The Watchers' Council

[smartgirl63]

I have many questions about the Watchers. If only one slayer is called at one time, even if she survives only two years, why are there so many people on the Watchers' Council? Most potential watchers will never get a chance to serve. And will they serve more than once? And how do the watchers train? Please, Hellmouth Empire subjects, let's discuss this arcane group of (mostly) old white men.

[hellmouth]

I always assumed that the reason there were so many watchers was because they had a large number of potentials and since they never knew which potential would be called they had to have a bunch of different watchers to train all of them. I may be way off base here...

[FalconNL]

I agree with hellmouth that watchers are assigned to all potentials, not just actual slayers.

Aside from that, they also need a large research staff to both identify new potentials (can't remember if the show goes into exactly how this is done, but it's not like they're wearing signs saying "I'm a potential slayer, ask me how") and to do research on impending apocalypses (I'll refrain from the obvious Riley quote), as shown in Checkpoint, where they found out that Glory was a god.

[Kevin Bachelder]

Since the watchers could also end up in dangerous situations I think they also needed to be sure they had some extras available just in case.


Kevin

[FaithLehane]

Gwendolyn Post Anyone????Lol

Then the not nearly as Scary Rogue Wesley Wyndham-Pryce.
It seems to me that Watcher's aren't excempt from turning Evil or being fired because they were Defiant or Insubordinate.

[smartgirl63]

I'm sure this has been brought up in other forums, but it always bugged me that the watchers were paid but not the slayers. I think it's a whole allegory for the military. (That last part was meant to be muttered under my breath.)

[hellmouth]

While I don't think it is fair that the Slayer's are provided for, I can see how that would produce many complications.

Giles: "Buffy, the Hellmouth is about to open! if we don't get the Amulet of Hubidybubbidy we are all doomed!"
Buffy: "Giles, I told you... no more apocalypse until my contract negotiations are final!"
Xander: "Wait, you get paid? Why don't Willow and I get paid? You'd think I'd at least get hazard pay, and Giles practically has a standing order for concussion medication."
Willow: "Xander, don't you think that you're being... wait, how MUCH DO you get paid Buffy?"
Andrew: "I'd like to turn in a vacation request please..."

[smartgirl63]

I wonder if it was like that on the set, Bryan.

[FaithLehane]

 
I would have loved to have heard that Dialogue spoken by the cast