Oz staying does NOT mean no Tara

[Spuffyy]

I hear this as the main reason most people are okay with Oz leaving even if they liked him, because they like that Tara came more. Well, why couldn't there have been both characters on the show in some way? If it were up to me, Willow and Oz would have been together much longer if not forever, their relationship was special and it was amazing for Willow and then all of a sudden BLAM. She gets a broken heart and goes to Tara. (I always thought it was weird that at first she didn't label herself lesbian, she just said she was in love with Tara. That's a little different, IMO. Then later on she just didn't like men at all, it's weird.. but that's a whole other topic..)

I'm not saying there should have been any raunchy 3somes going on (lol) but they most certainly could have co existed on the show without him just leaving. His teaser espisode when he comes back just to give up Willow AGAIN but now because of Tara really kills me, and to be honest I'm kind of opposite in the way that I wish Tara WASN'T there so Oz COULD be.. It's just a big episode of hurt, and while I do love Tara I really don't like her then.

Anyway what do you guys think the show and characters would be like if they had either kept Oz on or brought him back in ADDITION to Tara?

 

[Flannen]

As much as I LOVED Oz and was so sad when he left, I don't think there would have a been a place for him with Tara part of the group too. As much as I think Buffy, Xander etc liked Oz, he wasn't close enough for them to have much interaction with him if he wasn't with Willow. Although saying that, Cordy still remained part of the group after she'd split with Xander....

I dunno, I just think it wouldn't have worked too well with both of them. I'd have Oz back over Tara though, back then anyway. I liked her later in the series!

 

[Grami]

It wouldn't have worked. It always revolves around the core four [to a lesser extent Giles]. Who they happen to be screwing at the time means who is on the team that week/year whatever. Oz wouldn't have had a place with them after breaking up with Willow. I just can't envision it working in my head. I always disliked though how Oz and Tara got barely any screen time in comparision to say Anya [don't get me wrong I adore her] and Buffy's love interests. Maybe that's just me? :S

 

[Mumrik]

First, Oz couldn't have stayed because Seth Green wanted out of the show.

That aside, in-verse reasons why Oz couldn't stay - in my opinion - are:
Oz had sex with Veruca - it doesn't matter if it was still in werewolf form or not, I don't know the details (anymore?) - we don't know if Willow could have ever forgiven him for that. Something in a relationship breaks after such a loss of trust.
The sole reason why Oz was able to forgive Willow kissing Xander was because he loved, needed Willow more than she loved and needed him. Yes, I believe that Willow was Oz's true love and that he'll never be able to truly get over her.

He also couldn't have just stayed and tag along while Willow skipped off with Tara into the sunset - we've seen what effects just the thought of them together had on him. And while he may be able to heal and accept Willow and Tara as a couple it would have slowly broken him to see Willow everyday, being happy and lovey-dovey with someone else but him.

Last, Oz's story in Sunnydale was simply finished. We've seen how much he struggled with being a werewolf prominently in "Fear, Itself" and someday, he would have come to the conclusion that he needed to face his inner demons and try to find if not a cure but a way to tame the wolf.
Meeting and sexing it up with Veruca simply accelerated his departure.

 

[Buhbi]

I dont think Oz would have really fit into the scoobie gang either, if he wasnt with Willow.

Although Joss could have always done one of those amazing storylines like.. Oz gets operated on by the initiative, and they plant a chip in him that results in him being a permanent werewolf, and he then becomes one of the major bosses of the season. Boyfriend gone bad again, but then again that's just my crazy mind at work :whistle:

 

[Revolver]

Ha, I don't think permanent werewolf would have been the most interesting role to play.

 

[fly on the wall]

I'm going to put the reasons why Oz and Tara couldn't coexist in the Buffyverse into a list form as well.

#1. Of course, number one reason, the Veruca thing. It may be hypocritical to say that Willow/Oz could recover from Willow's betrayal of kissing Xander, but that they couldn't recover from Oz sleeping with Veruca..but I'm going to say it anyway. Willow told Oz that the two situations were not the same, and I agree. I don't condone what Willow did, but what happened between her and Xander were hormones, silly teenager feelings that never extended beyond that kiss. They stopped themselves...WILLOW stopped herself, for Oz. What Oz felt for Veruca was pure, animalistic lust. He was attracted to her on a primal, instinctual level. And because they were both werewolves, Veruca understood Oz on one of his most basic levels, a level that Willow could never touch. On top of the betrayal and loss of trust, I think Willow felt truly detached from Oz, and unwanted/unattractive in addition to that. I truly think Oz had to leave to even give the two a hope of making it somewhere in the future. But then, of course, Tara came into the situation...which brings me to...

#2. Willow's feelings for Tara confused her, to say the least. I think, had Oz been there, Willow would have been wrapped up in him. Even if they had taken a break or whatever, Willow's feelings for Oz would be strong because he would be right there. Even if Willow had felt something for Tara, I don't think she ever would have explored it had Oz stayed. She would be preoccupied with Oz and her feelings with him, and so I feel an attraction to a female would have quickly been squashed. So Tara may have existed, but definitely not in the same way, and not in a romantic way IMO. AND, even if a relationship HAD formed..

#3. Oz would have left after the relationship formed. As we saw when he came back to Sunnydale, he could not cope with Willow being with anyone else. He couldn't handle her being with Tara. Had he stayed (which I cannot see happening), and had Willow ended up with Tara anyway (which I also cannot see happening), once Willow got with Tara, I think Oz would have left.

#4. Oz's own fears about his capabilities would have caused him to leave eventually. From the get-go, he worried about what he could do to people in his werewolf form. He was especially anxious about hurting Willow. He didn't want her anywhere near his cage when he transformed; his worst fear was transforming while he was around his friends. I think it was just a matter of time before he left to protect those around him. A lifetime with Willow, and he was bound to hurt her accidentally at some point. I don't think Oz could have lived with that. I don't think he was willing to wait and see. He would have left either way to protect Willow, it was just a matter of when.

So no. I don't think Tara and Oz could exist at the same time, at least not in the same way in Willow's life.

 

[Edmund Blackadder]

Like the above I am gonna put THE reason why Oz and Tara couldn't coexist in the Buffyverse.

Seth Green wanted to make movies!!!!

Any other reason that people CAN think of is just silly because even the most mediocre of writers can find a way!