Remembering Nicholas Brendon: 10 Times Xander Harris Was A Real Hero

In the same week as they learned the show's reboot would not be going ahead, and just a little over a year after the loss of Michelle Trachtenberg, fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer had their hearts broken once again by the news that Nicholas Brendon, who played Xander Harris in the cult-classic series, had died suddenly in his sleep at the age of just 54.

Many have expressed praise towards the casts of Buffy and Criminal Minds (on which Brendon also appeared) for a recent masterclass in expressing grief for a troubled person about whom their feelings may have been complicated. Brendon certainly had his issues, but in the last year or two, focusing on his passion for art and photography, things appeared to be looking up for the actor, and he was said to have been hopeful for the future at the time of his death.

Xander, Brendon's once beloved Buffy character, has also experienced a dip in public opinion in recent years, as some of his actions are reassessed due to changing values and attitudes. Still, he has his moments. In honour of the life of Nicholas Brendon, let's look back on all the moments, big and small, when Xander Harris was a true hero.

1. Xander revives Buffy

In 'Prophecy Girl', the season one finale of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Buffy faces a confrontation with an ancient and powerful vampire, The Master, that is prophesised to end in Buffy's death. While the Prophecy does, technically, come to pass, the manner of Buffy's death provides an unexpected loophole.

Catching up with Buffy following her deadly date with The Master, Angel and Xander discover that she has been drowned, and it has happened recently enough for their arrival to make a difference. Angel, Buffy's main love interest, is a vampire and cannot breathe. This leaves Xander to do CPR, saving Buffy's life.

2. Soldier Xander protects the gang on Halloween

In the Buffy-verse, Halloween is, surprisingly, a holiday for Vampires and demons as well as people, usually leaving Buffy with free time as the forces of evil take a night off. However, issues arise in the season two episode 'Halloween', when Ethan Rayne, an old friend of Giles, casts a spell that turns everyone who purchased costumes from his new store into said costumes, and the newly-arrived vampire Spike decides to take advantage of the situation to cause chaos, holiday be damned.

An already bad situation is made worse by the fact that Buffy, trying to impress Angel, had dressed as an 18th-century noble woman, rendering her effectively useless in fighting the influx of small monsters suddenly invading Sunnydale. Thankfully for the group, Xander had dressed as a soldier. While it may not technically be Xander himself saving the day, he's probably still the main reason everyone makes it through the ep unscathed.

3. Xander stands up to Angelus

Buffy is pushed to the limit in season two of the series, with the pressure of her regular Slayer duties, and then the added stress of Angel's lost soul reverting him to the wicked Angelus. The episode 'Killed by Death' sees everything catch up with her, as the Slayer falls victim to a serious flu that leaves her hospitalised.

When Angelus shows up at the Hospital, Xander immediately steps in to demand that he leave. Despite the argument of witnesses, there's really nothing stopping Angelus from killing Xander on the spot, making this a particularly brave move.

4. Xander vs Zombies

In the early seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Xander often has to reckon with insecurities about being the least useful member of the gang, especially after Willow begins developing her wicca skills. The issue comes to a head in the season three episode 'The Zeppo'.

With yet another apocalypse looming, Xander realises that the other Scoobies have been giving him relatively pointless busy work tasks to keep him out of the way and out of danger. Hoping to lift his spirits with his new car, Xander finds himself befriending bad boy Jack O'Toole, and is subsequently caught up raising members of Jack's gang from the dead, soon discovering that Jack himself is also undead, and plans to blow up Sunnydale High School. With his friends otherwise occupied, it is up to Xander to save the school.

Flipping the script by making what would usually be a quirky sidequest the A-plot, with snippets of an apocalypse building in the background, 'The Zeppo' is remembered as one of Buffy's best episodes, as well as a shining moment for Xander Harris.

5. Xander pays for Cordelia's Prom Dress

One of the least popular storylines in all of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is Xander and Willow's 'fluke', which sees them cheat on their respective partners, Cordelia and Oz. While Willow and Oz's relationship eventually recovers, Xander and Cordelia's never does, with the pair returning to the vitriol and poison barbs that had characterised their relationship pre-romance.

However, things take a shift late in season three, when Cordelia's Father is arrested offscreen for tax fraud, costing the Chase family most of their previous wealth. Cordy takes a job at the Mall for a staff discount to try and buy a dress for the Prom. She doesn't earn enough in time, but discovers that Xander, who had previously seen her working, paid for the dress in full. It is a sweet moment that allows the pair to bury the hatchet and part as friends. Not a big flashy gesture, but still quietly heroic, especially with how often Xander is depicted as cash-strapped in season four and early season five.

6. Xander vs Olaf

In season five, Xander is often left dealing with clashes between his girlfriend, Anya, and best friend, Willow. The episode 'Triangle' sees Willow and Anya accidentally summon Olaf, an ex-boyfriend of Anya's who she had once cursed and turned into a troll.

At one point in the episode, Xander, despite having no chance in the face of a troll's strength, attempts to battle Olaf to protect Anya and Willow. When Olaf subsequently chooses to reward Xander's bravery by letting one of the women live, Xander refuses to choose. Admittedly, Xander was mostly biding time until Buffy's arrival, but his refusal to choose is still seen by many fans as a sign of good character.

7. Picking up a spare

Buffy's fifth season is often considered one of the show's best. Reviews released at the time, as well as retrospectively, heavily praise the season for it's continuity, with many objects, characters, or plot points introduced over the course of the season acting as Chekhov's Guns that aid the Scoobies in battle against Glory in the finale.

Perhaps one of the most surprising of these day-saving plot points is Xander's new full-time job as a construction worker. As Glory is mid-evil monologue while battling Buffy, Xander successfully manoeuvres a vehicle to strike the Hell-God with a wrecking ball.

"And the glorified bricklayer picks up a spare."

The blow takes Glory out of the game, allowing Buffy to reach Dawn atop the tower.

8. The World is Saved by Love

Most fans see season six of Buffy the Vampire Slayer as a particularly low point for Xander Harris as a character. Not only does he leave Anya at the altar because he didn't have the guts to share his concerns about their marriage, he then cruelly judges Anya for sleeping with Spike while seeking solace after their breakup, not accepting any responsibility for this outcome, and also judges Buffy's relationship with Spike, mindless of just how much she had been struggling.

Thankfully for Xander fans, he redeems himself somewhat in the season finale. As Willow, mad with grief over the death of her girlfriend, Tara, and hopped up on dark magics, attempts to end the world, Xander intercepts her. Refusing to back down when Willow attacks him, Xander ultimately manages to talk Willow out of her world-ending rage by reminding her just how loved she is, and in the process, becomes the surprise hero of season six.

9. Extraordinary

As mentioned earlier, Xander struggled in the early seasons with being the only member of the group without some form of special skill/power. In the final season, Dawn has begun to share this struggle. Briefly, Dawn believes she may be a Potential Slayer, but this proves to be a mistake.

Xander, noticing Dawn's disappointment, shares his own struggles as comfort. Praising how quickly she was able to set aside her own feelings and help the real Potential, Amanda, Xander lets Dawn know just how extraordinary she is. For many, it is a favourite scene from Buffy's final season.

10. Xander loses an eye

During the above conversation with Dawn, Xander mentions that he has the ability to see things that others don't notice, because nobody is looking at him. Unfortunately, this comment comes back to bite him in the episode 'Dirty Girls', when Caleb, an evil Preacher and agent of the First Evil, gouges out Xander's left eye.

The permanent maiming of a day-one regular is one of the most shocking moments of the whole series. It is not necessarily heroic at first glance, until one takes a moment to consider exactly how and why it happened. The group was already fleeing the disastrous battle at the Vineyard, and Xander probably should have been at the front of that queue. Instead, when Xander is nabbed by Caleb, he was at the rear, helping the injured to their feet and ushering the Potentials out ahead of him. While the sacrifice was not an intentional one, Xander was still putting others ahead of himself, the quiet act of a true hero.

Rest in Peace, Nicholas Brendon. You will live on in the hearts of your fans.