3. Less about the actual skills, more about the fact that, well, friends good.

4. 5. Not a perfect episode, but:

* insert gif of Buffy throwing sword at Poncey McWatcherson here *

You've read Lydia's essay on William the Bloody, right? It amuses me to no end. So much love ♥

I love all the interviews! This was a hard choice.

Re: skills, same as beer_good_foamy above, it's more that it's good for the Slayer not to be isolated than about their skills exactly.

1. rude.



4. I actually do think they'd be right, as a rule, to be concerned about civilians. But if they were conducting the tests in good faith, they'd understand that there are a lot of special circumstances at play with the Scoobies and it's generally a good idea.

3. Yes, they're civilians, but it doesn't mean that they aren't in danger. If anything happens to Buffy (and things have), they're on their own. There have been times that they've been threatened by vamps when not helping Buffy (Willow nearly being bitten by Harmony), and in a town as dangerous as Sunnydale...

That, and they learned how to help and slay. Buffy is one person who can't be everywhere.

1. Lydia! Here is a link to a list of Lydia fic recs:

http://fantas-magoria.livejournal.com/295077.html

She's the greatest Watcher since Wesley!

3. If by "civilian" they mean, "non-superpowered", I say look into a mirror, buddy. Hmph. All their watcher training is very well and good, but the School of Hard Knocks (literally) shouldn't be underestimated — though it often is by people like that.

Other: Here's a link to the "Buffy vs. the Patriarchy" macro version of this ep, for people too busy to rewatch the whole episode. You remember it — you wrote it! Credit to goldenusagi and gabrielleabelle:

http://goldenusagi.livejournal.com/187095.html

(I just wrote this out in CAPS but then remembered that Mark's caps bug you, so I stopped.)
I love this episode a whole lot! It makes my heart soar. I often use the "lesbian gay-type lovers" line to introduce my gf :).

1. Lydia for the win!

2. I'll go with Xander and Anya, 'cause Anya makes me laugh so much!

3. Maybe, in a general way, it's comprensible the Council's disapprovation. But, on the other hand: we're talking about the stupid Council that drug her slayers to make a stupid test. So, the fuck no! è_é

4. I go with 5 stars. Yes, just because Buffy is so great and badass in this episode and her hair are beyond perfection. ù_ù

2. I was very close to going for Xander and Anya for "They used to say 'Who's my little patriot, you?' when I was older and therefore smaller than I am now. Muffin?", but then I remembered a) lesbian, gay-type lovers, b) "registered? Of course we're r-r-r-" "Registered" and c) Tara shouting out "five!" or whatever level she shouts out. Anya does have the funniest line in the episode though, with "Willow's a demon!?!"

3. I went with "I have another answer," because I think civilians should definitely be allowed into the fight if they are committed to it (which the Scoobies are!), but I do think that greater responsibility by, er, Giles should be taken to ensure that they don't all get killed. That I think is a mark against Giles but not Buffy. That said, I guess by season five they have proven themselves pretty up to the task.

Edited at 2012-04-03 05:18 pm (UTC)

Since Lydia and Travers are the only ones I can actually ID in my head, Lydia wins! :) Besides, her interview with Spike is totally hilarious.

I voted "another answer" which is that maybe while it isn't ideal to randomly introduce people into the world of the Slayer, once it's happened, the people ought to have a choice. The Watchers are all at least mostly human, they are involved from whatever way. As Willow points out in Choices, it's about making the decisions that are right for the person involved. All of the Scoobies have long proved that for them, it's about fighitng the good fight. They know what they risk and they've made their choices. They can fight.

1- I chose Lydia, for being the Woman That Enforces The Patriarchy.

2- One of my favourite Anya moments. Her eagerness to seem human, coming across completely weird, is somehow still really really human.

3- Buffy says it best- "We're talking about two very powerful witches and a thousand year old ex-demon"

4- Maybe it's not a perfect episode, but it gets a five for me for Buffy's kick ass speech and sword throwing. And the Scoobies cheering at the end. And hey, Glory is a FRICKIN' GOD. Possibly one of my favourite twists of the series.

I think the Council's flat-out disapproval Buffy's friend being involved is the wrong approach, but they do have the right to be concerned about the situation. Keep in mind that for Buffy this is a calling and for the Watchers it's a job, but for the Scoobies it's a... I don't know, hobby?

The correct approach would have been to come in and honestly evaluate the situation before deciding one way or another. How much are her friends involved with her work, what skill sets are they bringing to the table, how effective are they at what they do, are they actually helping or is their "help" more of a hindrance that Buffy puts up because their her friends, and of course, what is being done to keep these civilians safe? And of course Spike's involvement with the group is a whole 'nother story altogether.

1. Lydia, of course.

2. Willow & Tara, just so cute.

3. I went with 'not sure' just because it probably is a pretty good general rule or something to be concerned about. Obviously Buffy has final say but Buffy herself often has worries about involving her friends in her mission so it's no surprise that the Council do as well.

4. Four stars - guys this is one of the most important Spuffy episodes of the whole series! And they try to slip it all in under our noses! Buffy starts off the episode saying that she'll never need Spike's help. Before this episode she has claimed to hate him, thinks he's next to useless, says she doesn't trust him and thinks he'll turn evil at the drop of a hat and when she does want something from him uses a mixture of violence and money... At the end of this episode she seems to acknowledge that she does see something in him. She trusts him to look after Joyce and Dawn without payment just because this isn't one of their sparring games, this is "serious".

This coupled with their first proper non-sniping comforting talk in Blood Ties and I'm in 'shipper heaven. Until Crush of course ;)

#2 -- Willow and Tara by a hair, but they are all comedy gold.

#3 -- another answer, because, point or not, it's none of their damn business. It's Buffy's call. (And they obviously can't stand that, which is what this episode is all about.)

I love all the interviews. Tara blurting out "five" and hitting it lucky but the Spike and Lydia is just so....ficworthy.

Love this whole episode. Buffy throwing the sword to quell furthur interruptions is one of her finest moments since the sword grab "me" in Becoming. Buffy is good with swords.

Good note about Buffy counting on Spike to watch Dawn and Joyce. I always forget it's the same episode, that moment is so different than the rest of the episode.

1. Lydia, for the simple reason being she was the least offensive when it came to Buffy. Mostly because I can't recall her talking to Buffy.

2. Spike. Duh. *g* He's being so Spikey with Lydia. "Heard of me, have you?" All seductive and shit, and then using that disarming charm to dig for info on how Buffy was doing, because he was concerned. GUH.

3. They've been helping Buffy research and patrol for years by this point, and as Buffy so astutely pointed out, they've clocked more field time than the disapproving Watchers. The Watchers weren't concerned about civilians, they were put out because their "weapon" had friends.

4. Three stars. Good episode, great speech, Watchers got put in check. What's not to love?

User rahirah referenced to your post from Tuesday, April 3rd saying: [...] [Fandom Discussion] Episode Poll: 5.12 Checkpoint [...]

User rahirah referenced to your post from Tuesday, April 3rd saying: [...] [Fandom Discussion] Episode Poll: 5.12 Checkpoint [...]

1-"I, uh, I ... don't want a sword thrown at me..." Lydia. Respect is given when it is shown.

2-Anya is amazing in this episode.

3-If this was a new thing, then they might have a point. Also, if they were going out on their own, then they still might have a point. But they are 'part of the unit' which has collectively saved the world mutliple times.

4-4 stars but if I could give 4 & 1/2 stars, I would.

1. Lydia - by far.

In my head canon, she miraculously makes it out of the exploding Watcher's headquarters and is off being awesome somewhere.

2. Spike.

3. Another answer.

As others have said, as a general rule I don't think they're being unreasonable. Most "civilians" (to use the Watchers' term) on the battlefield would likely just get killed or get in the way. However, in this case Buffy's friend have proven capable and to be an asset to Buffy. So in this case, they should just lay off.

4. This gets 5-stars from me. It probably deserves only 4, but it is a personal favorite of mine.

3. They do not have a point. I think what they are really asking is: "How do you dare to have a support system? Don't you see we want you isolated so you can blindly believe everything we tell you?" It makes more sense than a genuine concern for the *civilians*. Which is the same reason why Giles got fired in the first place. He is more a father figure/mentor, which put in jeopardy the control and power over the slayer. The Council acts like an abusive partner in a relationship.

3c - Yes, they do have useful skills ... but they have also all casued/cause problems, both emotional and physical. So, yes, he does have a point ... but without them it's not much of a show *g*

1. I went with Lydia, but to be honest she's the only one I can really remember besides Travers.

2. Anya & Xander, cause Anya trying so hard to appear human will never not be funny.

3. Like Buffy points out, the scoobies have done more to help her than the council ever have, so no, I don't think they're in any position to judge.

4. Four stars, because Buffy finally putting her foot down with the council and taking control is just awesome.

I couldn't give 5 stars in a season which includes FFL, The Body, and The Gift, but Checkpoint should get at least 4.5.

1) Lydia (BTW, how do we know she's called Lydia? For that matter, how do we know the others' names? Been a while since I've seen the episode, though, so it's quite possible that I simply forgot that they were mentioned by name.) for being a nerd and for being the only one whose fake accent I can stand. I simply cannot stomach Travers' 'scUtch' when referring to scotch.

2) Spike, cause I totally feel the scholarly geekiness of actually getting to meet the subject of your research. I'd act in a similar way, mostly because my subject would also need to be a vampire for me to meet him, seeing how he died several years before I was born.

3) Another answer. They don't provide the skills, so much as emotional support. That's more essential for Buffy, methinks.

4) Five stars, just cause I like it so much.

re #3, they offer useful skills and help Buffy time and again, but they are civilians, and Buffy herself has worried about them getting hurt. In the end, it's their own decision, and the council and Buffy both have to accept that.