Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Rupert Giles

Giles was Buffy’s beloved mentor and friend, he was born in England into a family of Watchers (those who train and guide Slayers), both his grandmother and father were one. When he was young he was absolutely against the idea of being a Watcher. While attending Oxford University he tried to escape his Watcher future and instead rebelled and dabbled in the occult with his friends (who called him Ripper). At one point the group of friends summoned the demon Eyghon to earth. Giles eventually grew up and gave in to his destiny, working as a museum curator in England until the Watcher’s Council assigned him to Buffy.

Giles, while also working as the librarian at Buffy‘s school, developed a close father-daughter-like relationship with the Slayer. He didn’t appear to have all that many friends, but he did date computer science teacher Jenny Calendar (until she was killed by Angelus) and he had a one night stand with Buffy’s mom while they were both under the influence of poisoned candy (which made them act like teenagers).

Giles is very well-read and highly intelligent, he can play guitar, read countless languages and can even hold his own in a fight. He was very prim and proper and stereotypically English, but through the seasons he did loosen up a bit. At one point he was fired from his post as Watcher after interfering with the Council’s rite of passage test for Buffy. But Buffy bullied the Watcher’s Council into rehiring him as her official Watcher.

After the Scoobies graduated from high school, Giles was unemployed for a while, but he eventually took over a magic shop called The Magic Box after Harmony’s vampire gang killed the previous owner.

When Buffy died at the end of Season 5, Giles moved back to England. He returned to Sunnydale when she was resurrected by Willow, but later felt that it was best for Buffy if he left so that she could learn to be more independent.

Giles did come back at the end of Season 6 in order to help the Scoobies stop evil Willow, who had gone crazy with grief and was trying to end the world. After this incident, Willow went to stay with him in England for a few months to learn how to control the magic within her.

A few months later, Giles brings Potential Slayers to Sunnydale to protect them from The First Evil and its Bringers. He had managed to remove a few volumes from the headquarters of the Watchers’ Council, which is soon afterward destroyed by Caleb, an agent of the First. Giles participates in the final battle at the Hellmouth and survives.

Favorite Giles Quotes!

Giles: “Grave robbery? That’s new. Interesting.”
Buffy: “I know you meant to say gross and disturbing.”
Giles: “Yes, yes, yes, of course. Terrible thing. Must put a stop to it. Damn it.”

“Things involving the computer fill me with a childlike terror. Now, if it were a nice ogre or some such, I’d be more in my element.”

Giles: “Here comes Buffy. Now remember, discretion is the better part of valor.”
Xander: “You could’ve just said “shh!” God, are all you Brits such drama queens?”

(to Xander and Willow at the dance) “We have to find Buffy. Something terrible has happened! Just kidding,
thought I’d give you a scare. Are those finger sandwiches?”

“Testosterone is a great equalizer. It turns all men into morons.”

– Moonlight

By Moonlight

Moonlight (aka Amanda) loves to write about, read about and learn about everything pertaining to vampires. You will most likely find her huddled over a book of vampire folklore with coffee in hand. Touch her coffee and she may bite you (and not in the fun way).

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