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.

I think Buffy had every right to feel betrayed by Giles. Much moreso than any other Slayer, such as Kendra, might. Yes, it's a test, and the Slayer/Watcher dynamic is a warrior-culture type thing, but Buffy never had that. She treated Giles as a father figure, and he never stopped her. He's as much to blame for their relationship as she is. More, in fact, as he's the teacher, the leader.

Also, I've always kind of agreed with Xander on the Kick His Ass bit.

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.

Agreed, but I always read Giles as having that impression, at least until it all went to hell.

I think that giles always had misgivings about what he was doing. After he administered the adrenaline suppressor, he couldn't look her in the eye.

Oh, yes. I think so too, Vortex. I think he knew he was betraying their relationship and her trust in him. I just think the CoW probably kept him in the dark as to the underlying, dark purpose of the cruciamentum which is to kill off an ineffective slayer, which clears the field, allowing for a new one to be called.

I just think the CoW probably kept him in the dark as to the underlying, dark purpose of the cruciamentum which is to kill off an ineffective slayer, which clears the field, allowing for a new one to be called.

That's the impression I got as well.

Vincent Schiavelli, the character actor who played Jenny Calendar's Uncle Enyos in Surprise and Innocence died today, at his home in Sicily. [link]

I watched Smile Time this morning for the first time in a long while. I have to admit, it's probably taken its place as my favorite episode of Angel.