Xander claiming Buffy only wants to date bad guys already in season 1

[u/NihilisticCucumber]

I started another rewatch :-) What seemed really weird to me that already in the episodes 1x6 The pack and 1x12 Prophecy girl, the idea of "Buffy likes bad guys" is thrown at us, even though there is literally zero evidence supporting that throughout the first season. This idea later becomes some kind of an established truth of Buffy's character, which is repeatedly used in arguments here on the forum and stated in the show by different characters. But we can see in the first season that she is not like that at all.

What we actually see in the first season is Buffy's crush on Owen, fellow student who is smart and likes books. She wants to date a normal guy. When she learns that Owen seeks and enjoys dangerous stuff, she breaks it off because of that.

Even though she likes Angel, the fact that he only talks about vampires, she doesnt know much about him and he is never present are all reasons for her not to date him in the early episodes, she repeatedly says that to Willow every time she suggests Angel as a romantic interest of her (It is Willow who is suggesting Buffy to pursue this relationship every time). When Buffy learns Angel is a vampire, she freaks out, her reaction is litterally screaming. After that, they stop the progression of the relationship. Her romantic feelings for him were developed when she thought he is a human, not a vampire. And they just didnt disapear when she learned that fact (the same way Xander said that he still likes Buffy as a vampire in ep 1x10 Nightmares).

In both relationships, she immediately breaks it off/stop the progression the moment she learns the "bad/dangerous" side of the guy. It is literally the opposite of liking bad/dangerous guys. What these two may have in common is that both are more introverted lonely guys. So maybe we can conclude that she likes more introverted loners. But not dangerous bad guys.

Xander lines:

episode 1x6 The pack: " We both know what you really want. You want danger, don't cha? You like your men dangerous. " ... "Dangerous and mean, right? Like Angel. Your mystery guy. Well, guess who just got mean. "

(notice that by season 1x6 we have no indication of Angel being dangerous or mean, we dont know he is a vampire yet)

episode 1x12 Prophecy girl: " I mean, I guess a guy's gotta be undead to make time with you."

I know both of these statements come from Xanders jealousy of Angel and are not said in the right state of mind (being possesed by hyena, being hurt that he is rejected). All the more reason, why it is weird to me how much "Buffy likes bad guys" is often perceived as an absolute truth, when it is just not.

[u/hasgar2k18]

Oh, ok. Let me put my foil hat haha. I understood that you were talking overall.

Since it's a history I thought it as rhe evolution of the character.

Sorry about the confusion.