Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Episode Discussion: 2x05 Reptile Boy - Page 4

Night Nymph · 05-24-2004, 10:16 PM

That is an interesting theory as well, Ragnarok. I can see it especially for Xander starting later season 3 when his confidence seemed to start lagging.

If I remember correctly, he seemed to think that he was "above" a relationship with Willow in season 1 (and early season 2). Even though he was under the influence of a demon in The Pack, there might have been some truth to his words to Buffy about Willow "deluding hereself" that he would ever settle for anything "less than Buffy". Even at the beginning of When She Was Bad, a playful interaction between them was completely forgotten when Buffy showed up - a better goal had returned, and Willow was once again only second best. But once she was "worthy" of Oz, suddenly she became desireable as a potential girlfriend.

However, since you did say that perhaps he was only "comfortable" in a relationship with a woman he didn't respect, perhaps that would still fit in that he might not have been "comfortable" in his relationship with Cordelia, and maybe that's why he felt he had to put her down. I did sometimes think that Xander had a Madonna/whore complex going on myself, and your theory would seem to fit that rather nicely.

Oh, and I agree sum1 - Xander's character didn't really mature that much. There were the outward trappings of maturity - a job, a nice car, a fiance - but he mostly seemed to be going through the motions and doing what he thought he should be doing to appear grown up. I thought that maybe after Triangle, he would get that he really could be more mature if he really wanted, but it didn't seem to come to fruition.

Sorry about going off topic here - I tried to find something in Reptile Boy that fit my topic of discussion, but I failed. I only saw Xander jealousy of Angel in this episode.

saturn5 · 10-22-2009, 01:50 AM

Reptile Boy;

The Good;
Buffy slumping her head onto the table. Willow's rant at Giles and Angel. Cordy and Buffy getting all hot-to-trot for the party. Queen C's driving skills. Jonathon! On a date with Cordy no less. Buffy pouting (Giles her father figure more than ever)

The Bad;
The endings a bit cheery considering the fate of all those poor girls over the years, just like the disappearing corpses in The Harvest. You utterly cringe at the misogyny of the Frat boys. What exactly do the Sunnydale police make of the demon's body?

Best Line;
Buffy (to Angel)"When you kiss me I want to die"

Questions and observations;
Buffy and Cordy go illicitly to a party with a bunch of older guys, pass out through drinking and end up in chains being menaced by a huge snake. Or what the girls at my old school used to call 'Saturday night'. (Apologies to the writers of Friends). Seriously though I was beginning to think I was seeing sexual subtext where there was none but upon listening to David Greenwalt's DVD commentary it's clear that's exactly what was intended. Xander also tries his hand at cross-dressing.
Another point for bisexual Will, she seems to fancy the frat boys. You wonder if Mayor Wilkins was a member of the fraternity?
An OK ep but not the best, I'll give it 6/10 but that might be a little generous

**ashleyt** · 10-23-2009, 08:29 PM

I love this episode for the Cordy/Buffy scenes

I really wanted them to be friends.

saturn5 · 10-24-2009, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashleyt (View Post)

I love this episode for the Cordy/Buffy scenes

I really wanted them to be friends.

Or lovers? They kinda make it in the end. I always wondered if the rest of the Sunnydale scoobs came to CC's funeral?

**ashleyt** · 10-24-2009, 11:32 AM

Not lovers

Sometimes friendship is just enough.

I do not believe that they went to her funeral, I'm still unsure of how they found out she died. Angel had a strained relationship with the SD gang.