Aleen SimmsWatching Buffy season 3. The older I get, the more I hate Xander.
Andrew Rushton@aleen I think he's the height of when the 'Friend Zone' trope was still largely acceptable. And I think since then we've become increasingly aware of how harmful, and idiotic, that trope is. I think his best season is Season 6. I know Jason doesn't like it, but I think it's the best. I mean, platonic male-female friendship saves the World, what's not to love?
@arushton I've only seen bits and pieces of seasons 5-7. My problem with Xander is that he's so emblematic of the insecure dude (often cruel in his jokes, resentful because he's not in the spotlight), and we're supposed to celebrate him.
@aleen Agreed on all counts, especially early seasons. His character grows in the later seasons, I can't recall with enough clarity to say he stops being problematic, I'm sure he still is in many ways. But he does grow. To your point though, how many 'nice guys' grew up thinking Xander was a good model for behavior? And, yeah, it's probably way too many.