Wow. That's a huge, and fascinating, load of meta. No way I can possibly comment on it all so I do select chunks.
First, I'm very much looking forward to the next two chapters, it will be a real treat to crawl into alterna!Xander's head for awhile. I think Xander's maturing process took off at the beginning of S5 and continued right through to the end of S7, allowing for the fact that continuity was never Joss's strongest suit and different writers viewed the character in different ways, I think it was a pretty steady progression.
I whole heartedly agree with you that Xander needs his people around him, also that he underestimates himself. Beta male seems a very apt term for him. That said, I think even he recognizes that in certain arenas he's the alpha. I think this is mainly exhibited in his work so it's mostly off camera but we've gotten enough glimpses that I picture him as confidently in command at the job site. In the slaying realm he firmly categorizes himself as back up or side kick.
I think he's a lone wolf in one regard though. He'll ignore or suppress his own emotional anguish. We saw this from Jesse on. After the wedding debacle (for which I may never forgive Joss) he goes off to lick his wounds alone. You rarely see him going to Buffy and Willow for emotional support. The few times I can think of him trying I remember him being patted on the head or blown off. I don't think in an intentional way so much as they're not used to Xander wanting that support and don't know how to respond. Xander, on the other hand is a comfortador. Buffy and Willow both cry on his shoulder with regularity. It's probably also kind of a guy/girl thing. The point is, Xander plays his own pain pretty close to his chest.
On Buffy, you make some very interesting points about S7 Buffy and I agree with most of them, especially in regards her relationship with Giles in S7. He abandoned her once, he could very easily do it again, just when she needs him most. For Willow and Xander though, I think part of what's working is that they never really got past the whole ripping her out of heaven thing. At least its never resolved onscreen. Outwardly she seems to forgive them but I think inwardly it causes her to call their judgement into question, makes her less likely to listen to opposing arguments. She trusts Spike in S7 primarily because she says jump and he asks how high. In S7 he never questions her authority or second guesses her judgement. Regardless of why he does this it makes her place him in the loyal soldier camp when others are questioning her orders.
This is getting long so let me just conclude with I love your writing and I love your take on Xander.
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First, I'm very much looking forward to the next two chapters, it will be a real treat to crawl into alterna!Xander's head for awhile. I think Xander's maturing process took off at the beginning of S5 and continued right through to the end of S7, allowing for the fact that continuity was never Joss's strongest suit and different writers viewed the character in different ways, I think it was a pretty steady progression.
I whole heartedly agree with you that Xander needs his people around him, also that he underestimates himself. Beta male seems a very apt term for him. That said, I think even he recognizes that in certain arenas he's the alpha. I think this is mainly exhibited in his work so it's mostly off camera but we've gotten enough glimpses that I picture him as confidently in command at the job site. In the slaying realm he firmly categorizes himself as back up or side kick.
I think he's a lone wolf in one regard though. He'll ignore or suppress his own emotional anguish. We saw this from Jesse on. After the wedding debacle (for which I may never forgive Joss) he goes off to lick his wounds alone. You rarely see him going to Buffy and Willow for emotional support. The few times I can think of him trying I remember him being patted on the head or blown off. I don't think in an intentional way so much as they're not used to Xander wanting that support and don't know how to respond. Xander, on the other hand is a comfortador. Buffy and Willow both cry on his shoulder with regularity. It's probably also kind of a guy/girl thing. The point is, Xander plays his own pain pretty close to his chest.
On Buffy, you make some very interesting points about S7 Buffy and I agree with most of them, especially in regards her relationship with Giles in S7. He abandoned her once, he could very easily do it again, just when she needs him most. For Willow and Xander though, I think part of what's working is that they never really got past the whole ripping her out of heaven thing. At least its never resolved onscreen. Outwardly she seems to forgive them but I think inwardly it causes her to call their judgement into question, makes her less likely to listen to opposing arguments. She trusts Spike in S7 primarily because she says jump and he asks how high. In S7 he never questions her authority or second guesses her judgement. Regardless of why he does this it makes her place him in the loyal soldier camp when others are questioning her orders.
This is getting long so let me just conclude with I love your writing and I love your take on Xander.