Why doesn't Xander hold himself responsible for "The Pack"?

[Robb Stark]

I just sort of thought about this. Xander despises Angel in S1-3 for actions a demon committed in Angel's body. Granted, it's a bit of a pretext because Buffy chose Angel over him, but he clings to that fiercely. In S7 he hates Spike for similar reasons. Now, aside from his glaring hypocrisy regarding Anya, why doesn't he then, logically, hold himself accountable for what he did in the S1 episode "The Pack"?

Now, I don't think he should be held responsible, but think about it. An invading force took over Xander's body, similar to what happened to Angel and Spike, and he did some pretty terrible things. Some awful things. He then lies to say he has no memory of the event, and it's never brought up again. But right away, he hounds Angel for being a vampire. If he holds Angel responsible for things he did that were outside of his immediate control, and likewise Spike, then why not himself (or Anya for that matter, who was very much in control of her actions)?

I like Xander, a lot, but it seems more than a bit hypocritical.

 

[Blaze]

I agree that it's very hypocritical of him. Of course he shouldn't be held accountable for his actions but he also shouldn't be putting the blame on Angel and Spike for similar actions in similar circumstances.

The only somewhat of an explanation that I can think of is that after the events of the Pack, Xander becomes human again, same with the Anya when they are dating; while Spike and Angel always remain vampires. I don't really think he thought about it that way, but it'd be pretty much the only logical explanations.

Now the real reason I think he was an hypocrite is for personal reasons. He was always jealous of Angel and Spike almost raped his best friend, so of course he will have bad blood with them. A bit like Xander was biased with Anya in s7 because he still loved her, but Buffy had no problem trying to kill her, when in reality, she would have never done that to either Angel or Spike in similar circumstances.

 

[itssmiletime]

The difference, I think, is that Xander's influence was temporary and he didn't kill anyone, whereas Spike and Angel did. I think the reason he lied about not remembering was that he didn't want to feel responsible, I mean, Cordelia could feel everything The Beast/ Jasmine did to her, but I don't hold her accountable. I think as the series goes on, Xander's dislike of Angel also needs to be taken into account that whilst good- for 'how long?' He does zero research on how to end his curse, just assuming that moment of happiness equates to sex. Angelus could still reimerge.

I don't find it hypocritical at all- and about Anya- Xander dated the human, not the demon. She didn't have a stupid curse. As far as Xander knew, she gave up all attempts to become a demon again. She fought on the side of good. Spike only would, for money. Also, he cooperated with Spike in S7. He let Spike stay over at his apartment. Sure, he still hated him, but the differences between soulled Spike and non Souled Spike weren't even established yet.

 

[Robb Stark]

The difference, I think, is that Xander's influence was temporary and he didn't kill anyone, whereas Spike and Angel did. I think the reason he lied about not remembering was that he didn't want to feel responsible, I mean, Cordelia could feel everything The Beast/ Jasmine did to her, but I don't hold her accountable. I think as the series goes on, Xander's dislike of Angel also needs to be taken into account that whilst good- for 'how long?' He does zero research on how to end his curse, just assuming that moment of happiness equates to sex. Angelus could still reimerge.

I don't find it hypocritical at all- and about Anya- Xander dated the human, not the demon. She didn't have a stupid curse. As far as Xander knew, she gave up all attempts to become a demon again. She fought on the side of good. Spike only would, for money. Also, he cooperated with Spike in S7. He let Spike stay over at his apartment. Sure, he still hated him, but the differences between soulled Spike and non Souled Spike weren't even established yet.

You raise a good point about not killing anyone. Thinking about it, I'm sure that's a big part of his thought process. To be fair though, he tries to force himself hard on Buffy even though she makes it clear that isn't going to happen. So him not wanting to feel responsible isn't really an out. If a few things had broke the other way, Xander could have easily killed people. I'm not sure about Angel's time with the curse though. Xander never even mentions that from what I can recall (I could be wrong though) and just going from the way Angel acts and the way he was introduced to the curse, he had no knowledge whatsoever about the "perfect happiness" clause in it. It's fairly clear (or at least, I always felt it was) that he had no idea what sleeping with Buffy would trigger.

I suppose Anya did change, but at the very least you have to acknowledge that she had a funny way of showing it. Xander goes to prom with her just a few months after she tries to kill Willow, and she reminisces fondly for the remainder of the series about how much she enjoyed butchering and torturing guys (played for comic effect, sure, but there all the same). It just seems a little strange that Xander would be angry at Spike in S7 or Angel in S2 (before he even knew the curse could be removed) and then be fine with dating someone who'd killed far more than they ever had. I don't really get that.