Giles' Leaving

[white avenger]

Giles leaves Sunnydale during the first episode of the season. I realize that he wanted to return to England, what with his Slayer dead and all, but wasn't he kinda shirking his responsibilities? The hellmouth still needed to be guarded, and the only other Slayer was locked away in prison. Giles was the most experienced fighter there, and (arguably) the leader of the group. Granted, as he told them, he was "Only a phone call away," but still, he's walking away from what is certainly his moral duty, if not his actual duty as Watcher, whether currently employed by the Council or not.

I realize that his leaving was mostly a plot device, making the actions immediately following happen more easily, but, still, it just never seemed right to me that he would pack up and leave that way.

[MozYa]

Well Giles was planning to leave at the start of Season 5. He only told Willow though. He saw it as everyone now was able to look after themselves and others, he only stayed because Buffy asked for his help in finding the true nature of the slayer.

After Buffy died i think Giles stayed only to seek comfort and to comfort the gang, they are the only people who truly knew Buffy and who she was so he could only share his feelings with them. After he had gotten over Buffy's death, and i use it loosely as i don't think any of them did, he felt that once again he needed to move on. Overall I think Giles feels that he is only useful to Buffy, probably some underlying Watcher state of mind. When in actual fact he is a great leader and all the characters look at him as a Father.

That's just what I think though, I'm interested in other views.

[Primal Slayer]

Giles had faith in the scoobies ability to protect Sunnydale without him there. He spent like 6 months with them after Buffy died and seeing how they worked together. So he felt comfortable with leaving them in charge. Espically with the Buffy-Bot up and operating. But they knew if they ever got in over their heads, they could call Giles and he would be there ASAP.

The hellmouth didnt even seem to be that active during S6 apart from Dark Willow trying to bring about the end of the world. So thats also another reason for him to feel somewhat ok with leaving.

[Fake Shemp]

i wish i had a Giles when i was growing up.... i wish i had a Giles now.....

I guess they had to write it in his character because of how Tony felt but he did spend season 4 feeling totally and utterly useless (much like xander did then too), remember the funny drunk in 'the yoko factor'. Plus i think it highlighted a major part of growing up, being without parents, and without him gone they wouldnt have gone through or probably felt as alone and abandoned as i think all the scoobies did in season 6, cut off from each other.

[MozYa]

i wish i had a Giles when i was growing up.... i wish i had a Giles now.....

I guess they had to write it in his character because of how Tony felt but he did spend season 4 feeling totally and utterly useless (much like xander did then too), remember the funny drunk in 'the yoko factor'. Plus i think it highlighted a major part of growing up, being without parents, and without him gone they wouldnt have gone through or probably felt as alone and abandoned as i think all the scoobies did in season 6, cut off from each other.

With him coming back near the end, with me seeing him as a Father figure it kinda screams to me that family will always be there for you. In the same why Xander brings Willow back, like they say in season 5 they're all family

[chiigusa]

As someone mentioned, with the Buffy-bot technically protecting the populous of Sunnydale, Giles felt as though he could pack up and leave. There was nothing stopping him anymore. Buffy didn't need him, obviously being dead and all, and the others could take care of themselves as they had proved. Spike was still around and helping, Willow was becoming more powerful and helpful with fighting demons/vamps, so I think Giles was pretty confident everyone could along without him just fine.

It's basically the same with why he left after Buffy was brought back. He knew she needed to grow up and learn to care for herself, others, and the world on her own. She was still as powerful as ever and had learned everything she could about being the Slayer. So, Giles' presence was a little unneeded in his eyes (despite the fact that everything kind of went downhill after he left). So, I don't think it was exactly his duty anymore to protect the Hellmouth when there were so many warriors there already. He had done his job. He raised up (not from the dead) a very powerful Slayer and knew Sunnydale was in good hands.