Angel/Oz Subtext Episode Guides
I'm not going to do a general episode guide here because that would be pointless - and besides, sites like the incomparable Buffy Guide or the excellent Sanctuary do it way better than I ever could. Nevertheless I've trawled through all of the episodes Angel and Oz were both in and extracted the subtext I could find. Naturally, doing this does sort of reveal just how little subtext there actually was, but then other fanfic pairings have been founded on less. Anyway, I've listed all the episodes they were both in, but only provided commentary if they were both in the same scene, or there was another significant plot development. There are also overviews of each season as a whole, and some pictoral fun too. Obviously there's nothing for Buffy seasons 1, 4 or 5 or Angel season 2 because there are no episodes in those seasons in which they both appear. If, however, there's anything I've missed do let me know.
Merci beaucoup to Buffy Guide, Sunnydale Screenshots and The Slayer Show for some of the images used.
Click below to go straight to a particular season:
Buffy: the Vampire Slayer Season 2
Buffy: the Vampire Slayer Season 3
Angel Season 1
Buffy: the Vampire Slayer Season 2
Inca Mummy Girl
Oz's first appearance. He has bad facial hair. No Angel interaction.
Halloween
What's My Line (Part 1)
What's My Line (Part 2)
Surprise
The first time we see Oz in the same scene as Angel, awaiting Buffy's arrival at the surprise party, although the writers (damn them!) miss out the bit where they actually meet and check each other out. Meanwhile, Buffy makes her entrance fighting a vampire. They fight, and, after she stakes it, Oz looks on in shock - or does he? Is he actually taking the opportunity to ogle Angel and is just amazed at the gorgeousness of the vampire in front of him? Hmmmm?
Innocence
Although Oz and Angel (actually now Angelus) are both in the scene at the mall, it was for the fight to destroy the Judge, so possibly their attention was elsewhere. Still, we did see Angel and Oz both wet when the sprinkler system is turned on. Grrrrr... Pity about Angel's weird meandering accent though.
Phases
Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
Becoming (Part 1)
Becoming (Part 2)
Buffy Season 2 Overview
Admittedly there were limited opportunities for subtext here, what with Angel being evil for half of the scenes Oz had with him this season. And, given that there were only two scenes in the first place... Things are also hampered by the fact that Angel is dead at the season's close. Not good. Let's move on to the next season.
Buffy: the Vampire Slayer Season 3
Anne
Dead Man's Party
Faith, Hope and Trick
In Buffy's dream sequence Oz (and the other Scoobs) are sitting watching her and Angel dance. Yes, it's true, even in Buffy's dreams Oz is fixated on Angel. Speaking of whom, the broody vampire is resurrected at the end of this episode by dropping from the sky naked and apparently coated in petroleum jelly. Not A/O subtext as such, but certainly very pretty.
Beauty and the Beasts
Homecoming
Band Candy
Revelations
Lovers' Walk
Although there's no actual scene where the two are together this does have slashy possibilities as it starts a short window of time (until Amends) where neither Angel or Oz are technically seeing Buffy or Willow. And they both look so sad at the end of the episode. Some wild monkey sex would surely cheer them up...
The Wish
In what seems to be a recurring theme Angel and Oz's sole scene together was a big fight, this time between the Wishverse whitehats and the Master's army (including Xander and Willow). Once again, then, their minds were occupied with not being killed rather than with doing naughty things to one another. Having said that, this episode is a gift for Angel/Oz writers in that there is a great deal of potential for fic. Buffy isn't in town, Willow is evil and Oz is one of the few good guy characters - with an Angel that just cries out for hurt/comfort fic. And we know very little about the Wishverse equivalents of the characters - so there's quite a sandpit to play in.
Amends
The Zeppo
Well, Oz and Angel did have a scene together, but given that Oz was wolfed out and Angel was fighting a demon trying to escape from Hell even I was hard pushed to find any subtext in it. Nevertheless, when, the next morning, the non-vampiric members of the Scooby gang dissected the previous night's events, Oz's first reaction was to ask how Angel was doing. I think that says it all...
Bad Girls
Dopplegangland
Angel and Oz speak! To each other! Yes, our favourite slashy couple actually get to do some bonding here when Angel turns up at the Bronze to look for Buffy (obviously that was just his weak excuse). Oz, hair dyed a sexy black colour, is there and the two flirt - er, sorry - chat. Suddenly a gang of vampires invades the Bronze, interrupting their little talk - and they're led by none other than Evil Vamp Willow! Angel is despatched to fetch Buffy and the others by Oz (who is expressing concern that Angel might not survive if he stays and fights the other vampires on his own - is there no end to his devotion to Angel?). Oz is clearly upset (Vamp Willow interrupted his moment with Angel!).
Later when the gang are sending Vamp Willow back to the Wishverse, Oz and Angel are probably sneaking looks at each other's packages when the camera's not on them.
Enemies
At the beginning of this episode, Buffy frets that Angel might be unhappy at not having sex with her. "Don't worry about me," he replies - because that side of things is clearly taken care of by Oz! Er, anyway, Angel and Oz are briefly together in one scene at the end when Buffy is fighting Faith. Once again, not much potential for subtext.
Earshot
Choices
Oz and Angel are both in the Library during the debate about rescuing Willow. Possibility for more hurt/comfort if they had decided to take the other option... Then both are in the cafeteria to exchange Willow and the box of Gavrok. Oz positions himself behind Angel so he gets a nice view of the vampire's pert backside.
The Prom
Both of the guys are at the Prom itself, obviously, and no doubt had a little rendezvous in the toilets when Buffy and Willow weren't looking - especially given that Angel had just split from Buffy and no doubt needed a cuddle.
Graduation Day Part 1
Graduation Day Part 2
First, Oz and Willow help to look after the sick Angel as he lies waiting for Buffy to return with Faith's blood. We discover that Angel thought Oz was Buffy - but we don't see the exchange which opens up a lot of possibilities... Plus, of course, Oz has been working away to find a cure for Angel - that sort of dedication is fairly subtextual, wouldn't you say?
Later, when the gang meet Angel in the hospital after he feeds on Buffy Oz is also the first to notice Angel is looking fine - strange that his attention is on the vampire... Finally both are in the huge battle at the end, but given that there was a huge snake to deal with the most would could hope for would be a checking out of each others' buns at some point...
Buffy Season 3 Overview
Although it took until Dopplegangland for the two to be seen to actually speak to each other there was at least some subtext to work with - especially Oz's comments in Graduation Day 2 and the whole world of The Wish. However things look more complicated when Angel leaves for LA and his own series - will our star crossed lovers ever be reunited?
In the Dark
Oz is the first of the Scooby Gang to go visit Angel in Los Angeles - because the Dingoes have a gig there (nice excuse...). He also visits to drop off the Gem of Amarra, a sort of vampire Holy Grail that makes the wearer (if a vamp) invincible. He gets to the office, and he's very excited at the thought of Angel being a detective; this is obviously a fantasy they'd acted out before.
Then of course, Oz offers Angel his ring. Um, the gem of Amarra. Which Angel takes, in broody seriousness. As Doyle raves about how fab the trinket is, Oz just stares lustfully at Angel, even just standing there, continuing to ogle when Cordy and Doyle leave to go to the pub. Cordy asks Oz if he wants to come, and without taking his gaze from Angel's hunky frame, Oz replies, 'Yeah, I could eat.' Freudian much?
Later, Oz is a critical part of the rescue operation, whisking Angel away with Cordy and Doyle - and is the one who listens to Angel when the injured vamp insists on going after the evil vampire Marcus. Then he's the one who shows lots of concern for Angel when he is about to jump into the sunlight to fight Marcus. Then he's the one bolting to the edge of the pier to find out what happens to Angel when he and Marcus fall off. Devotion much?
When Angel wins (natch) and staggers out into the sunlight, Oz , Cordy and Doyle come to meet him. Angel thanks Oz first - they've bonded - and Oz comments on how incredibly pale Angel is. Yep, all he notices is what Angel looks like - all wet and sexy. Um, pale. Fixated much?
Angel Season 1 Overview
It might have been just one episode, but there was more subtext crammed into it than all the Buffy episodes put together. For that we should be eternally grateful. Angel having his own series opens up a lot of doors for Angel/Oz fic too, as after the events of Wild at Heart, Oz is a free agent too, and thus no girlfriends get in the way of the smoochies. Slashtastic indeed.
So ends the episode guides - but if ever the boys meet again, I'll be sure to update the page.
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