Well known for its feminist attitudes it's easy to ignore the importance that the roles the men in Buffy the Vampire Slayer play and there is not doubt that Rupert Giles is one of the most important male figures in the show. Not only an extremely rounded image of masculinity as he is both book smart and handy with a weapon, he is the only real father figure that Buffy has. One of the greatest Giles moments in the show comes late Season Six where having been gone for half the season Giles returns just in time to give evil Willow a taste of her own medicine and you realise just how much you've missed him and how vital he is to the dynamic of the show.

If all the members of the team have some special power Buffy is the slayer, Willow and Tara are witches, Oz is a werewolf, Angel and Spike are vampires, Anya is an ex-demon, - Giles's special power is certainly his brain. He is the one with all the demon know-how. However, this is not a very active power for a man to have and being the one stuck behind the books while Buffy ventures out and does the fighting calls his masculinity into question.

A typical representation of the modern New Man, Giles has a certain sensitivity. He is sensitive and knowledgeable which is depicted in Buffy the Vampire Slayer as been a greater strength in men than physical strength. Those with physical power are usually monsters, be they werewolves or vampires, and this kind of power is generally depicted by the show to be ultimately dangerous and destructive. Oz is unable to control his power and eventually has to resign himself to giving up the one person he loves the most. Both Angel and Spike are extremely masculine and dangerous, and need to be kept in check by souls, and chips. Their masculinity would certainly never be called into question, but it is a dangerous one. In contrast the strengths of Giles and Xander are depicted as far more desirable. Xander is referred to time and again as the heart of the group, and it is with his strong heart that he is able to save the day and defeat evil Willow at the end of Season Six. Giles's strength on the other hand lies in his brain, not only for his intelligence, but for his powers of reason and without his guidance many a battle fought by Buffy may never have resulted in a positive outcome.

Though the depiction of Giles is somewhat feminised' by traditional standards, Giles is still depicted as being a sexual man. We have seen Giles have two girlfriends, Jenny and Olivia, and

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