Entertainment
Forgotten Buffy Script Perfectly Explains The Show's Weirdest Character
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Even after all these years, Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans have difficulty describing Oz’s character, the chill-beyond-chill Sunnydale musician played by Seth Green. It’s not hard to see why. Oz’s personality is completely different from that of the other Scoobies, and outsider demon characters like Anya and Spike arguably seemed a better fit with the gang than the aloof Oz ever did. As it turns out, though, the script notes for the Buffy episode “Inca Mummy Girl” perfectly explain Oz’s character by noting that Oz has “the kind of cool that is completely unaware of itself.”
Explaining Oz
Those Buffy script notes help to explain some of the seeming paradoxes of Oz’s character, including the fact that his sarcasm–a very defining character trait–never came off as particularly cruel. According to the script, “There’s a quiet restraint and total lack of bitterness to [Oz’s] sarcasm.” This is perhaps made most evident when you compare this wolfy wunderkind to sarcastic characters like Cordelia and Spike who always use their own acidic hilarity to lash out at the people around them.
Incidentally, Cordelia served as Oz’s counterpart for the first three seasons of Buffy by offering genuinely mean sarcasm as opposed to his gentle mockery. Once she left Sunnydale after Season 3, the show brought in Anya and Spike to take the show’s sarcasm to the next level. Sadly, the unexpected departure of Oz in Season 4 meant that the extra meanness no longer had a counterbalance to it.
His debut Buffy episode’s script notes further explain Oz’s character by comparing him to one of his fellow musicians: “where Devon is your typical excitable rock and roller, Oz is completely unflappable.” Certainly, this is evidenced by all the wild things that Oz takes in stride, including the existence of vampires and the fact that he’s now a werewolf. Buffy plays most things for laughs, of course, but the truth is that Oz endures things that would break most Sunnydale residents’ brains, and all without so much as getting angry or scared.
That brings us to the final note in this Buffy script about Oz’s character: “His is the kind of cool that is completely unaware of itself.” As a longtime fan, this was the line that really explained Oz’s whole deal to me. In another show or film, Oz would be a self-consciously cool character like Jeff Winger on Community. However, whereas Jeff’s ego forces him to always be the center of attention, Oz has a Zen-like calm that helps him blend into any situation or group.
For Buffy fans, this is simply further proof that Oz’s character, just like Buffy, Willow, and so many others, is relatively unique in the television landscape. No other show (genre or otherwise) has managed to dethrone Oz with a new character who is acerbically sarcastic, charismatically cool, and ultimately unflappable. Even Buffy the Vampire Slayer never tried to truly replace Oz, which is why other characters who stepped into his erstwhile Scooby sidekick role (like the aforementioned Anya and Spike) had completely different personalities.
Some Buffy fanatics might find these notes about Oz’s character to be a bit obvious, but I thought they were a fascinating glimpse into the show’s most mysteriously compelling (and compellingly mysterious) characters. Oz was written from the beginning as a kind of paradox: a guy who is sarcastic without being snarky, cool without being cruel, and utterly unaware of just how hip he really is. And if we’re all very lucky, the light of the next full moon might make us all even half as chill as Sunnydale’s wolfiest rocker.
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121
TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
Mashable Deals
Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025
Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
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Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
A'ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces' early exit in '24
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
