There is no dearth of complex, conflicted characters in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Even our beloved Slayer, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar), undergoes drastic changes while navigating adolescence and the added responsibilities of saving the world. That said, few characters come across as polarizing as Xander Harris (Nicholas Brendon), a core member of Buffy’s gang who is also an integral part of the show.
Xander’s status as the quintessential “comic relief” has often been tainted with a sense of “nice guy” entitlement and instances of flippant misogyny. Compared to Willow (Alyson Hannigan) or Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter), who are brilliant examples of dynamic character growth, Xander’s arc feels relatively stagnant. There’s an inconsistency in his emotional maturity, while the writing has often allowed him to shirk accountability in a meaningful way.
Even so, Xander’s flawed humanity is essential to ground Buffy and everyone around her. Despite never possessing any supernatural powers, Xander has demonstrated bravery in the face of abject evil and done his best to protect his friends. These admirable qualities persist in spite of his drawbacks — something that the show reminds us of in the fifth season. Titled “The Replacement,” this Buffy episode allows Xander to temporarily shed his “comic relief” role and grapple with the vulnerability of impending adulthood. This is Xander’s episode, and the character is finally nudged towards self-acceptance and growth.
What is “The Replacement” about?
The episode opens with the gang trying to find an apartment for Xander, who wants to move out of his parents’ house. This is a major stepping stone to adulthood, which is why Xander seems pretty anxious about not being able to sustain living alone. Unfortunately, Buffy’s status as Slayer lures in a demon named Toth (Michael Bailey Smith), who accidentally hits Xander with a beam of light. Although Xander seems okay at first, it is revealed that the beam caused his body to split. There are two Xanders now: One that is full of ambition and confidence, and another that’s haunted by insecurity and jealousy.
The rest of the episode is an attempt to reconcile the two Xanders, who see each other as a threat. The less confident Xander watches his double get a promotion, lease a swanky apartment, and plan a date with Anya (Emma Caulfield). As resentment bubbles up, Buffy intervenes to explain that harming one Xander would eliminate the other. Toth’s beam was originally meant for Buffy, as the demon wanted to split her into two selves with opposing strengths. Ultimately, Willow uses her powers to merge the two Xanders after Toth is defeated by Buffy.
This Xander-focused Buffy episode reinforces a long-running theme
The two Xanders, although drastically different, are essentially the same person. It’s not possible to pick and choose qualities, as Xander, like everyone else, is a product of his circumstances. There’s also an added element of societal perception, as one Xander double spends a lot of time monitoring his more confident self and resenting him for it.
Qualities like competence and confidence are aspirational, but Xander’s flaws are incredibly realistic for a teenager who grew up in a dysfunctional household. Eliminating his hesitant nature would mean removing parts of him that don’t feel like he belongs. This would only limit his growth as someone who tries to do his best despite his less-than-ideal impulses.
Xander’s predicament is also a mirror for every other character in season 5. Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) feels like he is no longer useful as a Watcher, even though Buffy and the gang think he is indispensable. Buffy, on the other hand, is terrified of losing her humanity, which prompts her to obsessively protect her loved ones with a self-sacrificing streak. There’s also Willow, who feels less in control this season, as old insecurities crop up, urging her to overcompensate with her powers.
“The Replacement” has the all-too-welcome humor of a good Buffy episode, but it also lets Xander take the spotlight without a need to coddle his drawbacks. Xander realizes that he has all the tools he needs to live the life he wants. Watching the “better” half of himself succeed injects Xander with an existential crisis that eventually leads to a meaningful breakthrough. Whether Xander Harris lives up to this promising mindset shift by the end of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a whole other conversation, but “The Replacement” does nudge him in the right direction.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is streaming on Hulu.