Fear itself

[sosalola]

- Oz worries about Willow using magic. I never noticed that before, but he doesn't seem to like the idea. It upsets Willow that Oz worries about it, I guess she thinks that he doubts her abilities. The fact that Oz, Buffy and Willow herself doubt her abilities makes Willow angry and frustrated. That's one of the reasons she lashed out on Buffy at the frat house.

- I used to complain about Spander fics who write Xander being looked down on by his friends. After watching this episode, I think there's a good reason "Xander is ignored by his friends" fics started spreading. They don't notice he's around most of the time, not telling him about the party (which is expected since they're busy with college, and don't see him that often) not noticing that Xander is missing later, it was until Willow and Oz left that Buffy started to notice that, "hey, I thought we were four. Oh, right, Xander. Uh... where did he go?"

- Another point about this, Spander fanfics (also XanderZone fanfics) usually diss Buffy regarding her treatment of Xander. "She looks down on Xander, she thinks less of him." That also didn't come out of nowhere, even if it's less harsher than what these fanfic writers believe. In this episode, Buffy thought it was "typical" of Xander to get lost and get himself in danger. The way she harshly yelled at him when he was trembling and whispering his angry babble about the "jerks" ignoring his existence and opinions.

- Xander's idea of his friends: They don't notice him. They look down on him. They ignore his existence. Anya also makes Xander's insecurity grows when she implies that his friends are 'better than him'. When Oz said that Xander is a civilian, the guys in the frat house who thought he was "normal", started to ignore him and talk as if he wasn't there. "Hey, guys, standing right here," Xander angrily said.

- Giles is just cute and funny and adorable and has the best smile of them all.

- Anya is reminds me of Cordelia in a way. I guess she is Cordelia's replacement. Her character is kinda different from what she'll become in the later seasons. She's doesn't have that... adorable innocence yet. She's also very clingy of Xander. It is true that Anya clings to anything/anyone that comes along and lets her in. She needs something to worship and believe in, it used to be vengeance, now it's Xander.

- Willow's issues with Buffy being Mr. Boss starts from here. It's not OOC in S6 when she said that now she gets to be the slayer. She hates being the sidekick, because being the sidekick means being nothing, she wants to be something. She really hates the old Willow and looks down on her. Magic makes her more special.

- It's funny how Oz and Xander both feel helpless and troubled by the fit Willow and Buffy made. Both Xander and Oz played the rational, patient partners (Xander to Buffy, Oz to Willow).

[Allan]

I haven't seen the episode in ages, but may have to rewatch it.

As for people "looking down" on Xander, I really think The Zeppo illustrated that. That said, once he got out of high school, he really started to become his own person, and became a hero in his own right, and really earned everyone's respect. The end of season six through to season seven really illustrated this perfectly to me.

[Bre]

Fear, Itself! I love it so much! Why? It was the first episode of Buffy I've ever watched. Good times.

I don't think they really looked down on Xander, they just couldn't relate with him on the supernatural level. He didn't have powers, they did ... so it was hard to relate with eachother.

I loved Anya and Giles in this episode. Anya in her scary bunny outfit was so hilarious. Giles coming through the door with the chainsaw was the coolest thing ever!

And I loved how the Gachnar (right??) demon was so tiny. He thought he was so scary. I loved this bit:

Willow: He's so cute!
Xander: Who's a little fear demon? Come on! Who's a little fear demon?
Giles: Don't taunt the fear demon.
Xander: Why can he hurt me?
Giles: No. It's just tacky.

[sosalola]

batmite79 said:

I haven't seen the episode in ages, but may have to rewatch it.

As for people "looking down" on Xander, I really think The Zeppo illustrated that. That said, once he got out of high school, he really started to become his own person, and became a hero in his own right, and really earned everyone's respect. The end of season six through to season seven really illustrated this perfectly to me.

I think Xander had finally found his place in season five The Replacement. I think he was his most pathetic in season four, living in a basement, getting fired of stupid jobs, ignored by his friends... this season is very down hell for him. (also the later eps of season six)

You gotta watch this episode, it's awesome!

Bre said:

I don't think they really looked down on Xander, they just couldn't relate with him on the supernatural level. He didn't have powers, they did ... so it was hard to relate with eachother.

They probably don't "look down" on him in that sense, but it's clear they overlook him. I think Xander thinks they look down on him, it doesn't have to be true. Anya also helps to make Xander believe that in this episode and The Yoko Factor.

Willow: He's so cute!
Xander: Who's a little fear demon? Come on! Who's a little fear demon?
Giles: Don't taunt the fear demon.
Xander: Why can he hurt me?
Giles: No. It's just tacky.

My favorite exchange in this episode

[Allan]

sosalola said:

batmite79 said:

I haven't seen the episode in ages, but may have to rewatch it.

As for people "looking down" on Xander, I really think The Zeppo illustrated that. That said, once he got out of high school, he really started to become his own person, and became a hero in his own right, and really earned everyone's respect. The end of season six through to season seven really illustrated this perfectly to me.

I think Xander had finally found his place in season five The Replacement. I think he was his most pathetic in season four, living in a basement, getting fired of stupid jobs, ignored by his friends... this season is very down hell for him. (also the later eps of season six)

You gotta watch this episode, it's awesome!

Yeah, I should watch it again.

Xander's "patheticness" in season 4 in my mind is a right of passage for him. It's the season where he grew up, and it made him realise that he's better than he'd ever given himself credit for. Without his season 4 experiences, I don't think he would have become the Xander of seasons 5-7.

[Laura]

I loved this episode. Not only was it fun, but showed the characters fears, in a creative way. It let out all the tension which the characters felt toward each other, or could have felt toward each other (Xander being left out, Buffy's lack of faith in Willow, Oz's inner wolf). It was another growing expirence (those are mentioned a lot by me ). Though, the episode was kind of like Nightmares in this way.

Buffy's fear was the hardest though. Did it have to do with all those demons pulling her underground? Was it like the demons taking her?

[shred]

I loved this episode though I thought Halloween was a much better Halloween episode than this one.

I enjoyed Anya and Giles in this one a lot. They were both hilarious.

I thought the issue about Xander being the Zeppo again in this episode was quite fitting actually. It might seem odd that suddenly Buffy is snapping at him but I always thought it was Xander's paranoia of still being a Zeppo in the eyes of his friends manifesting into reality. That's how I see it anyway.