Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Every Character Ranked Worst To Best

Much like Xander, Giles was an ordinary human living in an extraordinary world, but at least he had the know-how to handle the threats around him.

Working as Buffy's Watcher, Giles was quick to become her father figure, guiding her not only through her Slayer training, but the various hardships that her life ran into. He was wise and loving, and always had a solution to the bigger issues facing him and the teenagers he grew to protect and care for.

But there was more to him than that, including a sordid past he refused to fully divulge, and a love affair with a fellow high school teacher which ended in heart-wrenching tragedy.

As the show went on, Giles became more and more resigned to the horrors of the world, more weathered, even bitter in places, but he never lost sight of his mentor role or the love he had for Buffy and her friends.

Other characters may be superficially more exciting and complex, but few were as subtly tragic and necessary to the show's many relationships as Rupert Giles.