This 24-Year-Old Buffy the Vampire Slayer Episode Was a Game-Changer for Giles Fans

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Few TV shows from the 1990s and early 2000s remain as popular today as . Debuting in 1997, the series quickly gained a following by blending horror and comedy with characters viewers could connect with. explored the difficulties of growing up through a supernatural setting. A key element of its success was the strong supporting cast surrounding the main character, Buffy Summers, played by Sarah Michelle Gellar, and one of the most popular members of that cast was Rupert Giles. Giles acted as a mentor and father figure to Buffy and her friends. As the show progressed, it revealed more about each character, adding depth and complexity to their stories – and Giles was no exception.

One of the things that made *Buffy the Vampire Slayer* so successful was how it developed its characters, making them complex and flawed. This allowed the show to explore big ideas about right and wrong, loyalty, and what people are willing to give up. The character of Giles, in particular, went through a significant transformation, hinted at in earlier episodes but fully realized in one pivotal installment, solidifying him as a deeply layered figure. By the time the Season 5 finale, “The Gift,” aired, *Buffy* had grown up, tackling more serious issues and themes. With the show’s future uncertain, the episode felt like it could be the very last one, adding extra emotional impact and pushing characters like Giles to take unexpected risks.

Giles Transforms From Watcher to Father Figure in Buffy the Vampire Slayer

The first episode of *Buffy the Vampire Slayer*, “Welcome to the Hellmouth,” introduces Buffy as the new student at Sunnydale High and Giles as the librarian, who quickly lets her know he understands her destiny as a vampire slayer. Giles tries to convince Buffy she’s the chosen one, but she’s hesitant, having been expelled from her previous school because of her secret activities. She hopes for a normal high school experience and a better relationship with her mother. Later, in Season 2, Episode 21, “Becoming, Part One,” we learn Buffy had a previous Watcher named Merrick in Los Angeles, which explains why she’s already familiar with the ‘chosen one’ story and doesn’t want to accept her role.

In the early seasons, the library serves as the group’s headquarters, and Giles mainly acts as a professional researcher and teacher. He consistently demonstrates extensive knowledge of the supernatural creatures causing trouble in town, using books as his primary resource. His calm, rational demeanor provides a strong contrast to the impulsive energy of the teenage group he mentors. As the show progresses, Giles evolves from a watcher and librarian into a father figure, offering guidance on tough choices and personal relationships. He becomes essential to the Scooby Gang – second only to Buffy herself – providing both practical advice and emotional support. Throughout the series, viewers also begin to see hints that the seemingly reserved librarian is more complex than he appears.

In Season 2’s “The Dark Age,” viewers discover a hidden part of Giles’ history: his involvement with dark magic as a young man. He and his friends once accidentally summoned a powerful demon, and this experience deeply affected him. The episode reveals a more complex and relatable side to Giles, showing that his warnings to Buffy aren’t just based on research, but on his own difficult past. It highlights the sacrifices he’s made, giving the younger characters – and the audience – a better understanding of the weight he carries.

The twelfth episode of Season 3, “Helpless,” hints at Giles’s growing willingness to do questionable things if he believes it’s for the best outcome. Initially, Giles strictly follows the Watcher’s Council’s rules, and on their orders, he secretly drugs Buffy to weaken her strength. This is part of a test called the Cruciamentum, which requires a Slayer to fight a vampire without her powers – a very risky situation. When Buffy discovers Giles was the one who drugged her, it badly damages their trust. However, Giles ultimately steps in to help Buffy during the test, prioritizing his fatherly feelings for her over his duty to the Council. This act of defiance costs him his job. The episode demonstrates a key change in Giles, as he begins to value his personal relationship with Buffy more than her role as the Slayer.

Giles Kills Ben in the Season 5 Finale of Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Giles’ choice to support Buffy instead of the Watchers Council in Season 3 foreshadowed the difficult moral decision he faced in the Season 5 finale of *Buffy the Vampire Slayer*. While he ultimately remained loyal to Buffy, his initial decision to drug her – as directed by the Council – revealed he wasn’t perfect. He was capable of making tough choices, even if it meant hurting Buffy. This earlier act showed that his dedication to the Slayer went beyond just personal feelings; he believed he was acting for the greater good, or at least what he thought was best. He initially justified drugging Buffy by believing she would learn a valuable lesson, but his emotional connection to her eventually became more important than his logic.

Season 5 of *Buffy the Vampire Slayer* centers on the pursuit of Buffy’s sister, Dawn, by the incredibly powerful villain, Glory. Dawn is secretly a magical key that Glory needs to open a gateway to her hellish dimension, threatening not just Buffy and Dawn, but the entire world. Unlike previous villains on the show, Glory can’t be defeated with simple strength. A key part of the story, and a major factor in Giles’ final decision, is Ben. Glory can only operate by possessing Ben’s body – he’s her connection to this world. Ben acts as both Glory’s prison and her protection, as she needs him to act, but he also retains his own thoughts and awareness.

I’ve always seen Ben as the opposite of Glory – so human, so full of feeling, and he just *couldn’t* help being connected to her. That difference really mattered in the Season 5 finale, with everything on the line. While Buffy fought Glory, trying to keep her from reaching her sister, Spike was desperately trying to save Dawn. Eventually, Buffy weakened Glory enough to send her back to the Hell dimension, but she left Ben behind in her place. She asked him to make sure Glory understood it was truly over, then just… walked away. Ben seemed to genuinely believe he could hold Glory back, that he could prevent her from ever controlling him again, and honestly, I wanted to believe it too.

Okay, so this is where things get *really* heavy. Giles steps up, and it’s clear he understands Ben, despite any good intentions, is a walking disaster for everyone. As long as Ben’s alive, that demon Glory has a way in – a body to possess and wreak havoc. Giles realizes he can’t let that continue. After Buffy’s gone, he makes the incredibly difficult choice to end Ben’s life while he’s vulnerable. It’s a truly tragic moment, but also heroic in a way, and it’s a perfect example of the messy morality *Buffy the Vampire Slayer* always excelled at. Honestly, it completely changed how I saw Giles. We already knew he was Buffy’s mentor, always there to help when she couldn’t, but this showed a much darker, more complicated side to him. It’s a gut-wrenching scene, and it really stuck with me.

The Season 5 Finale of Buffy Cements Giles as One of the Most Complex Characters

What truly sets Giles apart in *Buffy the Vampire Slayer* is his ability to handle tough situations and make difficult choices. Throughout the series, he wrestles with a conflict: his dedication to Buffy and her friends versus his obligations to the Watchers Council. Ultimately, he sides with Buffy, and this internal struggle makes him a more complex and believable character. The tension between doing what’s right and staying loyal to those you care about is something many viewers can understand. He eventually learns that helping the people he loves is more important than following the Council’s rules.

When Giles killed Ben, instead of Buffy, he understood something crucial: Buffy’s strength came from her humanity, but that same compassion could also be a vulnerability. Knowing she couldn’t make that difficult choice herself, he took on the burden for her. This act solidified his role as Buffy’s emotional support, even if it meant doing things she couldn’t. This moment truly brought Giles’s character to life, building on earlier hints throughout the series. Many *Buffy the Vampire Slayer* fans consider it the most defining and memorable moment in his development.

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2025-10-12 01:49