No Place Like Home

[Blondie Bear]

I'm watching this episode right now, and I'm a bit confused about Dawn's behavior. I understand her being upset about Buffy's accusations, but why in the world does she start acting like she's really out to hurt Joyce? Especially when Buffy isn't around? It almost makes sense when she tells Buffy, "You really think I care you're the Slayer?" She wants Buffy to take her seriously, and if Buffy thinks she's a threat, she'll take her seriously. But Joyce has no idea what's going on. So what's with the whole tea thing? You know, where Dawn's acting like the super-sweet child with an underlying menace? There doesn't seem to be any reason for it other than the writers trying to fake us out.

Am I wrong? Is there a good reason for it? Any ideas?

[VisionGuy]

That faked me out too. I thought she was the bad guy. I was actually cheering when Buffy was manhandling (sp?) her. "YES! Kill the evil teenager beast!" LOL

[edb]

I always think the exact same thing about that scene too!

It really makes you think that there is more to Dawn that just a teenage girl, it's almost like a double bluff because she was something else, but just not 'evil' or out to harm Joyce or anyone. I think they just wanted us to think Dawn was going to be some bad, evil thing as at that point we didn't know what she truly was.

Or maybe not & we're just reading more into it... 'lol'

[Blondie Bear]

That was my thought exactly. I know I'm going to get jumped for this, but it seemed out of Dawn's character to act like that. There was no in-show reason for it, only a meta-show reason, and that's often a sign of bad writing. If Dawn had an actual reason that we had been shown--if, for example, she was trying to become Mommy's favorite in order to undermine Buffy's influence with Joyce for some reason--it would make a lot more sense. But later in the episode (after we find out that Dawn's an innocent), she's right back to being normal Dawn, sulking and all. So it seems that the writers only made her all sneaky and menacing to fake us out, which is NOT a great writing technique.

[scobro]

If Dawn had an actual reason that we had been shown--if, for example, she was trying to become Mommy's favorite in order to undermine Buffy's influence with Joyce for some reason--it would make a lot more sense.
Actually if you go back and watch it a few times with that very thought in mind, it makes perfect sense. She was always fighting for her mothers attention because Buffy as the Slayer got all of her mothers concern. You can see it in later episodes, especially when Joyce gets sick and Buffy made her breakfast, Dawn takes the credit for it.

[Blondie Bear]

Actually if you go back and watch it a few times with that very thought in mind, it makes perfect sense. She was always fighting for her mothers attention because Buffy as the Slayer got all of her mothers concern. You can see it in later episodes, especially when Joyce gets sick and Buffy made her breakfast, Dawn takes the credit for it.

That's this episode, actually. And she may be attempting to do just that, but then she doesn't follow up on it. If she had, it would have given us a visible reason for her actions in this episode. Otherwise, it just looks like manipulation of our thoughts on the part of the writers.

Also, it doesn't explain the underlying menace. It explains the sucking up, making tea, acting all sweet, but it doesn't explain why she has that smirk, like she's about to poison Joyce or something.

[scobro]

Also, it doesn't explain the underlying menace. It explains the sucking up, making tea, acting all sweet, but it doesn't explain why she has that smirk, like she's about to poison Joyce or something.
The underlying menace is only there because you opt to view it that way. The smirk over the tea was that she did something for her mother and Buffy didn't. She was smirking because she was being the supportive daughter instead of Buffy. Watch it again with no illusions and she is not behaving any differently. She is still being the normal, nosey, self-centered brat sister that she always was.

There was no "menace" until AFTER the spell was cast. It was just easier to let your doubts run wild after the spell was cast.

[Blondie Bear]

This tea thing HAPPENED after the spell was cast. Hence the menace. It happened after Dawn said "Do you really think I care you're the Slayer?" and "Mom will be home soon" and all the other vaguely threatening things she said. The point I'm trying to make is that there shouldn't have been any menace EVER. It doesn't make logical, character, or plot sense for it to be there.

[scobro]

This tea thing HAPPENED after the spell was cast. Hence the menace. It happened after Dawn said "Do you really think I care you're the Slayer?" and "Mom will be home soon" and all the other vaguely threatening things she said. The point I'm trying to make is that there shouldn't have been any menace EVER. It doesn't make logical, character, or plot sense for it to be there.

I know it happened after.. my point is there was only menace because you allowed yourself to see it. In the first episode with Dawn she is caterwauling about everyone thinks Buffy is special just because she is the Slyer etc. So that "Do you really think I care you're the Slayer?" fits. Buffy was leaving Dawn alone, as there was no babysitter, which she was told not to do so "Mom will be home soon" line fits.

It makes perfect sense. It is easy to read too much into it. Same with Fred's parents in the episode of Angel. Everyone assumed THEY were evil as well.

[Blondie Bear]

If two other very smart, insightful members hadn't also seen the menace in Dawn's words and actions, I might be inclined to think it was just me. But obviously it's not just me, and I'm not reading more into it than is there.

As for Fred's parents, I never thought they were evil. I figured Fred had gone through a lot and there was something up, but I didn't think her parents were the cause of it.

[sk73]

Have also reacted to that, especially the tea thing.

Always has kinda ignored it as a cheap way to fool us to think that Dawn was evil.
Don't think I bought it the first time either, it felt a bit too obvious.

I agree with Blondie Bear. It doesn't feel like the best writing ever on the show...

/SK

[scobro]

If two other very smart, insightful members hadn't also seen the menace in Dawn's words and actions, I might be inclined to think it was just me. But obviously it's not just me, and I'm not reading more into it than is there.
But you have to admit with the points I made that she was not acting out of character, she was very much IN character, and you still fell for it. Ergo, the writing was not bad but very good.

[Blondie Bear]

I say the writing is bad because the writers stepped out of the logic and continuity of what was ACTUALLY HAPPENING to make us think something ELSE was happening. If they had just slightly tweaked our perception of what was actually happening to make us think something else was happening, that would have been good writing. But they didn't. They ignored the fact that Dawn was an innocent, if annoying, little girl to make us think--for a few minutes--that she was the thing that was threatening Joyce, when in fact Dawn had no intention or reason to hurt Joyce--and hence no reason to ACT LIKE she was going to by making threatening remarks at Buffy and acting weird around Joyce.

[scobro]

I say the writing is bad because the writers stepped out of the logic and continuity of what was ACTUALLY HAPPENING to make us think something ELSE was happening.
Red herrings have existed since Shakespeare. Logic and continuity were not stepped out of, the only thing that happened differently was the spell.

If the spell had never happened, and it was never revealed that Dawn was "different" then your opinion of everything else would not be as it is now.

The viewer (I will not say you as it was not just a 'you' case) chose to see what they wanted to see. Albeit which was thru the eyes of Buffy.

[Blondie Bear]

Um . . . I think we as the viewer KNEW that Dawn was different and that HOW would be revealed eventually, whether or not we knew before Buffy did.

[scobro]

Um . . . I think we as the viewer KNEW that Dawn was different and that HOW would be revealed eventually, whether or not we knew before Buffy did.
EXACTLY!! that is why the writing was great.

[Blondie Bear]

Okay, you know what? You watch it your way and I'll watch it mine, cause I started this thread to discuss possible reasons why Dawn would have been acting the way she was acting, not to get into a "You're stupid cause you don't agree with my interpretation" fight.

[Dlou444]

I'll tell you the part that bugged me, perhaps more than the smirk and the tea was when Joyce asks where Buffy is and Dawn blows it off as she's out and not to worry.

It seemed so weird with how she, Buffy and Joyce had ALL been acting where Dawn couldn't be left "alone" and had to be with someone all the time and it seemed like 1.) Joyce would have been MAD to come home and find Dawn all alone when she was just stepping out for a little bit and was sick and 2.) Dawn, if not a menacing evil child, would have been trying to get her in TROUBLE!

Even if she wanted to be "all grown up" and able to stay alone. Heck, when I was at that age, if MY SISTER had just left and left me all alone, I'd have been playing it ALL UP for Mom and Dad just to get her in MORE trouble, if I could.

It was the "Oh don't worry about Buffy, we're all alone and I have such big teeth to eat you with, my dear" thing that really threw me.

I agree, it was a cheap trick.
HOWEVER, for seeing it the first time, one I forgave QUICKLY once I realized that also in the episode they explain that the "adding the younger sister that we've never heard of before" was NOT the even bigger cheap trick that I had thought it was going to be.

[scobro]

Okay, you know what? You watch it your way and I'll watch it mine, cause I started this thread to discuss possible reasons why Dawn would have been acting the way she was acting, not to get into a "You're stupid cause you don't agree with my interpretation" fight.

I never said you were stupid. I explained those reasons why she was acting 'differently' as well. The only thing I disagree with you on is that the writing was bad.

[Lindsey McDonald]

The only reason it seems menacing is because you are viewing it like that. scobro is right. Dawn is completely within character for the whole episode. If that entire section had been placed outwith the context of "Dawn is evil, look how evil Dawn is", no-one would have a problem. There is no point in discussing reasons why she was acting evil. She wasn't. Every incidence of her appearing threatening can be easily reconciled with her want to be noticed, her fighting with Buffy for Joyce's love (not that Joyce wasn't loving them both equally, of course), and her wanting to appear grown up. It's not exactly subtle writing, but it isn't bad writing.

[Blondie Bear]

You all make it sound like I came into this episode EXPECTING to find evil and menace. Hardly. It was something I happened to notice on the first viewing and remained confused about for the BILLION other viewings I've had since then. Hence my confusion and my seeking clarification here. And hence my annoyance that all I'm getting is "it's not there; you're imagining it" rather than "hm, maybe it has something to do with BLANK." I'm not just some crazy person, and I know I'm not the only person who's seen that in MT's acting in those scenes.

[Dlou444]

Well, there seems to be some EXTREMELY differing views.

I vote for a recess while we ALL rewatch the episode and take notes. Who's in?

[Lyri]

I'm not saying it's not there. There is a certain air of 'why is she acting like she's gonna rip Joyce's head off any second, she's her daughter' but I also see the other side.

Ever since the spell was cast, we were led to believe that Dawn wasn't who she was supposed to be. Buffy even accused her of hurting her mother...the writers led us to believe that Dawn was evil. So when the scene in question came up, I didn't think it wasn't in character for Dawn, not the first time I saw it anyway. I thought 'OMG, she's the bad guy! She's gonna kill Buffy's Mom!'

But watching the episode NOW, especially that scene, it's like 'why is Dawn acting like the creepy little girl from 'Angel'?'

[scobro]

it's like 'why is Dawn acting like the creepy little girl from 'Angel'?'
You aren't talking about the White Room girl?? what made her creepy??

[littlewilly]

I dont think Dawn was acting this way on purpose, i think we were just meant to think she was acting evil.
All she done was say ''want some tea,? i made it for you''(with an evil look) And she was rightly pissed off with Buffy. But she wasnt acting evil just to get back at Buffy.

[fly on the wall]

I'm not sure what answer you're looking for.
Do you want theories that Dawn was feeling evil, was secretly evil, and the writers never got to it? I mean, yes, you're supposed to think she's evil in this episode. The viewers are already thinking "Ok, who the hell is this girl? What's her deal?" Then Buffy goes into that trance to find what's hurting her mother, and something freaky happens with Dawn...leading us to assume it's DAWN that's hurting her mother. So, yes, the writers wrote her in such a way that can be interpreted as evil so that for those few minutes you THINK she's evil.

No one's saying you're imagining it. The writers and director and editors and producers want you to think Dawn is evil. That's why the smirk is there, the things Dawn says, the lighting, the music, all of it. It doesn't mean Dawn is ACTING EVIL. It means she's acting in a way that can be interpreted as evil...which is exactly what they want you to think.

Just like how in S7, Principal Wood is super-charming and kind of sketchy, so you think he might be evil. Just like in S3, you think Mrs. Post is a regular (albeit obnoxious) watcher until you find out she's evil. Just like in S3 you think Ford is just an old friend of Buffy's before he goes all vampire-worshipping. It happens a lot in BtVS.

[Dlou444]

My problem with it is, (and I can't speak for BB...because she says she's not crazy and I am), that they leave stuff "unexplained" with it. Like WHY would Dawn act out of character just that one time? Likewise, why would Robin Wood just bury Jonathan with no apparent thought or surprise to a dead body in the bottom of the school.

It's fine to watch on the FIRST time around, but obviously they were intended to see more than once. (I mean who would get all those vague "Dawn is coming" references the first time?)
And when watching them the 2nd time (or 12th), they just don't hold up.
I guess I just feel like a show that can "foreshadow" Dawn 2 seasons beforehand has good enough writers to make stuff "fit" better.
Now, if we were discussing Beverly Hills 90210....I'd not be bothered at ALL by such nonesense!

[scobro]

Likewise, why would Robin Wood just bury Jonathan with no apparent thought or surprise to a dead body in the bottom of the school.
Because he was trained by a watcher and maneuvered himself to Sunnydale High just for that reason. It was expected.

[Dlou444]

Because he was trained by a watcher and maneuvered himself to Sunnydale High just for that reason. It was expected.

Really? Never saw Giles just roll over dead people, bury them and romp off about his day without asking any questions. Never saw Wesley do it either.

[scobro]

Really? Never saw Giles just roll over dead people, bury them and romp off about his day without asking any questions. Never saw Wesley do it either.
But we werent talking about them, either. Never saw Woods murder a human, never saw Giles steal a friends baby. You find a dead body laying atop a demonic seal and I dont really know what question there is to ask.

[littlewilly]

Dawn wasnt acting ou of character, she always pulled them faces and spoke like that

[Dlou444]

But we werent talking about them, either. Never saw Woods murder a human, never saw Giles steal a friends baby. You find a dead body laying atop a demonic seal and I dont really know what question there is to ask.

Um....perhaps the SAME questions that you ask when the whole town bursts into song, bodies of people from the swim team seem to shed their skins, bodies fall out of lockers, pack of children seem to be possessed by hyenas. It's not THAT hard to say, "GEE! A demonic seal with a dead body! I might want to at least look into what it might be doing here and what kind of rituals people (perhaps students) might be doing and what might happen if this seal were to open"

We're not discussing finding a dead squirrel in the middle of a busy road!

[littlewilly]

Um....perhaps the SAME questions that you ask when the whole town bursts into song, bodies of people from the swim team seem to shed their skins, bodies fall out of lockers, pack of children seem to be possessed by hyenas. It's not THAT hard to say, "GEE! A demonic seal with a dead body! I might want to at least look into what it might be doing here and what kind of rituals people (perhaps students) might be doing and what might happen if this seal were to open"
!

Are you saying Dawn was acting *evil* on purpose?

[scobro]

Um....perhaps the SAME questions that you ask when the whole town bursts into song, bodies of people from the swim team seem to shed their skins, bodies fall out of lockers, pack of children seem to be possessed by hyenas. It's not THAT hard to say, "GEE! A demonic seal with a dead body! I might want to at least look into what it might be doing here and what kind of rituals people (perhaps students) might be doing and what might happen if this seal were to open"

We're not discussing finding a dead squirrel in the middle of a busy road!

I assumed he knew the answers already. As he revealed later that he
wasnt sure he was ready for the fight.

[Dlou444]

Are you saying Dawn was acting *evil* on purpose?

*KONK* NO! I'm saying that the writers made a booboo on the OVERKILL of trying to write her to look "evil" without a reason for it. She doesn't run around with evil smirks looking like she's trying to kill Joyce later. Just that episode. With no real reason for it later.
Afterwards, she's back to Little Miss Whiney-Behiney. I get what they were trying to DO, but they could have at least written in a reason why she'd be over the top "I'm Up To Something", you know, maybe in the NEXT episode. Even if it was just a little line like Willow saying, "Dawn's been acting like she's trying to make you look bad and irresponsible to everyone the past couple of days, I think she feels like you look down on her." But, NOPE, nothing. Just one episode of these weird, "I'm gonna kill you looks" and then back to "I'm a big complainer person"

I assumed he knew the answers already. As he revealed later that he
wasnt sure he was ready for the fight.

If he KNEW, all the more reason to DO something. Pour concrete? Heck, isn't it just 1 or two episodes later the girl from the Home Depot is able to drag Xander down there? A nice big LOCK would have been slightly better that rebury it!

[scobro]

If he KNEW, all the more reason to DO something.
You have a problem with people in the buffy not doing anything don'cha? haha sorrry I couldnt hewp myself

[Dlou444]

You have a problem with people in the buffy not doing anything don'cha? haha sorrry I couldnt hewp myself

Uh, yeah, I do. Especially if they want to be seen as "good"

[scobro]

Uh, yeah, I do. Especially if they want to be seen as "good"
Oh I see! maybe that explains it then. Actually, ya know.. that explains alot!

[Dlou444]

Oh I see! maybe that explains it then. Actually, ya know.. that explains alot!

Thank you for being utterly ambiguous. It's almost refreshing!

[littlewilly]

*KONK* NO! I'm saying that the writers made a booboo on the OVERKILL of trying to write her to look "evil" without a reason for it. She doesn't run around with evil smirks looking like she's trying to kill Joyce later. Just that episode. With no real reason for it later.
iner pe!

Trying to kill Joyce? come on Lou.
It wasnt just that episode, she was always talking and looking
like that.
Tbh, i dont get what your on about.
Dawn may have looked evil but dosent mean she was evil.
I bet you've looked evil sometimes.

[Blondie Bear]

Dawn may have looked evil but dosent mean she was evil.
I bet you've looked evil sometimes.

Comparing real life and real people with fiction in this manner doesn't work. In fiction, everything happens the way it happens for a reason. It wasn't a mistake of tone and facial expression that made Dawn look like that; it was carefully crafted by the actress, the director, and the writers.

[Dlou444]

Go back and watch it! It's a "Here, Mummy, have some of those lovely tea I made with deadly nightshade! It's YUMMY and will make you feel better. Pay no mind to where Buffy is, just stay here with me and you'll no longer have ANY WORRIES!"

[Blondie Bear]

Go back and watch it! It's a "Here, Mummy, have some of those lovely tea I made with deadly nightshade! It's YUMMY and will make you feel better. Pay no mind to where Buffy is, just stay here with me and you'll no longer have ANY WORRIES!"

That's exactly how I saw it! The question is, WHY did the director, writers, and actress decide to play it that way when Dawn WASN'T evil? It wasn't even vague and inconclusive, like much of Wood's early behavior, it was just a weird scene designed to make Dawn look evil that wasn't ever explained!

[littlewilly]

So you people are saying that Dawn purposfully tried to look and act evil to Joyce? Doubt it.

Edit:

That's exactly how I saw it! The question is, WHY did the director, writers, and actress decide to play it that way when Dawn WASN'T evil?

To make you SUSPECT that shes evil. But it dosnt mean Dawn was trying to act evil, thats just how we interpreted it.

[Blondie Bear]

We're saying Michelle Trachtenburg, Doug Petrie, and David Solomon conspired to make us think that Dawn was evil when she really wasn't. It was a big fake-out that they never tried to explain later. MOST of their fake-outs have logical explanations later, but this one didn't.

[littlewilly]

We're saying Michelle Trachtenburg, Doug Petrie, and David Solomon conspired to make us think that Dawn was evil when she really wasn't. It was a big fake-out that they never tried to explain later. MOST of their fake-outs have logical explanations later, but this one didn't.

It did have a logical explanation. It was to put you in Buffys shoes so you'd think Dawn MIGHT be evil.
But i dont think Dawn was attempting to look evil, it just came across that way.
Am i missing something here?

[Dlou444]

But Buffy wasn't there! Dawn was talking to Joyce all alone! So there was no need for her to "look" evil at all if she's not.

[littlewilly]

You Lou, im asking repeatedly coz you AINT givin a straight answer

Edit:

But Buffy wasn't there! Dawn was talking to Joyce all alone! So there was no need for her to "look" evil at all if she's not.

Damn you. She wasnt meaning to look evil. :cheering:

[Dlou444]

I DID! Go put in the stupid disk and you'll see! They had her play "shifty" on purpose because she doesn't act that way other times, even when trying to hide the stealing.

[Blondie Bear]

I think you're missing the separation between MICHELLE TRACHTENBURG and DAWN. DAWN wasn't trying to look evil, because DAWN wasn't evil. MICHELLE TRACHTENBURG was acting just evil enough to FAKE US OUT to make us THINK Dawn was evil!

[Dlou444]

You'd better watch your language or we're tying ya to the tree Mister!

[littlewilly]

I think you're missing the separation between MICHELLE TRACHTENBURG and DAWN. DAWN wasn't trying to look evil, because DAWN wasn't evil. MICHELLE TRACHTENBURG was acting just evil enough to FAKE US OUT to make us THINK Dawn was evil!

EXACTLY. It dosnt mean she(dawn) was supposed to be actually acting evil on purpose.
Dawn wasnt thinking ''oh, i'll put on an evil face''.
She(Michelle) just pulled a certain face to make us think *is she evil* What ive been saying all along.

[Blondie Bear]

Okay, so now that we seem to have arrived at the SAME PLACE from two DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS . . . Why didn't Dawn's strange behavior get further comment later? Why didn't she follow up on her (presumed) attempt to make Buffy look bad to Joyce by getting her own way at something over Buffy later? Or something like that? They just tossed this weird scene at us and NEVER explain what's going on!

[Dlou444]

*throws up hands, grabs Willy's leash*

THAT'S IT BOY! Taking you outside for a WALK!

[littlewilly]

Why didn't Dawn's strange behavior get further comment later? Why didn't she follow up on her (presumed) attempt to make Buffy look bad to Joyce by getting her own way at something over Buffy later? Or something like that? They just tossed this weird scene at us and NEVER explain what's going on!

Why would it get further comment later? It wasnt a big deal.
And also, in s5, dawn tried a good few times to make herself look better than Buffy.

[Blondie Bear]

^ I can think of exactly one instance: when Dawn steals Buffy's breakfast-making thing and acts like she did it. Other than that, she spends most of the rest of the time moping.

[littlewilly]

Plus another time when Joyce hugs Dawn and Dawn looks at Buffy with a sneaky look all over her face(while being hugged)

[Blondie Bear]

When? I demand episode, scene, disc number, and serial number, mister.

[Dlou444]

LOL! If he breaks his neck trying to stumble to the disks there's gonna be a lawsuit!

[littlewilly]

Im def gonna find that. Its between Family and Crush. Plus, even when i find it, its still proves nothing exept a Teenager tring to steal attention.

[Dlou444]

Yeah, but it may be ME that sues you because who will I take my aggression out on then? I'll be all angry and bitter and it will be sad!

[scobro]

Thank you for being utterly ambiguous. It's almost refreshing!
Sorry, I was trying to flee from work and didnt have time to finish the other part. I mean I rarely see the charactors as good or bad. The 'good' ones are always flawed and you can question their motives, while the 'bad' ones aren't that bad at all (with some exceptions)

So when you said about expecting them to be good, it kinda clicked in me head. But freedom was more important than clarification.

[Blondie Bear]

Yeah, but it may be ME that sues you because who will I take my aggression out on then? I'll be all angry and bitter and it will be sad!

Yeah, you can sue me for my entire checking account!

BWAHAHAHAHA!

That comes with complimentary student loan debt, by the way.

[Dlou444]

I'm not talking "good and bad" as in, "is Faith all bad" or "is Buffy all good"
I'm saying if Robin Wood wants the GROUP to accept him as good, he needs to DO SOMETHING and not just stand there like a lame duck and rebury something.
I don't know, research, locks.

Don't DO something that makes you perhaps look evil with no real answer to it and expect people not to pick up on it.

Granted, the writers WANTED to trick us with both Dawn and Robin and think they were perhaps evil, if only for the one or the next few episodes. And they did their job nicely. HOWEVER, some explanation for Dawn suddenly getting a "Chucky" look and Robin just burying dead body on creepy seal without question.

[littlewilly]

She'll take it...........................

[Dlou444]

I AIN'T taking the loans and HE AIN'T gonna speak for me!

[littlewilly]

Robin Wood
Don't DO something that makes you perhaps look evil with no real answer to it and expect people not to pick up on it.


You know he didnt mean to get caught?
And how was there no real answer to it, he just found a dead body, what you want him to do, phone the cops?
I dont get your point here, not making sense.

[scobro]

I'm saying if Robin Wood wants the GROUP to accept him as good, he needs to DO SOMETHING and not just stand there like a lame duck and rebury something.
But I do not think he cared at that moment what the group thought of him, because he didnt know what he thought of himself. Heck, I do not THINK he was planning on telling Buffy when they went out on the date but circumstances arouse in which he had to.

[Blondie Bear]

YES! Phoning the cops would have a) made more sense; and b) made him obviously a GOOD GUY.

[littlewilly]

Not obviously. Depends on opinion

[Blondie Bear]

Okay, now you're just being anti.

KONK.

[scobro]

YES! Phoning the cops would have made more sense
But covering up all that kinda stuff went with the job of principal. I mean you have the standard "it was a biker gang on PCP" as an excuse rather than the truth.

[Dlou444]

But I do not think he cared at that moment what the group thought of him, because he didnt know what he thought of himself. Heck, I do not THINK he was planning on telling Buffy when they went out on the date but circumstances arouse in which he had to.

Then what does it matter that he was raised by a watcher in the first place? Do you honestly think that Watcher told him, "When you find a dead body sacrificed on a mystical seal above a hellmouth, just cover it up and walk away. Everything will be fine"?
That's just stupid!

And *KONK* Willy, NO, I don't think he planned to get "caught" because he didn't. ONLY WE SAW HIM! Looking creepy and somewhat evil....especially compared to the other people (INCLUDING FAITH) who were in contact with Watchers and people on the "good" side. Who all liked to get to the bottom of things and stop the evil!

[littlewilly]

Looking creepy and somewhat evil?

OMG, i give up.

[scobro]

Then what does it matter that he was raised by a watcher in the first place?
Because he was above that of a normal civilian. He didn't wig out when he saw the dead body, as other principals did, he just took care of the body.

And it would have been fine if Xander could have kept his hormones in check! but noooo he was so happy to be with a woman that wasn't a bug or ex-demon...

[Dlou444]

You're LAME!
OUT for another walk you go!

Edit:

Because he was above that of a normal civilian. He didn't wig out when he saw the dead body, as other principals did, he just took care of the body.

And it would have been fine if Xander could have kept his hormones in check! but noooo he was so happy to be with a woman that wasn't a bug or ex-demon...

And, NO! He should have been looking up the seal, discovering what was under it, covering it in concrete, sealing the room behind a big metal door!
What kind of lame Watcher trained guy just says, "Wulp, there's a dead guy, I'll just roll this dirt over this seal and move him and everything will be okay"
He's supposed to have been raised by a WATCHER not Barney Fife!

[scobro]

And, NO! He should have been looking up the seal, discovering what was under it, covering it in concrete, sealing the room behind a big metal door!
What kind of lame Watcher trained guy just says, "Wulp, there's a dead guy, I'll just roll this dirt over this seal and move him and everything will be okay"
He's supposed to have been raised by a WATCHER not Barney Fife!

But it doesnt make him a watcher. All he wanted to do was kill the vamp that killed his 'froed mommy. Did you ever see him research anything except finding the iTune of that song that played in Spikes head? He was a slacker, but that doesnt make him a bad egg.

And Wesly was a watcher but he was pretty close to Barney Fife when he first showed up....