What Did They Learn in the Council?

[Kana]

I wanted to know what do you think They learnt at the WC, more specifically, I wanted to look at Wesley and Giles skill sets and speculate what they learned in the Council and what they simply picked up due to experience.

Wesley

1. Languages: Wesley seemed to able to translate a multitude of languages, demon and otherwise. Most likely learned by the Council. Wesley seemed to display more languistic knowledge than Giles.

2. Skill sorceror. Doesn't seem anymore skilled than Giles in this area. Most likely he learned these skills in the WC.

3. Fencing. Wesley's "dad" talked about attack priority which indicates they are talking specifically about fighting techiniques. This could be down to the WC or it also be a family hobby (as far as the fencing is concerned.

4. Following on from that Wesley is also a skilled tactitian. This could be due to his experience as well as training.

5. Wesley also has a good knowledge of science. Although not as much Fred, he seems to be more adept at it than Gunn, Angel or Lorne.

6. Slayer handling. Wesley didn't seem very naturally adept at this. Even in Season 4 of Angel, Faith used some of what Wes told her but ultimately used her own methods of capturing Angelus.


Giles

1. Languages: as far I remember Giles could read, 5 to 8(?) lagangues. While he may know more, it seems that Wesley has shown a greater knowledge.

2. Giles is very skilled ast sorcery. Most likely both the Council and his days as Ripper contribute to this.

3. Fencing. Giles seemed good with a sword, perhaps this is the council after all. Giles seems to be a skilled street fighter as well. Could be Council but mostly his days as Ripper could account for that.

4. Giles seemed an ok tactitian but not much more than say Xander of late.


5. Giles seemed ok with science but doesn't seem to show Wes' knowledge of anatomy. He could do though. It would make sense if the WC taught this.

6. Giles intutiveness is what made him a better watcher.

That's all for now as I've got to go. More later maybe but give me your thoughts. Did Wes know more than Giles or vice versa?

[littlewilly]

They probably learned alot at the council, most of the stuff they know.
But it seemed to me Giles had more common sense and bravery than wes.
Even when Wes toughened up it didnt seem natural to him, and he was always a goofy geek and didnt command Authority.
so id say wes had to put in more effort to become a good watcher than giles did. Giles seemed like the perfect guy to be a watcher.

[white avenger]

They must have weapons training and some form of martial arts, because the Watcher is expected to train his Slayer. Also tactics and logistics for the same reason, plus languages, both human and demon, plus rudimentary magical expertise. It's doubtful that they leave the Watchers' Academy as experts in any of those things, but they are more than likely supposed to continue to study and train throughout their career. Most likely only the best are chosen to be Slayer's Watchers (Wesley might have gotten the job because his father just wanted to get rid of him), and those probably retire from field work after their Slayer is killed so that they can write research material about how she served and died.

[littlewilly]

I wonder what the council is mixed up in to be so rich and powerful.