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[[File:S1l4.jpg|thumb|Buffy Summers with her Watcher Rupert Giles.|200px]]
[[File:Slayer+watcher.jpg|thumb|109px]]
 
A '''Watcher''' is a member of the [[Watchers Council]], devoted to tracking and combating malevolent supernatural entities (and particularly [[vampire]]s), primarily by locating individuals with the talents required to fight such beings and win. More specifically, Watchers are assigned to train and guide [[Slayer]]s, girls that are part of a succession of mystically powered young women who are destined to face the forces of darkness. Upon a Slayer's demise, her powers are transferred unto a new girl, who is then assigned a new Watcher herself.
 
   
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{{Quote|Aren't they good guys? I mean, Watchers, that's just like other Gileses, right?|[[Tara Maclay]]|Checkpoint}}
== Watchers Council ==
 
   
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'''{{PAGENAME}}''' was the title given to a member of the [[Watchers Council]], devoted to studying, tracking, and combating malevolent supernatural entities, doing so through a Watcher assigned to train and guide the [[Slayer]].
* [[Quentin Travers]]
 
* [[Roger Wyndam-Pryce]]
 
* [[Geoffrey Wyndam-Pryce]]
 
* [[Archibald Lassiter]]
 
* [[Edna Giles]]
 
* [[Bernard Crowley]]
 
* [[Sam Zabuto]]
 
* [[Rupert Giles' father]]
 
* [[Rupert Giles]]
 
* [[Willem Bryardale]]
 
* [[Wesley Wyndam-Pryce]]
 
* [[Merrick]]
 
* [[Robson]]
 
* [[Gwendolyn Post]]
 
* [[Rutherford Sirk]]
 
* [[Lydia]]
 
* [[Nigel]]
 
* [[Phillip]]
 
* [[Laura Kay Weathermill]]
 
* [[Unidentified Watcher (Righteous)]]
 
* [[Violet's Watcher]]
 
* [[Laurent]]
 
* [[Mr. Whiskers]]
 
* [[Frederich Lichtermann]]
 
   
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==Training==
== Slayer Organization ==
 
  +
{{Quote|As I recall, I was informed at the age of ten that I would become a Watcher, then summarily packed off to study horror and death alongside Latin and Geometry.|[[Rupert Giles]]|Daddy Issues, Part One}}
   
  +
Watchers received training from a young age and had to attend the [[Watchers Academy]], where [[Wesley Wyndam-Pryce]] was head boy when he attended. Watchers-in-training were often forced to take part in field tests, which required facing and defeating an enemy. These were often set in controlled setting, where a Watcher-in-training was placed in a situation without any information given to them or warning before hand, where they had to fight a vampire or [[demon]] by means necessary, similar to a Slayer's [[Tento di Cruciamentum]].<ref name="STB">"[[Spin the Bottle]]"</ref>
* [[Andrew Wells]]
 
* [[Rupert Giles]]
 
* [[Xander Harris]] (de facto)
 
   
  +
A common testing method that lasted for decades involved locking them in a room with a starving vampire. Other tests weren't organized and were merely pre-existing threats, in which the Watchers-in-training were tasked with dealing with based on their studies. This could lead to an oversight on the Council's part if the information were incorrect, as with the [[Highgate Vampire]] incident.<ref>''[[Daddy Issues, Part One]]''</ref> When it came to theory, Watchers were known to write theses on famous vampires.<ref name="Checkpoint">"[[Checkpoint]]"</ref>
   
  +
Watchers swore sacred oaths that included an oath to protect the innocent. Associations with vampires were shunned and considered a perversion.<ref>"[[Sanctuary]]"</ref>
   
  +
According to Wesley, training procedures have changed to some considerable degree since the 70's, with a greater emphasis on field work rather than books and theory.<ref name="BG">"[[Bad Girls]]</ref> Watchers tended to be well-versed in ancient, supernatural texts and [[demonology]] along with possessing a reasonable degree of skill in hand-to-hand combat and linguistics.<ref name="STB" /><ref name="BG" />
== Fray ==
 
  +
  +
As well as a calling, being a Watcher was also a paid occupation.<ref name="Checkpoint" />
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  +
==Training the Slayer==
  +
{{Dialogue a-b|Giles|The Slayer slays. The Watcher...|Buffy|Watches?|on a Watcher's role|Welcome to the Hellmouth}}
  +
  +
Watchers taught Slayers hand-to-hand fighting skills mostly in the form of martial arts as well as teaching them to use traditional slayer weapons such as crossbows, axes, swords and quarterstaves.<ref>"[[Angel (episode)|Angel]]"</ref> Slayers would be trained regularly; either to learn new skills or to maintain their physical well-being.
  +
  +
[[Rupert Giles]] often trained [[Buffy Summers]] during and after school hours in the [[Sunnydale High School library]] and later built in a training room in the [[Magic Box]] filled with gym mats, punching bags, and throwable weapons hung on the walls, such as shuriken and knives. He also would sometimes accompany her on patrol to monitor her slaying and review her technique.<ref>"[[Never Kill a Boy on the First Date]]"</ref><ref>"[[Revelations]]"</ref>
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  +
Other than physical capability, Watchers also trained their Slayer's mentality and senses. Giles once required Buffy to hit him with a ball while blind-folded to test her awareness of an enemy<ref>"[[Band Candy]]"</ref> and also conducted meditation with stones after Buffy requested he provide her with extra training so that she could become a better Slayer.<ref>"[[Real Me]]"</ref>
  +
  +
The approach to training the Slayer depended on the Watcher; Giles had a lighter manner of treating Buffy, accepting her social life with few conditions. [[Sam Zabuto]] employed a stricter attitude towards training his Slayer [[Kendra Young]], barring her from her family and any form of a social life while teaching her according to a handbook which required her to study demon mythology. Buffy on the other hand was not given the handbook as Giles didn't feel she needed it after he met her.<ref>"[[What's My Line? Part Two]]"</ref> [[Wesley Wyndam-Pryce]] opted for a more orderly method of planning out strategies and focusing on three key concepts: Preparation, Preparation and Preparation.<ref name="BG" /> Sometime after Giles was fired, Buffy and [[Faith Lehane]] had to receive testing from the Watcher Council's shrink with things like the [[Wikipedia:Rorschach test|Rorschach test]], physical examinations to assertive logic, and personality tests that asked if they ever wanted to be a florist (which apparently meant crazy).<ref>"[[Doppelgängland]]</ref>
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  +
Watchers would document their Slayer's progress and ability in what was known as the [[Watchers Diaries]]. This would even include recording their Slayer's death.<ref>"[[Fool for Love]]</ref>
  +
  +
After the activation of every [[Potential Slayer]], Slayers were free to join the [[Slayer Organization]] where they were trained alongside each other. Joining Slayers were allocated to a specific area or country where they would receive their training under a sole Watcher or experienced Slayer.<ref>''[[The Chain]]''</ref>
  +
  +
==Known Watchers==
 
===Watchers Council===
  +
*[[Blake]]
 
*[[Willem Bryardale]]
 
*[[Bernard Crowley]]
  +
*[[Dunworthy]]
  +
*[[Duncan Fillworthe]]
 
*[[Mr. Giles]]
 
*[[Edna Giles]]
 
*[[Rupert Giles]]
 
*[[Rupert Giles (Wishverse)]]
  +
*[[Jean]]
  +
*[[Alexa Landry]]
 
*[[Archibald Lassiter]]
 
*[[Laurent]]
 
*[[Frederich Lichtermann]]
 
*[[Lydia]]
 
*[[Merrick Jamison-Smythe]]
 
*[[Nigel]]
 
*[[Phillip]]
 
*[[Gwendolyn Post]]
 
*[[Robson]]
 
*[[Rutherford Sirk]]
 
*[[Quentin Travers]]
 
*[[Laura Kay Weathermill]]
 
*[[Whiskers]]
 
*[[Geoffrey Wyndam-Pryce]]
 
*[[Roger Wyndam-Pryce]]
 
*[[Wesley Wyndam-Pryce]]
 
*[[Sam Zabuto]]
  +
*[[Unidentified Watcher (Righteous)|Unidentified Watcher]]
  +
*[[Anni's Watcher]]
 
*[[Faith Lehane's Watcher]]
  +
*[[Melaka Fray's Watcher]]
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*[[Naayéé'neizgháni's Watcher]]
 
*[[Violet's Watcher]]
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*[[Unidentified Council member I (Checkpoint)|Unidentified Council member I]]
  +
*[[Unidentified Council member II (Checkpoint)|Unidentified Council member II]]
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*[[Unidentified Council member III (Checkpoint)|Unidentified Council member III]]
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  +
===Watchers-in-training===
  +
*[[Charlotte (Watcher)|Charlotte]]
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*[[Lucy]]
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*[[Philip]]
 
*[[Unidentified Watcher-in-training]]
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  +
===Acting===
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*[[Devon]]
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*[[Alexander Harris]]
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*[[Urkonn of the D'Avvrus]]
 
*[[Andrew Wells]]
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  +
==References==
  +
{{References|scroll=1}}
  +
  +
[[es:Vigilante]]
  +
[[fr:Observateur]]
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[[pt-br:Observador]]
   
* [[Melaka Fray's Watcher]]
 
* [[Urkonn]] (de facto)
 
 
[[Category:Watchers| ]]
 
[[Category:Watchers| ]]
[[Category:Scholars and researchers ]]
+
[[Category:Scholars and researchers]]
 
[[Category:Terminology]]
 
[[Category:Terminology]]

Revision as of 02:31, 19 November 2019

S1l4

Buffy Summers with her Watcher Rupert Giles.

Aren't they good guys? I mean, Watchers, that's just like other Gileses, right?
Tara Maclay[src]

Watcher was the title given to a member of the Watchers Council, devoted to studying, tracking, and combating malevolent supernatural entities, doing so through a Watcher assigned to train and guide the Slayer.

Training

As I recall, I was informed at the age of ten that I would become a Watcher, then summarily packed off to study horror and death alongside Latin and Geometry.
Rupert Giles[src]

Watchers received training from a young age and had to attend the Watchers Academy, where Wesley Wyndam-Pryce was head boy when he attended. Watchers-in-training were often forced to take part in field tests, which required facing and defeating an enemy. These were often set in controlled setting, where a Watcher-in-training was placed in a situation without any information given to them or warning before hand, where they had to fight a vampire or demon by means necessary, similar to a Slayer's Tento di Cruciamentum.[1]

A common testing method that lasted for decades involved locking them in a room with a starving vampire. Other tests weren't organized and were merely pre-existing threats, in which the Watchers-in-training were tasked with dealing with based on their studies. This could lead to an oversight on the Council's part if the information were incorrect, as with the Highgate Vampire incident.[2] When it came to theory, Watchers were known to write theses on famous vampires.[3]

Watchers swore sacred oaths that included an oath to protect the innocent. Associations with vampires were shunned and considered a perversion.[4]

According to Wesley, training procedures have changed to some considerable degree since the 70's, with a greater emphasis on field work rather than books and theory.[5] Watchers tended to be well-versed in ancient, supernatural texts and demonology along with possessing a reasonable degree of skill in hand-to-hand combat and linguistics.[1][5]

As well as a calling, being a Watcher was also a paid occupation.[3]

Training the Slayer

Giles: “The Slayer slays. The Watcher...
Buffy: “Watches?
— on a Watcher's role[src]

Watchers taught Slayers hand-to-hand fighting skills mostly in the form of martial arts as well as teaching them to use traditional slayer weapons such as crossbows, axes, swords and quarterstaves.[6] Slayers would be trained regularly; either to learn new skills or to maintain their physical well-being.

Rupert Giles often trained Buffy Summers during and after school hours in the Sunnydale High School library and later built in a training room in the Magic Box filled with gym mats, punching bags, and throwable weapons hung on the walls, such as shuriken and knives. He also would sometimes accompany her on patrol to monitor her slaying and review her technique.[7][8]

Other than physical capability, Watchers also trained their Slayer's mentality and senses. Giles once required Buffy to hit him with a ball while blind-folded to test her awareness of an enemy[9] and also conducted meditation with stones after Buffy requested he provide her with extra training so that she could become a better Slayer.[10]

The approach to training the Slayer depended on the Watcher; Giles had a lighter manner of treating Buffy, accepting her social life with few conditions. Sam Zabuto employed a stricter attitude towards training his Slayer Kendra Young, barring her from her family and any form of a social life while teaching her according to a handbook which required her to study demon mythology. Buffy on the other hand was not given the handbook as Giles didn't feel she needed it after he met her.[11] Wesley Wyndam-Pryce opted for a more orderly method of planning out strategies and focusing on three key concepts: Preparation, Preparation and Preparation.[5] Sometime after Giles was fired, Buffy and Faith Lehane had to receive testing from the Watcher Council's shrink with things like the Rorschach test, physical examinations to assertive logic, and personality tests that asked if they ever wanted to be a florist (which apparently meant crazy).[12]

Watchers would document their Slayer's progress and ability in what was known as the Watchers Diaries. This would even include recording their Slayer's death.[13]

After the activation of every Potential Slayer, Slayers were free to join the Slayer Organization where they were trained alongside each other. Joining Slayers were allocated to a specific area or country where they would receive their training under a sole Watcher or experienced Slayer.[14]

Known Watchers

Watchers Council

Watchers-in-training

Acting

References