Exactly. There was no Council to turn to. They couldn’t fix Buffy’s money woes because Giles was pretty much the last Watcher.
Buffy’s money problems begin in season 6 and she takes a job at the burger place after trying to work in other places first. The Watcher’s weren’t destroyed until the ninth episode “Never Leave Me” in season 7. I think Whedon just painted himself into a corner with the Council. They were extremely powerful and knew all sorts of stuff so I doubt Buffy’s resurrection would have passed them by for very long. On the other hand it wouldn’t have been all that dramatic for the Council to come in and say, “Hey, we’re going to pick up the tab for your mortgage, pay your tuition, and we’re going to make sure Dawn has everything she needs. You just worry about Slaying.” It would have made sense but it wouldn’t have been dramatic.
Marc
Buffy’s money problems begin in season 6 and she takes a job at the burger place after trying to work in other places first. The Watcher’s weren’t destroyed until the ninth episode “Never Leave Me” in season 7. I think Whedon just painted himself into a corner with the Council. They were extremely powerful and knew all sorts of stuff so I doubt Buffy’s resurrection would have passed them by for very long. On the other hand it wouldn’t have been all that dramatic for the Council to come in and say, “Hey, we’re going to pick up the tab for your mortgage, pay your tuition, and we’re going to make sure Dawn has everything she needs. You just worry about Slaying.” It would have made sense but it wouldn’t have been dramatic.
The Council did other stuff that was pretty damn stupid. They take away their Slayer’s powers and put her in a situation where she has to fight vampires who are at their full strength? How in the hell does that even make sense? The potential rewards are that the Slayer is pissed off and the risks is that your Slayer is killed.
Marc
Slayers are fungible. You either confirm that your Slayer is able to function with her wits and resourcefulness, or she’s not. If she’s not, it’s time to start work with the new Slayer.
One of those times when I was surprised at what they got away with on that show. Anya had a refreshing directness.
Yeah, I sometimes get confused. I always think the there’s only one Slayer per generation as per the movie but in the series it seems like there’s a new Slayer the instant the old one dies. Still, it seems like taking an expensive sports car to the race and taking away it’s gasoline.
Marc
One of the most erotically charged scenes of all time IMHO, when Willow & Tara join hands to combine their powers.
Which is a very foolish way to treat an extremely rare (super)natural resource. The Council I think realizes that they aren’t really the important ones, and have set up Slayers since their beginning to be improperly dependent upon them. Buffy figures this out in season 5, when she realizes that without her, they’re all pretty much stuck watching Masterpiece Theatre. The Council for the most part is either arrogant or incompetent.
[spoiler]You’re right, I’m getting my plotpoints from the two weakest seasons (and the two I’ve never rewatched on FX/DVDs) mixed up.
But even still, Buffy made it very clear that the Council was not wanted in her life and I can’t imagine they’d come back unless asked. And from what we know of Buffy and her relationship with the Coucil, she wouldn’t ask.[/spoiler]
I thought it was hot when Willow went down on Tara in “Once More with Feeling” but I guess joining hands is pretty cute as well.
Marc
They came to an uneasy accord and she was able to leverage Giles’ job back and, presumably, back pay for the time he had been unemployed.
Marc
Right, but (Checkpoint is one of my favorite episodes)…
Buffy: You’re Watchers. Without a Slayer… you’re pretty much just watching Masterpiece Theater. You can’t stop Glory. You can’t do anything with the information you have, except maybe publish it in the Everyone Thinks We’re Insanos Home Journal. So here’s how it’s gonna work. You’re gonna tell me everything you know. Then you’re gonna go away. You’ll contact me if and when you have any further information about Glory. The magic shop will remain open. Mr. Giles will stay here as my official Watcher, reinstated at full salary.
Giles :coughretroactive
Yes, You make me Complete. Indeed.
I remember this scene being the topic of a Brent Bozell column as an example of the moral rot of the country.
I guess Brent is not a Willow/Tara shipper. 
Well, I don’t know who Brent Bozell is, but the man’s got problems.
I want to know when Willow got the nickname “Plete.” 
Not “seems” – there’s no question. (I’m working from the assumption we’re spoilering events post-Hush, so the following statements are not spoilered).
Buffy’s death in “Prophecy Girl” called Kendra; Kendra’s death in “Becoming” calls Faith. That’s three in ‘a generation’ right there.
No argument that the Council is arrogant, but I disagree that the Slayer is a “rare” resource. Slayers are a zero-sum game. You get one. If you kill her, you instantly get another one. Only the fact that the prehistoric bush-men of the Kalahari didn’t know about CPR allowed Buffy to co-exist with others from “Prophecy Girl” onwards, and of course Willow broke the whole system in “Chosen.”