The Zeppo (or how the Marx Brother no one remembers saved the day)

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Sorry this post is a bit late. Looks like our regular screencaps site is down for good. So many thanks to bloodqueen.com for stepping into the breach.

So, The Zeppo, another of season 3's many great comedy masterpieces, in which Xander (unknown to anyone) saves the day. Or at least co-saves the day

Comments

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I do feel a bit sorry for Xander in this episode, but not that much. He deals with the zombie situation so well, plus he gets to have sex for the first time. I think, despite everything, the day ends up making him feel better about himself. He doesn't, as far as I can see, hold it against the others that they kept him out of the loop. I guess he knows they didn't do it to hurt him, but to protect him (as they saw it), plus he knows that he didn't actually need protecting. He's good.

Speaking of Giles, the only thing I wish I had seen in the apocalypse plot was Giles' brave moment, the bravest thing Buffy's ever seen! I would have loved to see Giles the hero.

I fanwank to myself that it was whatever Giles did here (maybe he saved Angel's life?) that makes Buffy forgive him completely for what he did to her in Helpless.

[rebcake]

I pretty much love this episode. Thankfully, the hillbilly psychos aren't cannibals, which would have ruined it for me.

We're getting an alternate POV! So fun! Of course, the Buffy/Angel scene makes me laugh like a loon every time, and lets me know that the writers are as over that melodrama as I am. Although they rally nicely in "The Prom", I admit.

Also wonderful is the Xander and Oz convo:

XANDER: What is the essence of cool?
OZ: Not sure.
XANDER: I mean you yourself, Oz, are considered more or less cool. Why is that?
OZ: Am I?
XANDER: Is it about the talking? You know, the way you tend to express yourself in short, noncommittal phrases?
OZ: Could be.

I really feel the writer insert in places, but it makes me love it all the more. This version of Xander's hidden/inner life is so much more satisfying that his silly superhero/guitar god fantasy of S1.

I feel I should point out that Oz also saves the day, unbeknownst to even himself. Eac of our heroes gets to defeat evil in their own way...

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I pretty much love this episode.

Me too. If it weren't that it might lead people to think that Xander is secretly the hero of the piece, I would probably suggest it as a good jumping on episode for people who've never watched the show. It's funny, it's clever. It's got its poignant moments. It's just fun.

Thankfully, the hillbilly psychos aren't cannibals, which would have ruined it for me.

Yeah, me too.

[velvetwhip]

I like this episode. I can't call it a favorite, but I always enjoy it when I watch it.

Gabrielle

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I think this is actually one of my favourite season 3 episodes. I love pretty much all the MotW episodes in season 3. I also always enjoy the Xander-centric ones.

[devilscrayon]

Yup, I adore this episode. I have a soft spot for Xander so it's fun to see a whole episode through his eyes. Plus all the little comedic gems that have been pointed out.

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It is just...enormous fun. And also a timely reminder that, just because you're off somewhere quietly getting on with things on your own instead of fighting the apocalyptic hellbeast, it doesn't make you any less heroic.

I know Xander disposing of a bunch of evil (though very stupid) zombies isn't exactly 'normal', but in later seasons...

Well, someone has to mend the damn windows, don't they?

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One of the cleverest things about the Buffy/Angel scene in this episode is that we get not only out own POV as audience but also Xander's. Thus we're seeing things somewhat coloured by his own view. Buffy and Angel are a slightly OTT melodramatic couple, but seen through Xander's eyes that gets ramped up to eleventy here, with great comic effect. Xander's probably rolling his eyes at the drama all the time where those two are concerned.

In fact, we're seeing everything through the filter of Xander's POV, which is interesting on many levels - particularly when you bear in mind that there were, maybe still are, many fans of the show at the time it aired who saw it through the exact same filter, Xander being the character they identified with most strongly.