Ok.. so here's the deal.
Ever since the show started we have heard debates
about Xander versus Angel (this has absolutely nothing to do with Angel-->Xander,
though that would solve all the debates, but it would leave Buffy in the
cold), and who is better, more heroic, or who has "saved" people and /
or Buffy more often. Obviously, this is a matter of serious opinion, and
some people feel VERY passionately about the guy they've been rooting
for. There are factors that cannot be changed for a lot of people.
These people probably shouldn't read any further, because I'm not going
to change your mind
Being the engineering grad student that I am (not
in engineering, public health...but that's not the point), I decided to
actually go to the source and collect the data on these two characters'
activities over the course of the first two seasons of the show. I went
through every single episode, scene by scene, and
compiled activities by Xander and Angel. I then compiled the data
here for everyone to see. There probably is a strong Xander bias, as Angel
tended to be absent from the majority of the first season, and evil for
a good part of the second season.
Note: If Xander is possessed by something, the
activities under the possession are in italics. If Angel is missing his
soul, those activities are in italics. This does not mean necessarily
that Xander or Angel are not unable to make decisions, but I thought it
was important to note that they were not themselves as they were introduced
to us in Welcome to the Hellmouth.
EPISODE BY EPISODE DATA:
Welcome to the Hellmouth /The
Harvest
Xander
Offers to lend a hand in finding Jesse (twice).
Goes to actually help Buffy with the unknown Saves Cordelia from
Jesse.
Angel
Cryptically gives Buffy warnings about the Harvest
and a cross. Refuses to help Buffy look for Jesse because he's "afraid".
The Witch
Xander
The term "Slayerettes" is used. Xander
claims, "I laugh in the face of danger.. Then I hide until it goes away."
He also sneaks up behind Katherine / Amy to try to stop her twice (once
getting knocked out for his troubles, once getting the wrong witch)
Angel
Didn't bother to assist in any way, shape or
form.
Teacher's Pet
Xander
(After being kidnapped) Helps Buffy fight an
evil preying mantis by spraying it with bug spray. Hacks away at
a nest of preying mantis eggs.
Angel
Saves Buffy from the cold by giving her a jacket.
Another cryptic warning about fork guy.
Never Kill a Boy on the First
Date
Xander
Goes to the funeral home with Giles. Is
able to convince Buffy (with the help of Willow) to come back to the funeral
home to save Giles. Prevents Buffy from being distracted by Willow while
fighting Pork ‘n’ Beans.
Angel
Again, cryptic warning about the Anointed One.
Ineffective in getting Buffy to fight until Xander shows up with Willow.
The Pack
Xander
Went to save Lance from torment. Taken over
by a hyena in the process, so not very useful after that. Saves Willow
from the zookeeper.
Angel
Didn't bother to assist in any way, shape or
form.
Angel
Xander
Goes to warn Buffy that it was Darla who attacked
her mom, even though he isn't sure what he's going to do about it if she's
being attacked by hundreds of vampires.
Angel
First time helps Buffy physically. Gets involved
with the fight against the Three. Injured in the process. Takes a
bullet from Darla. Tries to commit suicide by slayer. Kills Darla.
I Robot You Jane
Xander
Comes through with the knowledge on the research
facility. Goes with Buffy to save Willow (climbing fences, punching
out flunkies, and getting knocked out by Moloch).
Angel
Didn't bother to assist in any way shape or form.
The Puppet Show
Xander
Grabs the rope to the guillotine and prevents
it from slicing open Giles’s head. Lets go of the rope and kills the demon.
Angel
Didn't bother to assist in any way, shape or
form.
Nightmares
Xander
Bravely faces old nemesis (clown) and punches
him out. Stops the coach from getting away from the hospital room.
Angel
Didn't bother to assist in any way, shape, or
form.
Invisible Girl (Out of Sight,
Out of Mind)
Xander
Leads the charge to talk to Marcie.
Angel
Offers to help with research on the Master (the
Codex) for Giles. Saves Willow, Giles and Xander from the gas filled
room.
Prophecy Girl
Xander
The only one who tries to stop Buffy’s
prophecy from coming true. Goes to Angel for directions (with cross in
hand). Enters the Hellmouth, Refuses to give up on Buffy, gives
Buffy mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, saves her life, and fights vampires
side by side with Angel.
Angel
Brings Giles the Codex. Takes Xander to the Hellmouth,
Brings Buffy’s body out of the water. Fights vampires side by side with
Xander.
When She was Bad
Xander
Takes on a vampire in the opening scene (putting
himself between Willow and the vamp). Goes off on Buffy when she
gets haughty. Survives a vampire kidnapping attack. Goes to the factory
to save Willow, Giles, Cordelia and Jenny.
Angel
Cryptic warning about the anointed one. Follows
Buffy to help her in the Bronze. Guards captured vampire. Goes to
the factory to save Willow, Giles, Cordelia and Jenny. Kills a vampire.
Some Assembly Required
Xander
Goes to the graveyard to dig up old bones. Finds
the locker with evidence. Races into the fire to get Cordelia out of danger.
Pulls Cordelia out of the fire.
Angel
Knocked out by a shovel by Stefan. Saves Cordelia
from an arm (after driving her to the dumpster in fright). Takes
Cordy home. Comes to make sure everyone’s ok after the fire.
School Hard
Xander
Runs back to the Bronze to get Buffy a stake/throws
it to her. Whittles stakes to prepare for the Feast of St. Viggeus.
Reluctantly goes for help during the attack, and comes back with Angel,
Endures being "bait." Runs when Angel’s plan fails. Fights
vampires, and nearly strangled. Rescued by Angel.
Angel
Gives cryptic incomplete warning about Spike
and disappears before answering questions.. Drags Xander into a vampire
infested building and tries to bluff out Spike. Runs from Spike. Takes
care of the vampire strangling Xander.
Inca Mummy Girl
Xander
Takes on the guardian twice (once in museum,
once on bleachers). Steps between Amapta and Willow to protect Willow from
the kiss of death. Offers own life instead.
Angel
Doesn’t bother to help in any way, shape, or
form.
Reptile Boy
Xander
Goes to the frat party to protect Buffy (and
maybe catch an orgy). Stays around to look out for Buffy. Endures the agony
of being a "new pledge." Notices that Buffy and Cordy haven’t left the
party. Finds robe to sneak into the house fully prepared to rescue Cordy
and Buffy. Punches frat boys.
Angel
Identifies blood on the bracelet. Tells Giles
and Willow where the bracelet was found. Goes to frat house to save Buffy
and figure out what’s going on with the missing girls. Confronts the hooded
figure (Xander). Game faced attacks the house. Fights a lot of frat
guys. Prevents Tom from escaping.
Halloween
Xander
Defends Buffy’s honor to Larry (though is interrupted
by Buffy herself). As soldier: Defends Willow and Buffy
(knocking out a "monster" and scaring off more with gunfire). Goes
after Cordelia and makes sure she's ok. Gets everyone secure in Buffy’s
house. Saves Buffy from Larry’s attack (punching out Larry). Fortifies
the defenses of warehouse so others can get away. Captured by Spike and
held down by two monsters but is able to brake free. Almost shoots Spike
before his weapon is restored to a toy.
Angel
Comes to Buffy’s house to make sure everyone’s
ok. Attacks vampire intruder (scaring Buffy off in the process).
Helps to find Buffy again. Held back by Spike’s guys.
Lie To Me
Xander
Goes to find out about the Sunset Club. Goes
to help get people out of the club after the vampire attack.
Angel
Saves a little boy from Dru. Goes to Willow for
help about Ford. Goes to find out about the Sunset Club. Warns Buffy about
Ford. Goes to help people out of the club after the vampire attack.
The Dark Age
Xander
Tries to prevent Ethan from getting away from
the library by grabbing him. Pulls Cordelia out of immediate danger from
Philip/Eyghon. Takes on the almighty Cordelia. Runs in to help
at Ethan’s shop.
Angel
Helps Buffy fight the vampires at the hospital
(his gets away). Chokes Jenny/Eyghon so that it passes out. Uses
the demon inside to fight and destroy Eyghon.
What’s My Line, Part 1
Xander
Breaks into Buffy’s house to look for her.
Angel
Tackles the first Turaka bounty hunter so Buffy
can kill him. (Nearly strangled when she comes.) Goes to find out
from Willie who has ordered the hit on Buffy. Fights Kendra.
What’s My Line, Part 2
Xander
Pulls Cordy away from worm man and into the basement.
Sprays worms from Cordy with hose. Taunts worm man into his and Cordy’s
trap and kills him.
Angel
Kidnapped by Willie. Tortured by Spike and Dru.
Tries to goad Spike into killing him. Offered in sacrifice to cure
Dru.
Ted
Xander
Breaks into Ted’s apartment. Leads the
charge into Ted’s basement and finds the bodies.
Angel
Wounded the entire episode. Worked as a shoulder
to cry on.
Bad Eggs
Xander
Goes with Buffy into the pit of mama Bezoar.
Fights possessed students (including Cordy) to prevent egg infestation.
Angel
"Hunts" with Buffy in the graveyard. Says
that he’ll hunt the Gorches for Buffy so she can get some work done for
school. (Not exactly a completed task.)
Surprise
Xander
Plans for party for Buffy. Looks up information
on the Judge.
Angel
Helps with Buffy’s party. Saves her from
an arm. Valiantly offers to take the arm to a far away place.
Fights the vampires on the docks, losing the box, but getting out.
Goes recon with Buffy to the warehouse. Crashes the video monitors
on the Judge. Once again, saves Buffy from the cold, this time by
giving her his bed.
Innocence
Xander
Goes to the bus depot to look for the Judge.
Leads the charge to go to the factory after Buffy. Researches for a way
to kill the Judge and comes up with one. Saves Willow by sneaking
up on Angel and warding him off with a cross. Breaks into an army camp
and steals a anti-tank rocket launcher. Teaches Buffy how to use the launcher.
Brings the launcher to the mall and hands it to Buffy to take on the Judge.
Separates the Judge pieces.
Angel
Leaves Buffy in bed and kills a hooker.
Joins the bad guys’ team. Freaks out Buffy’s sense of sexuality with
the "I’ll call you" thing. Attacks Willow. Kills Uncle Eynos. Sics the
Judge on a crowded mall. Fights Buffy. Uses old face to make her
not kill him.
Phases
Xander
Attempts to force a confession out of an alleged
werewolf. Kills Theresa when she attacks Buffy.
Angel
Stalks, seduces and kills Theresa. Growls
at the were-Oz.
Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
Xander
Goes on patrol with Buffy. Blackmails Amy into
casting a love spell. Resists the affections of everyone in school
(including Buffy and Willow) Fights Angel. Saves Cordelia from mobbing
crowd on three occasions.
Angel
Kills a shop girl. Upstages Spike. Goes to
kidnap Buffy. Pulls Xander out of her house. Nearly eats Xander. Laughs
at Dru.
Passion
Xander
Goes to the station to look for Giles. Goes to
Giles’s house to look for Giles.
Angel
Eats a woman outside the Bronze. Watches Buffy
in her sleep, and leaves terrifying picture. Taunts Spike. Kills
Willow’s fish. Scares Buffy by giving a picture of her mother.
Scares Joyce and tells her that he and Buffy slept together. Kills Jenny.
Fights Giles. Fights Buffy. Runs away.
Killed By Death
Xander
Avoids being killed by Buffy. Helps Willow
and Buffy fend off Angel. Carries Buffy to the hospital. Holds
hospital vigil for Buffy. Faces down Angel. Looks for relevant
medical records. Sits sentry duty again. Went to the basement with
Buffy. Gets the kids away from the Kindestod. Helps Buffy out
of the basement.
Angel
Attacks Cordelia. Attacks Buffy. Beaten by
Xander, Willow and Cordelia. Goes to the hospital to taunt Xander.
I only have eyes for you
Xander
Attacked by an arm; rescued by Buffy. Goes
to take part in the exorcism.
Angel
Finds a new home. Taunts Spike. Taken over
by Grace, shot by Buffy / James. Freaks out due to possession.
Go Fish
Xander
Encounters Cameron in before and after stages
in the cafeteria. Joins the swim team in an effort to gain more information.
Sits in the sauna asking questions. Keeps an eye on Gage. Finds out that
the steroids are in the steam. Knocks out the coach, and saves Buffy
from being raped by the fish boys. Knocked out by the coach.
Angel
Attacks Gage and runs away because of the
taste.
Becoming, Part 1
Xander
Goes on patrol with Buffy, gets in a fight with
a vampire. Takes a stand against Willow, Giles and Buffy on his opinion
of what to do with Angel’s soul. Attacked from behind in the library,
but knocks it into the bookshelf, but unable to prevent his arm from being
broken. Distracts vampires so Cordelia can get away. Knocked out.
Angel
Drunkenly suggests that he should rob his father
so he can get more booze, lured to the dark side by Darla. Watches
Buffy fight. Torments Dru in a confessional. Soul restored by
Gypsies. Steals the statue of Akathla. Plots to open Akathla.
Tries and fails to perform the ritual. Sits in a gutter for 100 years.
Stalks Buffy for a year. Sends bait to Buffy, leads her away from her
friends, has Giles kidnapped and Kendra killed. Fights Buffy in the graveyard.
Becoming, Part 2
Xander
Protects Buffy with his hug in the hospital;
fills her in on relevant details. Keeps an eye on Willow until she
wakes up. Goes to Buffy to help attack Angel, and offers to help. Does
not tell Buffy about the attempt to try the spell. Knocks out a vampire.
Finds and frees Giles. Gets Giles out of the building.
Angel
Kidnaps and tortures Giles. Cajoles
Giles. Sics Dru on Giles. Starts the ritual and is successful
again. Attacked by Spike. Fights Buffy. Taunts Buffy. Defeated by
Buffy. Soul restored. Kisses Buffy. Impaled by Buffy.
'stina's conclusions that mean absolutely
nothing:
Xander directly saved Buffy four times (Prophecy
Girl CPR, Halloween pummeling of Larry, Phases'
Theresa's attack, and Go Fish's pulling her from certain
rape). On multiple occasions, he's also saved other people (Cordelia
from death by Jesse in The Harvest, Willow from the knife
of the zookeeper in The Pack, Giles from being guillotined
in The Puppet Show, Cordelia from being burned in Some
Assembly Required, Willow from the kiss of death in Inca
Mummy Girl, Cordelia from Philip/Eyghon in The
Dark Age, Willow from Angel in Innocence, and Giles
from torture and death in Becoming 2). There are other times
where he was extremely useful and one would consider brave, especially
considering that he's quite mortal and capable of being killed or hurt.
Consider briefly: Killed by Death: getting the kids out of
the basement and facing Angel; The Harvest: following Buffy
to help find Jesse; Go Fish: joining the swim team to find
out what's going on; Reptile Boy: preparing to go into the
frat house alone to get Cordelia and Buffy out.
Angel, on the other hand, was more adept at saving
Buffy from certain death, though he seemed to do it only twice, in Angel
and What's My Line, Part 1. He assisted her in
The Dark Age and Some Assembly Required, though it
didn't appear that she was in that much immediate danger on either occasion.
Saving her from the Arm in Surprise could have been a direct
save of her life, but since there were others there to help, it may not
have been absolutely necessary for her survival. Angel's main method of
assistance in the show has been the cryptic warning (Welcome to the
Hellmouth, The Harvest, Teacher's Pet, Never
Kill a Boy on the First Date, When She Was Bad, and
School Hard). He has been a bit generous in his protecting
other people. He released Giles, Xander, and Willow from the gas
filled room in Invisible Girl, and he saved
a small child from Dru in Lie to Me. He offered to
take the Judge's Arm to Nepal, far away from Buffy in Surprise.
In School Hard, Angel did come to help presumably everyone
at the request (and expense) of Xander. His losing his soul was quite a
damper on his "heroicness".
-
Xander: More access to the Slayer and her
information. Can appear more heroic because he possesses no particular
skills.
-
Angel: Not around as much, so therefore doesn't
get the opportunity to save the day, or at least help to save the day,
as Xander does. Was just beginning to open up a bit more when he
lost his soul.
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