The Zeppo by Ethawyn

BUFFYVERSE

The Zeppo

POSTED BY: ETHAWYN
UPDATED: Wednesday, November 9, 2005 08:09
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VIEWED: 2717
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Monday, November 7, 2005 8:25 PM

I just watched this episode for the first time and am I the only one who found it a bit of a let down compared to the other episodes of Buffy? The switching of a focus on A-plot to a focus on B-plot could have been very interesting but instead I found the episode to be disorganized, the characters other than Zander and Cord. to be acting strangely out of character most of the time and the random sex scene with Faith to be completely strange. I'm not saying the characters of the show can't have sex, yes personally I'd prefer they didn't but this was random and pointless.

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Tuesday, November 8, 2005 5:07 PM

RMMC

I didn't find it a let down so much as an extreme change of pace. It's not the first time I've seen something presented as such (Bab 5 did an episode entirely from the viewpoint of two repair techs. Its actually one of my favorite eps.) and in a way it serves to give us a better idea of Xander's life away from the Scoobies (generally awful) but to serve two other purposes.

First it gives us his view of the others, as opposed to what we're used to--the objective omniscient viewpoint we get every week. By having his viewpoint, we don't necessarily see things as they actually are but as Xander percieves them. And frankly, the connotations of any situation depend largely on one's point of view. We had Buffy and Faith (as well as Giles) treating him like a brand-new Scoobie rather than someone who'd been fighting alongside them (or okay-behind them )for over a year and had already aquitted himself several times over. That's probably not exactly how it actually was, but that was how it felt to him.

Secondly it served to show that Xander, while not the smartest or strongest, is fully capable of saving the day as well. And save it he does, (with a little late help from a certain werewolf ) but does it with understanding his opponent well enough to bluff him. Or is it a bluff? While a majority of his reaction after shows that it is, there's probably some small portion that would have welcomed the quiet, the end to constant terror from things that go crunch in the night, and without the worry of becoming one of the bad guys to boot (as his life long friend Jesse did.)

So bascially what this episode actually is, is a character study. We see Xander, not only as he has become through necessity -- someone who cares and genuinely wants to make the world a better place--but also more of the side of what he is as a normal teenage boy, who has peer acceptance and , well, sex, on the brain.

And now for the Faith interlude. Yeah, the scene was weird, but not pointless. Nothing in Buffy is pointless. Except the Cheese guy, but that's later. Anywhosie, in a way this scene will later help shed a bit more light on Faith's character and her issues (which are legion.) But as I don't know how much farther ahead you've seen of the series, I'll stop that discussion right here, as I'd hate to spoil things for you if you haven't seen the third and fourth seasons yet.

********
"We few. We happy few...."
"...We band of buggered."

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Tuesday, November 8, 2005 5:28 PM

CUB

I think something that a lot of people miss about The Zeppo is that it's a parody. Everyone's lampooning themselves (and why does that sound dirty?) People seem to try to take it too seriously.

Personally, I thought it was the funniest episode in the series - any season.

By the way, it was written by Dan Vebber, who was the head writer for both Futurama and Space Ghost Coast to Coast. He only wrote one other Buffy episode, "Lover's Walk," which I also greatly enjoyed.

---

"If wishes were horses, we'd all be eatin' steak."

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Wednesday, November 9, 2005 8:09 AM

ETERNALS

Personally this was my all time favorite episode of Buffy. Probably for several reasons. First Xander acted all Bruce Campbell/ Army of Darkness. Something which was both funny, and it showed his bravado. Second, Xander is the only character that I can actually understand or compare myself too. As you will see later, season seven he has a monologue of why he/dawn is important, as important as any of the others. Third, Xander is Joss. Which shows us how he would have acted in the series to some extent. I always put myself in that (how would I have handled it) frame of mind.

I believe it showed us that ordinary people can be heroes if they have to be. If you have super powers or super strength, or magic, or vampire abilities, really, how can you call yourself a hero as much as someone who has none of that and still manages to do what has to be done.

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