Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans controversial love that blossomed between Dawn and Xander – that is, when Dawn's sister and series protagonist Buffy Summers realized she might also have feelings for her oldest, closest friend.

One controversial story decision from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer comics that is not discussed enough is the decision to have a potential romance develop between Xander and Buffy Summers herself. It is debatable whether the thought of Xander being with Buffy is weirder than that of him with Dawn, but the fallout between the two because of the ensuing romance spurred a newfound controversy.

If the thought of Buffy and Xander isn't controversial, then Xander's reaction to Buffy's declaration of love - which arguably feels borderline-homophobic, to sya the least – deserves to be dissected on its own.

The Buffy Franchise's Canon Comics Kicked Off By Teasing The Buffy/Xander Shippers Out There

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight #2 – Written By Joss Whedon; Art By Georges Jeanty; Ink By Andy Owens, Color By Dave Stewart; Lettering By Jimmy Betancourt & Richard Starkings

Long-time fans will recall that on the original Buffy the Vampire Slayer television show, Xander had unrequited feelings for Buffy during the first couple seasons of the show. Xander would eventually learn to repress and let go of those feelings when it became apparent that Buffy wouldn't reciprocate, seeing him as more of a brother and a best friend than anything else. During the Season Eight comics, though, the tables turn as Buffy starts having unrequited feelings for Xander. When the comics begin, they are working more closely together as they run the Slayer Organization out of Scotland.

Buffy does it to herself in the first issue that she misses sex, so perhaps feelings of skin hunger combined with a newfound respect for Xander in a leadership role develops into emotional feelings.

Soon enough, Buffy dreams of kissing Xander, first establishing that she has feelings for him. Apparently, spending so much time together must have endeared Buffy closer to Xander. On paper, it looks like it came out of nowhere, but upon further analysis, considering the lapse of time between the show's ending and the comic's beginning, it starts to make sense. After all, Buffy does it to herself in the first issue that she misses sex, so perhaps feelings of skin hunger combined with a newfound respect for Xander in a leadership role develops into emotional feelings.

Xander's Reaction To Buffy Having Feelings For Him Was Unexpected – And Uncomfortable

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight #31 – Written By Joss Whedon; Art By Georges Jenty; Ink By Andy Owens; Color By Michelle Madsen; Lettering By Jimmy Betancourt & Richard Starkings

Buffy doesn't immediately express her feelings for Xander. She dances around the idea, but never outright its to being in love with him. By the Season Eight #28, it is too late, as Buffy walks in on Xander making out with her sister, Dawn, solidifying their relationship for the franchise. Buffy still doesn't mention her feelings, but she does exchange a few side-eyes whenever she sees Xander and Dawn together. Things come to a head in Season Eight #31, when playful banter turns to Buffy finally getting the courage to tell her truth to Xander, only to be unexpectedly scolded.

Xander says that not only does he take offense to Buffy for itting these feelings years after he declared his for her, and after he started dating her sister, but takes it personally she opted to experiment with her sexual orientation by sleeping with a woman before falling for him. "I'm on the list – right after being gay," he says. He implies that she's just jealous because Dawn's dating Xander, and a slouch in her demeanor seems to justify Xander's concerns. They make amends, then Buffy and Xander can progress their friendship as she accepts him dating her sister.

Buffy/Xander Or Xander/Dawn – Which Romance Was More Awkward For Fans?

BothPairings Are Controversial For Different Reasons

For many fans, a proposed romance between Xander and Buffy contains the same "ick" factor as one between Dawn and Xander, since both were originally framed as a brother-sister dynamic. Perhaps Dawn and Xander more so, considering that Dawn was an actual child during the original show and so a romance couldn't be conceivable by either party. Meanwhile, had Buffy and Xander been on the same page about their feelings for each other, a romance could've actually happened while they were in high school. On these grounds, a Dawn and Xander romance may read as ickier to most fans.

Additional controversies derive from how each relationship paints Xander in a problematic light, changing fans' perception of him in a way few appreciated. There's no denying that he looks questionable by dating someone he used to babysit, even if she is of age. Even Buffy alludes to him being a "cradle robber," and even in jest, the implications of their relationship are hard to ignore. Still, though, his interaction with Buffy after her ittance to falling for him is scathing, specifically in how he chastises her for experimenting with her sexuality. Xander always had accusations of being problematic, but bordering on homophobia is cold, even for him.

The character has a complex legacy, but for Xander to be framed in this harsh way adds a new dimension to Buffy the Vampire Slayer's most controversial romance plotlines.

Xander's behavior feels especially damning when readers that Joss Whedon acknowledges he based Xander on himself. Knowing that ,and re-reading the scene in which Xander verbally demeans Buffy – outright telling her to keep her feelings to herself, and being seemingly justified within the story – feels wrong to most fans. Knowing that the creator wrote for his main character, and her sister, to fall for his proxy character feels even weirder. The character has a complex legacy, but for Xander to be framed in this harsh way adds a new dimension to Buffy the Vampire Slayer's most controversial romance plotlines.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight is available now in its entirety from Dark Horse Comics.