Season 2

Not attracted?

Definitely.

When She Was Bad

This episode is one you can definitely throw in the face of those that tell you "Xander isn't good enough for Buffy".
The first real B/X moment really occurs as soon as she sees Willow and Xander. The Willow/Xander near kiss is interrupted by a Vampire and then ultimately Buffy. The fact that Xander obviously got very close to Willow during the holiday, but then forgets about her when Buffy shows up, leads me to believe that Xander will never be happy in any relationship as long as Buffy is a part of his life. His future actions prove this.
On greeting Buffy, Xander hugs her twice, probably just happy she's back and also coping as much of a feel as he can.
Notice how when Buffy asks how their (Willow and Xander) summer was, Willow and Xander give out different replies. Her's is more or less an attempt at making it seem as if they got along great without her; after all Buffy is her rival for Xander's affections and she wants to believe that Xander can get by fine with just her. Xander's response is more of an appeal to Buffy implicating the opposite.

The scene in the Bronze just before "The Sexy Dance", shows how blind Xander becomes to Willow in Buffy's presense (the froth on the nose thing being ignored now). The whole dance scene, well it's not called sexy for nothing; it's probably the most sexual scene they've had so far, and that includes Buffy's scenes with Angel which were more tender and romantic (up until he bit her at least). Xander's reaction during it seems to be that he really knows what she is doing, he doesn't get into it at all. Buffy on the other hand knows she is doing something she shouldn't or normally wouldn't, and maybe in some ways that is what makes the scene so hot.
Well, of all the things she did in When she Was Bad this was by far the cruelest. Here she is leading on the boy that's responsible for her being alive, who latter stated that: "The remote impossible possibility you might like me was all that sustained me." If you don't believe that that is not as bad as anything Xander has ever said, then you don't have the right perspective. At the end of the episode Xander is quick to forgive Buffy, as if nothing ever happened. It just shows how much he cares about her.
One thing in this episode that never seems to be referred to, is Buffy's dream. This is a total X/B moment. I can't remember many Buffy dreams with Xander in them, maybe there are some I'll remember later on. Anyway, back to my point. In the dream sequence we get Xander's line: "Dreams are meaningful". Well if they are all Buffy's subsequent ones show how wrong Angel is for her. Can you remember a dream Buffy or Angel have had without either of them ending up hurt? I don't. Back to Xander's significance in this dream; notice how he makes Buffy smile and laugh, ("friends of your bosom!") a subconscious sign to her and us that Xander is good for her? Maybe.

Some Assembly Required

This episode contains probably one of my favourite B/X moments, the reason i think they are so good together. It's the scene in which Buffy and Xander mock Giles after catching him trying to ask out the Jenny chair. The scene goes pretty much like this:
Buffy: I guess we never realized how much you like that chair.
Giles: I-I-I was just working on... (knocks over a few books)
Buffy: Your pickup lines?
Giles: (bends down) Um, in a manner of speaking, yes. (picks up the books)
Buffy: Then if you wouldn't mind a little Gene and Roger, you might wanna leave off the 'idiot' part. Being called an idiot tends to take people out of the dating mood.
Xander: Hmm, it actually kinda turns me on. (looks at Buffy)
Buffy: (to Xander) I fear you. (goes to the table) You also might wanna avoid words like 'amenable' and 'indecorous', y'know. Speak English, not whatever they speak in, um...
Giles: England?
Buffy: Yeah. You just say, 'Hey, I got a thing, you maybe have a thing, maybe we could have a thing.'
Giles: (sarcastically) Oh, thank you, Cyrano.
Buffy: I'm not finished. Then you say, 'How do you feel about Mexican?'
Giles: About Mexicans?
Buffy: Mexican. Food. You take her for food, for which you then pay. (sits at the table)
Giles: Oh. Right.
Xander: So this chair-woman. We are talking Ms. Calendar, right?
Giles: W-what makes you think that?
Xander: (sits) Simple deduction. Ms. Calendar is reasonably dollsome, especially for someone in your age bracket. She already knows that you're a school librarian, so you don't have to worry about how to break that embarrassing news to her.
Buffy: And she's the only woman we've actually ever seen speak to you. Add it all up and it all spells 'duh'.
Xander: Now, is it time to have a talk about the facts of life?
Giles: You know, I'm suddenly deciding this is none of your business. (starts up the stairs)
Xander: Y'know, because that whole stork thing is a smoke screen.
Giles stops and looks back at him. Buffy LAUGHS to herself.
It just works really well, he makes her laugh, they both work off each other in mocking Giles. They both for that moment in time are happy, not thinking of all the issues that complicate their lives. Buffy could never be like that with Angel, and he could certainly never be happy. This scene again indicates that Buffy would really find true happiness in a relationship with Xander, and from there could develop a stronger love than existed with Angel. They are just so right together, they have a natural chemistry that makes whatever they do together seem just a bit more interesting/entertaining/amusing than any other couple.
We later come to the scene where Buffy and Xander see Angel and Cordy, which pretty much goes:
Buffy: Angel!
Angel: Xander.
Xander: Angel
It shows Angel's jealousy of Xander. It's pretty obvious that Angel resents Xander due to his friendship with Buffy and the fact he knows Xander loves her. But to me Angel also treats Xander as a threat; maybe he knows that Buffy does feel something for him. He virtually admits this in his confrontation (as Angelus) with Xander in Killed By Death.

Inca Mummy Girl

This is the episode that if Buffy and Xander ever happens will be considered IMO as where it mutually began. The final scene is what really (potentially) begins it all.
So, to the episode itself. It begins with the now common theme of Xander trying to keep Buffy from other guys, when he finds out Impada is male. Well there is obviously nothing he can do about it, but the he turns out to be the she-mummy and as you know he pretty much falls for her. It is here that Willow starts to get jealous and we get the scene in which she confides in Buffy. In this scene while going on about her feelings for Xander she tells Buffy: "At least with you I knew he never had a shot." To this Buffy exhibits a very subtle reaction that often occurs in talk of her and Xander, like she wants to get off the subject. This also happens in the graveyard scene of BBB. It pretty much seems to me that Xander and her feelings towards him are an issue she doesn't want to deal with, or think about. After all her life is complicated enough. Therefore maybe her feelings aren't as cut and dry as a lot of people feel. The scene also reinforces (to Buffy) how much Xander means to Willow, probably one of the major reasons she doesn't want to think of Xander "that way"
The next B/X moment occurs when Xander comes to pick up Impada. Much caring for each other is exhibited between the two during this scene, and how close they are takes away from Xander and Impada like nothing can get in front of Buffy to him. Her comment "You look good" and his "Be careful" while being more friendly than anything else, shows how much they care about each other. When Xander and Impada leave we get Joyce commenting how Impada is fitting in leaving Buffy thinking about a "normal life". Now some might say she may have been thinking of herself in Impada's place, but who knows?
The importance of the scene at the Bronze to B/X is the introduction of Oz as Willow's potential love interest. Presently it looks like Oz is being built up as the guy to take Xander's place in her heart. This has been shown in season 3, after Oz and Cordy found out about "The Fluke". Willow desperately wanted Oz, back whereas Xander more or less lost and let go of Cordy. It shows how strong their relationship is, and can be. I know a lot of people complain how Willow and Oz often don't seem like a couple, but they are done very subtly and you have to pick up on the small details. Also part of the reason is that the third season was so heavily based around Buffy and Angel (boring) that we got less insight and time spent with the other (more interesting) characters. Xander and Oz suffered most from this.
Back to the episode. A fact often pointed out by a lot of B/X'ers in arguments showing Buffy resents Xander's relationships is the whole "Mummy dearest" thing. I don't see it though. (she had good reason to not like Impada) That doesn't mean jealousy/resentment hasn't been implied latter on, especially through the Xander/Cordelia relationship.

The final scene is what I think sets the basis for a future Buffy/Xander relationship and carries on my idea of how they are being built up together. They walk together and Xander talks of Impada, he also, as usual when talking to Buffy about other love interests makes reference to his feelings to her. They stop, and this is where the following happens:
Buffy: I remember when I first heard of the prophecy I was gonna die; I wasn't exactly obsessed with doing the right thing.
Xander: But you did.
Buffy: And I had you to bring me back.
They then share a look, which lasts too long to just be considered `friendly`.
This scene is important in many ways, as it is the first time Buffy properly acknowledges what Xander did for her. It is with the look that I think she begins to see him differently. It's the first step in the realization that they are meant to be together. She sees how much he cares for her and thinks about him differently in that moment in time. The look itself is broken off in a shy manner, she looks down and they walk off. It seems here that she trys to block out of her mind what she was thinking in that instant, as she doesn't need her life to be more complicated than it is right now.
Notice this was the last episode before the full scale development of Buffy and Angel's relationship up until Surprise. Angel is completely absent and I don't think even mentioned. Xander and Buffy get closer in his absence, which is also shown in the events after Surprise.
One other thing; before this episode aired in the U.S SMG said: "Buffy is torn between safe Xander and dangerous Angel". Well this episode shows it to be true, as well as the fact that Buffy IS attracted to him. (A fact many B/A'ers deny)

Reptile Boy

Buffy thinks her relationship with Angel is going nowhere, (big surprise there) and seems to fall at the feet of the first smooth talking college guy she sees. (Who actually comes out with a load of corny lines) Again proves my theory that to make time with Buffy you just need to spout out cliches (Angel) or bad pick ups.
Can you guess? Yep Xander resented the College guy ("frying pan, fire?") and went off to try and protect her.

Halloween

Coming soon. There's quite a lot of B/X, but I haven't actually ever seen this ep.

What's My Line?

Xander is drifting apart from Buffy as her relationship with Angel grows. This can be seen from Reptile Boy onwards but struck me especially in this episode. His position in relation to the others (mainly Willow and Buffy) always makes him seem like he is being cut off, and he is pretty much being more and more ignored. Willow and Oz are starting out and Buffy and Angel is getting stronger. Kind of leaves Xander with no one, at least until Cordelia.
In this ep, Xander again shows how much he cares for Buffy by trying to find her and almost dying for it. A good comparison of feelings at this time is how Xander rushes off to save Buffy straight away, disappears for quite a while, yet his absence goes unnoticed. This is especially noticeable in Buffy who is more pre-occupied with Angel. It shows something which definitely is the case come the end of season 3 and that is how he appears to be no ones priority.

Ted

Not the most memorable episode; but when Buffy is accused of murder, Xander (and Willow) can't believe it is true and go out of their way to prove her innocence.

Bad Eggs

I'm getting a bit lazy from all this typing; but to cut a not so long story short, the scenes in Bad Eggs show how good the two of them are together. If i included every scene of the two of them from the first two seasons i'd be hear all day so I've skipped a lot out so far.
In Bad Eggs the scenes when they were analyzing the little creature thing, and then from waking up together in the closet onwards saved the episode. The "Something more" they seem to generate is what really saved this episode.

Surprise

The nail in the coffin of the Buffy/Angel relationship. It was the last time they were happy, confident (as they could get) and sure in each other's presence. At the beginning of this episode we get Buffy dreaming of Angel, and surprise surprise, he gets dusted. Buffy knows she dreams prophetic dreams and after all the bad ones she's had regarding her and Angel you'd of thought she realized they had no future long before he did. (The Prom) I wont go into dreams too much now, but there are theories about them which have been played out by Buffy and Angel in season 3.
Not really a B/X episode but Xander's thoughts on Buffy and Angel's future are pretty realistic; except with the knowledge they have now, I'd imagine they'd be more miserable. After all that's why Angel left. (Note-My thoughts on this subject are based on the fact that something stupid doesn't happen, like Angel turn human. I don't wanna get started, but Buffy isn't a little kids show where everything turns out ideally; and there's also loads of arguements as to why it would be wrong, but I won't get into it here.)
Back to Xander's thoughts. I'm surprised he actually came out and said them, his whole idea seemed like a fantasy you wouldn't normally share, but he did. (I pick her up in my private jet... and she cries.) It really does show how much Buffy has hurt him. He has offered his love to her, and she has rejected it for someone she could never have a future with. His feelings of resentment now come out and this is shown by his pleasure in her unhappiness with Angel. May seem a bit sadistic but we all have thoughts occasionally, that we are not proud of and this is just Xander's resentment of Buffy and her choices coming out. Notice how in his fantasy, his role is to come and rescue Buffy from her life with Angel; again this concurs with the protection/White Knight theme.

Innocence

This is where the relationships of the show begin to change for the rest of the season up until Becoming. Willow finds out about Xander and Cordy and their "best friends" relationship takes a turn for the worse. Willow is beginning to get serious with Oz, and Buffy starts getting closer to Xander. By the time we reach "Becoming" Buffy is really more the common link between Xander and Willow, who drift apart. At the same time Xander takes on more of a role of being the closest person in her life. It's easy to see this developing by episode. Is it also a sign that in Angel's absence Buffy uses Xander in the role he would usually fill?
Well, I'm getting ahead of myself here, it doesn't all happen in this episode, just begins too. The one area of this episode I would highlight is the exchange between Xander and Cordelia.
Cordy: You're always rushing off to die for your beloved Buffy, You'd never die for me.
Xander: But i might die from you.
He makes a joke out of her statement, like he won't admit it wasn't true. (I'm not saying he wouldn't though) It's really the first of many signs as to why it never worked and why he never fell in love with her. It pretty much comes down to Buffy in the end.
One thing I never noticed before untill it was pointed out in a post at The Bronze, is how Xander and Buffy defeated The Judge, while Buffy and Angel could not. Together they succeeded where B/A failed. Another one of the times through the three years that this has occured. Notice how Xander came up devised and arranged the implementation of the plan, but let Buffy carry it out. It's not like she was the only one who could have took him out, moreover that Xander let her, for her own good, so that she could get over some of the problems she felt she was the cause of.

Phases

Well, we all know what happened here. It's a Willow/Oz episode that is always primarily remembered for one thing. The scene that where I'm from sparked countless numbers of people, who didn't know what really was going to happen, to tell everyone how Buffy and Xander were getting together.
First though, there was the cute "punching" scene. Willow states how it used to be easy to know if a boy liked you, he'd punch you on the arm and run to his friends, cue Xander to come up to Buffy and lightly punch her on the arm, causing her to give him a funny look. Well we all know how Xander feels but it was nice how the scene was played out.
Now we come to the mortuary scene, the one that gives hope to everyone who wants to see Buffy and Xander get together. To me this "moment" can be put down with the one's from Inca Mummy Girl and Amends as times when there has been mutual evolution of the B/X relationship in a single instant. It is Buffy's realizations in these moments that allow her to now state that she loves Xander; (even if at the present time she doesn't, or wont admit, that she *loves* Xander) and it's from these scenes and what she discovers in them, that maybe one day there will be something more. And when the something more happens, the trust and knowledge gained over this period is likely to lead to a permanence about the relationship.
The moment itself occurs in certain stages, from Buffy's point of view. Xander rescues her by staking Theresa and Buffy is left contemplating Angel's actions. They then embrace and during it Xander try's to comfort her by stating "...he's not the same guy you knew." It's here where I feel that Buffy's feelings for Xander begin to develop again. It's a combination of things that does it. Firstly she realizes how much she means to him; here is the guy who would admit he hated Angel long before he changed, trying to convince and reassure her, by admitting that Angel/Angelus are two completely different people. After this comes the fact that she knows the Xander will always be Xander; she never needs to worry, he wont be able to hurt her like Angel inadvertently did, yet he'll always care for her just as much. It's from the look and near kiss that that you can tell she's found out these things and their relationship has developed.
Notice how after the near kiss she leaves very quickly and doesn't utter a word, not even a "Thank you". This is symbolic of the change in her feelings, feelings she can't at this time deal with, or allow to complicate her life. They are therefore, more or less blocked out and not fully accepted.
Want to know how this scene really went? There was some pretty extensive editing done to the scene, it actually really went like this.
They continue to HUG. A little too long. They pull apart a bit and look at each other.
BUFFY: Xander-- Uh-oh. BUFFY (cont'd): Thanks.
Xander smiles. Finally, they break. Buffy composes herself.
BUFFY (cont'd): Well. I've got a lot to do tonight.
XANDER: Yeah.
BUFFY: I should probably go do it.
She heads out. Xander watches after her, then follows, MUMBLING and SHAKING HIS HEAD.
XANDER: Oh, no. My life's not too complicated...
I only recently found this out, and imagine if they had left this scene complete it would no longer be a question whether Buffy is attracted to Xander. It goes back to a theory that I have that the writers don't want anyone to be sure, and this has worked. The ever increasing numbers of B/X'ers think she definitely is. The non 'shippers (probably the majority) will admit that there have always been some signs of something more between the two. The B/A'ers will point out that she isn't attracted to Xander. The fact that this scene was ever written though, has to be considered proof that B/X go deeper than just friends.

Bewitched,Bothered,Bewildered

Very much a B/X episode done in a subtle way, and in the backdrop of what is a Xander/Cordy episode. It shows many things, how Buffy and Xander are getting closer, that he loves as opposed to lusts for her, that he and Cordelia will never work and there are also major hints towards a future Buffy/Xander relationship.
The first scene is very much B/X territory and one of my favourite ever scenes. Right off it shows how Buffy and Xander are getting closer, in Angel's absence it is Xander that keeps her company through patrol. But instead of the usual B/A graveyard/patrol angst we usually and in the future see a lot of, their conversation is without worry or issues, they talk like two friends would. We first see his the heart he's holding close up together with her in the background, well you can guess what that's meant to me. He then asks her about it, after all she is the only girl from whom he could get an opinion, and it shows how much he values it. She exhibits a little jealousy that is more implied rather than expressed in her response: "Does she even know what one of these is?" If she had no feeling over the issue, her words would be different, after all that's what friends do. (Willows attitude towards Angel and Buffy coming out +ve when talking to Buffy, but her real feelings being different, is an example of this.) Her next statement though is an example of Buffy's need (which she probably isn't conscious of) to be the centre of Xander's attention; a situation she has been familiar with, but has taken for granted, since she arrived in Sunnydale. Not a theory mentioned much but there is a lot of evidence in the future to back it up. It comes from the line: "I just think you could find somebody more, better," They both know he has already found someone better, who he really wants to be with. Xander placates Buffy in the response: "The only other girl I'm interested is unavailable." This gets the usual shy response from Buffy; she looks down and then doesn't raise her eyes 'till he changes the subject. This is again evidence, as I've mentioned before, of Buffy's lack of comfort with the idea of Xander and her. She likes it how it is now, with him devoted to her with no responsibility on her part; but at the same time she is unsure of her true feelings and does her best to avoid dealing with and discovering them.
There is a lot more to this scene that I didn't notice before. It includes the passionate way she toyed with and killed the Vampire in an attempt to attract Xander's attention and prove a point; the image of Buffy and Xander together against the cross, (The cross being a symbol of pure love, burden, and a positive journey, which applies to B/X) and Buffy implying she needs to move on. Actually, just go to Shalazar's BBB review and it'll have you convinced of the symbolism as well as the whole future B/X thing. The main review page can be found in my links.
One thing to notice about Angel is how easily he can disrupt love. From previous episodes we know Spike and Dru are very much in love; but when Angel comes back on the scene, he disrupts their feelings so easily like he's doing it at will. Dru even comments: "Angel always knows what speaks to a girls heart." This is a parallel to the good Angel/Buffy situation. All signs point toward Xander but Angel's presence disrupts anything Buffy and Xander can actually have.
The next B/X scene is the one where she first comes on to him. At first he does not know it's down to the spell, so he's not going to knock her back. There are two important aspects to this scene. Firstly it is how quickly he forgets about Cordelia when his one true love comes on to him. The next is that they get close to kissing, but actually don't. This is something I've noticed a lot; there's been the Phases near kiss, them doing everything but actually kiss in the WSWB sexy dance, and a scene in the Pack where Xander roughly kisses her, which got edited out. Also compare this scene to the one Willow comes on to him. It's much stronger and goes further, she kisses him then bites his ear. It's here where I really start to feel that if Xander ended up with anyone it would be Buffy not Willow. The fact that they've often got so close, (Buffy and Xander) but her lips have never touched him, leads me to believe that Joss is waiting for the right time for it to happen, when it will REALLY happen and be down to love, not Hyena's, magic or attempts at jealousy.
In the next B/X scene Xander really comes through, proving his true feelings for Buffy. The dialogue:
Xander: Sometime the remote, impossible possibility you might like me was all that sustained me. But not now, not like this. This isn't the real you. If I thought you had one idea how much this would mean to me, but you don't... So I can't."
says it all. He really shows a lot of maturity for a 17 year old boy, and his "real you" comment shows what he is in love with. The one thing I noticed is the double negative in his little speech; if something is remotely impossible, it is therefore highly possible; or if an impossible possibility is remote then it becomes highly possible. BTVS is so full of hidden messages; I just wonder if this is one of them, or just down to bad writing.
The final B/X scene is important; it's also rare because it is like a spoken "moment". Firstly they stop dead in front of the "Opportunity" poster which becomes very noticeable in the background. This is likely a sign of things to come; remember the "In loving memory" one in Bad Eggs after Buffy and Angel discuss their future. This was the last episode before Surprise. We also find out that Buffy remembers what she did, and what Xander said. As she states, this obviously meant a lot to her; She now knows how Xander really feels about her, even if she doesn't return his love she still has the comfort of knowing it exists, which deep down she craves. This is another step towards a Buffy/Xander relationship. Her last words, "There might just be hope for you yet." are very symbolic of this, and unusually forward for her, when discussing matters regarding Xander.

Passion

Angel's speech on "passion ruling us all" is done right through Buffy and Xander dancing, guess he was talking more of what was going on on Xander's behalf. The dance IS supposed to be just "friendly", well in that case it seemed just a bit over-acted to me.

Killed By Death

Best known as the "White Knight" episode, and pretty high on Buffy/Xander content. We get the first scene where Xander again try's his best to protect Buffy. (Throwing the coat over Angel, then laying into him.) We then have him carrying her into the hospital and staying with her through the whole time. It's a sign of how much she needs him; this is even played out at the end where she falls back on Xander for support. If it hadn't been for Xander, Buffy couldn't have made it out of this episode in the way she did. It mirrors Prophecy Girl in that way.
There are many important scenes in ep, the major one being the Xander/Angel confrontation in the hospital. The scene went like this:
Xander: "Visiting hours are over."
Angel: "Well I'm pretty much family."
Xander: "Yeah well you can come back during the day..."
Angel: "If I decide to walk into Buffy's room, do you think for one microsecond you could stop me?"
Xander: "Maybe not. Maybe that security guard couldnt either. Or those cops, or the orderlies. But Im kinda curious to find out. You game?"
Angel: "Buffy's white knight. You still love her. It must just eat you up that I got there first."
Xander: "Youre gonna die. And I'm gonna be there."
Angel: "Tell her I stopped by."
Apart from the obviously extreme bravery Xander exhibits here, there are a number of other important factors to come out of this scene. Firstly it continues in showing how Xander is vital to Buffy ; ("they're meant to be") if Xander hadn't been there Angel would have walked right into her room and killed her. Xander has prevented this from happening much like he prevented her death in PG. There is also the near admission by Angel that he felt that Buffy had feelings for Xander. This is shown in his line "Buffy's white knight. You still love her. It must just eat you up that I got there first." It's in the "got there first" that shows this. It also shows why Angel used to be so jealous of Xander and the fact that he disliked him right up until he left. Xander was obviously always a threat to Angel. Also, don't you think Angel, (if he didn't feel that deep down Buffy had feelings for Xander) would have really rubbed his face in the fact that HE (Angel) got Buffy, that she didn't care about him? The other important aspects of this scene is that Buffy never finds out that it happened. This is a regular occurence when Xander shows with his actions how much he loves Buffy. Prophecy Girl (with Xander forcing Angel to help him) is an other example of one of Xander's finest moments that Buffy never finds out about. This leads me to believe that they are waiting for the one day when she actually will and they end up together.
The penultimate scene re-affirms Xander's role in this episode as the person Buffy needs to help her get through it. First he provides support, in helping her get to the basement so that she can meet the Kinderstadt. (notice her line: "WE need to go to the basement") Then there is the the confirmation of his role by her leaning on him once the Kinderstadt is defeated. Their closeness in the end was extremely well done. (They walked off together with Xander's line "You're not gonna yak on me? Are ya?) I don't know what it was, (after all it wasn't the most pleasant of lines) but the way he said it, in such a soft and caring tone was what got me.
The final scene with Buffy and Xander in the bed with Willow sitting on a chair at the side highlighted the state of relationships at the time. Not so long ago it would have been Xander in the chair, but his position now indicates how recent events have pulled Buffy and Xander closer together.
To see even more B/X symbolism, how the Kinderstadt represented Angel and how B/X going down to the basement mirrored X/C read Shalazar's KBD review.

Go Fish

The last episode before the season finale, which pointed out how close Buffy and Xander had become before the events of Becoming.
The first thing I noticed that seemed a little strange was Xander's line "Why can't Buffy be here to share my moral outrage about swim team perks." This seemed pretty dumb on his part; he said it right in front of Cordelia, the girl he is supposed to be dating. It just shows what he really wants; he wants Buffy to be there so that he can score points with her, it's a sign of where his heart really is.
We then get the "Not under much" scene where you know that Buffy isn't thinking the most pure thoughts when she first checks him out. Xander joins the team in order for him to help out Buffy; showing how they are beginning to work as a pair. The fact they are working together more is highlighted in the scene where he tags her, and in the scene where he rescues her. This is unusual for Buffy as she is usually adamant that she works alone. But since Angel left, Buffy and Xander have been getting much closer; to the extent she wants him around, to be close to her. She never admits it, but she never states that Xander shouldn't be around; like she has in the past and does in the future. This is reinforced in their last act together, before things changed in Becoming. The scene where Xander rescues Buffy is very representative of their "togetherness". He states: "Just doing my part for our team" A team is definitely what they have recently become, more now than ever before.

Becoming

Really the episodes that directly and indirectly, caused many of the problems that occurred through Season 3.
We begin with the last act of Buffy and Xander at the closest they've been. (except for individual moments such as Amends and GD1) They fight Vampires together in the graveyard; well actually Buffy fights Vampires and Xander gets his ass kicked, but that's not the point, they are doing it together, much like B/A later do. How close Buffy is feeling to Xander at this time is highlighted in her statement: "You don't HAVE to patrol with me" She is not telling him (which is more the usual) to not patrol with her, she is just doing what is considered right by saying he doesn't have to. It's an obvious sign that she really wants him around and is comforted in his presence, he is slowly taking Angel's place in her heart, which eventually he probably permanently will do.
Everything they've built up in the time Angel has been gone gets knocked down with the revelation that Angel's soul can be restored. Xander's reaction, well I'd be lying if I said that part of it wasn't motivated by jealousy and ressentment of Angel. But part of it is also the fact the fact that Angel is an accident waiting to happen, a liability that can and has caused his beloved Buffy misery, aswell as the effects on the likes of Miss Calender. Buffy's reaction to the news comes with mixed motives aswell. Part of it is right, Angel himself is not responsible for any of the terrible things his demon has done (assuming he thought he couldn't lose his soul). But her motives are also selfish at the same time, she wants Angel back for herself no matter what potential misery and danger he can cause. The dialogue:
Xander: Who cares?
Buffy: I care.
highlights how their views are completely opposite. The fact that both think they are 100% correct and can't accept the others point of view is what really hurts the relationship; because the result of this is that they very much hurt each other. It is partially as a result of this confrontation, that Buffy feels she needs to leave at the end. The person closest to her at this point in her life can't and won't accept her feelings on the issue, so she can't talk to him about it. From Xander's point of view it appears that the person he is most close to at this time in his life forgets about him and his feelings at the thought of the person that used to fulfill his new found role. This leaves him to question himself, Was I ever that close to her in the first place? It is the fact that they never get to talk over these issues that causes their confrontation in Dead Man's Party.
Seeing of this is a pro B/X page you'd probably expect me to get into "the lie". Well i don't need to as though maybe his previous action was partially motivated by jealousy, but Joss has stated that the lie WASN'T. Therefore I don't need to go into it. All that needs to be said is that the lie WAS meant to protect Buffy from herself. Again we get the common protection theme and another example of how much Xander cares for Buffy.

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