Buffy The Vampire Slayer 5x3 REACTION | The Replacement

[@rfresa]

It's kind of sweet that Anya was so sure the smarter, more confident Xander was the real one. She sees the best in him.

[@davidmernick7360]

Alternately, she chose the one who appeared to be able to give her nice things. Remember just last episode she asked him "Can we trade in the children for more cash?"

[@debbielough7754]

@@davidmernick7360 That's cynical. Anya really does love him. I agree that she doesn't see anything wrong when she's talking to the more confident Xander was because that's how she really sees him. She's done it before, in previous episodes, though this is the most obvious manifestation of it so far.

[@LetItSnow51]

I can’t believe they waited 5 seasons to take advantage of Nicholas having a twin, but it paid off. I really like this episode and the twist that each Xander was just different aspects of his personality.

[@johnmoreland6089]

Start watching closely how Buffy treats Riley. And a major (repetitive) clue happened in this episode: every time Riley has told Buffy he loves her, she never says it back. And they made sure to specifically show that he registered it this time.

[@Talisguy]

This is clearly something that weighs on him, but Buffy has struggled to say "I love you" or be vulnerable with anyone since Angelus broke her heart in season 2. We see her behaviour, we see the conclusions Riley draws and we get why, but bear in mind that Riley's perspective isn't necessarily "the truth" and her behaviour has other potential explanations which he largely does not consider.

[@ruth2141]

Joss Whedon did DVD commentary for Buffy 4x22, "Restless", where the name "Dawn" was first mentioned. The role was not yet cast and, as you say, Whedon was thinking of a younger age for the character. But when they were filming "Restless", Michelle Trachtenberg visited SMG on the set. They knew each other from being in a US soap opera together a few years earlier (All My Children?). SMG suggested that Whedon talk to Trachtenberg and he was impressed enough that he eventually cast her. At the time, she was 15, playing 14-year-old Dawn.

[@1pknail]

Not CGI. Nicholas Brendan has a twin who played the other Xander when they had to be on screen together.

[@williambowman2326]

An unappreciated plot line in Buffy is the examination of the duality within all of us. We have seen Giles/Ripper , Willow/Vampire Willow( that was the first foreshadowing of Willows bisexual self) and Buffy with both Faith & Joyce. It’s telling that the half of Xander that’s been mostly unseen is the confident, calculating, and admirable Xander. The question I have never answered to my satisfaction is Xander so damaged that he feels most.comfortable giving in to his failings and would rather wallow in self pity or that he is so unaware of himself and world that he thinks he is together because he is better than his useless family. Does Xander want to be the smart kid in the dumb class and not even trying is more comforting than failing? I have never settled on one and that might be the point. He is emotionally immature and refuses to grow and face the world. He is the opposite of Buffy and why she may love him but can not truly respect his choices .

[@debbielough7754]

I'd say it's that he's damaged - not in a way that he prefers to wallow in self pity or wants to give in, but in a way that he truly believes that's who he is. He's been so slammed down his entire life (at school as well as home) that he believes what he's been told, that he's useless and worthless and not capable of anything. I also believe that's why later events happen. It's all part of the same thing. He has a massive self sabotaging streak. It's a pretty common trait in abused kids, and it can take decades to pull yourself out of it, and then only if you're lucky. And in Restless it's fairly heavily implied, though not stated outright, that he was at the very least emotionally abused as a kid, and probably physically too. He's slowly starting to emerge from it, and I think that as an adult he'd get there eventually.

[@ferrisulf]

I love that the spell didn't have anything to do with Xander getting the apartment or the job. He had good credit and his experience in previous jobs impressed the boss.

[@davidmernick7360]

Yeah, Dawn was originally meant to be ten years old, but SMG recommended Michelle Trachtenberg as they were both previously on the soap opera All My Children prior to being on Buffy.

[@leniloubettyboopbossyboots247]

I always thought that the look on Xander's face at the end was him struggling not to show the great big "Huh?" that Riley's words gave him. But who knows?

[@itsreeeshaaa7560]

I love that we can always depend Spike on being Spike, no matter what. Lol Dawn is so annoying but I think it’s because I’m an only child. Lol

[@kirstonemmm1423]

Buffy loves what Riley is, but she doesn't love Riley.

[@killianlpc]

Again we have another Xander Centric episode like The Zeppo, this time is it's somewhat different. We've had body swaps, change of body etc throughout this show. This time it's a complete replica. Nicholas Brendons's actual twin brother stars here, which makes it even more compelling. An interesting view into potential other side of a someone's personality. The mundane flat hunting handled well that many can relate to. Another good S5 episode, not great but OK. There is so much better to come. George just be patient with the Dawn mystery.

[@johnmoreland6089]

Well, I wouldn't say Kelly "stars" as Nick played both Xanders that had any dialogue. Kelly was just the silent double in each scene except for their shared line, "Kill us both, Spock."

[@killianlpc]

@johnmoreland6089 I think he was credited as a Co-Star

[@nicksaysboo17]

One Xander was enough.

[@teatime4eva]

What do you mean who the hell is Dawn? Don’t you remember her being there all the time? How could you forget when Faith awoke from her coma and held Joyce and Dawn hostage?

[@MatthewSnell-zh3cd]

While I'm not a big Xander fan, this is a fun episode. Anya (of course) is comedy gold.

[@wolandbegemotazazello]

Dude, there is no one way a fourteen or fifteen year old acts as any teacher knows. As with adults, some fourteen year olds are more “mature", meaning some are less “mature”. And let’s not forget, the US army, based on testing, found most recruits to have the intellectual capabilities of an American seventh grader…Good job jumping to conclusions. Do the book by the cover thing too???

[@MatthewSnell-zh3cd]

@wolandbegemotazazello English is not your first language, then?

[@itsreeeshaaa7560]

Tbf Riley is about as interesting as Amazon box packing junk.