Interview with Xander

Nicholas Brendon has provided the comic relief on Buffy, the Vampire Slayer for seven years. From high school nerd to adult flunkie, Xander has always had a crack about the various monsters the gang has faced over the years. In person, it’s easy to see where that sense of humor comes from. From posing for photos with goofy expressions to going off on random tangents during an interview, it seems Brendon is Xander.

And we’ll see a lot more of him next year, as he goes on to star in his own series for Fox.

What was the last week of filming like? I’ve been doing two shows. I’ve been doing a sitcom for Fox that’ll come out next year on the Fox network, so I was very hectically coordinating Buffy and the emotions of that, and then starting this new show. So, saying goodbye to my old cast and saying hello to my new cast. It’s been a very strange week. I haven’t really had a second to really reflect. Wednesday [April 16] was the last day. I cried when I left, like a little baby whose pants were soiled. Change me, mommy, change me. You’re not my mommy. I’m being kidnapped. Christ, where am I? I’m not Mexican. Why am I in Mexico? What the f*ck’s going on right now? So yeah, it was very emotional, but I was very lucky to have booked this pilot, to have the work continue on. But it’s just been a really weird week for me and I’ve been very busy and I haven’t really had time to reflect. Me and my wife are going to Chicago on Sunday and on the plane we’ll have to talk and say, "What the F just happened?"

In the finale, does Xander still fight blind? Yes, you know, Xander loves to fight blondes. I think it’s very evident when he fought Harmony.

How about blind, B-L-I-N-D, since Caleb poked his eye out? I had a sword fight and it was tough. Does he love to fight blind? Would you?

I just asked if he could. Yes, he can, but I don’t think he loves it.

What do you think of losing the eye? I think it’s actually great. The idea would be like we would love to do a film and I think we’re going to, and I talked to Joss about it. Xander’s not going to have some mystical eye grow back. He’s going to have an eye patch.

Can he still do construction work? I think he’s going to change. He’s not going to build 3D anymore. He’s going to be more of a 2D type guy, which means he’s going to be poor. "Here’s my concept. Everything’s in 2D."

How have you felt about playing the everyman who has no special powers? He does. Actually, I think Xander’s power was the most extraordinary because it was wit. The tongue is mightier than the sword, my friend.

How do you feel about the ultimate arc you got to follow? Listen, he’s been a fantastic character and apparently people really, really relate to him. So, I can’t complain about anything. I think Xander’s helped out a lot of kids and a lot of adults throughout the country and the world, and the show has been fantastic.