Veruca (Buffyverse)

Infobox Buffyverse Character


Paige Moss as Veruca
Title=Veruca
First=Living Conditions
Last=Wild at Heart
Creator=Joss Whedon
Name=Veruca
Status=Deceased
Kind=Werewolf
Affiliation=Lead singer of Shy
Powers= Werewolf physiology grants her the potential to transform into a berserk, wolf-like creature with enhanced strength, and speed and sense of smell during the nights of full moon. Unlike "younger" werewolves, she retains full memories of her experiences in werewolf state.
Actor=Paige Moss

Veruca (last name unknown) is a fictional character in the U.S. television series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" who first appeared in the episode, "Living Conditions". Veruca appeared in three episodes of season four and was played by Paige Moss.

History

Veruca is a seductive lead singer in a band called "Shy". She and Oz knew of each other through the music scene but crossed paths one night when Oz joined Buffy in one of her patrols. Both Veruca and Oz sensed something about each other but quickly continued with their own activities. Oz quickly became somewhat attracted to her, much to the chagrin of his then-girlfriend, Willow, who felt threatened by someone who was involved in the music industry. However, the connection between the two was not limited to their art.

During one of Oz's wolf nights, he escaped from his cage and copulated with a female werewolf. This werewolf was actually Veruca, who, unlike Oz, was able to retain the memories of her experiences during her transformation due to having been a werewolf longer.

Veruca tried to convince Oz to embrace his werewolf persona rather than contain it within his otherwise stoic, civilized identity, claiming that he had not been human since the day he was first bitten, and the two of them thus belonged together. Oz, in an attempt to protect people from Veruca, locked her with him in his cage, a place in which they mated again. The affair was discovered by Willow, who tried to use her magic to curse both of them, but was unable to go through with it. Veruca sought out the fledgling witch, intending to kill her, and almost succeeded if not for Oz, in his werewolf form, fought and killed Veruca by viciously biting her in the throat. Realizing he could not go on like this, Oz left Sunnydale to embark on a journey to find a cure for his condition.

Veruca's name is probably a reference to the selfish Veruca Salt character in the book "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", and the female-led band of the same name.

Powers and abilities

Veruca's werewolf condition gave her the potential of transforming into a feral, lupine beast with enhanced strength, agility and sense of smell during the nights of a full moon, regardless of direct exposure to moonlight. Having been a werewolf longer than Oz, Veruca was capable of retaining complete memories of her transformation.

As a werewolf, her most lethal weakness is silver, such as being shot with silver bullets or being impaled or stabbed with an object made of silver, though it appears that lethal wounds can also kill her, such as a bite to the throat from Oz. However, it is common in werewolf fiction that the fangs and claws of other werewolves are almost as effective as silver.

Romantic relationships

* Oz

Appearances

Veruca appeared in three episodes of the show.
* "Living Conditions"
* "Beer Bad"
* "Wild at Heart"