Watchers' Council

An encounter with Principal Wood raises further suspicions while Willow's attempt to locate the first through magic backfires, leaving her terrified of losing control again.

Giles returns with three potential slayers, Kennedy, Molly, and Annabelle, and the news that the Watchers Council has been destroyed.

He explains that the First is targeting the entire Slayer line, killing potentials and their watchers before moving against Buffy and Faith.

With more girls heading to Sunnydale, Buffy is tasked with protecting them.

Looney Tunes cartoon, yeah.

Boing.

I give this 7 out of 10 stolen Watchers Council books.

And maybe it was Giles that blew it up, apparently, according to Anya.

But yeah, it's weird that they're like, whoa.

And then another weird thing is Wesley is like, well, how are all these Slayers out there without a Watcher's Council? I was like, what do you care about the Watcher's Council? What are you talking about?

Yeah, that was weird, too.

And I just also was like, Wesley, you don't, in the first place, care about the Watcher's Council.

You were a terrible Watcher by your own admission.

Yeah.

And also, like, I don't know.

It just doesn't make a lot of sense.

The, the confusing thing is that all ...

I guess it was not the Watchers that decided, or the Watchers Council.

I really guess it's some mystical force, and I think that I've taken seven seasons in denial to admit-

Yeah

[laughs]

Um, really what this episode stands out for is the destruction of the Watchers Council.

[laughs]

Oh.

When Spike is triggered again and attacks Andrew, the gang realizes that something is activating his killer instincts.

The First's plans becomes clearer when The Bringers attack the Summers house, and Buffy recognizes them as the servants of The First Evil.

At the same time, the Watchers Council is attacked, and its headquarters is destroyed.

Spike is captured by The Bringers and taken to a school basement, where The First torments him while The Bringers use his blood to activate a seal over the Hellmouth.

Mm

... that the Watchers' Council isn't, like, thinking about this stuff is because the lifespan of a Slayer isn't really supposed to extend past when they would be in their parents' custody anyway.

Mm.

So that's something.

I, I actually like that, so that plot beat, it makes sense because rather than kill him, you know, which would just drive Buffy crazy and she would go on a rampage, you know, keeping the Scoobies and Buffy occupied trying to save Angel is really, really good.

I think it makes sense, and this being the inciting incident that separates Buffy from the Council is brilliant.

Like-

Mm-hmm

Yeah

...

I understand why the Watchers Council would not give any help to try and save the life of a vampire.

I, I do get it, you know? Obviously we understand the specifics of it a l- a little bit better.