I figured that Joss wouldn't end the series without killing someone, and I was afraid it would be him. I was rather relieved to see Xander standing in the last scene.
me too.
I secretly hoped he would guest star in one of the last Angel episodes and Illyria would fall for him.
and then Angel would get all jealous, and they would have a big fight and end up in a nest of hot man lovin"
I think Angel would have been amused by the prospect and not bothered to warn Xander about it.
The conflict with Wesley would have been something to watch, though. And can you imagine the dialogue?
"It vexes me that I am oddly drawn to this mayfly-lived creature, rather than feeling the same intensity of disgust that I possess for the rest of you pathetic worms.
Fortuitous timing--I'm reading a review of the S2 DVDs, and saw this:
Willow entrusts Xander with the task of relaying this message to Buffy. Let’s just say, some of us are still waiting for its delivery. Xander had one moment to be a person, to keep a promise to his best friend and potentially save the life of Buffy’s love. He fails on every count. Did I mention, he’s not a morally-challenged vampire?
Not that I agree with the sentiment. I agree with Nutty and Hec.
FWIW, I totally agree with the reviewer. Xander done wrong. Doesn't mean he's evil, but humans do wrong. You admit it, you ask forgiveness and you promise to never do it again. And that is where Xander failed, in my eye. He never owned up.
He never owned up.
Yeah, I don't know. They really glossed over Giles' betrayal in "Helpless" by having him re-earn Buffy's respect off-screen during "The Zeppo."
Giles' almost got Buffy and her Mom killed by his direct actions. I don't see Xander's Lie as being nearly as bad or unambiguous. It was a grey area act of omission. Giles and Willow committed much worse betrayals as acts of comission, but fans wear their Favorite Goggles and that's how they view the show.
You're right, Hec. But right now, we're talking Xander and Willow and I think Xander has offended against Buffy more than Willow. Giles we'll save for another time. I gots beef with Giles. Specially season 7.
Giles' almost got Buffy and her Mom killed by his direct actions. I don't see Xander's Lie as being nearly as bad or unambiguous. It was a grey area act of omission. Giles and Willow committed much worse betrayals as acts of comission, but fans wear their Favorite Goggles and that's how they view the show.
Well, Giles was also doing His Job, in theory for an organized Greater Good, which makes something of a difference to me. Plus, the fallout of his actions brought us Wesley, so it's all good.
As for the lie, sure, it wasn't a physical act, but it wasn't an act of omission. He lied, flat out. Made something up. Told an untruth. Committed a falsehood. An act of omission would have been not saying that Willow said anything.
You're right, Hec. But right now, we're talking Xander and Willow and I think Xander has offended against Buffy more than Willow.
Assuming, of course, that trying to destroy the world is inoffensive.
Yeah, I gotta say, Willow wins that competition hands down, between the trying to destroy the world and the memory-wiping.
One can make a distinction of
against Buffy,
though. Xander did something to Buffy. Willow? Batshit trying to kill everyone. Sure, she tried to lay the smackdown on Buff, but it wasn't as simply personal as what Xander did.