Back in the BtVS days, there was usually a fake out Big Bad before the reveal of the "true" Big Bad. Like, Spike and Dru were introduced as the Sid and Nancy vampire duo (taking out the Anointed One), only to have Angelus arise midway into the season to be the "real" Big Bad. The Touched -- that term is so evocative. "Touched" literally means someone/something that has been come into physical contact. It can also mean: the feeling of gratitude or sympathy, i.e. "I'm so touched by your gesture." . And colloquially, "touched" = a little bit insane or crazy. And the Victoria era was still a fairly religious era. Could the term have religious connotations. Touched by God and gifted with powers beyond mortal ken?

@Sri Teeo Right? Amy Acker or Enver or Summer showing up as a Big Bad in season X? PLEASE!

I would prefer a cast of newcomers too! One of the great pleasures of the Whedonverse is discovering cool new actors. I still wish Enver Gjokac had a thriving career lol Whedon likes to cast his fave actors again and again (I think almost the entire Firefly cast turned up as a baddie eventually), but this time he's hampered because mostly they're American. And except for Alexis Denisof (who can do a pretty good accent) and the actual Brits (Anthony Stewart Head, Olivia Williams), pretty much everyone else is American. However, if Amy Acker shows up as an all-powerful Big Bad with mystical powers and using her own accent, I'd be down for it!