Where it all began.Xander fell in love...
Buffy knocked him back....
But he still risked his life to rescue her when she needed him.
SEASON 1
Xander fell in love... Buffy knocked him back.... But he still risked his life to rescue her when she needed him.
Where it all began.
Welcome to the Hellmouth.
Pretty much set the ongoing theme between Buffy and Xander for the next three seasons. Xander saw Buffy and more or less fell for her straight away (Shown by the "Can I have you?" scene and the crashing into the stair railing). It was more of an initial lust thing, but as has been seen, it quickly grew to love. Buffy for her part just kind of laughed at Xander, didn't take him too seriously and certainly didn't fall for him like he had for her. Thought- Is it me or is Xander the only guy that has exhibited anything near a normal reaction when meeting, and later talking to Buffy? Probably why she never fell for him, like she has nearly every other guy she's been approached by. Just look at it, Owen, the college guy from Reptile Boy, Angel, Scott Hope, all hit her with the smooth talk and she fell for it. Poor Xander reacts in pretty much 16-year-old teenage boy, lacking in confidence fashion and gets/has got nowhere. It's kind of why I've always rooted for him.
The Harvest
Xander (and Willow) find out the whole truth about Buffy and her life but stick by her. And as the episode unfolds one now running theme emerges and that's Xander's desire to try and protect Buffy.
The following dialogue is representative of this; but also gives the first insight into how Xander feels Buffy views him, another running theme.
Xander: So, what's the plan? We saddle up, right?
Buffy: There's no 'we', okay? I'm the Slayer, and you're not.
Xander: I knew you'd throw that back in my face.
Buffy: Xander, this is deeply dangerous.
Xander: I'm inadequate. That's fine. I'm less than a man.
And purely on the `Xander's better than dead boy front`, we have this:
Xander: Did you see anything?
Buffy: (exhales in fright) Xander, what are you doing here?!
Xander: Something stupid. I followed you.
Buffy: Well, you...
Xander: (interrupts) I couldn't just sit at home and do nothing.
Buffy: I understand. Now, go away!
Xander: No!
Buffy: Xander, you're gonna have to.
Xander: Look, Jesse's my bud, okay? If I can help him out, that's what
I gotta do.
And guess who was "afraid"? Yep the guy who fell in love at first sight of Buffy, but had forgotten what she looked like by the time she reached Sunnydale. (Angel if you're still guessing)
And finally at the end of the confrontation, Xander helps Buffy out the sewer; the first of many times he rescues her.
The Witch
Xander gives Buffy the "Yours always" bracelet, which in some ways he has ALWAYS been. It is a strong sign of his feelings, even if Buffy didn't seem to notice. She shows this later on in the scene where she's kind of drunk:
Buffy: I just got kicked off the team, didn't I?
Xander: I don't think it was your fault.
Buffy: Hmm, I know you don't, that's 'cause you're my friend. You're my
Xander-shaped friend! (leans her head on his shoulder) Do you have any
idea why I love you so, Xander?
Willow: We gotta to get her to a...
Xander: (stops Willow with a gesture) Let her speak!
Buffy: I'll tell you! You're not like other boys at all.
Xander: Well...
Buffy: You are totally, and completely one of the girls! (to Willow)
I'm that comfy with him.
This more or less shows how she felt about him at that time. You can also take it as her true feelings as she was under the influence when she spoke them. This doesn't mean that later on there have been signs of her attitude changing though, even though she still maintains she sees Xander as a friend, the way it's stated has become less and less blunt and believable throughout the 3 seasons, to a point where you can't really tell.
Teachers Pet
Xander dreams of Buffy, the way he'd love things to be, and again the theme of protection comes through. He is soon broken out of it, (by Buffy of course) and in the real world looks quite the fool in front of her, (the drool thing) highlighting how different things are between his dreams and actual reality.
Then Miss French comes long. Buffy finds out she's an insect and tries to warn Xander. The following ensues:
Xander: It doesn't sound weird at all, I completely understand. I've
met someone, and you're jealous.
Buffy: What?
Which leads to.....
Xander: She's not an insect! She's a woman, okay? And hard as that may
be for you to conceive, an actual woman finds me attractive. I realize
it's no mystery guy handing out leather jackets, and while we're on the
subject, what kind of a girlie name is 'Angel' anyway?
Buffy: What does that have to do with...
Xander: Nothing! It just kinda bugs me. Look, I really gotta...
He walks off. Buffy turns and watches him go.
Buffy: Wha...?
Well again this shows the beginning of another running theme, Xander's resentment of Angel. The scene is also a good representation of current feelings. Xander is hoping that Buffy is jealous, that she cares, like he does. But her reaction is again evidence of her lack of thought toward Xander relationshipwise. She doesn't even get what she is meant to be jealous of, and if she does thinks it's crazy. The "What?" shows this. In the end it is actually Xander's feeling of jealousy that comes out.
The next B/X scene occurs with Xander relating the attentions of Miss French back to Buffy. (The whole "I love Buffy" thing) It shows how his feelings are deepening in that he relates anything to do with romance back to her.
Apart from being one of my favourite ever episodes, it's a complete Buffy/Xander show. You probably don't care, but this episode is written by the same two guys who wrote Inca Mummy Girl, another very pro Buffy and Xander ep. Never Kill A Boy On A First Date
I was going to leave this one out, as this is taking ages, but if you're going to do something do it properly I guess. Xander: You're acting a little overly, aren't you? I mean, you could
have any guy in school.
Xander: No, see, what you need is a guy who already knows your deepest,
darkest secrets and still says, 'Hey! I like that girl!' Someone like...
I Robot You Jane
Not much here, but the scene where Buffy and Xander talk about Willow and Malcolm is an example how they are good together. Thyey really do have a thing, I just wish I could explain it properly.
Nightmares
The main B/X emphasis here is when Buffy becomes a Vamp. Xander is the first to walk up to her even though they don't know if she is a real Vampire or not. This in a way mirrors Buffy's reaction to Vamp Angel in What's my Line?. ("I didn't even notice") Prophecy Girl
One of the top B/X episodes, written by Joss Whedon incidentallly.
We start of with a common occurrence, Xander cheering up Buffy, ("we're not in class") but then Xander becomes a Hyena, starts acting mean. It's here that it gets interesting from a B/X and general episode point of view. I don't know what kind of knowledge Matt Kiene & Joe Reinkmeyer (the writers) have of Biology and Animal behaviour but if they do have any, a certain scene indicates Buffy's attraction to Xander.
Taking it from the first scene at The Bronze. Xander (as a Hyena) comes in and goes straight to Buffy side, takes her food and acts in a way like she is his mate. He also sniffs her hair and comments that she's taken a bath. This is obviously reference to the fact that her natural scent is masked and he can't detect the pheromones that we all subconsciously give off, but don't have the sense of smell to consciously detect. A hyena would though. (As you probably know a canine's sense of smell is way more developed than ours, for example a bloodhounds is 1,000,000 times more sensitive.) This fact becomes important in a latter scene.
That scene is where Xander corners Buffy. As well as learning his most basic wants and desires, it shows something about her. The line: "'till Willow... stops kidding herself.... that I could settle for anyone but you." is important as it shows that Xander in his most primitive state admitting how he really feels wants he Buffy, no one else. This could explain why he has never settled in any relationship so far. The other important line could be considered proof that Buffy is attracted to Xander. "Do you know how long I've waited until you'd stop pretending we weren't attracted." Xander here is obviously detecting the pheromones Buffy is giving off subconsciously and can tell she is attracted to him. So there you go, real proof, whether it's down to the mean Xander or just Xander himself it shows that Buffy is probably attracted to Xander but denies her feelings.
This reason why could be explained by the scene in the Bronze earlier where Buffy for the first time calls on Willows love for Xander. ("You got it bad girl!") Does she not act on her (potential) feelings for Xander because she knows how Willow feels about him? Probably. Though Deadboy is also a big factor.
At the end Buffy comments that normal Xander is definitely "superior". Well she seemed to dig them both, but in different ways. One final thing, though I've stated in previous episodes that Buffy doesn't think of Xander relationshipwise, yet. That doesn't mean she isn't attracted to him.
This episode is by the other pair of seemingly pro B/X writers, Rob Des Hotel & Dean Batali (responsible for Phases and Killed by death). There are some instances again in this episode of the common theme of Xander trying to appeal to Buffy, while she ignores him:
Buffy: He's not any guy. He's more... Oweny.
Xander: Sure, he's got a certain Owenosity, but that's not hard to
find. (they reach his locker) I mean, a lotta guys read. (with a goofy
smile) I can read.
and
Buffy: (watches him go) Tonight! Isn't that so?
Xander: What?
Buffy: (dreamily) Me and Owen! (walks off)
Xander: (feeling down) Yeah, so it is. (closes his locker) It sure is
so. (You've got to feel sorry for him)
These scenes show it.
Xander is also shown trying to protect Buffy (again) but this time from the evils of other guys that aren't him. This is shown when Owen comes to pick up Buffy.
Nothing much else, except at the end with Xander again reaching out to Buffy and being ignored:
Buffy: (sees Owen) Owen!
We also learn that Xander was still attracted to Buffy even with a Vampire face. (You still dug her right?....I need professional help.) This is a knockdown to the "Xander lusts after Buffy" crew, as it shows he sees something else special inside her, he isn't just attracted by her looks.
Well we have the famous rejection scene first. Xander has been practicing asking Buffy out to the Prom and eventually gets round to doing it. To say Buffys rejection is blunt would be an understatement:
Xander: You either feel a thing or you don't
Buffy: I don't.
I could try and make excuses, but at the time, it pretty much seems like she's telling the truth.
This makes Xander's actions later on, all the more impressive. He takes the break up hard.
Xander finds out about the Prophecy and immediately goes to Buffys aid. Sometimes I don't think people get how brave his actions were. This is a 16 year old BOY, with his whole life ahead of him, risking HIS life for a girl that just broke his heart for an undead demon. No he doesn't love her; it's just lust.
The way that this is played out though, is one of the things that convinces me Joss is pro B/X. I mean if he always intended Angel to be Buffy's eternal love why make him out to look so bad here. First he is reluctant to help Buffy, (the girl he's "loved" since her L.A days) causing Xander to force him with the cross in the scene where Angel states that Xander loves Buffy. Notice Angel is scared of what might happen to him, Xander only cares about Buffy. This is shown in the same scene where Angel warns Xander of the masters' strength. (He'd kill you before you could breathe)
Then, Xander is the person who saves Buffy, with Angel rendered useless. It's this scene (Xander?.....Welcome back) that sets up a link between B/X from which I think her feelings have grown. It could also be interpreted as a long term sign that Buffy doesn't need Angel, but Xander is vital to her, he's the reason she's still alive. If you think about it, this is being played out at the moment (in season 3) with Angel leaving, Xander becoming "Key guy" in Graduation2 and the whole "I don't want to lose you" in Graduation 1. But then again maybe I'm looking to deeply into it. (But Joss did write all three of those episodes).
All in all the is a great episode and it created a connection between Buffy and Xander that was really only acknowledged at the end of Inca Mummy Girl, with "the look", and has grown since then.
Season 3
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