Wheee! I totally need to get to bed now, but I realized I need to answer you, too.
Heh. I never pictured a Silence of the Lambs scenario, but you totally have a point there. And that does tie into the self-esteem issues that Xander has.
As for the contribution thing: tying into the self-esteem issues, Xander might view those things a fluke or "just part of the job." On a day-to-day basis, he isn't entirely wrong. Willow is more valuable in some circumstances for her intelligence, skills with magic, and ability to research.
The problem with Xander is that what he contributes is amorphus and not easily quantified, like Buffy, Giles, Willow, or even Dawn or Spike. So it's almost hard to point to something and say, "Xander consistently fills this concrete role." Being "the heart" is not necessarily a concrete role, especially when "the heart" is in distress and not exactly sharing about what's bugging him.
no subject
Heh. I never pictured a Silence of the Lambs scenario, but you totally have a point there. And that does tie into the self-esteem issues that Xander has.
As for the contribution thing: tying into the self-esteem issues, Xander might view those things a fluke or "just part of the job." On a day-to-day basis, he isn't entirely wrong. Willow is more valuable in some circumstances for her intelligence, skills with magic, and ability to research.
The problem with Xander is that what he contributes is amorphus and not easily quantified, like Buffy, Giles, Willow, or even Dawn or Spike. So it's almost hard to point to something and say, "Xander consistently fills this concrete role." Being "the heart" is not necessarily a concrete role, especially when "the heart" is in distress and not exactly sharing about what's bugging him.