I should have a Xander icon...
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
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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.
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