Slayer/Watcher combo

[Chasing Cordy]

This just may be the most absurd thing imaginable, but what if there was a slayer that did not need a watcher since the slayer herself had the background knowledge required for the watcher duty.
It skips the middle man, eh?

Kendra was sorta kinda like that since she had read the stories of Angelus and studied the (I believe it was called) the "slayer handbook".
Kendra herself was almost her own watcher. Knowledge and kick-butt ability was all in one package.

 

[JCC]

Plus, she had the incredible Irish Jamaican Scotsman accent going for her.

 

[TabulaRasa]

But it was her watcher that had her read it. So I guess you still kind of need a watcher in there someone.
Where you might skip the middle man is if you were born into a family of watchers but also was a potential. Study the wather bit and study martial arts etc...we just skipped the middle man.

 

[Black Eye Guy]

While it would have made sense to have the two rolled into one, it would never happen.

The watchers council doesn't see the Slayer as a person really, they see her as a tool to use against evil. So they wouldn't want slayers to be watchers cuz then there would be no one to control the slayer.

Also it would be pretty bad for the slayer, think about it. Kendra's only family seemed to be her watcher, she had no one else, One of the reasons Buffy lived so long was cuz she had friends and a family, others to depend on and others to live for. If the slayer and watcher were one then the slayer would be very lonely.

 

[palabravampiress]

I agree that there is a definite place for a mentor. A young girl needs someone to guide her through the whole "we fight evil" thing for the first couple of years. After that, he (or she) can take on an advisory role, like Giles did. That seemed very real.

Actually, I think it is important to have friends and family and an entire life to live for. I think that makes the slayer fight harder. She knows why she's fighting. She knows what she needs to protect. If a sacrifice is needed (as in The Gift), she can do that, too. Having a connection to the world gives Buffy unique strength for a slayer. Nikki is commented on as being a particularly old slayer, too. I don't think it's a small coincidence that she had a son.

All said, I find a good watcher/slayer relationship, even one with the occasional problem along the way, is a healthy connection for a slayer. A watcher understands her calling and supports her.