Summary
- The new Buffyverse podcast reveals that the Watcher's Council considered Giles expendable and didn't mind if he died because they viewed him as lesser than other Watchers.
- Giles's rebellious nature makes him the perfect Watcher for Buffy, as a traditional Watcher wouldn't have been able to handle her unconventional and teenage approach to slaying demons.
- Giles's understanding of Buffy's youthful and obstinate attitude is what allows her to trust him and for their relationship to help her develop her demon-hunting abilities in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
More than 25 years after the premiere of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the Buffyverse has finally explained Rupert Giles's job as the Watcher of Sunnydale. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a classic '90s urban fantasy series that follows a teen named Buffy Summers who discovers she's a Slayer – a creature destined to battle with vampires and demons. In the years since its release, this series has become a cult classic that fans revisit time and time again. Despite its popularity, Buffy the Vampire Slayer left many questions about the main characters unanswered, including why Giles got the job as Buffy's Watcher.
Throughout Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Giles's job as the Watcher of Sunnydale never made much sense. He was reckless in his youth, summoning demons and allowing them to possess him for fun. In order to rebel, he practiced harmful dark magic and went joyriding in stolen cars. These parts of his past led to Giles getting the nickname Ripper, a persona he pulls out in Buffy the Vampire Slayer when he is pushed too much. All these things lead to the question of why the Watcher's Council would choose Giles for the job.
Giles Was The Most Expendable Watcher
Although the mystery dragged on for 26 years, the new Audible Original podcast Slayer: A Buffyverse Story by Christopher Golden and Amber Benson provides an answer as to why the Watcher's Council assigned Giles to the Sunnydale Watcher job. In the podcast, a fangirl and rookie Slayer named Indira finds it strange that Giles got the job considering his rebellious past. After breaking down all the reasons he shouldn't have gotten the job, Indira suggests that the Council considered Giles expendable. It wouldn't have mattered to them if he died because they already viewed him as lesser than the other Watchers.
Giles' Rebellious Nature Proved The Key To Buffy
Even though the Watcher's Council in Buffy the Vampire Slayer viewed Giles as expendable, he is perfect for the job. The eponymous teen is unconventional in the way she handles her role as a slayer. Despite her demon-fighting duties, she insists on continuing her normal teenage life. She finds herself attracted to the wrong people, like vampires Angel and Spike. Moreover, her teenage attitude gets the better of her on many occasions.
A traditional Watcher would not have worked well with Buffy due to her penchant for pushing the envelope. Buffy would have zero patience when it comes to learning from a by-the-book Watcher. The Watcher would get frustrated with Buffy and give up on teaching her. Ultimately, Buffy only trusts Giles because he understands her youthful, obstinate attitude. Their relationship in Buffy the Vampire Slayer helps Buffy hone in on her demon-hunting abilities.
