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When Faith Lehane replaces Kendra Young (Bianca Lawson) in Buffy The Vampire Slayer, she is one of the strongest slayers on the TV series. Faith is the complete opposite of Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar), who can fight demons in her sleep but is still warm, friendly, and compassionate toward others. Watching Buffy and Faith's relationship evolve throughout the show is one of the most interesting parts.
Many characters come and go on Buffy The Vampire Slayer, but Faith stands out thanks to her wit, strength, and confidence. The popular series wouldn't be as engaging without Faith's character arc, and by the end of her storyline, she has changed a lot.
What Happens To Faith In Buffy The Vampire Slayer?
After she is introduced in season 3 of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Faith comes back in season 4 and ends up going to prison. In season 4, she and Buffy swap places after Faith employs the Draconian Katra, and the Watchers Council arrests Buffy because they think that she is Faith. Faith serves time in prison and leaves Sunnydale for several seasons before coming back in season 7 when she and Buffy battle the First Evil.
Faith Lehane on Buffy The Vampire Slayer |
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appeared in 26 episodes |
first appearance: "Faith, Hope & Trick" (season 3, episode 3) |
last appearance: "Chosen" (season 7, episode 22) |
Faith is also a character in the Buffy spin-off Angel. The two characters become friendly because they both understand what it's like to be outcasts who no one else truly gets. On Angel, Wolfram & Hart want Faith to kill Angel, but she thinks that it would be better if Angel murdered her. Faith decides that she wants to be a better person, confesses to her crimes, and goes to prison. While Buffy's discovery that she is the Slayer is upsetting at times, Faith seems more confident and comfortable with her role.
Faith's Character Arc, Explained
Faith's Buffy The Vampire Slayer character arc proves why she is one of the most compelling characters on the popular TV series. When she first appears in season 3, she is cold and tough, and she and Buffy don't get along at all. In the season 3 episode "Consequences," Faith almost murders Xander but Angel stops her. Just like Alyson Hannigan's character Willow Rosenberg becomes evil, Faith can't stop herself from giving into the dark impulses inside of her. Although Buffy thinks that Faith will finally become good, Faith teams up with Mayor Wilkins (Harry Groener), who wants to turn into a demon. This is an important part of Faith's arc as she is lost and hopes that he will show her the compassion and parental love that she has been missing.
The most engaging part of Faith's arc happens in season 7. After Wesley Wyndam-Pryce (Alexis Denisof) helps Faith escape prison so they can help Angel, Faith and Buffy face The First Evil.
What Is The First Evil In Buffy The Vampire Slayer?
- can look like any dead creature or human
- can't hurt anyone physically but can torment them mentally and emotionally
- an entity created from every evil thing in the world
Season 7 of Buffy The Vampire Slayer sees Faith becoming a more compassionate person. She and Buffy experience tension when Faith is put in charge of the Potential Slayers and the Buffy Scooby Gang because the characters become wary of Buffy. James Mardens's character Spike, who becomes good in Buffy The Vampire Slayer, supports Buffy, who can stop the Turok-Han from killing the Potential Slayers. After this point, Faith and Buffy realize that they have more in common than they thought, and they have a better relationship.
Throughout some of the darkest episodes of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Faith shows her vulnerable side without meaning to. For example, when she has a conversation with Buffy's mom Joyce Summers (Kristine Sutherland) and Joyce says "You don't know the first thing about Buffy... or me," Faith says:
"Don't I? I know what it's like. You think you matter. You think you're a part of something, and you get dumped. It's like the whole world is moving, but you're stuck. Like those animals in the tar pits. It's like you just keep sinking a little deeper every day, and nobody even sees!"
Who Played Faith On Buffy The Vampire Slayer?
Eliza Dushku played Faith on Buffy The Vampire Slayer and has also taken on several other TV and movie horror roles. Dushku starred in the lackluster horror movie Soul Survivor in 2001 as well as Joss Whedon's sci-fi series Dollhouse from 2009 to 2010. She also played the main character Tru Davies in the TV show Tru Calling, which aired from 2003 to 2005.
Eliza Dushku's Horror Movies |
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2001: Soul Survivors |
2003: Wrong Turn |
2008: The Alphabet Killer |
2009: Open Graves |
While there were discussions about a Buffy The Vampire Slayer spin-off starring Eliza Dushku as Faith Lelane, Dushku decided not to move forward. In 2012, she was interviewed by IGN and said:
"It would have been a really hard thing to do, and not that I wouldn't have been up for a challenge, but with it coming on immediately following the show, I think that those would have been really big boots to fill. I think it would have been compared to Buffy ."
Dushku continued:
"I've played that character on and off for five years now and I've changed a lot and while the character of Faith changed when I came back because I've changed, I felt like maybe it was time to... I mean, I love Faith. She's my girl and she's been really good to me, but I kind of just wanted to try something else."
