"The Replacement" - An Educational Episode

“The Replacement” is a conventional Buffy episode…NOT! Why start my blog post off like that? Glad you asked! This little joke mimics the episodic trajectory of “The Replacement” because it sets up a likely premise and then suddenly subverts it. The episode performs this same trick by intimating that Xander’s doppelganger is Toth in disguise and then revealing that this is NOT the case. In reality Xander’s doppelganger is the physical manifestation of “different properties” of his character. This actual explanation comes as a genuine surprise because it inverts our expectations given Buffy’s typical manifestation of the supernatural. Through this intentional obfuscation, the episode discusses the importance of “knowing thyself,” a prevalent concern in contemporary society, with a relatively small pinch of gothic spice.

This surprise twist makes us recognize that through our study of gothic texts we have unconsciously gained the ability to suspend our disbelief in order to learn about society and ourselves. This episode, through its unpredictable nature, forces us to be actively aware of this inculcation. Even though this doppelganger scenario takes root in supernatural forces, it actually brings us back to “reality” so that we are not simply carried away by the presence of monsters or the intricacies of Buffy’s story line. The structure of this episode explores the only remaining “shock factor” untouched previously in the preceding four seasons, and in doing so reminds us of our own role in the gothic genre: to be skeptical and curious about the dark and paranormal elements around us so that we may gain an understanding of society and the way we fit into it.

Once the structure of the episode grabs our attention, we are able to examine “The Replacement’s” use of the doppelganger convention. Like “Transformation,” this episode depicts a doppelganger that accomplishes good deeds. Xander’s doppelganger secures a job promotion, buys a new apartment, and sweeps Anya off her feet. As Xander puts it to Willow, “A demon has taken my life from me and he’s living it better than I do.” These achievements are similar to the dwarf’s triumphs of regaining Torella’s affection and winning back Juliet’s hand in marriage. Even though Xander and Guido share the same initial reaction, to kill their respective doppelgangers, they do not partake in similar final responses. By the end of the episode Xander accepts his doppelganger as the physical incarnation of his suave and professional characteristics. By aligning himself with his doppelganger, Xander learns how to become a well-rounded person. The presence of the doppelganger is vital to his self-understanding because prior to this encounter Xander does not see his full potential. Xander’s doppelganger explicitly assures him that he is adept at being professional:

XANDER
Now, hold on a sec. If you weren't putting
the whammy on people with the shiny thing?
How did you do it? How'd you get the promotion?

XANDER-DOUBLE
Well I'm good at that stuff.

XANDER
I am?

XANDER-DOUBLE
Yeah.

Thus, from Xander’s acceptance of his doppelganger, he learns how to be the best version of himself. Buffy notes towards the end of the episode that, “[Xander and his double] are kind of…the same now.” This quotation illustrates how Xander successfully evolves in light of his doppelganger experience. Xander’s doppelganger encounter shows us that the solutions to all our insecurities are already present within us, as long as we are open to receiving them.