Interesting review. I’m not sure I feel the same! I think the whole, Do As I Say Not As I Do, bs he touts is a typical stereotype of someone like him. He’s incredibly insecure, grew up in an unsupportive family that made him feel unloved/like crap about himself, clearly some domestic abuse going on there.

Even when he leave Anya at the altar, it makes sense for him—he’s just perpetually insecure and behind because of it, and his insecurities cause him to fall behind and make terrible life decisions. Like he can’t ever escape himself so he preaches for others to escape themselves and see the greatness in them.

I do think it’s crap, though. They should have just let him have a good and happy life. If need to really get deep into my own head to analyze further, but I also think he’s a really great actor. I’ve never really seen him in anything else, but I believe him as Xander.

Interesting to hear thoughts about him as a character.