I'm pretty sure the First would be annoyed at being just a red herring, so :)

accurately concussed Giles managed to warn about the glove and living flame in the ep with the fake Watcher, and that was a time there was blood and urgent worried medics. I think all the practice has left him good at keeping the essentials in mind ;)

Slayers know the writing is on the wall for them. Made it fairly literal.

So very glad the Buffy conversation worked. So many rewrites before she stopped sounding drugged up ::)

I'm glad everyone is believing it about Giles. I figure for him to be giving the Watchers his best he has to be doing what he is best at, which really isn't being the boss of people. He usually ends up with his subordinates taking over. Which is great in a teacher, but not so much in a corporate CEO or whatever the Head of the Council has to be.

Wes... will probably be quite miserable, at least to start, but he has relevant skills and experience that Giles lacks. And also a whole set of problems of his own, but that's the kind of fun that makes stories.

the rest of the 'season' may take a teensy bit longer than a season to make, but I'm glad you're looking forward to it.

thanks :)