What does it mean to be a Man? "The Zeppo" REACTION | Buffy The Vampire Slayer 3x13 (Commentary)

[@troikas3353]

Xanders subdued “I like the quiet” line hits harder in the context of what we know about his home life.

[@daphneglasurus7886]

And why he avoids fighting with jokes. Too much fighting in his life already way before Buffy came into his life. He probably was on the receiving end of that physically too.

[@jspettifer]

@@daphneglasurus7886There’s so many times he tries to defuse any situation with a quip. Whether danger or getting to emotionally close

[@Atomic0range]

Just in case you missed the reference, the title “The Zeppo” refers to Zeppo Marx, the fourth Marx brother, who often played the straight man in their comedy team. He never gets to shine in their movies, is never the funniest, never really cracks a joke even. But the others are funnier because he’s there, he enables the other three in a way that is very selfless, by being the butt of the joke. They succeed because he’s there supporting them.

[@JhadeSagrav]

Beautifully put

[@williambowman2326]

exactly. That’s the reason the episode is called Zeppo. The other interesting thing about Zeppo Marx was that he no longer made movies after duck soup and yet the three Marx brothers were never as critically considered as great nor has their movies held up as much as the ones with Zeppo. There’s actually a phrase in Hollywood called the Zeppo factor. It’s about certain actors that are in big hit movies if for some reason, make the whole film work.

[@jesseedmondson2861]

I always wondered what I was missing with that reference. Thanks.

[@rockibirch4477]

For Cordelia to be the one to make the reference always felt off to me. I can't imagine her knowing much about the Marx Brothers. But, she's shown us over and over again that she has layers. 🤷‍♀

[@williambowman2326]

@ Ahe does not have to know The Marx Brothers but Hollywood Entertainment media. It’s a phrase about a seemingly worthless peace of a group without people knowing the origins. I remember first hearing it sometime after the death of Frank Sinatra. They used to be a Zeppo or the Zeppo effect about Peter Lawford and The Rat Pack. Until I learned latter I thought it was a silly name using the letter Z saying it’s the last of the alphabet and not much use.

[@Itsjandz105]

I love how in this episode the B plot is the end of the world story.

[@melissapouliot467]

I love how selfless Xander can be, offering help yet never demanding to be explained what's going on as he sees how busy and stressed they all are. He doesn't make it about himself and helps in his own ways.

[@ruth2141]

I saw this when it first aired and immediately was reminded of a 1960s play by British writer Tom Stoppard called "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead", which I had seen onstage. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are two side characters from Shakespeare's "Hamlet", total non-entities who only have a few minutes of on-stage time. Stoppard's play makes them the main focus. They are onstage the entire time, mostly talking with each other about life and metaphysical matters. At points when they would have been onstage in Hamlet, the "main" characters from Hamlet enter and they enact bits of Shakespeare's scenes. The whole thing is really meta and artsy, but one message you might take from it is that everyone is the main character of their own story. The play was made into a film in 1990, so the Buffy writers would probably have been familiar with it.

[@rachaelknudsen8801]

So need to read and see that.

[@lynnevetter]

Love it🎉

[@gjits5307]

I'm personally convinced that this episode is meant to lampoon what non-fans (myself included) thought about the series at the time. (Channel surfers, early online fandom exposure, having that one friend that was way into the series, or catching the occasional last 10 minutes while waiting for The Simpsons or Dawson's Creek or whatever) ●Buffy/Angel melodrama turned up to 11 to which Xander (the viewer) slowly backs away from ●A(nother) looming apocalypse, underexplained ●Also a monster of the week ●A mix of great and questionable special effects ●A token effort "previously on" that always makes me laugh ●Everyone (besides Xander) has superpowers ●Buffy changed her hair! ●Camp factor extra dialed in and so on. It was a hard show to "get into" in the context of broadcast / syndicated television. Xander's having problems feeling secure in his attachment to the group when he doesn't know enough, doesn't have any help, and has way too much going on. The prospective viewer has similar problems attaching to the cast of characters when they don't know enough, don't have any help, and when there's way too much going on. The show being perceived as "for girls" also has parallels to Xander's simmering crisis of masculinity - an added barrier to a lot of people getting into the show / an added barrier for Xander's self-actualization

[@TacticusPrime]

I wish they had kept Dan Vebber around to write more episodes. It seems like he really got how to make Xander work as a character. Unfortunately, Joss' self-insert couldn't grow more than Joss did.

[@Ulriquinho]

This is one of the episodes, and probably the first one, that informs my defence of Xander. Like he wrestles with toxic masculinity surrounded by constant role reversal in a society that tells him he is not living up to a man’s role-and comes to terms with that. I think it is such a healthy character arc to show on tv. Does he continue to make mistakes based on his flawed toxic masculinity? Yeah, he does. But they are all well rounded flawed characters and he really shows that a) men can have women friends, and b) men can be the most vulnerable person in a group of powerful women and still be secure in themselves (as a character arc, obviously he doesn’t start off that way). I think that is a powerful message on masculinity. It is much more interesting to see as a character arc from toxic to confident masculinity and that undoing that messaging is a constant work in progress.

[@StewNWT]

No. Xander does NOT improve from his toxic masculinity. He is the worst friend and most insecure snake on the show

[@spikezcrypt]

the thing is though, he has zero female friends he hasnt gotten\tried to get with. even including *SPOILER ALERT* dawn

[@StewNWT]

@@spikezcrypt EXACTLY

[@Ulriquinho]

@@spikezcrypt wait he tried to get with her? I didn’t/don’t remember that! Ewww…

[@ellehcimbelle]

@@Ulriquinho SPOILERS for the comics they get married/have kids🤢🤮

[@littlecitygirl]

This is one of my favourite episodes of Buffy. I love that the show is confident enough in itself to switch the A and B plots around and to have a really good reason or doing it rather than it just being a gimmick. Xander's growth is really satisfying here and it does always make me laugh that because it's his PoV, the overblown intensity of Buffy/Angel is how he sometimes sees them. Excellent analysis as always, Tyler, I'm so glad you enjoyed this one.

[@wizardlyweirdo1196]

I've been looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this one. No thoughts on the episode that you haven't already talked about but just want to say keep up the great work, your insights into characterisation and what it says about people as both writers and an audience are always top notch.

[@PenguinPlays1235]

The Zeppo is one of my fav episodes, not only for the comedy but for the warmth we see in Xander

[@cruzinbosco]

"The Zeppo" is easily one of my favorite episodes. Xander, my favorite male character aside from Angel, takes center stage, which I absolutely love. Beyond that, the episode itself is just brilliant. It’s refreshing to see the story focus on the most human member of the group and experience events from his perspective. I’ve always believed Xander is the bravest of them all, right from the pilot episode, even though neither he nor the others seem to see it that way. He consistently puts himself in harm's way to help his friends-his chosen family-and that’s one of the things I admire most about him.

[@rfresa]

I agree that Xander is the bravest, even verging on suicidal, though he's not aware of it. Look at the pilot episodes, where Angel was too afraid to go down into the tunnels, but Xander just went rushing in. "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread."

[@rachaelknudsen8801]

Better than Giles? Really? I mean, I get it but, Giles.

[@leahwalko145]

This is one of my favorite episodes! It's just so much fun. Loved your analysis

[@Shoofyou10]

This episode is brilliant. So funny to see a ramped up version of the apocalypse happening in the background. And I love the show acknowledging the over-melodramatic relationship between Buffy and Angel.

[@mudfarmer366]

I've been looking forward to your reaction to this one, such a special episode... The Apocalypse as a B plot mostly in the background while focusing on a key moment of growth for the 'every-man' character. In the end he helped save the world in his own way: no one else knows what he did, but he does, and that is enough. plus the exchange with Oz kills me every time: "is it hard to play guitar?" "Not the way I do it."

[@lynnevetter]

Also at the end when he says he is oddly full..😂😂 gee.. why??😂😂

[@1foxyJR1]

as a xander fan this is one of my top episodes, i love the depth it gives to xander and the perspective of the world he has.

[@corgiluver9718]

Such a cleverly written comedic episode that does so much for Xander's character. Loved your discussion/analysis.

[@alooncnej4696]

This episode inspired a Doctor Who's episode. Excellent episode for Xander and the fact that no one knew he saved the world is the best thing. This show can have derision and explores a character who have no especially power but prove how he can be smart and brave. Xander is maybe more like us.

[@omalleycaboose5937]

Dc back in the 90s would have been seen as just a nerd thing, it wasnt widely popular like it is now, so Ive always noted how Cordelia seems to have a pattern of making DC references, she mentioned Bizzarro at one point, and here... I think she secretly reads comics. Just my own headcanon.

[@JhadeSagrav]

Headcanon accepted. She even says the life and death stuff with Buffy made Xander seem cooler by comparison, PROBABLY BECAUSE SHE'S A CLOSET COMIC BOOK SUPERHERO FAN!! Oh yeah, it's all coming together. 😏

[@ellehcimbelle]

Yeah I used to get bullied for liking Spiderman (especially as a girl) during this time period, which is wild to think about given Marvel/DC/superheroes’ popularity these days.

[@rachaelknudsen8801]

​@@ellehcimbelleI wasn't bullied over it, but as a girl in The '90's, I really loved Batman: The Animated series and X-men. Didn't really get into comics until my local library started carrying them, but now, my life is just better with them.

[@oldcdog91]

I don’t think this is as much about Xander discovering his masculinity as it is about just finding your confidence when you’re routinely in a group of exceptional people doing extraordinary things. And also just poking fun at the hyper-seriousness that the show sometimes has in these end of the world scenarios. It’s fantastic. One of my favorites 😂

[@WelshDragon8423]

I agree though it is interesting in hearing other interpretations of the episode.

[@ceceliam9014]

I agree that's a big theme, I also think there's definitely an element of figuring out who he is as a man, though. There are definitely strong references to masculinity and male expectations. From the "penis metaphor" to the "be a man".

[@horsepuncher95]

It would be both. Xander finding his confidence as a teen boy about to leave highschool, surrounded by extraordinary people includes figuring out how he is going to internalise these experiences given the specific social pressures men face from an early age - which we see explored thoroughly this episode

[@MerryMachiavelli]

There are 2 sort of "abnormal" Buffy episodes I've been waiting for you to react to. This is one of them and wow, you did not disappoint. Amazing breakdown and commentary!

[@iwillroam]

Just to go along with your thoughts on Xander and his need to belong and prove his mettle, Xander saves everyone on this show, even stops the world from ending more than a few times, but unlike Buffy, his rescues and deliverances aren't met with any fanfare. In addition, his home life or lack thereof, has given him the desire to do good and be seen doing good and be loved for doing good. His journey is about learning the kind of work he does to help everyone, is Nick Fury-esque, the man who's there on the spot no matter what.

[@lifelikelisa]

I thought for sure, based on the thumbnail he chose, that he’d comment on his resemblance to Jack.

[@daviribeiro8997]

Plot twist,he is the actor

[@lynnevetter]

DUDE! I thought I was the only one who saw it!🎉🎉

[@salyx]

I’ve been looking forward to you getting to this one! I love how the realization of what this episode really is hits home with the melodramatic Buffy & Angel scene. Your response to the beheading was hilarious. This episode is actually in my top ten, it never fails to get me laughing.

[@erich.1355]

I think the greatness of Buffy as a show is it's ability to be creative and 'experimental' with its stories -- you alluded several times, the 'Apocalypse' plotline is the *B-thread* of this episode. It's playful and inventive and, you said several times, challenges the convention (in more ways than one).

[@dutchkel]

I still love this episode. I have never seen any other show take this risk in storytelling. Seeing Buffy and Angel from Xander's perspective without context going full melodrama always cracks me up. Just a funny episode as well.

[@sherrysink3177]

One of my favorite Xander episodes. I love when he faces down Jack and says "I like the quiet." The first time I saw this episode, that gave me chills. It was such a dangerous moment for him, and he was willingly accepting his own death. Very powerful, yet as Willow notes, "No one will ever know..."

[@killianlpc]

I think The Zeppo was a brilliant episode reminiscent of the Martin Scorcese film After Hours from 1985, where the main character has crazy nightmare night getting caught up in some strange underworld he can't get away from. The Zeppo refers to one of The Marx Brothers. Groucho, Chico and Harpo were 1930s comedy legends, their brother Zeppo was considered useless in relation to the other brothers. This episode is so well constructed as we have two stories side by side, but Xander's story is the one we focus on and what would normally be the main story is sidelined. The part where he loses his virginity to Faith is also handled well, as it shows how people can hype this up as really big thing in their life, but the reality is that it is often overrated and really is so unimportant in life in general, Faith showing him the door straight away is comic genius reiterating this. The final part is great too where Xander is now not bothered by Cordelia's insults and put downs, as he know he has saved the school on his own and has grown as a person. It's so well written showing the transition towards adulthood for Xander.

[@AnatoleVGC]

I really love how this show keeps xander and several other characters as just humans, its important to have that to keep the show more or less grounded. This is one of my top 5 episodes just by how the show makes fun of itself while telling a compelling story and developing Xander. And btw, I had a friend in high that had a full grown beard at 14, so the guy having a beard is ok I guess haha

[@tanyaisonYT]

Such a great episode for Xander, I really like your take on it. I also like how the episode is kind of a parody in some ways of the status quo. Obviously no spoilers but with the High School years ending soon, it feels nice for the show to look back and have a bit of fun with basically a rehash of season 1s finale.

[@suzetterossini4563]

I love this episode. Nothing funnier than the overdramatic Buffy and Angel scene getting interrupted.

[@jeffmartin5504]

The structure of this episode is inspired by Rosencratz and Guildenstern are Dead, where the A plot is moved to the back and the B plot is brought to the front.

[@LetItSnow51]

I agree about Giles should train the humans. It always bothers me Giles comes down hard on him when he does something wrong, doesn't give him much acknowledgement when he comes through. He's help a lot including bringing her back to live and figured out how to kill the Judge yet suddenly they're treating him as useless doesn't fit. But I like the episode.

[@elfboy29]

Saw this episode randomly and made me watch the whole thing. Joking about itself the way X Files did. Class.

[@rachaelknudsen8801]

I love that she makes the Superman reference. Either she's seen the movies or Xander and she actually shared more than smooches, which would make the betrayal of him cheating on her that much more painful. That is so nuanced. Thank you for pointing it out.

[@tinesess3521]

This is one of my favorite xander centric episodes. It very much reminds me of "the rest of us just live here" a book where super powered kids live and save the world, but its in the background and the main characters are just fighting depression and "smaller issues". Its great. I also love the buffy/angel scene, so overdramatic and played almost like parody 😂😂

[@mathias6185]

Good reaction! Season 3 is pretty strong so far, isn't it? And it's going to get even better. Seasons 3 and 5 are pretty fantastic overall! :)

[@andrewdunn8778]

One wonders how much Xander wasn't bluffing; that he is truly miserable and lost and would "like the quiet".

[@tilltab]

Oh, I just remembered what episode is next!!!! Yay!!!!

[@babs3241]

I'm lukewarm on the episode, but the interruption of the Bangel-speak (even its dramatic background music) is one of my favorite moments. The way they kind of made fun of their own melodrama was great.

[@grife3000]

The greatest bit of the B-story is when Buffy and Angel are having their moment. So over-the-top melodramatic, you wonder "why do they think they're the main character in life?"

[@NCC-1701_no_bloody_a_b_c_or_d]

Ah, that great show Xander the Human Person. I love this episode, it's among my favourites, and a lot of those points about him figuring out who he is and what his role is in the group and about being ya know an 18 year old lad approaching adulthood, coz the show is a lot of metaphor for growing up, but usually it's told more from Buffy's perspective. I think it's a great part of his character is he wants to help. He's just a little useless, no special skills or powers, nor smarts xD can relate to that, really

[@ceceliam9014]

Xander, choosing to diffuse violent situations both literally and figuratively in this epidode, lol. I hadn't considered all the elements of masculinity that were explored in the zeppo and I think you're actually spot on about them. There were loads of metaphors for masculine expectations and insecurities, and definitely some pronounced role reversals.

[@circling-girl]

One of my favorite things about this series is its willingness to deconstruct its own storytelling. You don't see playfulness like this in the writing of much TV, sadly.

[@samanthas8340]

I appreciate you sharing the same perspective on Xander that I do. Xander is a flawed character with his sex jokes, and displaced and unjust anger that can really aggravate the fans, but I don't limit him t just this toxic masculine character or "incel" that a lot of others seem to reduce him to. I think he's a character that's shows a lot of growth and development its just sometimes the writer puts him in a two-step forward 1 step back type of position throughout, and that's unfortunate.

[@glygriffe]

I went to high school with 16-year-olds lamenting that they couldn't grow any facial hair and others lamenting that they had to shave twice a day. A beard is not a good indicator of age, since the second category looked much older than the first one.

[@jeremykrueger7071]

The super serious “sub plot” is definitely the show having a bit of fun with itself. The writer of this episode went on to write for Simpsons, futurama and American dad. Definitely a strong comedic voice

[@grkpektis]

I hate Xander but still love this episode. I wish his character was always this consistently fun instead of annoying

[@psychokitty9325]

I wish he would actually hold on to the things he learns in moments like these. Instead we see him take one step forward, then two steps back Every. Single. Time.

[@timriehl1500]

I've always wondered what would happen if someone pulled ALL the wires.

[@JhadeSagrav]

{You} go boom. Oh yeah, that was a secret S7 quote.

[@gungho1284]

Xander was really well-suited for the comedy episodes.

[@wolervine]

Right from the off I'm like, 'he's no Marx Brothers fan' but then I second guessed myself wondering how familiar I was with them when I first watched it, i know I didn't watch my first Marx Bros film until at least five years later. In the intervening years I've seen a good couple more plus read two of Groucho's books!

[@Emburbujada]

People are getting very spoilery in the comments. I hope you have someone checking on that! I finished watching your reaction and went straight to the comment section, cause I knew the Xander haters would be triggered. They didn't disappoint XD About Xander getting some kind of training for dangerous situations, if this were real life, I'd agree, but I kinda like that's not the case, cause I enjoy having a character who's not a superhero. Today's superhero shows turn every single character into one, they all get superpowers, training, weapons at some point, and it can be fun, but I like the contrast we're getting in Buffy at this point. Xander is very human, not only in his lack of superpowers, also in that he's flawed and makes mistakes. It's an interesting journey to follow.

[@StewNWT]

Oh SHIT the thumbnail makes you look like the main baddie from that episode crazy!

[@omalleycaboose5937]

I hadnt considered that Giles should train Xander as well, Xander having a father figure like that could have been good for him, along with of course, actually learning how to be useful in a fight. Or maybe have Xander legitimately get into boxing and becomes good at it and be like a Brawler. Theres so many things that could have been done with Xander, he didnt have to just be... there...

[@JhadeSagrav]

SPOILER ........... In Restless, when Spike says Giles is training him to be a Watcher, Xander says something like, "Yeah, I considered that." ☹️ I think maybe he would have been happy to train under Giles, but Giles probably saw him as not smart enough and never gave him a chance. 😞

[@raymondgilbert1341]

My favorite Xander-centric episode.

[@matthewgarrison-perkins5377]

One of my personal Top 10 episodes in the entire series.

[@blackkatt777]

The funniest part of thid episode is how much the characters (Buffy and Angel)are making fun of their over dramatic romance scenes. How they kept a straight face, knowing that's the reason why. I would be cracking up on each take.

[@williambowman2326]

Interesting analysis and thoughts on Xander. Many people love this episode , a few hate it, and almost no one is neutral. Despite how you feel, the key for me is the bold decision to even consider much less film this. I can’t think of another hero/ supernatural show that attempted then or since the concept. this is a prime example of why Buffy endures and what makes the soul so uniquely special. Yes they tell great straightforward stories with very complex characters. But they have the artistic courage to try to do something different. And it’s not just a different storyline it’s the concept of the storytelling. That only does keep the show fresh, even all these years later, but also let the viewer know that they could never be certain of exactly what’s to come.

[@lesleymaroquin5777]

I really like this episode. Its a very fun episode.

[@fightscrimewhilesleeping4024]

I think you really nailed a lot of this episode, analysis wise, especially the "fear of how you look" vs the value of inner self confidence. I have some other comments, but I might wait cause I'm not entirely sure how informed by future episodes they are lol

[@PsiChoCybia]

Xander needs a clear role and he doesn't know his yet. Another take from this, better keep Xanman where you can see him.

[@Buffy8Fan]

This episode, in my opinion, explains more about Xander's personality than any other so far: The scenes in this episode with Xander are, in my opinion, his POV of how he sees the world (witch is why said scenes are over-the-top with broad music playing). The scenes without him are not his POV and are like any other episode. The way Xander sees things in this episode, I am convinced, is the way he always sees things in all episodes. This is just the audience seeing it. I believe a lot of his attitude (which causes some fans, including me, a dislike for the character) stems from other characters bursting the bubble on the fantasies he develops. These fantasies are something he controls and not delusions of any sort, but more like controlled escapism when he doesn't like something. When other characters burst his fantasies bubble, that is when you see his anger, jealousy, etc. issues taken out on his friends with him trying to ignore those issues, but not being able to as easily because the fantasy bubbles burst. The scenes without him not being his perspective, to me, means it wasn't Xander's imagination that he was benched. So, I will always find it strange that the group benched someone who saved Buffy's life during an apocalypse/The Master trying to rise in S1. Other Scooby members have gone through situations that made the group bench ie Willow has been put in constant danger and/or kidnapping situations, as an example. Why weren't The Scoobies benched when it happens to them? The group can be as upset as they want at Buffy running away at the end of S2 and the beginning of S3, but she saved lives in LA. Personally, I think she needed time away from Angelus, Angel, her friends, and her mom considering the situation between everyone with Angel and Angelus. It looks like Xander could use that time away from the group also, if they are willing to bench him for something as ridiculous as what happened in the teaser, without doing so to others, whether or not benching him saved their lives. Same goes for the fact that Xander feels that "the quiet" isn't a bad option. He should probably have some time away.

[@JackiePearl]

The green wire.. noted. 😅

[@lyssalovesit]

I love this episode.

[@pixy-onewing]

❤🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍

[@michaelolivero1626]

1:28- "he is just a human and the way that he fights is with his fists and human strength...". we'll revisit this again in season 4 episode 7.🤫 2:44-"he's got full facial hair...". One of the boys in my 7th grade class was shaving a full beard regularly. 🥸In Catholic and private school, we had to stay clean cut. In public school, facial hair is often allowed . 14:20- what is the most important thing in a group dynamic? 🤔 I'd go with "being alive" as opposed to undead risen 32:50-"I'm gonna grab a snack. Anyone want?". Oz-"I'm oddly full"😂😂😂

[@woogie2345]

always look back on this ep like “blech the xander ep” but it really is so much fun

[@omalleycaboose5937]

It's what Xander could have been, wish this writer stuck around, he really got how to write the character.

[@daphneglasurus7886]

I’ve always wondered if Xander did enjoy that time with Faith. Did he officially give consent? Not exactly, only admitted he’s a teenage boy who feels ready for sex at any time. But is that the same thing as consent to this specific situation? When you consider how much stronger she is than him, it makes the submissive stance seem different. Let’s say he pulled back at all, would she have let him? How much agency did he really have?

[@omalleycaboose5937]

I will say, done to a girl or done to a guy, I hate the way it felt to me, that Xander was used by faith. I also hate looking, how some of the faith stuff feels like she... was used by whedon

[@tilltab]

I’d agree if she had given the impression she was into Xander, but she made it clear she had a itch she wanted scratching and she made sure Xander was up for it. To me, guy or girl, it’s fine if the situation is made clear like it was in that scene. It’s only when further interest is suggested to get someone into bed that it’s a problem, in my opinion. I like that Faith is very simple and uncomplicated about it.

[@themediater]

I'd agree with that broadly but I'd say regardless of your personal attitude to sex and regardless of gender, it's shitty to kick someone out onto the corridor/outside walkway of a motel (or indeed, anywhere) naked or in their underwear, especially when you know how dangerous Sunnydale is. It is played as a joke (and he grins sheepishly) but still.

[@JhadeSagrav]

​@@themediater oh, yeah, no, for sure, i agree with you on that part. Let the person get dressed for Pete's sake. 😔 She did ask for consent, but geez Faith, don't treat people like they're disposable afterwards. 😡

[@daphneglasurus7886]

@@tilltabyes for someone who has had experience with sex. Losing your virginity this way though? Feels very cheap

[@crowfoot1199]

@@JhadeSagrav "oh, yeah, no, for sure," hello fellow canadian? 😛

[@codypendragons]

Challenging some ideological Concepts is not okay. It's okay to be yourself. Being honest fundamentally is more important and stronger than some made up ideology about how you identify. It's more of a moral issue really, either you understand that life celebrates life, supports itself. Creating abundance is the actual core base of capitalism. Opposing that, working against that, is futile, and that's not a bad thing. That's actually a good thing.

[@MoonStruckBunnyIRL]

I've never really thought about it before, but this show is not about male bonding. Pretty much anytime there are men getting along in this show they are up to no good, sad as it is don't expect Xander to have any male friendships.

[@JuneJaneb4]

What does it mean to be a Man? Good question. I believe they didn't quite answer it. Not really interested in this episode. Not because of men but because of Xander. I have almost no interest in the guy. I know that the writers loved him but I can't bring myself to care enough

[@michaelolivero1626]

Agreed. Problem is the writers loved him because he was Joss's self-inserted character and the go-to "comic relief" to cut the dramatic situations. From season 1, I never liked the guy.

[@crashby123]

Too much pausing and yakking will be playing havoc with the episode's pacing. I don't know how you can really enjoy the show watching like this. Other reactors are capable of commenting without pausing for their life story

[@nathanielbacon2661]

I understand the brilliance in this episodes' concept, subverting the viewers' expectations & flipping the A & B plots...but I don't like it. Haha. I know I'm in the minority here, but I find the satirization of everyone but Xander here very grating. And as much as it's intentional, I hate that the apocalypse story in the background is much more interesting than Xander's story. I always feel like this is the one episode where we don't actually get to see the important parts. Also, the frivolity with which they just raise people from the dead here, without consequences makes no sense within the context of the rest of the show.

[@chaderopla1247]

This is my least favorite episode. I usually skip it lol.

[@fleshTH]

I strongly dislike this episode. One of the reasons is because Xander is not cool, or cannot find his cool until he has sex. After he had sex he is magically cool. It's like he wasn't a man, and he was not anything that was cool until that moment. I also just don't like the pacing of this episode It's weird.

[@Talisguy]

It's not really played like he finds his cool by having sex - the scene ends with Faith abruptly and unceremoniously kicking a clearly very confused Xander out so she can shower. This is obviously not how he pictured his first time and he's feeling a lot of things afterwards. If anything, the scene is one of the last links in a chain of subverted heroism moments where Xander starts to look cool only to have the episode undercut the attempt at coolness, and this is still happening while he's fighting the zombies _after_ sleeping with Faith.

[@andrewdunn8778]

I didn't interpret the sex as unlocking anything. Just one of the multiple crazy life-changing things that he was going through

[@fleshTH]

@Talisguy name any scene after the sex where he does not have his cool. It's like he figured everything out after that moment. Pair the scene with Jack was going to stab him and kill him to the end where he's going to blow him up. The only thing that changed is that he had sex. The fact that Faith kicked him out for after sex is more to the fact that it was the act itself not the circumstances. Any person with low self-esteem who is treated that way would have had a bigger issue with self-esteem after that.

[@andrewdunn8778]

@fleshTH "name a scene after the sex where he isn't cool, except for the scenes where he is clearly lost and bewildered after the sex, or scared at the school"