#OK but I have a lot of feelings about this#because even as early as s1; when Giles was still at Peak Stuffy Brit™#his greatest fear was Buffy’s death#he considered it his DUTY to protect her#that’s his MO whenever she’s in trouble#not train her; not prepare her (and I mean yes he does consider it his job to do this obvs but the first thing out of his mouth is always)#PROTECT HER#and it’s not until Helpless that we learn that this is not the norm for Watchers#in fact#according to Travers; this is a detriment#a flaw#the Slayers aren’t children#they’re tools#they’re not meant to be protected#they’re meant to be used up and discarded; one after the other#and maybe it’s different for Watchers who actually have a Slayer (if Giles’ words about the Watchers’ diaries in s5 are correct)#but maybe it’s not#basically what I’m getting at is#Giles was always different#he tried to walk the walk back in s1#but he has a rebellious heart#and so when the Watcher’s Council assigned him a Slayer to train (to use up and discard like all the others that had come before her)#with the implicit understanding that he would not get attached let alone develop a love for her#Giles took one look at this tiny blonde moppet#who had already Seen Too Much#and went: THIS IS MY NEW DAUGHTER AND IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO HER I’LL KILL EVERYONE IN THIS TOWN AND THEN MYSELF#because#as i’ve been saying:#giles is buffy’s dad#btvs (@flaminganakin)