Why did Giles think it was a good idea to leave Buffy?

[Anyanka Bunny Slayer]

As people have mentioned. there was a real life reason.

Other than that: I think this is one of the examples where the show's desire to be a metaphor for real life clashes with its internal logic. On the one hand, Buffy is an adult, so she needs to learn to take care of herself. On the other hand, Buffy is a superhero fighting against the Apocalypse and could use all the help she can get.

I love Giles, but he was never the most dependable or caring person in the world. The only person he really cares about is Buffy, and even that is only sometimes. I don't think him moving back to England is out of character.

Yes. This. Buffy is an adult and she needs to learn how to get on with it. (Also, Giles isn't her Watcher anymore, if I recall correctly) In my experience, constant help just weakens a person. Sooner or later, the training wheels must be removed completely.

I think of all the times that he'd mutter something under his breath, in seasons past. You know, rude things...often in response to something Buffy (or the others) said or did. I always assumed it was supposed to be funny, but on second thought, perhaps he was serious. Upon further reflection, I suddenly realise that Giles was kind of a dick. 😂

 

[Spanky]

I suddenly realise that Giles was kind of a dick. 😂

You just now discover this? Of course Giles was a dick. He hated his life. That's part of the reason the character is so great.

 

[spikenbuffy]

Because maybe she has to take her responsabilities as a sister who has to guide Dawn, in early S6 Buffy isn't even capable to take a decision and tell Dawn not to go out by herself at night or to be more strict/have a serious conversation with Dawn, she wants Giles to talk to Dawn. I mean, come on Buffy, Dawn is your sister, what are you afraid of to tell Dawn to go in school and not be late.

 

[DeadlyDuo]

Because maybe she has to take her responsabilities as a sister who has to guide Dawn, in early S6 Buffy isn't even capable to take a decision and tell Dawn not to go out by herself at night or to be more strict/have a serious conversation with Dawn, she wants Giles to talk to Dawn. I mean, come on Buffy, Dawn is your sister, what are you afraid of to tell Dawn to go in school and not be late.

To be fair to Buffy, she'd been dragged out of heaven and brought back to Sunnydale, yet couldn't tell her friends the truth because she doesn't want them to feel bad. Everyone expects Buffy to shake off the fact that she'd died and been resurrected. Also Buffy's only 21 and is having to juggle everything. She's got to save the world, work a dead-end job to keep a roof over her and Dawn's head, and play "mom" to a bratty kid sister who is old enough to pull her own weight around the house.

Giles couldn't stick around forever, fair enough, but to find out Buffy was dragged out of heaven then go "you're on your own, deal with it" is incredibly out of character for Giles considering he was planning to leave in Season 5 but chose to stick around before Buffy died. Now that she actually needs him, he stomps off back to England. AT least give Giles a proper reason for having to leave rather than the crap excuse used in the show.

 

[spikenbuffy]

To be fair to Buffy, she'd been dragged out of heaven and brought back to Sunnydale, yet couldn't tell her friends the truth because she doesn't want them to feel bad. Everyone expects Buffy to shake off the fact that she'd died and been resurrected. Also Buffy's only 21 and is having to juggle everything. She's got to save the world, work a dead-end job to keep a roof over her and Dawn's head, and play "mom" to a bratty kid sister who is old enough to pull her own weight around the house.

Giles couldn't stick around forever, fair enough, but to find out Buffy was dragged out of heaven then go "you're on your own, deal with it" is incredibly out of character for Giles considering he was planning to leave in Season 5 but chose to stick around before Buffy died. Now that she actually needs him, he stomps off back to England. AT least give Giles a proper reason for having to leave rather than the crap excuse used in the show.

Well I was not saying that Giles is all good, it was maybe not the right time for him to leave but Buffy has to make decisions about Dawn like have a serious conversation with Dawn about school, she kept relying to Giles even to say to Dawn not to go out by night by Halloween. What were she afraid of to talk to Dawn? Giles decided to leave after that and it's not like Giles left Buffy alone, he knew that Buffy has the others (Xander, Willow.....) that stay in Sunnydale with her, in his head at that time, Giles didn't left Buffy alone.

 

[Aracoth]

I think I will play devil's advocate just for a different opinion. Giles leaving buffy isn't a big deal and let me try to make my case first.

If you take away the world of slaying Buffy is an adult dealing with the stress and problems that come along with it; depression, anxiety, finances, relationships, resurrection ( i make myself laugh).
Giles cannot offer Buffy anything but a push and a shoulder right now since he already gave her financial help and I dont think it will benefit her in finding balance but instead become too comfortable for her to just shrug off the hard stuff onto him which she has done already by this point. Depression creates a comfort zone of inaction.
Was the outcome good? You decide but I feel the underlying intent was reasonable.

 

[AlphaFoxtrot]

What if the First was, like a true devil, silently manipulating our heroes with lies, temptations and deceptions in fulfillment of his goals. How much different would season 6 look like? I could easily see the First pushing Giles into not abandoning his plans to move home.