The boy knows he's getting sent out alone, though. Had Giles told Buffy about the test beforehand, I would've thought it was mildly insane-o without safeguards--I am not in any sense a warrior at heart--but I wouldn't've thought it was a betrayal.

I just don't think a proper watcher is in much of a position of trust. Not about something like that, anyway.

I think that a "proper" watcher would have created a mentality where the slayer obeyed without question, and is constantly being tested. a "proper" slayer would not have resented the actions of her watcher, because she would have been taught that she must "expect the unexpected"

a "proper" slayer would not have resented the actions of her watcher, because she would have been taught that she must "expect the unexpected"

Exactly.

a "proper" slayer would not have resented the actions of her watcher, because she would have been taught that she must "expect the unexpected"

That's how Inspector Clouseau preferred it around his house, too.

So Buffy should constantly be looking over her shoulder for the Spanish inquisition?

I guess MOO was pretty close to that, actually.

The actor who played Wesley's robot dad does the audio books for The Song of Ice and Fire.

Cindy, so what powerful emotional moments affected you and yet left you feeling unused?

Tara's death. Buffy's death. Xander seeing Spike and Anya having sex and the ensuing confrontation. Buffy's first scene with Angel-sans-soul, in his apartment, after he's lost his soul, but before she knew. Pretty much all of both parts of becoming. Joyce's death (apart from Mom, Mom, Mommy, and fruit punch). Angel's last shot on BtVS in Graduation Day. Buffy stabbing Faith to save Angel. The Prom. Pretty much all of New Moon Rising. That's only the beginning, and I haven't even touched A:ts.

I actually never saw that moment in Becoming as inspired primarily by spite (and if I did, I would have to violently dislike Xander, so I'm glad I don't). I think Xander didn't like Angel, and understandably liked Angelus even less, and thought Buffy ought to kill Angelus promptly without dilly-dallying around wondering if Willow would be able to resoul him. There was an extremely short timeframe to work within regarding not ending the world, and I think Xander was right not to risk Buffy getting sentimental.

I think Xander was (lucky to be proven) strategically right, and was morally wrong.

There is no way that I can turn "life-threatening test with no warning" into something that is not a betrayal of, at the very least, what is supposed to be a professional partnership.

This doesn't mention though, that the circumstances were supposed to be controlled. They weren't controlled well enough, obviously, but I've always figured Giles' understanding was not that Buffy's life was at risk, until after everything went to hell.

Well, the circumstances were presumably controlled to prevent the vampire from escaping and harming innocents. I never got the impression that the Watchers would intervene to save a Slayer who was failing the test.

I never got the impression that the Watchers would intervene to save a Slayer who was failing the test.

They have no use for her, after all. Buffy should pass, because she's good.