the incredibly uncomfortable situation. Buffy and Riley talk about Willow and Oz's break-up, and Buffy accidentally mentions that Oz is a werewolf. Buffy is offended when Riley negatively comments on Willow dating a werewolf, saying that Willow should know better than to date a dangerous man, unknowingly making Buffy see similarities in Willow and Oz's relationship to her past history with Angel; she accuses him of being a bigot and refusing to see past his "humans versus demons" ideal.

Oz takes Willow for a walk outside during a full moon, showing her that he is not in werewolf mode. While in Tibet, with the help of herbs, charms, chanting, and meditation, he has learned to control the wolf inside. Oz wants to get back together with Willow, but she is reluctant. Graham patrols with a team, and they are all attacked by a four-legged demon, closely resembling a werewolf. Willow and Oz talk all night about their lives while they were apart. Tara comes by in the morning while Willow is away, and, upon having Oz answer the door, she gets nervous and leaves.

Buffy wakes up at Riley's house, but she is very distant from him. They talk about the night before in the graveyard and Riley's reaction to Oz, then Riley leaves after hearing news about Graham getting hurt. Willow shocks Buffy with the news about Oz being able to control the wolf. Buffy is even more shocked as Willow subtly explains that her relationship with Tara is now serious and that it complicates things with Oz. Adam goes to Spike for his help in exchange for getting the chip implanted by the Initiative out of Spike's head.

Willow tells Tara that she and Oz only talked the night before, and then they hug. Oz and Tara have a confrontation and, after smelling Willow on Tara, Oz concludes that the two are romantically involved. He loses control and starts to change into a werewolf. Werewolf Oz chases Tara into a classroom, but, before he can harm her, Riley and his fellow Initiative team members take Oz away. The gang meets up and makes a plan to free Oz. Oz is kept caged at the Initiative and, just as Riley is about to shoot him dead, he changes back into his human form.

Despite Riley's attempts to help, the scientists start performing tests on Oz. Spike shows up at Giles' place and offers to lead Buffy and the gang into the Initiative. Riley sneaks in, gives Oz some clothes and tries to help him escape. On the way out, they get caught. Colonel McNamara lectures Riley about betraying the Initiative and how he will be court-martialed. Dressed as commandos and scientists, Spike and the gang sneak into the Initiative through a back door. Adam secretly helps them by running operations through a computer and helping them shut down the power for most of the city. Holding the Colonel hostage, Buffy gets Riley and Oz free, Riley leaving the Initiative for good.

With his life in danger, Riley camps out at the remains of Sunnydale High with Buffy at his side. He confesses that he was wrong about Oz and that he was a bigot when thinking about Willow and Oz's relationship, but Buffy reassures him he was not being a bigot but was just shocked when faced with an unconventional relationship; due to the fact she had a similar reaction when finding out about Willow and Tara. Buffy then volunteers to tell him about her past, and warns him that he will not like it.

In Oz's van, Oz notes that he worked hard so he could return to Willow, and now she is the only thing that he cannot be around without losing control of the wolf and now he needs to leave town permanently to escape her and the Initiative. Willow and Oz say their sad goodbyes accepting they will always be an important part of each other. Later that night, Willow takes a candle to Tara's room, where Tara tells Willow that she should be with the person she loves; Willow tells Tara that she loves her.

External links[]

Wikiquote has quotations related to: New Moon Rising

• "New Moon Rising" at IMDb
• "New Moon Rising" at BuffyGuide.com