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

[dragonflylady77]

I really enjoyed this post and all the comments because it made me think. Which is good. I'm not an overly analytical person so thank you for making me think about Xander for a change!! ^_^

[eowyn_315]

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Always good to make people think. :)

[moscow_watcher]

I think Xander's attitude to Spike has radically changed after Selfless. I also think his overall attitude to life changed after he realized that he can't stop loving Anya even when she's a demon.

As to fics, I totally adore Shadowscast's stuff. I think she writes the best Xander.

http://shadowscast.popullus.net/fiction_list.html#Buffy

[eowyn_315]

Yeah, that's a good point, too. Xander's anti-demon stance was always a little shaky because of his relationship with Anya, but at least he could say, "Well, she's human now and that's what matters." But realizing that he still loves her, even when she's a demon, even when she's in the midst of a massacre, he really, really can't judge Spike anymore. Also, Buffy's "I have to kill Anya" probably gave him a taste of his own medicine, after all the times he's suggested Buffy should kill Angel or Spike.

I haven't read much of Shadowcast's stuff, but I do remember Sock Puppet, and it's excellent.

[mpoetess]

Over from su_herald to give this analysis massive love. Hell, I'm a Xander/Spike shipper and I could never quite ferret out how things work in season 7, and why Xander might give Spike credit for his soul when he never did for Angel. Your rationale about the BS split-personality view vs. the evidence of change clicks perfectly for me.

(As do your comments to dawnofme about Xander/Anya.)

[eowyn_315]

Thanks for the love! I'm glad my thoughts made sense. :)

[deird1]

Gotta say, I think the episode Selfless did a lot to change his attitude towards Spike. I just love watching that argument - with Buffy and him getting more and more vehement and angry, and then Buffy says "I killed Angel!" (and FINALLY brings up Xander's lie), and he just seems so incredibly shocked.
After that, about the closest he ever gets to questioning Buffy's decisions is "Buff, I'm trying to see your point. But I think it must be to my left," in Empty Places.

[eowyn_315]

Yeah, Xander's comment to Buffy in "Empty Places" is pretty cold, but I'm not so sure it's totally undeserved. She did lead them all into a slaughter, when even a five-year-old could tell it was a trap, and plenty of people told her that. Granted, her instincts turned out to be right, but I can't really blame them for not believing her when she insisted they had to go back.

[lycomingst]

I've always been a Xander enthusiast. It's great to read this lovely meta about him. The idea of his climbing up only to be knocked down again is something I can see.

Thanks for this great piece.

[eowyn_315]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)