My wackiest BTVS take is that (real world situations aside) Oz should have come back to the show in late season four and gradually reiterated into the scoobies group. Him and Willow work things out and become friends. Over time Oz becomes pretty good friends with Buffy, Tara, and Anya. Because he’s so chill and adaptable he kind of becomes a bridge between Spike and the Scoobies (to a degree, cuz Oz does draw a line). And he kind of gets inspired to become one with his were-wolf side by affiliating with people like Spike and Anya, who are demon/demon affiliated but don’t sweat it in the least and just live their lives being themselves. I think he could even relate to Tara, who was persecuted by her family for being “wrong” and “different”. Oz absolutely would have stood by Tara and the Scoobies during that scene when her family tries to take her away. I also think Oz would be a safe person for Dawn to chill with, and they could have some fun interactions. This is also the part where I think that at some point in S5/S6/S7 the show should have killed Xander off instead of Tara. Thus making room for an additional main cast member like Oz, and dumping the dead weight, Xander.
