Just felt like mentioning...

Gum Gnome33

Gum Gnome33

"Well, yeah..."
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Jan 10, 2011
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Sineya
Something between Xander and Willow that I've never really seen discussed which really warms my heart.
When Xander stops (dark) Willow from ending the world in season 6 by saying "I love you" repeatedly, the moment in and of itself is so poignant. It shows that he can bring her out of a state in which she's another person entirely--that their relationship and history can transcend evil, magic, and pain.

In Becoming II when Xander says "I love you to Willow," that's the exact moment when she comes out of the coma.

This is obviously not new information and I'm sure all of you are super familiar with those parallel scenes, but I just think it's so incredibly profound that it was worth mentioning, (and sorry if it's been done here a million times before. 🙂 )

I always feel that after Xander and Willow have their moments of weakness in season 3 and are caught, they are initially so cautious of betraying their loved ones again and then when they find new partners they never really get back to the level of closeness that they had before they acknowledged their mutual attraction to one another. For me at least, it's incredible to remember, through these two parallel scenes, just how much they mean to one another.

There are so many strong character relationships in the show, both romantic and platonic, but Xander and Willow have the most history together and the fact that Xander can literally pull her out of both spiritually and biologically induced alternate states and bring her back to herself, is something truly unique. I'd have liked it if seasons 7 and beyond developed or at least revisited that beautiful connection a bit more but of course...meh.
 
JCoatsworth
JCoatsworth
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A
Astral
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I'm so happy that you brought this up, Gum Gnome! Yes, I was aware of the two scenes but I never really put them together like that - the idea of him pulling her out of a different reality with those words. Very powerful. Thanks for bridging that for me!
 
Yeah, Xander and Willow were always the ship' that never was for me. They had a few moments (like the ones you pointed out) which were so powerful and special. When I think of Xander and Willow, I think of them as total soul mates, even if it's not in a really romantic sense.

One other one that gets me is in S7, when Caleb carves out Xander's eye. The next episode (I think it's called "Empty Places"), the two of them are in the hospital together and Xander starts making jokes about his eye. They're both crying and trying to hold it together, but they can't, and they just hold each other instead. It's a great scene.
 
A
Astral
That scene is so overwhemling for me. One of my favorites but it hits so hard.
You're welcome, guys! Yeah I guess it's one of those things that you don't really process unless it hits you in a certain way.
 
Xander's and Willow's relationship is absolutely beautiful to me. I really wish we'd have gotten to see them as a couple for more than the little fling that we saw in Season 3. Somehow, though, their friendship touches me deeper than their romantic relationship ever did.
I absolutely HATED the Dark Willow arc, but the moment on the hill when Xander refuses to give up on his friend brought me to tears. I still get teary-eyed, watching Willow melt into his arms. It's one of my favorite moments in the entire series, because it speaks volumes about how powerful true love and friendship are, especially between these characters.
Another moment that never fails to move me is the scene in "Empty Places" where Willow and Xander are holding hands in the hospital after he's lost his eye. I always thought it was so telling that Buffy "couldn't" stay, but Willow refused to leave him.

Awww.... now you guys have gotten me all emotional. Maybe it's my preggo hormones, but I feel the need to rewatch these episodes right now. LOL
 
Gum Gnome33
Gum Gnome33
Aw congrats on those preggo hormones!
Yes, you're absolutely right. The relationship between Willow and Xander is my favorite relationship of all the relationships there are. I can't fully describe what it is about them that I like so much, but you brought up some really good examples. It's just this incredibly strong friendship. I mean, the season 6 finale is my favorite finale for a reason 🙂
 
Awesome spot! I was aware of the two scenes but never the parallels between them and the effect Xander's love has on Willow.
 
I'm so glad you mentioned this and pointed it out, I noticed it myself. I admire xander and willows relationship purely because of a lot of the things already mentioned but one thing that stands out for me is the admiration they have for each other.

In the first ever episode of buffy xander and willow are already friends and their childhood memories are shared throughout the season's. Of course we all know that willow had a enormous crush on xander but he didn't return the feelings because they were best friends and in a way I think that made willow admire xander more and appreciate his friendship, maybe not at the time but as they get older and the season's progress. Season 3 was a hard season for them and their closeness was less in later seasons because of it but that didn't get in the way of there friendship.

I feel xander admired willow because she could truly love someone and that someone would certainly feel it and know it without having to be told. In season 6 when she is set on destroying the world he uses all of that love that she gives against her and that proved to be her weakness.
 
They seemed to have had a relationship that transcended both family and love. They are the true definition of "best friends" in my opinion.
 
I absolutely love this parallel and their friendship. Their relationship was beyond any kind of friendship there was, something deep and powerful, more powerful than magic which is definitely something worth mentioning. 🙂
 
Seriously, someone needs to make a graphic with these two scenes and the "I love you's" next to each other, right?! (Not me, I wouldn't even know where to start, lol.) 😉
 
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