YESSS!!! A group that understood without being explained that the "A plot" was supposed to be satire of itself and even better than that. You didn't skip the "I like the quiet" line and that Xander 1000% was calm and ready to die. Like I feel it's super important insight into his character and how sad he is behind humor but everyone always skips it. Great reaction
Also gives a sort of 'show' to Xander's Mindset that every fight the gang does feels like a 'Hellmouth opening soon' warning, and he feels absolutely useless.... until he realizes that he don't need to be or do more than he already does.
This is, hands down, one of my most favorite episodes. The way the show pokes fun at itself when it’s at its most melodramatic while having Xander run around on his own insane adventure is perfect. Nicholas Brendon is great!
I feel like every show should have at least one episode from the POV of a supporting character. I would have loved a COMMUNITY episode told from the POV of Leonard and Starburns and Garret and Vicky and Magnitude lol
@@CharlieBrown20XD6 Episode 3 of The Last of Us is being review bombed b/c the majority of it is from the POV of a supporting character. Though many think it's b/c of homophobia.
Xander wasn't part of the 'end of the world' stuff but in his own way, he played a huge part in saving everyone, cause if that bomb had gone off, everyone upstairs would have likely died, killing off two slayers, a witch, a vampire, werewolf and Giles and perhaps the hell monster would have survived the blast and ended the world. So, I loved that a big theme for this episode was that sometimes, the hero is someone you least expect it to be and that doing a good deed doesn't always get thanks or acknowledgement.
This episode is a beautiful demonstration of how drama and scale can be completely unrelated. Buffy and the main squad are dealing with the end of the world, but Xanders story is what we are engaged in because of the personal stakes. I love the scene at the end when everyone is talking about the battle we didn't see. "I'll never forget that things face... It's real face I mean"
The writer, Dan Vebber, said the way this episode was done was inspired by Rosencratz and Guildenstern are Dead, where the 'B' story is pushed to the front and the 'A' story is pushed to the back.
Few things: 1. Nicholas Brendon has said that he cried when he first read the script as he was so delighted with it, and its meaning for his character. He says it is one of his favorite episodes. 2. My all time favorite episode! I love the development for Xander so much, Evaluation Zone put it best (IMO) - And Xander _does_ learn. In the fantastic Season Three episode, “The Zeppo,” we get to see the world through Xander’s eyes, the eyes of the one decidedly “ordinary” member of the Buffyverse crew. While Buffy, Willow, Giles, and Angel all face off against an earth-shattering crisis, Xander goes on a personal journey of self-discovery in his uncle’s souped-up car. Throughout this odyssey, he is emasculated in every sense, having his life threatened by a cluster of zombies and his virginity taken away by an uncaring Faith. As much as high school Xander aspires to be a macho man, his aspirations are all but destroyed by the episode’s finale. He’ll _never_ be the kind of hero his friends are. What he can do, however, is put his life on the line for them and be the one willing to make the personal sacrifice others will not: he’s everything good about impulsiveness. Plus, by the episode’s conclusion, he inadvertently saves his friends from being killed by the zombie goons’ scheme to blow up the school using a homemade bomb."
Finally a group of reactors that get it! Most get annoyed with the focus on the Xander plot instead of the apocalypse. THANK YOU for appreciating the comedy of this episode. ❤
I'm really glad that Marketa caught on to how dark and revealing Xanders "I like the quiet" line really is, it kinda flies over most peoples head somehow...
Yes like people think Xander is just this dumb funny guy but hes really sad and has a messed up life with his mom and stuff and he uses comedy to hide that.
It's also fun to imagine everything that happens in this episode from Xander's point of view. Gives you an idea how he sees Willow's quirkiness (the marshmellow line), Giles' interactions with magic and spirits, and Buffy/Angel's over the top drama.
They were having a whole season finale while Xander went on his adventure. This is a top five episode of the entire series for me, maybe my number 1. Interestingly, the writer who wrote this episode wrote this one and never wrote another episode of Buffy again.
The beauty of The Zeppo...is the way everyone else is wrapped up in the usual 'end of the world' scenario...while Xander is experiencing a night that was actually the deciding factor in the fate of the world. If he'd failed...everyone else in the show died...followed by the world. Note: after the fact, he doesn't brag, doesn't hint or imply anything...he KNOWS he saved the world...he needs nothing. Xander knows what he did...and no one else needs to know anything.
This is an homage to a1960's Tom Stoppard play called "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead", made into a movie in the 90s. It's the plot of Shakespeare's "Hamlet" but told from the point of view of two of the play's minor characters, childhood friends of Hamlet's. R&G occasionally have a scene with Hamlet and the other main characters, the same as in Shakespeare, but most of the time Hamlet's tragedy is going on offstage while R&G are the main focus. One possible interpretation is that everyone is the main character in their own life; there are no minor characters.
I think the first time I saw this episode, I was confused at first (especially at all the Buffy team melodrama going on behind the scenes while Xander was having his own night), but then I spent the rest of the time crying laughing. Such a funny underrated Xander episode.
I don't have my textbooks in this house, but this specific episode was used as an example in one of my college film textbooks regarding different ways stories are framed.
I love the acoustic guitar instrumental used to end the episode while Xander walks away and ignores Cordelia's insults. I always rewind and play it back just listen to it 😊🎶🎸
You guys did a great job of picking up on the concept during the episode. Some watch and are just completely confused all the way through. It's a gem of an episode.
I'm so happy that the gang understood what was going on here pretty much straight away! It flies over most reactors' heads, but this was so fun to watch.
If you liked this episode then I can recommend a book called "The Rest of Us Just Live Here" by Patrick Ness. It's set in a Sunnydale High type school but from the point of view of the kids who are not the monsters/super-heroes etc.
I heard that during the scene in Faith’s motel room, the crew was chanting at Nicholas Brendon “Seventeen will get you twenty!” because Eliza Dushku was still only 17 when they were shooting.
I really hope you guys do angel at the same time as Buffy with season 4 cause the story and joke payoffs are so worth the similtaneous viewing experience
Some of the funniest parts in this episode Giles comment of "there's a stench in the air, a stench of death." and Xander casually saying" Yeah I think it's Bob." or when he takes the guy with his car then while he's asking him questions he hits a mailbox and gets decapitated. Or when he's talking to Oz and he asks him his thing that makes him kool, and oz's replay " what you do have is an exciting new obsession which I feel makes you very special." and "walker texas ranger you've been taping for me?" lol Just sooo good.
So true that this only works because we know all the characters and the normal way an episode is build up. We've got plenty more of that kind of comedy and I just love it 😁
Love The Zeppo. One of my faves. Love how it takes a look at everything going on outside of the end of the world. Sunnydale doesn't just stop because the Hellmouth has decided to act up.
The bomb was directly under the library. If it had blown up it would have killed Buffy, Willow, Giles, etc & likely allowed the hellbeast to escape and bring about the end of the world. Xander objectively just saved everybody and he didn't even tell anyone what happened. That's some baller shit.
The show makes Fun of itself so well. I understand the ones who hates Xander disliking this, but I think it's awesome we stay with his perspective and we don't even know exactly what was happening with the others (the details), just like him. It's his solo journey.
Mark 16:26. One: In slang, a Mickey Finn is a drink laced with an incapacitating agent, particularly chloral hydrate, given to someone without their knowledge with the intent to incapacitate them or "knock them out"; hence the colloquial name knockout drops. "Wikipedia". Two: People also ask Why do they call it a Mickey Finn? A Mickey Finn is a drugged alcoholic drink given to someone without them knowing. It's named for a late 19th-century bartender and pickpocket who was notorious for drugging people's drinks. Giving someone a Mickey Finn is sometimes called “slipping a mickey.” August 25, 2022.
This is definitely one of the shows funniest episodes… also, I recently found out Bob is played by Abraham from The Walking Dead… that’s crazy, he is so unrecognizable
Mark 24:21. "Faith Lehane"? For those of us that viewed the show new, unless we went and saw, Eliza's "Wrong Turn", movie too, we would be wondering why she's suddenly an, Archer. It's a skill learned for a movie, that she brought over to the series. (Unless I flipped it? 🤔) This is, Season 3? So then, one more whole season to go, before your group begins looking for clues during the first four seasons, and maybe, finally, the movie, as you wonder what you missed, once you see the first episode of, Season 5! 😁
Funny episode. It ALWAYS makes me laugh when I hear the word ZEPPO. Xander will always come thru in the end. I hope that, anyways. LOL. Great reactions, guys and girls.
The scenes in this episode with Xander are his POV of how he sees the world (witch is why they are over-the-top and have broad music playing). The scenes without him are not his POV. Which means it wasn't Xander's imagination that he was benched. So, I will always find it strange that the group benched someone that saved Buffy's life during an apocalypse/The Master tried to rise in S1. Other Scooby members have gone through situations that made the group bench Xander. Why weren't they benched when it happened to them. The group can be as upset as they want at Buffy running away at the end of S2 and the beginning of S3, but she saved lives in LA. Personally, I think she needed time away from Angelus, Angel, her friends, and her mom considering the situation between everyone with Angel and Angelus. It looks like Xander could use that time away from the group if they are willing to bench him for something as ridiculous as what happened in the teaser, whether or not benching him saved their lives. Same goes for the fact that Xander feels that "the quiet" isn't a bad option. There's a blooper of Nicholas Brendan trying not to laugh (and failing miserably) at the scene where Katie is held to Xander's neck. It's pretty funny. Episodes where the world ending is the background plot instead of the focus are kind of interesting, and usually fun. I had a feeling The Normies would enjoy this episode. One of the stronger Xander Harris episodes, in my opinion.
Mark 11:27. Huh? Because their downtown, though it isn't a strip mall on a shopping center city block, though it looks like one, is really the old-fashioned concept of, "downtown", that probably motivated people to still call it a, "small town", despite having city amenities. 🤔 The novelty book, made to look like, Buffy's high school senior yearbook, has advertisements from those fictional businesses. I have one. I think it includes a map of the area. Because of that, I guess that's why your question took me by surprise. 🤔 Fictional, "Mayberry", is a small town. But the downtown looks bigger, because the buildings are bigger, with at least two stories each. Wider streets too. 🤓
I don't think you guys realized that bomb was in the school, with the rest of the gang, it woulda killed them too, he couldn't just run. So he saved everyone and they didn't know it.
Modern TV would try to do this episode in season 1 or 2 and not understand you need close to 40+ episodes to make this episode funny and self parody yourself. Another episode why people love season 3.
Mark 16:00. Wow! I witnessed an actual, "face palm", action adjusted for wearing eyewear! I've tried it, with and without eyewear, when I've seen others do it. But I still don't get it, as to why people do it. 😁
I love love love this episode. It reminds me of the book, The rest of us just live here, ( where they live in a high school with superheroes, which are always in the background but the main story is with what would normally be considered the side characters)
I love this ep its my all time favorite its just so much fun. Its reminds me of this JLU ep with Booster Gold where he saves the world and no one knows
The Xander episode! Also, This episode marks the THIRD time that Xander is directly responsible for saving the world. #1: Brings Buffy back to life after the Master kills her. #2: He comes up with the Bazooka Idea to kill the judge. #3: He stops the bomb, which would have killed everyone in the library and allowed the hellmouth to open.
This was my favorite reaction to this episode I've ever seen! You guys actually got it! Almost everyone who reacts to this takes the bait and acts like the Hellmouth plot is the main story and gets irritated that it keeps cutting away from it to follow Xander. Calling it out as a Buffy skit is exactly right! It's basically showing how ridiculous things look from the outside, and what it's like to be the normal guy. You guys did say at the end that this might be the start of Xander finding his 'thing'. That's actually the opposite of what this episode is suggesting will happen. "I like the quiet." Xander is comfortable with his sidekick role AND being incredibly important and saving their lives, even though they have no idea he did because he wasn't fighting Hellmouth monsters. Xander is like the heart of the group; completely necessary even if it's not doing anything flashy like the hands or legs :)
One of my all time favorite episodes and Xander did save the world by preventing the bomb from exploding which would injured or killed Buffy and the others.
My all time favourite episode! I was waiting for you guys to react to this. You did not disappoint! I watch this episode 2-3 times a year. It's such a clever idea that, while the gang are saving the world, Xander is saving them! Did he indirectly save the world? I love that nobody knows about it. His smile when he walks away from Cordelia ended the ep perfectly. I hate it when people don't get this story. I thought Spidey's head would explode at one point lol Good to see you all laugh so much. That was the point. I remember the first time I watched it My sides were killing me lol The mailbox beheading scene is priceless! Lol Glad you're enjoying the series. Is so underrated.
Mark 3:56? The CC indicates, "new shoes", where it should be, "new shape"! 😁 So I may as well not use it. But anyway, "Columbine"? This episode predates that moment in, History. This series was one of the first affected though, once it did happen, as the show had to postpone certain episodes until later. They were put back in order, for the home video media releases. VHS, was still a thing then, by the way. But I only have the series on, DVD. Hmm. For whichever media that you're using, they will probably be back in order too. So you won't be dealing with belated, high school setting episodes, when they are in college!
My favorite Xander focused episode, well directed, and well written. Well portrayed. Xander buying a cool car. Encountered undead teenagers. Sex with slayer Faith. He stood up to the bully. Yay Xander! With a lot of laughs. ❤❤❤❤❤
Mark 7:33. Jay Leno & I both, dislike violence to cars. If I had his income, we would be rivals for cars, I reckon. But anyway, Marketa, that's such a sweet, cute, adorable reáction, with your high-pitched voice! I haven't heard such a reaction in awhile from anyone. Now I'm wondering why when they do happen, that gals speak like that? 🤔 (Guys, don't quite hit that register.)
I'm pretty sure this episode is where Joss Whedon got the idea for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., a team of non powered agents (Xander) dealing with smaller threats while the Avengers (Buffy and crew) deal the with the major villains.
@@giusepped3678 He's absolutely evil....if you happen to be in love with Alyson Hannigan. Just double-checked and it's about to be their 20th wedding anniversary which is absolutely remarkable.
@@MrFragar123 I really hope they watch Angel. Moreso if they watch it while still watching Buffy especially the first season because many Buffy episodes lead into Angel episodes
