Symbols And Conversations In Xander's 'Restless'

Section 1A: Growing Up Pains
Oftentimes it can be hard for young adults to transition into the world of adulthood, especially when everyone around them is having a much easier time adapting. Xander is no exception. The symbols and conversations in Xander’s dream sequence in the episode “Restless” reveal that Xander feels he is not making much progress in his life compared to his friends, which can be seen in the events that occur in the ice cream truck and the interactions he has with his friends. The events that occur while Xander is in the ice cream truck demonstrate his current stationary lifestyle and his feelings towards it. The ice cream truck driver profession is not a job with many opportunities for promotion, so the fact that Xander has this job in his dream represents his inability to get

While in the ice cream truck, Xander sees himself on the other side of the playground standing motionless. Xander is literally seeing himself not moving, not making any progress or advancement, and yet he does nothing to change this. When he is driving and actually supposed to be moving, the reality is that he is remaining stationary. This is evident from the obvious green screen, which is already moving before he even sits in the driver’s seat. The fact that the truck appears to be moving before Xander even gets control of it shows that he plays a small role in controlling the motion, which is similar to the small amount of control he feels he has over his own life. The obvious green screen is meant to show that in reality the truck is not really moving; it is completely stationary, as is Xander’s life. The green screen is also analogous to Xander feeling unable to change his situation. Since the green screen is not connected to the steering wheel, any attempts by Xander to change his course or destination will not actually bring about any change, and are fruitless. Additionally, while