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Buffy The Vampire Slayer "Helpless" 3x12 Reaction (Patreon)

Published:
2019-08-06 06:50:28
Edited:
2020-11-29 17:05:35
Imported:
2021-03

Content

https://www.dropbox.com/s/nmpzw639nv6ul57/Buffy%203x12.mp4?dl=0

Comments

TheyCallMeJeff

The show deals a lot in metaphors obviously. Some people seem to hate this episode in hindsight because of the theme of patriarchy setting the rules and forcing women to follow them but that is the point. This episode's message is saying the patriarchy is wrong and women will overcome. Anyway, I really enjoy this episode, it has a real creep factor to it and given my love of horror movies, it makes me love it more. It is written by David Fury, who is one of my favorite writers on the show (sans Go Fish in Season 2). The vampire Kralik is played by Jeff Kober. Jeff Kober has been in a lot of stuff but I remember him in The Walking Dead. He is the leader of a group Daryl runs into in Season 4 as everyone heads to Terminus.

Anonymous

This is one of my favourite episodes, I love the relationship between Buffy and Giles and the acting in this episode is so powerful to me.

Rafael Lemus

34:55 -- "Every other Slayer has gone through this. A lot of Slayers have passed." Was this ever explicitly stated in the episode/show? Can someone fact check this please? (no spoilers obviously)

Bixgirl1

Love this ep - it's one of my faves. (You'll probably hear that from a lot of us. Lol.) So glad you liked it! Some personal perspective on a few of the things you addressed: I think Buffy's feelings of betrayal are less about the fact that she doesn't understand the rules, and more about the idea that she cares so much about Giles, and has felt so cared for from him, that she couldn't process that he'd apply such awful rules to her, for any reason. Personally, I see her point. Giles is the one person she should ALWAYS be able to trust, you know? And for added context, Buffy is pretty aware of how Slayers have historically been treated as little fighting machines with a quick expiration date by the Council - she had a Watcher before Giles, who we've gleaned little hints about, she met the Evil Watcher earlier this season, she heard about the emotional distance demanded from Kendra's Watcher, etc. So, already emotionally vulnerable and physically hurt when she finds out about Giles' adherence to the "rules" (which, c'mon, were invented why? And by whom? Who's been granted authority over Slayers from where??? It's not as if fate and nature taps Watchers the same as Slayers. The Council is sketchy af, imho.), she felt understandably betrayed, and reacted. Was her "touch me and I'll kill you" a little over the top? Totally. But she's freaked out and upset, in pain and frightened because of something Giles has *done* to her, without her knowledge or consent. So, in my head, her reaction is totally understandable, if extreme. Re: Slayer vs Reg. Girl Strength; SMG is like 5'2, *crazy* tiny. Like, I think the not being able to climb a fence thing was a little stupid, but the rest makes sense to me. She actually has made it a habit to stand up to harassers and bullies before; we see her reaction in Anne, where she has to pause and make the decision not to respond when the customer slaps her ass; she throws Larry over her shoulder when he grabs her in Phases; she's always stepping in when other people are getting pushed around, like with Michael in Gingerbread. So her feeling that hesitation and fear, and the realization she could do nothing to protect herself if she shot back at those asshats asking for a lap dance and they decided to hurt her, is actually this tiny, painfully realistic thing I really love about the episode. It's a moment where even Normal Life just isn't safe for her, predicated by her size and sex and isolation. Anyway, I've had a long time to think about this stuff, so forgive me for the novel. Lol. Also totally cool that you've got a different view of things; your perspective is one of the things I enjoy most about your reactions, and this one was stellar. Hope you know you can tyt on posting anything for us while you take care of you and yours. Sending positive vibes your way. 😊

Calvin Allen

How can you honestly be ok with them drugging a girl, weakening her and locking her in with a demon, all without her knowledge or consent? You have to admit that that is sick

Vicky N
>>25487438

It’s the first time ever the test is mentioned. So no they never talked about other slayers passing the test

Vicky N

I have a love/hate relationship with this episode 😏 I thought that would be the one episode you would finally be on Buffy’s side. I was wrong. You were even making excuses for her dad not showing up for her birthday and it was okay with you only because she didn’t make too big a deal about it. Forgive me for being a bit harsh, but I continue to not understand your lack of empathy towards Buffy. She really did nothing wrong and yet you manage to take everyone other side but hers.

Vicky N

The test is messed up and the Watchers Council is the expression of patriarchy at its worst. The fact that there are rules in the world that the Slayer inhabits doesn’t mean that they are justified and must be followed without protest. It’s like saying for example, slavery exist, therefore a slave must understand and can’t be upset if he is beaten and forced into labor, because those are the rules. The fact that others slayers have gone through the test and survived doesn’t change the fact that it’s absolutely wrong to put them trough it. And you can’t separate the elements of the test and saying, other than not telling her what’s going on, the rest is a good idea. Not telling her is part of the test. I get so mad 😡 when I think about it. But the episode is brilliantly written and the performances are top notch. And yes there are a lot of sexual innuendo and symbolisms. After all it’s Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf.

Vicky N
>>25487609

I agree with everything you have to seay, except for her inability to climb the fence being stupid. She’s been given muscle relaxers and adrenaline suppressors so the fact that she can’t climb a fence or lack “normal” girl strength is pretty much explained.

Lostmyshoe22
>>25486894

I guess I’m dating myself but I always remember Jeff Kober from China Beach.

Anonymous

This episode scares the hell out of me but I love it. It reveals how messed up the council is but it also shows how great the bond is between Buffy and Giles. I loved the bit where Buffy was hinting to Giles that she wanted him to take her to the ice show and it's chilling when Giles starts to reveal the ritual to Buffy. He starts with "when" and changes it to "if a slayer reaches her 18th birthday", just shows how short a slayers life expectancy is. As for the actor who played the villain, you've seen him in lots of things, most recently you seen him in supernatural where Dean and Sam go undercover in jail. He was one of the inmates. So glad you enjoyed this. Also I hope your family is OK and don't feel guilty about things that are out of your control.

Holi117

The dad thing... some day you will understand that Hank Summers is just a shitty father lol. He is lazy when it comes to Buffy since he divorced Joyce. We only saw him properly twice and that was s1, and her fear was that he didnt love her or want to spend time with her, that he blamed her for the end of his marriage. We see at the end, thats apparently not the case. She spent a few weeks in summer with her dad at the end of s1, but after that, this is the first time she is supposed to see him, its tradition, she is excited... and he bails at the last minute. Its upsetting for her. Of course it is. I'm confused why you were on the council's side about this... the person that buffy considered as a father figure, the person she could trust - injected her with poison and made her weak, then lied to her face for days when she confided in him about what she was going through. She almost got killed. twice. before Giles came clean. The council are NOT in the right about this lol. This test is about controlling the slayers, and most would have died in this test - otherwise Giles would not be so scared for her throughout. The council also picked a seriously messed up vamp for the test - somebody that was criminally insane and a serial killer BEFORE becoming a vampire lol. The point of not telling the Slayer is so that they cannot mentally or physically prepare, they are thrown in, weakened and unable to physically defend themselves. Most. Die. There are ALOT of times when I think Buffy is in the wrong and I don't agree with her actions or behavior, but I definitely side with her on this one.

Anonymous

The thing with the test, putting the ethical questions aside for a moment, is ... what does it accomplish? Let's say Buffy without powers dies. Then what? A new slayer is called? Put Faith aside for a second too because this two slayers at once thing has never happened before as far as we know. If a new slayer is called at 15, she probably wouldn't be as good as Buffy, at least not at first. So if a slayer dies in the test at best you might get a slightly better slayer...in several years. That loss of time seems like a bad trade off. Then consider Giles said not all slayers make it to 18, a fact that has been hinted at before. Consider too that Kendra was taken away from her parents, her family, and was not allowed to have friends. Clearly the counsel isn't consistent in this manner because the same wasn't true of Buffy. But Faith also seems to lack family and friends. So every slayer seems to be selected without their consent or their families consent and often is then isolated from family and friends while being put in life threatening situations. And they only chose teen age girls. It's all pretty fucked up. It's all for the greater good but why not just tell the slayer what the test is ahead of time and make the test non-life threatening?

Kyle Jordan Ashley Brown

Love your reactions buddy, and I like the way you enjoy a discussion with your patreons. Tbh I loved this episode.....got an even bigger step into the world of slayers and watchers, realise that slayers are still young girls who can die at any moment which is horrible and shows what a great relationship a watcher can have with their charge sometimes. Liked that this episode reinforced the bond between them, and Buffy got to show she's more than just brawn....she's intelligent and resourceful also! Ye I agree that at times you do come across as not giving Buffy alot of sympathy. When it's with Angel I can understand maybe not being invested in the relationship but on this occasion it does seem a little harsh. But everyone's entitles to their opinion...hope you're still enjoying the show though? X

o

This was all about Giles......

Katherine Thoreson
>>25491787

That's the point. The test is ultimately a way for the Council to maintain control over the slayer. The older she gets, the stronger she gets, the more confident she gets, the more rebellious she can get. So why let it come to that? <

Anthony

It's interesting because I'm fairly certain you're meant to be on Buffy's side. Giles violated her body by injecting her with chemicals without her consent, lied to her face and put her at risk of being killed. Taking all that into consideration, her threatening to kill him was well within reason. He has a lot of love for Buffy, this is true, but he was 100% wrong.

o

I will state this about the test, the test is a bad thing it is all about "Male Control" (in this case the patriarchy of "The Counsel". When a young girl/slayer turns 18 the moment she is legally allowed in most cultures to exert her individuality and be seen as an adult this powerful female has to prove that she is somehow worthy by having those powers taking away. "The Counsel" loses nothing they gain a more controllable asset who is new to this power threshold and will be easier for "The Council" to control. Buffy's father is the anthesis of this, he has the powerful young woman who is on the verge of "Woman hood" and he cannot be bothered with how it effects/affects her.....think throughout all of the other tales you have read or heard about......name another that goes this route......it happens for a reason here and it is still going on today.........Giles was the only "Man" in this episode...........

o

Buffy did not tell her mom she was a Vampire Slayer for 2 years, Principle Snyder (as you have stated) is cruel to her for no reason, Angel pops in and out with cryptic messages, any Teacher who showed the slightest belief in her has died who did not show up even now her Father skips out on her, the council, well you see how she feels about the council and how she feels about them. Giles was the only grown-up person that Buffy trusted, could fully trust and he did this to her? Not one of the ones on the fence, but the one she went all in on........."Her Watcher"..........I think to 2019, when all these Gymnast and figure skaters are all coming forward.......because the dude that was their "Coach" or their "Doctor" did this to them......1999 Joss Whedon tried to point this shit out......I guess it did not take. I have four younger sisters and at times I have failed them as an older brother.......Giles failed her and he knows it.......this is why I love Giles!!!!!!!! He took responsibility for his part in it and everyone else piled on......

o

She has no idea the rites and ritual (Kendra read the book, Buffy did not and even if Buffy had read the Slayer Manual.....this was not in it).

colton

i think the reason buffy felt so angry with giles was more because she thought of him like a dad, hence why she wanted him to take her to the ice show. she understands that a watcher has to put their slayer through this, but she doesnt view her relationship with giles as a basic slayer/watcher dynamic. she thought they were more than that, but when she discovered he was willing to put her in danger like that rather than protect her as a father would, she knew that his priority as watcher meant more to him then she did. seeing as her dad is an absolute absent jackass throughout the series, giles filled that role for her. i think i understand her feelings more than giles’, this episode was more to further develop their relationship and make the audience realize that giles and buffy had more of a father/daughter relationship than a teacher/student relationship

o

Last one, I love your take on this episode. I think the reason that you get so much pushback is because of your ability to see "the other" side. Don't you ever change, don't you ever hide that from us, it is beyond brilliant. People comment so much because you give them moments of pause and reflection and that is what this show is about.........it takes a simple trope Vampires and turns it on it's ear and that is what you do. The Fandom is better because you are involved......Thank you for this.

o
>>25495664

....this episode is one of the most underrated of the series, the ideas it pushes are sadly still relevant today. I said it way worse up ahead and am glad that you made yours way more relatable then mine......

Anonymous

Honestly your Buffy reactions are my absolite favorite bc you see the other side, and because you don't like Bangel. So many reactors instantly fall in love bc that's the shows big relationship, and while I appreciate their dynamic I can't fully get behind them. With out giving spoilers, Angel is such a better character on his own show, and on Buffy he never feels like a full person bc all his scenes are cheesy. I love him to bits but by season 3 the Bangel relationship had run its course and it time they both moved on. My one problem with this episode is Angel being one of Buffys reasons for staying the slayer, and him saying he loved her before. It comes off as more creepy than romantic, like he was basically stalking her before then even met, and she was a freshman and hes 200. Like dude needs to step back.

Jayna

With Buffy, she trusts Giles more than most and so she expects more from him. Imagine someone you know, or think you know, their weaknesses and strengths and you trust them fully. Now imagine that person poisoning you, drugging you against your will and knowledge. Of course you will feel hurt, betrayal, anger. Then add in, it was all done for 'tradition'. Some arbitrary test cooked up by the Watcher's Council to test the Slayer and her abilities. It may be something that has always been done, but a lot of things are forcibly kept in place by naming them 'traditions' when they aren't always good, healthy or reasonable. They've got this Slayer who has stopped the world from ending, has fought powerful foes, and is doing her job. There really wasn't a need to 'test' her by taking away the thing that made her able to do it. Just a thing that they 'always' did. In India they've got a tradition where they drop babies from enormous heights, highly traumatizing and dangerous. Tradition is just another word for 'we've done this a long time, why stop now, it feels normal to us.' Some traditions, if not all traditions, should be questioned. Just my take on it. But I don't dislike your take, I just think that traditions aren't sacred things or anything. Unless there is a valid reason to continue one, it's kinda pointless, and sometimes harmful.

Nick Velasquez
>>25497260

My personal belief is, it's not truly to "test" the slayer, as much as it is to establish dominance. To say, "we can take your powers away. We can control you and we don't care if you die or not. You are a tool and nothing more."

Collete L

As Charley Murphy once said, “Wrong”

Marshall Dante Robertson

How can you justify something as immoral and sick as that test? Like I'm all for different opinions but that test is wrong, there's no grey area to that, I'm sorry. Just because it's "tradition" and has been done many times before doesn't make it right. Slavery was also tradition - for hundred of years, yet we don't justify that. I enjoy your reactions simply because you tell your truth, and it's good to see things from a different perspective but sometimes the lack of empathy towards Buffy can be very startling.

Nick Velasquez

I politely disagree, If my father figure poisoned me to put me into a life threatening situation, I would never trust them again. Buffy didn't see GIles as a manager, who was going by the rule of the company...she saw him as more of a father to her. He sat by and watched her suffer and worry, he lied to her because he was "following orders." If my father did that to me I wouldn't forgive him so quickly...If ever. As for the test... It's horrible. As I commented above... It's the councils way of establishing dominance over the slayer. Since if one dies, another is called.. they see them as an expendable tool in the battle against evil. This is their way of showing they are in control and she means nothing...and for a bit Giles was complicit in that.

Nick Velasquez
>>25499950

as for Buffy's worries about who she would be without her powers, with Angel she was listing off worries. I really doubt that her number one fear was that he wouldn't like her. Just one of the things she's thinking about in the moment You talked over a bit of the dialog in that scene... but basically Buffy knows who she was before she became the slayer. She compares herself to Cordy... and in the movie/comic Buffy was on par with season 1 Cordy at that. Becoming the slayer helped her find a confidence and responsibility that helped her grow as a person, much like we've seen growth in Cordy after her boyfriend was killed in season 1... Her fear is that without her slayer powers, what if she just becomes this vapid shallow nothing of a person with nothing to offer the world.

Anonymous

Buffy telling Giles to get away from her or he would kill him after telling her that he's been poisoning her seemed a bit far? Uh......WHAT???

Rachael
>>25501311

Poisoning her, gaslighting her, putting her life in danger... yeah, Buffy's reaction is perfectly understandable.

Rachael

I've been in the fandom from the beginning, and I've never seen anyone "both sides" the Cruciamentum, which is presented as a clearly evil practice. “Tento de Cruciamentum” is Latin for “test of torture.” The Watchers Council are not "good guys." They are an institution that uses and abuses young girls and treats them as disposable tools. If a Slayer survives the Cruciamentum, then she is acutely aware that her powers can be removed at any time. The Watchers Council is a symbol of patriarchy and the male fantasy of maintaining power over women. I was disappointed that Giles went along with it as long as he did, but Giles rebelling served as turning point for him also in his character arc.

Anonymous

Just wanted to put my two cents in ... About the "test" the council is doing for the slayer. I wanted to comment on your comment, when you said "You understand why the council is doing the test and that Buffy should understand it because all the other slayers have gone through it". No hate here. I just want to break it down a little bit so you can understand it in a different way. Just because the council has done this "test" to all the other slayers before doesn't mean it is acceptable. For instance when the Head Council guy (can't remember his name) explains to Giles and by extension the audience (us) why they are doing the test, he says, "It's been done this way for a dozen centuries." As if that is a justifyable reason. And it comes back to the old saying of, "Just because it has been done many times, doesn't automatically make it right." By example, slavery, racism, sexism.... Dare I go on? All still happening in todays age. Yes, this is an extreme example, but the analogy still fits. If you look at the test at face value and a little naively, you would see a what the council wants you to see, a test meant to make the slayer a better and more conning figher in battle. As the council guy said, "She must be more conning, have imagination.. blah, blah" ... And how many times have we heard someone of power (cough, cough, not to name anyone, but we'll just call him Cromp) explain bad deeds by tryng to cover it up by saying they're for good reasons. *insert eye roll* If you take a moment and think about the test, there are other more safe ways of honing the slayers imagination and mental strength in battle. This is also very evident in that the council chose to keep this "test" of their's hidden from the slayer. If it was all about bettering the slayer's strength mentally, why did they keep the "test" a secret? Wouldn't it have been more benefiful if the slayer had known of the test and therefore been better prepared. It wouldn't change the outcome, not enough that the test wouldn't still have value, plus safer. The reason the council gives for the "test" for Buffy is to hide the real reason they do this test. Think about it. Buffy is turning 18 years old. As you mentioned in your reaction, Buffy isn't a kid anymore. She is now legally an adult, she can vote now or be drafted as Willow stated in the episode, as well as Buffy is in the last year of highschool. Buffy is growing up and with growing up comes independence and making your own decisions. Something an all power group may just find threatening. As long as the slayer is a little girl, looking up to and listening to authority figures, she will be easily controlled. In the prespective of the council, it would be better to put the slayer, once they come of age to be legally an adult, in a room with a monster where she can't defend herself and have her die. Remember, the slayer is usually a young girl, in Buffy's case she was called around 15 or 16 years old. If Buffy dies, the council is better off because now they have a new, impressionable, dependant slayer. The council holds all the power. So in a way, the "Test" is not about bettering the slayer, but actually about the Council finding a way to keep their power and control over a weapon, aka the slayer, aka Buffy. The council is a power hungry government control system that fears its control being taken away, and so they devise a test that would have a high success rate of changing the power of the slayer to someone they can easily control. To take the words from Giles, The test is not a time honored right of passage but, "an aracaic exercise in cruelty".

Anonymous
>>25511834

Also, just wanted to put out there again that this is not me hating on your opinion or anyone elses. I just find this episode so fasinating and it goes into so much detail of power, control, dominance, and supremacy, and I don't think you necessarly noticed it in your reaction. Anyways, I love your reactions and look forward to watching Buffy along with you everytime. I just couldn't help but add my thoughts for this particular episode as I have so much to say about it. I can continue, but have forced myself to stop. Apologies for the long comment.

Renee Pope-Munro

The way is literally a tool of the physical manifestation of the patriarchy (The Watchers Council) to subjugate the woman who is LITERALLY the reason for their existence. Is it any surprise it also wipes out many Slayers as they reach maturation, and will perhaps push back against their arbitrary BS and unearned authority? No. Sorry Steve, you’re just dead wrong here. Like, super super wrong.

Anonymous

A bit late to the party here: Definitely agree with the talk of consent, drugging, secrecy etc, all awful. One extremely important point that seems not to have come up in these comments is that of choice - Buffy didn't choose this life, these powers, this "calling" … some mystical powers bestowed them, and some institution she didn't choose to belong to comes and claims authority over her. There might be some way to excuse this test if Buffy chose to join with knowledge of their practices, but alas no. This of course ties back in to the comments about consent and control . . . . ; also YES at you constantly pointing out the ridiculousness of the Buffy/Angel relationship.

Quantoto

One main theme of the episode is choice. You allude to Giles' choice at 1:01:10, essentially stating that Buffy should understand that Giles didn't really have a choice in administering the test because of the council. Except he did. He could have chosen not to participate or told Buffy about the test and dealt with the consequences. Instead, he made the choice to uphold the tradition of the test even though he knew it could harm someone he loved. Conversely, Buffy was not given a choice in her initial participation in the test (since Giles drugged her) but made the choice to complete the test in order to save her mom, despite the likely consequence that in her weakened state she would lose and ultimately die. Giles made the wrong choice. Buffy made the right one.

Grace

Nice reaction! Yes, Buffy is a teenager lol. But also, Angel won't turn unless they have sex, so they're trying to just have a relationship without that. No harm will come from just being together without that intimacy. :) I really enjoy this episode. Yeah, Buffy had a right to be upset, but so would anyone at that moment. She does get that Giles cares for her after she cools down. At least that's what I get from it. I always feel bad for Giles when she gets mad, but oh well. Even he knows it's wrong. It does seem like you don't really like Buffy as a character, so I think that's why you get some backlash. Not saying that's how you feel, but it just comes off that way. But you have your own opinions and most can respect that. I just hope you still enjoy the show despite your dislike of some character directions. :D THANK YOU!!!

Grace

Oh, one more thing in regards to your comment about Buffy saying she worried Angel wouldn't like her if she lost her powers. It's like if a girl lost her hair or her voice, or if she got burns on her body. Buffy thinks of her powers as one of her traits, and it's also what brought her and Angel together. It's not really a teenager thing, it's just a regular thing. Most people don't want to lose traits that brought them and their partner together. I know that I gained some weight after I got with my partner, and it really effected me. That's basically what that scene is about. Joss likes to relate reality to his stories, and I strongly feel that this was his metaphor. But maybe I'm wrong. IDK. (I accidentally commented this on another episode...so...that was awkward and probably didn't make sense :P )

tvaddict

Wow... did you seriously just say Buffy should respect the test? Giles deceived her, drugged her against her will, watched her suffer... and you're acting like she's overreacting? That's pretty 'effin messed up. I gotta say... I think you have some serious problems with women. I feel it every time you talk about Buffy's character.

Anonymous

I just didn't see the point of this test at all! She was given superpowers as part of the slayer package, if she didn't have them then she wouldn't be the slayer so the whole thing is pointless... if she fails.. they kill her..? she dies in the test? I don't get it at all!! Even a slayer that isnt the best at slaying is going to be better that someone without powers.. what's the point of it?

Hazel Angus

Hi! Showing up late - when Buffy is fighting in the boarding house and getting her ass handed to her, you say something like "She was a cheerleader before she was a Slayer, shouldn't she have co-ordination?" Nope. The stuff she's injected with is very powerful. I take anti-convulsants for neuralgia and they also have a muscle relaxant effect. When I started taking them it made my co-ordination significantly worse than normal at first, so it's not surprising that she gets clumsier. She'll also feel drowsiness, probably. The injections also have adrenal suppressors - that suggests she's got a very poor fight-or-flight response. Adrenaline helps us be stronger when we have to be and she hasn't got that to draw on. She can't make snap decisions at speed like she normally can.

Hazel Angus

"Angel won't turn unless they have sex, so they're trying to just have a relationship without that." Not the case, I don't think. The on-switch is a moment of pure happiness, which may not have anything to do with sex. Her being close to him, hand-holding, the loving looks they share etc. I don't think it's safe.

Hazel Angus
>>25488636

I don't think her dad has any good excuse for not coming. Maybe he couldn't make that show, but why not arrange to meet some other time and do something else? I guess his daughter really isn't that important to him, or he'd make more of an effort.

R J Walker (FumblesMcStupid)
>>25997966

He did have a choice, I totally agree with that. On the other hand, if he hadn't done it he'd have been fired, they'd have got a new watcher in, who has no relationship with Buffy and they'd have done it any way. So, better to do it and be around to help if necessary than to be sent packing. Even though Giles didn't realise it was a test he'd have to assume he'd be fired for disobeying a direct order so in the end he had a choice and he made the right one. Plus, he did it knowing full well how terrible it would be to do it and that if Buffy found out it could destroy their relationship. However, I can't blame Buffy for her reaction either, it's a huge violation of trust. I don't blame her for the 'kill you' line either. I don't think she actually would but in the state she was in she said it any way.

R J Walker (FumblesMcStupid)
>>25495391

Agreed. On the other hand, what choice did he have? He must have presumed he'd be fired if he'd refused a direct order outright and then they'd have just given Buffy a new watcher, who wouldn't care about giving her the drug and Giles wouldn't be in a position to help. He was in an impossible situation and took the best choice for Buffy and, actually, the worst choice for himself. He could have just said no and abandoned Buffy to her fate but instead he chose to do something that must have made him sick to his stomach and risked ruining his relationship with her if she ever found out. I actually don't think he failed her if you look at it like that. But I understand why Buffy thought that he did. Plus he owns it, as you said.

R J Walker (FumblesMcStupid)

There's a lot of discussion about how the test can eliminate slayers at the point they get their independence and I totally agree. But I don't see much on how it is also used to control watchers. What the council gets is either a watcher who would willingly go through this to the end or one they will fire. Either way they have control. If Giles had continued to the end (assuming the vampire didn't escape) does he then tell her what happened? This would totally ruin their relationship which would potentially put Buffy's life in more danger so the Council wins again. OR he decides not to tell her, which would affect his side of the relationship with the guilt etc PLUS he'd know that the Council know and if they give him another unpalatable order they can use it against him. The council don't want an uncontrollable slayer but they don't want an uncontrollable watcher either. What they REALLY don't want it an uncontrollable slayer/watcher combo and Buffy and Giles are that in spades. They know about Buffy from Giles' reports and they must know Giles' past rebellions. Buffy and Giles are the Council's worst nightmare :D

R J Walker (FumblesMcStupid)

Oh dear, dark thoughts time. If Kralik (sp?) was in an institute for the criminally insane how did he get turned into a vampire? I can think of two ways. The institute was attacked (so there are possibly a lot more of these kinds of vamps around. Or the watchers took him and deliberately turned him for the test. I'm not sure which is worse but I'm going for the latter. The reason I thought about it was that I thought that he was a particularly horrible opponent to face. And then it occurred to me that perhaps not all slayers face quite such stiff competition. Maybe a more compliant slayer gets a vamp more like Spike and Drusilla's accountant whereas the rebellious types get pitted against vamps who are far more likely to take them out