I should have a Xander icon...

[eowyn_315]

Xander's acceptance of Spike is all part of his character arc in becoming “the one who sees everything,” as Caleb says. He spends a lot of season 6 being blind to things that are right in front of him, both in his relationship with Anya, and in not recognizing Buffy's and Willow’s spirals into self-destruction. Part of his blindness is his failure

Comments

[dawnofme]

I don't often sit back and think about Xander. It's not that I hate him, but he's not the character that interests me the most.

I personally saw him as the writer's self insert. Which I don't think is completely bad a thing.

It seemed to me that Xander's behavior throughout the whole show was right on for him. I didn't like all of what he was, but he made sense.

Of course he isn't going to like vampires. Like you said, he had two friends in the beginning, and one of them one was killed by a vampire. When you only have a couple of friends, you cherish them and are usually closer to them than a person who has many friends.

He grudgingly let his guard down with Angel and that didn't end well.

I loved Xander with Cordelia. That's like the ultimate geek guy's dream and it was fun to watch.

I did not like how he treated Anya. Except for one scene, I never got the feeling that Xander really cared for Anya. It was like she was just there, she was clingy and he went with the flow. I don't just blame Xander for that though. Anya let it happen.

I think you are right about the building up and knocking down of the character. This just made him seem real. Like someone you might meet on the street or on a construction site.

I don't read the comics, so I have no idea what's going on there. But I will say that the way they are drawing him makes me more interested in him. He looks strong and confident and slightly angry. That I like.

[eowyn_315]

You know, I don't usually think about him, either! Other than this one story, I never write Xander-centric fic. This was mostly just what came to me when thinking of a response to the comment... but it turned out to be way too long for a comment, lol.

I personally saw him as the writer's self insert. Which I don't think is completely bad a thing.

You know, I thought of him that way at first, but the more I watch, the less I think that. I think he's definitely meant to be the "everyman" perspective, but the Buffyverse is so based in real issues (demons as a metaphor for life) that you don't really need an everyman. All the characters serve that purpose, by coping with real-life problems alongside the vampires. Sometimes battling your demons means financial problems, or relationship issues, or balancing school and work... and then sometimes it means, y'know, battling demons. :)

I did not like how he treated Anya. Except for one scene, I never got the feeling that Xander really cared for Anya.

I definitely don't think it was the healthiest relationship ever, because Anya was definitely way too clingy, and it made it too easy for Xander to take her for granted, but I do think he really cared for her. In fact, I think a lot of their problems would've been avoided if he didn't care - he never would've left her at the altar if he wasn't afraid of hurting her, or failing her. And I think a lot of the positive changes he made were for her - the new job and the new apartment, certainly, but also the self-awareness that he'd hurt her in s6. Why bother becoming a better person if he knows Anya will cling to him no matter what? I think it's because he wanted to be a better person for her.

But I will say that the way they are drawing him makes me more interested in him. He looks strong and confident and slightly angry.

Well, sure, because all their eye candy went over to AtS. :) Someone's gotta fill those shoes, and it ain't gonna be Andrew.