New Moon Rising

S04E19

This week the previouslys showcase assorted Oz and Willow relationshippy moments, including a shot of Oz leaving (thank God they didn't torture me with that flea-ridden cur, Veruca). Oh look, there's Adam -- I'm sure all the invalids in the audience will appreciate the built-in nap time. Hey! Spike has a chip in his head? And he can't hurt people anymore? When did this happen? Why was I not informed? Ohhh, so this Tara chick has a crush on Willow. I get it.

Willow and Tara are walking across a park, talking about Tara getting a cat. None of their clothes are especially shocking, although Willow's bright orange T-shirt is certainly trying its hardest. Tara explains that, because cats aren't allowed in the dorm, she'll have to get a "sneaky" cat. Yeah, and one without a larynx. Tara suggest naming the beast "Miss Kitty Fantastica." Oh geez. Why don't you just name her Princess Pretty Kitty and be done with it? If I were to get another cat, I would name him Meow Tse-tung and call him The Chairman for short. Anyway, there was no point to this scene other than to show Tara and Willow holding hands on their way to the Scooby meeting.

At Fort Giles, the entire gang is present for the meeting. Buffy is explaining that there hasn't been much demon activity, with Willow translating the Scooby speak for Tara. When I said Willow wasn't wearing anything shocking, I must not have seen her horrid green plastic choker that looks like it's made out of leftover Easter grass. Riley says something that I don't catch. I'm not going to rewind because I don't think it was that important. Giles thinks whatever Riley had to say was fascinating, and Anya brats, "To an extremely bored person." Giles starts to give her a well-deserved talking-to, but he is interrupted by the appearance of Oz.

We're back after the credits. Everyone looks extremely uncomfortable, as if instead of merely saying hello Oz had taken a dump on the middle of Giles's living room rug or something. Willow looks shocked and says, "Oz," so Tara will know who it is. Xander, oddly enough, is the first one that remembers his manners and strides over to Oz, extending a hand to shake and welcome him back. He apologizes for sounding like a grandma and mildly chides him for not calling or writing. Buffy then asks Oz if he's just passing through or is here to stay. It's very sweet the way Willow's friends are asking all the hard questions so she doesn't have to. Anyway, Oz asks Willow to meet him tonight so they can talk, she agrees, and he takes off, but not before telling everyone how good it is to see them again. After the door closes, Anya mentions how uncomfortable everyone is. Yes, Anya, and for once it's not because of you. Must be a new feeling, eh? Tara is obviously shaken up even as she insists that nothing is wrong, and she takes off.

Buffy and Riley are strolling through a graveyard. Buffy is wearing one of her three-quarter length coats from last season, and while I like the look, I don't think seventies-vintage sienna naugahyde-looking leather was the best choice. They're attacked by some random demon and they quickly dispatch it. After Riley calls for a retrieval team, Buffy tries to explain the Oz and Willow break-up. Buffy lets the werewolf out of the bag, so to speak, and Riley is shocked that Willow is into "dangerous" guys. Buffy gets offended because she's thinking of her own past, and calls Riley a bigot. She tells him that love isn't logical and that one can't always be sensible about it. In typical Buffy fashion she refuses to talk about it and snits off.

Willow opens the door to her room, which is practically a single at this point since Buffy never seems to be there anymore, to see Oz standing there. He gives her a somewhat soulful look, and she invites him inside, but he declines with a little half-smile, saying that he wants to show her something. Cut to them walking outside. Between their two jackets they've managed to put sheep on the endangered species list. Willow mentions how everything feels like a dream, and Oz tells her to look up at the sky. We're treated to the sight of a lovely full moon. Willow is shocked and overjoyed at Oz's apparent cure and hugs him. ["This is the point in the episode where I started bawling. Yes, I'm a sap." -- Ace] Unfortunately for Oz (and me), she hugs him like a friend, while it's obvious that he has more on his mind. As Willow pulls back, she gets a confused look on her face as if she's just realized how this complicates things. Oz mentions that Xander told him that Willow doesn't have a new boyfriend. He takes her hand and says that he's not going rush her, but that he's changed and can offer her what she needs now. My heart plunks painfully down into my stomach, and I'm pretty sure it's only going to get worse from here. Oh yeah, Willow also looks very pained for some reason and we're only eleven minutes into the episode.

Graham and two random commandos are on patrol on the woods. They're attacked by a werewolf-looking thing, who throws Graham across the clearing into a tree. The werewolf then proceeds to eat one of the random commandos, and Graham looks up briefly before losing consciousness. I should care, but I don't. I just want to get back to the Oz and Willow bits.

I hope everyone in that Pepsi One ad dies of some terribly contagious disease spread by drinking out of someone else's can.

In Willow's room, Oz and Willow are talking on her bed. As Willow is fingering a cloth from Tibet that Oz has brought her, he tells her how Tibetan monks taught him some intense meditative techniques to keep his inner wolf under control. Willow teases him about the "spaz" he used to be and then remarks that while Oz has done some pretty cool stuff, she's been stuck in Sunnydale. Oz tells her that she's still been through a lot. She agrees and tells him a bit about her growth as a witch. Willow notes that they've been talking all night and invites Oz for a "manly-sized" breakfast. She starts gathering up some pictures that are lying on the bed, but Oz reaches across to grasp her hand, saying, "We could just sleep a while. Whatever you want." Willow opts for the "less confusing waffles," which is fine with me because I can take the "sleeping with Oz" option in her place. She grabs her toiletries and runs off to the bathroom. While Oz is waiting, there is a knock on the door. He answers it to find Tara who, when she sees Oz, says she'll come back later. Oblivious, Oz tries to talk to Tara, but she gets all stuttery and scampers off. Oz looks vaguely contemplative when Willow returns and he tells her that Tara stopped by. Willow looks upset six ways to Sunday.

By Sep

I hope everyone in that Pepsi One ad dies of some terribly contagious disease spread by drinking out of someone else's can.

Buffy and Riley wake up in Riley's bed. He rolls over to rub her tummy, but she doesn't cuddle back and instead just gets out of bed. Riley pulls on his sweatpants. For one horrible moment I thought I was going to be treated to Freebird Riley when he was putting on his sweats. I'm not entirely off the hook, though, because I still have to look at his plastic chest. ["Remember that Seinfeld line about sweatpants meaning you've just given up? I do, and Riley's not scoring points in my book by wearing them." -- Ace] Riley drops down to give us fifty or so, and Buffy makes a snide remark about how regimented he is. Riley gets up, sits near her on the bed, and asks if she's upset because of what he said about Willow. He goes on to rationalize that he was motivated out of concern for Willow, nothing more. Buffy tries to explain the concept of a moral gray area to Riley by saying, "There are creatures, vampires for example, that aren't evil at all." Riley challenges her to name even one, but before she has a chance to reply, they are interrupted by Forrest, who has come to tell Riley about the attack on Beta Team. We learn that Graham is still alive. As Riley leaves with Forrest, Buffy asks what kind of a demon attacked the team. "Does it matter?" snits Riley. Because, as you know, it's certainly no business of Buffy's to be aware of what kind of beasties are creeping about.

Spike is resting in his crypt as the camera pans around and an ugly green arm is thrust into the frame above him. Spike grabs the arm in mid-air and with eyes still closed says, "By the sound of those massive mud-flaps I peg you as a demon, which means you're in for a world of pain." He finishes without quite as much bravado once he opens his eyes and catches sight of that big hunk of Frankenflop, Adam. Spike quickly gets up, and Adam says that he wants Spike to accompany him. Spike feigns agreement but pulls back to punch Adam in the gut. Since the punch doesn't faze Adam at all but leaves Spike shaking the sting out of his fist, we are supposed to be reminded once more that Adam is rilly rilly strong and his superpower is actually not the uncanny ability to bore everyone within view to death. Adam tells Spike that they are going to help each other with their respective problems. I know I would still hate him, but I wonder if my hatred would be quite so fervent if Adam didn't bear such an unfortunate resemblance to the Flash on Dawson's Creek?

Willow, still wearing the same clothes from yesterday, shows up at Tara's door. She's come to explain that she and Oz merely talked all night long. Tara valiantly offers to step aside, and then tells Willow that whatever happens with Oz, she will still be Willow's friend. Willow sounds shocked at the prospect that they wouldn't be friends. Tara attempts to explain, saying that she knows how important Oz is to Willow, but Willow says that she herself doesn't know what to think anymore. Because she knows how essential they are for good ratings, Willow squeezes a few tears out whilst trying to explain how complicated her feelings are. Tara brushes a tear off of Willow's cheek and tells her to "do what makes [her] h-h-h-h-happy." At least I assume that's what she said. Amber Benson was almost swallowing her own tongue there so I can't be sure. Which is not to say that I'm making fun of people who stutter, but that if Amber is going to affect a stutter, she could at least do a convincing one. In any case, Willow throws herself into Tara's arms. I must say that Willow's got it pretty good in this love triangle. Relatively speaking, of course. Both Oz and Tara are telling her to do what's best for her, unlike every similar situation I've ever been in. This just proves that I need to date guys like Oz. This is not a new revelation.

Establishing shots of UCS which you might think stands for University of California: Sunnydale but is really is an acronym for Utterly Contrived School. Inside, Oz is looking at some flyers on a bulletin board. Tara walks down the corridor behind him as Oz sniffs the air and calls out, "Willow!" Tara turns around and Oz looks surprised. Tara says hello, and catching sight of Oz's notebook under his arm she asks if Oz is attending school here again. He says he's feeling "oddly motivated." I hope that feeling of motivation lasts at least until it's actually time to sign up classes. Oz notices that Tara is wearing Willow's sweater and that she smells like Willow. Tara tries to leave but Oz grabs her arm to stop her. Tara gets all stuttery, saying that she doesn't want to talk about it. Oz becomes more agitated at the confirmation that there is something to talk about. Tara tries to leave again, but Oz shouts at her to stop. Breathing heavily, he demands to know if Willow is in love with her. Since it's the only body part they have the budget to show transforming, we see Oz's hand wolf out. The camera focuses on Oz, and he's either half-wolfed or just sporting really bad sideburns and gnarled teeth straight out of The Big Book of British Smiles. In a husky voice he warns Tara to run. Poor Tara. She gets chased by everything. I'm somewhat ashamed to notice that I still find Oz dead sexy in his changed state. I'm also confused because, as the establishing shot showed, it's clearly daytime. Obviously he's reacting to the negative situation by wolfing out, but does that mean that Oz's "cure" has made it possible for him to change at any time of the day or night? Or just at any time in the traditional three-day window? I'm confused by inadequately explained plot points.

Tara runs, Wolfie-Oz on all fours chasing her. She darts into a large lecture hall and up the stairs to the back of the room. Wolfie-Oz follows her up a different set of stairs. Tara struggles with an exit door at the back of the room, but it's locked. She turns and starts back down to the front of the classroom, and Wolfie-Oz follows her. He leaps off the final few steps, and as Tara screams, he corners her against the chalkboard. Tara grabs a loose chair and throws it at him, knocking him down. As she stares at his limp form, we see that he's actually been immobilized by a tranquilizer dart. Riley sheathes his tranq gun and Forrest, in a horrible oatmeal-colored turtle-neck, approaches Tara and asks if she's okay. Tara demands to know what's going on, but the Initiative guys ignore her and bag Oz's still-wolfy body. One of the Initiative guys says that Wolfie-Oz matches the description of the demon that attacked Graham's patrol; Riley adds that they'll take Oz back to the lab to make an ID. Tara stutteringly tries to explain that the Initiative has just bagged a person, but Forrest interrupts her and tells her she's in shock. As Tara breathes, "Nooo," the Initiative guys carry Oz's bagged body out.

Spike has apparently been briefed on Adam's plan and says that it sounds like fun. I can't say that I'm sorry to have missed that scene. Adam explains that "total annihilation of the humans doesn't help [him]," and that he wants heavy damages to both sides of the conflict. Spike questions how the Slayer figures into Adam's plan (Spike has quite the little Buffy fixation, doesn't he?), and Adam says she'll be a "champion" for the humans. Spike replies that although Buffy is a "whiney little thing," she often wins. Adam (is that sarcasm I hear in his voice?) says that in that case Spike should be on the Slayer's side. Spike seeks confirmation from Adam that after the conflict his chip will be removed and Adam agrees, "Scout's honor." At Spike's asking whether Adam was a Boy Scout, Adam replies that "parts" of him were. As one of our smart, funny posters pointed out on the Buffy forums, Adam is a charisma-suck, managing to make even a scene with Spike seem dull. Am I the only one that doesn't understand Adam's motivation? I think that's part of the reason he's been so ineffective as a villain. The Master wanted to suck a whole bunch of blood. He's a vampire, so I get that. Angel turned evil because he lost his soul and starting killing off Buffy's friends and friends' fish so, obviously, she had to do him in. I'm not sure why the Mayor wanted to turn into a big snake but maybe he didn't know about that part, and in any case the promise of world dominance is a heady thrill so, sure, I can take that in good faith. But Adam? He doesn't want to decimate the human race, but instead wants Buffy to "champion" the humans' cause. Why don't they just hold an Arthurian tournament and joust for dominance? It certainly wouldn't be any sillier than the non-plotline they're currently exploring. Plus, we might get to see Spike in a codpiece, strumming a lute and singing "My Way."

Willow is in the library, slumped over her books and looking sad. Tara rushes in, and they move out into a hallway to talk. Tara tries to explain what happened with Oz -- that he changed into the wolf while talking with her; Willow is surprised because it's still daylight. Willow asks if Tara is okay, but doesn't even ask about Oz. Tara says she's fine, but explains that Oz was captured by Riley and the commandos, who aren't aware of his identity. Willow realizes what this could mean, and rushes off to find Buffy. Tara looks after her sadly.

At Giles's house, Willow is explaining to Giles, Buffy, Xander, and Anya what occurred with Oz and Tara. Anya utters one of her usual un-funny "candid" comments, which distresses Willow. Xander utters one of his condescendingly unfunny reproaches to Anya. This week, Anya is wearing a pink and cream sweater set that looks like a reject from a matronly woman's closet circa 1963. In the background, Buffy dials Giles's phone and then hangs up in frustration. Giles expositions that the gang will have to break into the Initiative. Xander snarks that it would be great if one of them was dating someone on the inside, then gestures at Buffy and says, "Oooh, wait!" Buffy shakes her head sadly and says that she can't get Riley to answer her pages and they'll have to make their plan without him.

In the Initiative's pit, cleverly named "The Pit" as you might recall, Oz is still wolfed out, growling in a small cage. He looks like he's trapped inside a giant version of one of those foil Jiffy Pop popcorn devices people used before microwaves. Riley and the commandos, now changed into camo gear, stand around impatiently, and Forrest demands to know whether the doctor can identify Oz-Wolf as the animal that attacked their men. The doctor isn't sure because Graham "described characteristics present in over forty known varieties of demon." The doctor goes on about hair and fiber tests and doesn't seem very impressed by Riley's testosterone-pumped questioning. Riley pulls out his gun, saying he can tell the monster in the cage is a killer. He levels his gun at the Oz-Wolf who suddenly morphs into naked Oz. Riley lowers his gun and takes a step back, surprised. Everyone stares at Oz, who is panting exhaustedly. The scene changes and we see get a floor-cam shot from Oz's point of view. The doctors stand in a ring around him, with Riley behind them. Oz starts to regain consciousness, and Riley tries to speak with him, but the doctor explains Oz is doped up on Haldol. Riley is getting agitated, explaining that Oz isn't a threat. The doctor replies that only Colonel McNamara can order the testing stopped on the subject. The doctors continue to examine Oz, and one gives him an injection as Riley protests that Oz is a student he knows. The main doctor orders Riley's removal from The Pit. Another doctor jabs Oz with some sort of electrical prod and, screaming, Oz changes back to his wolf state.

At Giles's, Buffy can't understand why she hasn't heard back from Riley, but the gang agrees that they have to go ahead without him. I thought that was what happened in the last scene we saw these guys in, but maybe I'm missing some of the subtleties. Buffy, in a dark turquoise sweater and leather pants of indeterminate color, says she and Xander will enter the Initiative installation. Willow insists on coming along; Buffy protests that it's too dangerous. She wants Willow to hack into the city's electrical grid, but Willow says she'll leave instructions for Giles and that she needs to come along. Because Giles, if you recall, is quite the computer stud. And I mean "recall" in a strictly Orwellian sense. Repeat after me: "We have always been at war with Eastasia. We have never been at war with Eurasia. Giles has always been possessing of the mad computer skillz." Ahem. Buffy agrees and begins discussing how they'll enter the Initiative. Xander suggests they grab a commando and make him give them access, and then Spike, from off-screen, pipes up that they could use the "back way." As they all stare, Giles demands to know how Spike got in, and Spike sneers, "The door was unlocked. You might want to watch that, Rupert." SHOUT-OUT CITY, BABY! Well, probably not, but Ace and I have mentioned Giles's unlocked doors enough to suitably delude ourselves. Buffy calls Spike annoying, and he flirtily tells her to calm down or her won't help "to get Red's mongrel back." Giles asks if Spike is seeking money, and he admits he is, but that he also wants to mess with the "Army ginks." He offers to lead them to where Oz is being held. Buffy accuses him of leading them on a wild goose chase, but Spike assures them he'll get them access with no alarms and no cameras. The gang stares at him, considering his offer.

By Sep

Buffy and the gang are in some Initiative hallway when the lights go down. Emergency lighting comes back up, much fainter. The lights go out at Giles's, and Anya smiles proudly in front of her product-placed G3 Apple lap top. She puts up her hand for a high-five and tells Giles to slap it, but he doesn't understand. He then slaps her hand and she yelps in pain. I vote that the writers replace any more scenes this season containing Anya with scenes of Giles singing.

Buffy breaks into the Colonel's quarters and levels her crossbow at him as he fumbles around in bed. She demands the Colonel take her to "him," but he misunderstands and tells her, "Finn stays in the brig." As Buffy looks surprised, the Colonel tells her that she'll only make matters worse for Riley, since he tried to help an HST escape. Buffy finally figures out that Riley tried to help Oz, just as the Colonel figures out who Buffy is actually there for. Buffy tells him to get dressed. A change of scene. Buffy walks casually down a hallway, past a soldier-boy. As she passes him, she drops a stake, and when he leans down to pick it up, she kicks him in the face. She grabs his keycard and opens the door, freeing Riley from the brig. He attempts to ask her how she got there, but she tells him to concentrate on escaping. Riley stops her and says, "If I leave now, I can't ever come back." They stare intensely at each other and then Riley relaxes and amends, "I just wanted to hear that out loud." He follows her out of the room. The gang marches through the halls, Buffy and Riley in the lead; Buffy has her crossbow trained on the Colonel's head. As they come around a corner, they run into a commando patrol, which orders them to stop. We see Oz stand up in his glass-fronted cell, and then another group of commandos runs up behind the rescuers. Buffy tells them all to stay back, threatening to "pull a William Burroughs" on the Colonel. Everybody looks confused, and Xander asks if that means she'll "bore them to death with free prose." Buffy wonders if she was the only one paying attention in English class, and then clarifies that she means to kill the Colonel. She instructs one of the commandos to release Oz, which he does. As Oz steps out of his cell, Willow rushes towards him, but he tells her to keep back. Her presence is causing him to lose control of the wolf. Willow backs away and Riley goes to Oz, helping him to limp out. The commandos follow as the whole gang, with Buffy still holding the Colonel, get into the elevator.

As the elevator ascends, Riley, jaw clenched, stares at the Colonel. The elevator arrives at Lowell house, and everybody except Buffy, Riley, and the Colonel exit. Riley sabotages the control panel and clenches his jaw real hard. Riley and Buffy exit the elevator, and the paunchy Colonel tells Riley he's a "dead man." Riley replies that no, he's an anarchist, and socks the Colonel in the face.

By Sep

In the Initiative, naked Oz is locked in a glass-fronted white cell like the one Spike inhabited in "The Initiative." Oz crouches in a corner, shivering. He hears a noise of a door opening, and when he raises his head, we see that he's badly bruised and cut on his face and shoulders. Riley enters Oz's cell and gives him some clothes to put on. He then helps Oz limp through the darkened compound. Suddenly the lights come up and Riley and Oz are surrounded by troops with their guns leveled. Forrest and Graham approach Riley and Forrest sneers, "End of the line." Riley stares and clenches his jaw.

Colonel McNamara enters an office and approaches a cell which contains Riley. Riley stands at attention as the Colonel unlocks the cell door. Riley asks for permission to speak, which the Colonel denies him, instead giving him a lecture about his exemplary record and how it all went to hell when he met the Slayer. He says Riley has shown signs of disloyalty, and he's angry that Riley attempted to release a HST. Riley attempts to explain about Oz, calling him a person, but the Colonel shuts him down, telling Riley that he's up for a court-martial for his "involvement with the Slayer and her band of freaks." He calls Riley an anarchist and offers him the chance to redeem himself by helping to foil Buffy's plans. He snaps that Riley's a traitor and that "no woman is worth that." Somehow the Colonel doesn't strike me as someone who has much interest in women. After the Colonel leaves, Riley looks sad and clenches his jaw some more.

In the woods, the Slayer and her "band of freaks" look for the back entrance to the Initiative. Buffy and Willow are wearing lab coats, and Spike and Xander have on Army sweaters. Buffy threatens Spike with death if he's scamming them, but he protests he wouldn't be wearing the military gear if he weren't serious. Will tells him he looks like an "evil olive." They find the door, hidden behind some bushes, and Spike approaches. In his lair, Adam has swiveled back the plate on his head and jacked in some sort of computer connection. He surveys maps on a monitor. Adam types something, and Spike opens the gate, sniping that no one in Sunnydale "minds their locks." Buffy tells him to go first. We see Adam looking over more maps and then his computer beeps in alert. At Giles's, Anya is sitting in front of a laptop typing away. Giles bites his fingers anxiously and dictates instructions to her. Because it's so very easy to leave detailed instructions as to the best way to hack into the mainframe of a secret military organization. He tells her to take some action that will shut down the electricity for the campus. She types something in, as does Adam. Adam's monitor displays lettering that reads, "Emergency powerdown in progress." I'm not sure, but I get the impression that, from the juxtaposition of these scenes, we're supposed to believe that Giles and Anya are actually hacking into Adam, who in turn is the one who is actually controlling the Initiative's computers.

By Sep

The gang has split up, and Riley and Buffy are making camp in the burned-out remains of Sunnydale High. She frets about things, and Riley says that it's him the Initiative is most interested in finding. He suggests they'll be safe for the night, and he'll figure out the rest of his plan later. Buffy comes to sit to him and suggests that they had a big day, ending with Riley becoming a fugitive. He replies that he's sad it ended the way it did, but happy that it's over. He then tells her that he was being a bigot about Oz earlier, but Buffy shakes her head. She assures him that he was just "thrown" and, obviously relating to her recent experience of discovering Willow's feelings for Tara, she says his reaction was understandable. Riley muses that he used to be in a black-and-white space, but he has learned differently. Buffy decides that the moment for Angel-revelation has come and seriously addresses Riley, telling him she needs to tell him some things about her past, some of which he may not like. He looks at her and says, "You can tell me anything," and Buffy replies, "I think so. I think I can."

Okay, here's the scene I've been dreading. Willow and Oz are sitting in his van. She's surprised that the van looks so good, considering that he "drove it overseas." Oz explains that the van was garaged for most of his trip. They sit sadly and quietly, and Oz muses that he shouldn't have returned, because he hasn't changed like he thought he had. Willow insists that he has changed, and that she saw him control the wolf. Oz doesn't look directly at her as he explains that, somehow, she's the one thing that brings the wolf out in him. Actually, I'd say it was your own jealousy rather than Willow, Oz, but since it's your last scene and all, let's not quibble. Willow tries to take the blame for upsetting him, and Oz jokingly hopes that she'll never upset him again. As Willow starts to mist up, Oz gently asks if she's happy, and she replies that she is. She says she missed him and wrote him letters that she never had the chance to send. She tries to explain that she "couldn't live like that," and Oz says he was stupid to think that she'd just be waiting for him. Willow says she was waiting for him and in some way, she always will be. She tells him, "If I'm old and blue-haired and I turn the corner in Istanbul, and there you are, I won't be surprised." Oz smiles and understands. He says now is not the time for them, and Willow agrees. He stares at her with tears in his eyes and tells her that he has to leave town, "pretty much now." Willow nods and they hug, both crying. I know that Seth Green allegedly wanted to leave to pursue his movie "career" but c'mon -- is the prospect of Idle Hands 2 that compelling? One would think that weekly exposure on a show like Buffy could only help him. Seth, don't bite the hand that fames you.

By Sep

Tara sits in the dark in her dorm room. She hears a knock on the door and opens it to find Willow on the other side, holding a lit candle. Willow explains she brought the candle as a present, and Tara takes it from her. Willow starts to speak, but Tara interrupts and says she understands that Willow must be with the person she loves. "I am," replies Willow. They seem to come to some understanding about the changed nature of their friendship, and Willow apologizes for putting Tara through so much. She says she'll make it up to her, starting right now, and Tara blows out the candle. Tasteful treatment of alternative lifestyle, or cowardly copout? I'll let you decide.