Watchers' Council Watcher (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

the watchers council of britain organization dedicated finding, training, , supervising slayers. on years, however, council had become increasingly arrogant , egocentric, believing supreme authority while slayers tools.

the council bases headquarters in london, england. tries locate potential slayers , send watchers inform , train them. not successful in doing so, , therefore slayers trained when called, while others know nothing of heritage or purpose of power. each potential slayer assigned own watcher – council employee responsible training slayer in combat techniques researching demons, vampires, , magics. watchers maintain diaries chronicling lives of slayers under charge.

in late 2002, council learns first systematically eliminating potential slayers around world in effort end slayer line. unfortunately, before information can acted on, council headquarters destroyed agents of first, caleb – @ long last. time. work ve done you... blowing council . council leadership killed, , council not able offer assistance in struggle against first.

in aftermath of battle army of first , destruction of sunnydale hellmouth, watchers council begins process of rebuilding. work done considerable, in light of creation of hundreds of active slayers around world. structure of new council unknown, appears rupert giles new head , training andrew wells watcher. 3 members of watchers council have been shown have survived first s attacks: rupert giles; acquaintance him named robson survived bringer attack; , roger wyndham-pryce. son, wesley, , rutherford sirk ex-members of council , not targeted first evil.

in canonical comic buffy vampire slayer season eight, giles informs faith is, intents , purposes, watcher s council. andrew, xander harris, , robin wood functioning watchers (though xander dislikes term , insists others not call him such), assisting in training , supervision of new slayers in separate squads around world (rome, scotland, , cleveland respectively). duties have expanded monitoring slayers well; giles offers faith lehane new identity in exchange undertaking mission kill genevieve savidge, sociopathic slayer. later, 2 form slayer social worker program try prevent more slayers going rogue.

according comic fray, slayer in 21st century banishes demons , magicks world. when evil returns, new slayer – melaka fray – called. watchers council in era apparently retains resources locate slayers. melaka fray approached assigned watcher, rather assist or train her, immolates himself in front of her. melaka instead trained demon says remaining council consists of fanatics , fools.

methods

the watchers council has been known use ethically questionable methods accomplish goals. council employs trio of operatives known special operations team. team responsible of more unsavory aspects of council s work, such interrogations, smuggling, and, if necessary, assassinations. when faith lehane stakes , kills human, special ops team dispatched retrieve rogue slayer, circumventing local , international authorities.

the council known placing principles , perceived goals ahead of well-being of slayer. test known cruciamentum involves suppressing slayer s natural abilities drug , pitting against particularly dangerous vampire on slayer s eighteenth birthday in order test slayer s intelligence , practical capabilities. when 1 particular watcher, rupert giles, defies rules of test , interferes in cruciamentum of slayer – buffy summers – dismissed position immediately.

in 2001, representatives of council visit sunnydale, california deliver vital information on seemingly unstoppable glory slayer, buffy summers. however, council refuses turn on information until extensive review of buffy s abilities completed. assessment includes review of buffy s combat skills, interviews many of closest friends. eventually, slayer turns tables on watchers, declaring need validate existence more needs help. defends frequent assistance of friends (slayers typically operate alone) , demands rupert giles reinstated watcher, retroactive pay time of dismissal. council agrees this, changing nature of council/slayer relationship until council s destruction 2 years later.

when scoobies rebuilt council after war first, did under better circumstances. thus, new council far more moral , ethical, in contrast moral ambiguity of original.