Buffy's Watcher, Giles had the duty to direct Buffy in the use of her powers and do his best to keep her alive.
Rupert Giles is a Watcher that the Council assigned to work with Buffy after the death of Merrick. He first met Buffy at the school's library where he was working as a librarian. He recognized her as the Slayer and presented her with a book on vampires that she quickly rejected then fleeing the scene. As Buffy wanted to leave her life as a Slayer behind her, she was reluctant to taking Giles as her Watcher, especially with the death of Merrick still fresh in her memory. Nevertheless the Watcher was constant and kept insisting until Buffy finally decided to accept her destiny as the Slayer.
The relationship that Buffy and Giles developed can be seen as both a mentor – student and also as a father – daughter kind of relationship. Giles was supportive of Buffy and aided her not only in her quest as a Slayer but also in her moments of weakness and sorrow, in the hardship of being a teenage anonymous superhero.
Giles' expertise goes far beyond the lore of ancient prophecies and texts regarding the Slayer and the evils she has to face. He's also knowledgeable in certain disciplines of the dark arts, fighting and weaponry.
Origins
Rupert Giles was born somewhere on the 50's. He was born in a "wealthy" family. His family is known to work with the Council Of Watchers for generations. Both of his grandparents were watchers. Even as a child Giles wanted to be like his parents and grandparents. In the BTVS episode "Never Kill A Boy On The First Day" His father told him of his destiny.
As a youth Rupert was VERY rebellious (something he doesn't like to talk about). Completely ignoring his "watcher" destiny and Dropping out of school. HE begin to use dark-magic a became friends with a group of people who use the "dark arts" for their own gain Ethan Rayne among many unnamed. Sometime during his time with the group they gave Giles the nickname of "Ripper". After he came to his senses he choose to embrace his calling as a watcher.
Buffy Summers: The Vampire Slayer
At the asking of the Watchers Council Giles goes to Sunnydale, California. As a cover story story he works as the school librarian. His true reasons there are reveled when Buffy(the current slayer) learns of her true destiny. Soon after this he begins to train her as a slayer. He explains to her (and her friends whom have recently been saved by Buffy and know she is a slayer) that Sunnydale sits on top of a Hellmouth. As time goes on they become (as they call them selves and as others call them) The Scooby Gang. While at the school he meets a woman named Jenny Calender. They become in love a the gang feel she is the right one for him. But soon as all things bad happen on a hellmouth. Jenny is posses by a demon who is named Ehgon. The demon is defeated but Jenny feels that the reason why she was possessed is because of Giles and his association with the slayer. She decides that she needs time to sort out what she really wants. This leaves Giles crushed. When Jenny revels that she is a member of a gypsy clan sent to keep an eye on a vampire named Angel. Giles feels angered because she did not tell him earlier in their relationship. Unfortunately they never got to fully reconcile. As a soulless Angel wreaks havoc of Buffy and her friends. He next targets Giles. As Jenny is alone in the school after dark. Angel sneaks in a after a long chase through the school he catches her and breaks her neck, killing her. As Giles comes home he is surprised to find red roses, fine wine,music and a note telling he to go up stairs. As he approaches his room he sees Jenny on his bed. But sadly he soon discovers that is is her corpse, nothing but a cruel trick by the soulless Angel. Mad unlike anything the gang has ever seen he seeks revenge against Angel, Buffy tells him it would be suicide to go up against Angel. He does not listen as he later burns down Angel's home while he is inside. Later in the series the gang catches a glimpse of Gileses' "Ripper" days. After he eats a cursed candy bar he reverts (mentally) to is youth. During this time he has sex with the mother of Buffy Joyce Summers.
Since his return from hell Angel was kept a secret from him and the gang by Buffy. When Giles finds out that Buffy is having a relationship with the man that killed his only lover in years (Jenny) he feels betrayed. But after giving it serious time and thought he realizes that Angel now has a soul and is a different man than the one who killed Jenny. So he agrees to forgive Angel.
The Magic Box
After he is fired from the Watchers Council. Giles no longer enjoyed the unemployment life so he decide to buy a small magic shop( the original owner was eaten b vampires). As Buffy had grew in knowledge and skill. She didn't need Giles as much anymore so he felt like he was no longer needed. When Ethan Rayne casts a spell on Giles it turns him into a demon (episode "A New Man") he can no longer peak any English and is unable to communicate with Buffy and the scoobies. Luckily Spike can understand him and uses him to communicate. Unfortunately Buffy doesn't know that Giles IS the demon but think that the demon ate Giles. She kills him, but while she has the weapon in him she sees that he has those classic Giles eyes of "O brother" and Buffy realizes that the demon is Giles. Ethan is taken into containment by the initiative.Back to England and Back to Sunnydale
Months after the death of Buffy Summers Giles decides that he wants to return to England. The same day he leves the Gang (Willow, Xander, Anya, and Tara) bring Buffy back to life.After he returns he learns that the team brought Buffy back to life. Even though he is thrilled to have Buffy back he is angered with the entire scooby gang especially Willow for using such dark magics. He calls her a "rank, arrogant amateur!" Their relationship is strained to the point that Willow threatens him. The Gang,who believed that Buffy was in hell, who was actually in Heaven revealed in "Once More, with Feeling". After the shocking death of Buffy's mother Joyce, Buffy begins to rekindle her father-daughter relationship. But as Giles notices her increased dependence on him for personal reasons other than slayer reasons. He fills that Buffy needs to grow up and he feels that him being their is keeping her from being the strong women that she can be. So he gives the Magic Box to Ayna and moves back to England and begins to work with a coven.Dark Willow
Months after Giles left Sunnydale Tara(willow's ex/current girlfriend) is shot by a stray bullet. This drives willow over the edge as she was already abusing magic. But after Tara was shot by Warren Mears she turns to the dark side of magic. She seeks revenge on Warren and his friends Jonathan Levinson and Andrew Wells. She kills Warren but before she can Kill his other two friends Giles attacks her with the power of the coven he was working with. She laughs at his attempts. After a short battle Willow overcomes him and steals the magic he was given. But Giles let Willow take his Magic because he has supernaturally "drugged" it so that it would tap into the tiniest bit of humanity.After Willow is brought back to the side of good she and Giles return to England for her to enter a wiccan rehab.
The Final Battle
Months after "Dark Willow Saga" Giles returns to Sunnydale and bring new to Buffy about the very first evil called "The First Evil" and its demonic legions the most common are the bringers. Giles reveal that he stole volumes from the watchers HQ before it was destroyed by an agent of the first called "Caleb" this gives them information about a weapon of great strength. A weapon meant for the slayer, a scythe. During the battle Willow uses power magic to give each potential slayer in the world the full abilities of a slayer. After the battle is over the entire gang looks at the giant creator that was left after the collapse of the hellmouth and thinks about the future.Powers and Skills
Giles has a very large knowledge of demonology and Slayer combat all from teachings while at the watchers council. Although he has no "true" supernatural powers he can deal with most threats (demons,vampires,ect..) just as well if not better than Willow or Buffy. Because of his "Ripper" days he can control some magic (but no at the level of someone like Willow). Giles knows several different languages Latin,German,Greek,Japanese,Sumerian,Gaelic,Cantonese and Mandarin. Giles also knows hand to hand combat, and is skilled enough to fend off several vampires. But Giles prefers to let Buffy do the physical things.Giles body can become a vessel of power magics. During "Dark Willow" he was granted teleportaion, powerful energy blast, and telekinesis that rivaled Willow's. These powers were granted to him by the powerful "Devon Coven"
