New Moon Rising (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

"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 lesbian or bisexual (or some sexual orientation other than heterosexual).

"New Moon Rising"
Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode
Episode no.Season 4
Episode 19
Directed byJames A. Contner
Written byMarti Noxon
Production code4ABB19
Original air dateMay 2, 2000
Guest appearance(s)

Plot synopsis

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 how bad Willow and Oz's break-up really was, and Buffy accidentally mentions that Oz is a werewolf. Buffy goes off on him when he negatively comments on Willow dating a werewolf (he says that Willow seems smarter than to date a dangerous guy, unknowingly drawing a parallel between Willow and Oz and Buffy and Angel), accusing him of being a bigot and being unable to see past the 'humans versus demons' ideal he's been living.

Oz takes Willow for a walk outside during a full moon, showing her that he's not in werewolf mode. While in Tibet, with the help of herbs, charms, chanting, and meditation, he's 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, but she's 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 complicates things with Oz. Adam goes to Spike for his help in exchange for getting the chip 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, and then Riley and the Initiative guys 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 on so many levels 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. Now that his life is 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 and couldn't see past the 'humans good, demons bad' idea, but Buffy reassures him he wasn't 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 it's not stuff he's going to like. 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 can't be around without losing control of the wolf and now he needs to leave town again to escape her and the Initiative. Willow and Oz say their sad goodbyes accepting they will always be an important part of each other before Oz leaves Sunnydale forever. Later that night Willow takes a candle to Tara's room, where Tara tells Willow that she should be with the person she loves, and Willow replies that she is. Tara blows out the candle.

Continuity
  • When Buffy is in Riley's room, she is wearing the same thing that Faith (in Buffy's body) wore at his place in Who Are You.

Arc significance
  • Willow finally reveals to Buffy that she is dating Tara.
  • This is Oz's last appearance in person, though he will appear once again in Willow's dream in the season finale.
  • In this episode, Spike joins up with Adam, a match-up which will seriously affect the rest of the season.
  • Riley deserts the Initiative upon discovering the extent of its corruption.

Cultural references
  • While holding the colonel hostage Buffy threatens to go William Burroughs on him as she holds a crossbow to his head. This is a reference to the death of Burrough's wife Joan Vollmer whom Burroughs shot in the head while attempting to recreate the William Tell act when they were in Mexico.
gollark: The resulting substitution thing ends up cloning lots of expression tree. How can I avoid this?
gollark: When a pattern does match, it has to substitute the bound bindings into the result pattern.
gollark: Okay, you've been helpful, so I have more questions.
gollark: Thanks!
gollark: Oh, good idea, I didn't think of that, there's no actual reason they can't just use a mutable reference.
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