Buffy's Faith: A Complex Relationship And Kill Decision

Faith Lehane is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Played by actress Eliza Dushku, Faith was introduced in the third season of Buffy and was a focus of that season's overarching plot. She returned for shorter story arcs on Buffy and its spin-off, Angel.

Faith is a Slayer: a girl endowed with supernatural abilities and destined to battle evil creatures such as vampires and demons. Created as a foil to the protagonist, Buffy Summers, she is a Slayer who comes from a damaged background and often makes the wrong decision. Initially an ally to the main characters, events take a toll on Faith's sanity and she slips into a villainous role. Later storylines show her feeling remorse for her past crimes, and with the benevolent vampire Angel's help, she eventually rejoins the side of good in the hopes of achieving redemption.

In Buffy the Vampire Slayer season three, Faith arrives in Sunnydale, having been activated as the Slayer by the death of Kendra. Coming from a traumatic and abusive background, Faith tries to fit in with Buffy and her friends, but becomes increasingly isolated and bitter as the season progresses. A major turning point for the character occurs in the mid-season episode Bad Girls; while trying to show Buffy the fun side of slaying, Faith accidentally kills Deputy Mayor Allan Finch, a human being whom she mistakes for a vampire. Feeling more alienated than ever, she betrays the Scooby Gang and allies herself with the villainous Mayor of Sunnydale, eventually forming a sincere father-daughter relationship with him. After Faith tries to murder Buffy's vampire lover Angel under the mayor's orders, the two Slayers finally battle it out in the season finale, a confrontation that leaves Faith alive but comatose.

Faith returns to Buffy for two episodes in the fourth season. Waking up from her coma, she seeks revenge on Buffy by switching their bodies using a mystical device called the Draconian Katra left to her by the now-deceased Mayor. As Buffy is taken into custody by the Watchers' Council for crimes she did not commit, Faith discovers for the first time what it is like to be surrounded by loving friends and family, and Buffy starts to understand Faith despite being upset with her predicament. After feeling obliged to rescue a church full of people from vampires, Faith battles Buffy once again, expressing extreme self-hatred before being returned to her own body.

The storyline is continued in the first season of spin-off series Angel, as Faith escapes to Los Angeles and is hired by Wolfram & Hart to assassinate Angel. Instead, she plots an intricate plan to have Angel kill her, but Angel convinces her to face the consequences of her actions, bonds with her as a friend and ally due to their similarities, and helps her on the path to redemption. Faith hands herself over to the police and she is sentenced to prison, where Angel later visits her.

Buffy's moral conflict

Buffy's moral dilemma intensifies in season 4 when Faith, seeking revenge, switches bodies with her using a mystical device. Buffy is taken into custody for crimes she did not commit, while Faith experiences what it's like to be surrounded by loving friends and family. This experience prompts Faith to seek redemption and eventually turn herself in to the police.

In the final season, Faith returns to help train the Potentials ahead of the final battle. The Potentials initially choose Faith as their leader over Buffy, which creates tension and highlights the ongoing moral conflict within Buffy. Despite their differences and past conflicts, Buffy and Faith ultimately make amends and work together to defeat the First Evil.

Throughout the series, Buffy's moral conflict regarding Faith reflects the complexities of human choices and the impact of one's background and circumstances. It explores the boundaries and consequences of power and the challenges of navigating morality in a world of good and evil.

Faith's role as Buffy's shadow self

Faith Lehane is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She was introduced in the third season of Buffy and was a focus of that season's overarching plot. Faith is a Slayer, a girl endowed with supernatural abilities and destined to battle evil creatures such as vampires and demons.

Faith is a foil to the protagonist, Buffy Summers, and is a Slayer who comes from a damaged background and often makes the wrong decision. Initially an ally to the main characters, events take a toll on Faith's sanity and she slips into a villainous role. Faith is the "road not taken", a Slayer who makes the wrong choices in life. She is intended to be a reflection of Buffy, and what Buffy could have become were it not for her support system of friends and family.

Despite their differences, Faith and Buffy share a similar power set as Slayers, and their fights often end in a stalemate. Faith's attempts to fit in with Buffy and her friends in the third season ultimately fail, and she betrays the Scooby Gang, allying herself with the villainous Mayor of Sunnydale. This leads to a confrontation between the two Slayers in the season finale, which leaves Faith alive but comatose.

In the fourth season, Faith seeks revenge on Buffy by switching their bodies and tries to kill her. However, after Faith is returned to her own body, she begins to feel remorse for her past actions and eventually turns herself in to the police. In the final season, Faith returns to Sunnydale and reconciles with Buffy, playing a significant role in the battle against the First Evil.

Faith's character development

Faith Lehane is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Faith is a Slayer, a girl endowed with supernatural abilities and destined to battle evil creatures such as vampires and demons.

Faith was introduced in the third season of Buffy as a foil to the protagonist, Buffy Summers. Faith has the same powers as Buffy, but comes from a traumatic and abusive background. She tries to fit in with Buffy and her friends but becomes increasingly isolated and bitter as the season progresses. A major turning point occurs when Faith accidentally kills Deputy Mayor Allan Finch, a human being whom she mistakes for a vampire. Feeling alienated, she betrays the Scooby Gang and allies herself with the villainous Mayor of Sunnydale, forming a sincere father-daughter relationship with him. After Faith tries to murder Buffy's vampire lover Angel under the mayor's orders, the two Slayers battle it out in the season finale, leaving Faith alive but comatose.

In the fourth season, Faith wakes up from her coma and seeks revenge on Buffy by switching their bodies using a mystical device. As Buffy is taken into custody for crimes she didn't commit, Faith discovers what it's like to be surrounded by loving friends and family, and Buffy starts to understand Faith despite being upset with her predicament. After feeling obliged to rescue a church full of people from vampires, Faith battles Buffy once again, expressing extreme self-hatred before being returned to her own body.

In Angel season one, Faith turns herself in to the police and goes to prison. In Angel season four, Angel is reverted to his evil alter ego Angelus, and Faith is approached by her former Watcher, who informs her of Angelus's presence. Wanting to help Angel as he once helped her, Faith breaks out of prison and injects herself with a mystical drug, allowing herself to be fed upon by Angelus so that their allies can work to restore his soul.

In the final season of Buffy, Faith returns to Sunnydale after being in prison for several years, having realised her wrongdoings and matured. For the first time, people choose her over Buffy when all the potential Slayers decide they want her to lead them. Although this decision proves disastrous, with Faith's plan leading them into a trap, she and the survivors are ultimately saved by Buffy, and the two Slayers finally make peace with one another.

Faith's biggest change to the show is in Buffy herself. Faith challenges Buffy's role as Slayer in a way no other character does, offering a different perspective on Slayer life to both the audience and Buffy. Although Buffy's life may have been easier without Faith, she grows a lot thanks to her.

Faith's impact on Buffy

Faith Lehane, a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, had a profound impact on the show and its protagonist, Buffy Summers. Here are some ways in which Faith influenced the series:

• Introduction of a complex foil for Buffy: Faith was created as a foil to Buffy, representing "the road not taken" and reflecting what Buffy could have become without her support system. This dynamic allowed the writers to explore the nature of power and the boundaries and consequences of its use. Faith challenged Buffy's role as a Slayer and made her question her leadership abilities, ultimately contributing to Buffy's character growth.
• Exploration of power dynamics and morality: Faith's character provided an opportunity to delve into the complexities of a Slayer's power and moral responsibilities. As Faith herself points out, both she and Buffy are killers, blurring the lines between good and evil. This exploration of power dynamics added depth to the series and offered a nuanced perspective on the Slayer's role.
• Expansion of the Buffyverse: Faith's addition to the show in Season 3 permanently changed the trajectory of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Her appearances in Seasons 3, 4, and 7, as well as the spin-off Angel, expanded the narrative beyond Buffy's perspective and offered insights into the lives of other Slayers.
• Introduction of new storylines and characters: Faith's presence in the series led to the introduction of new storylines, such as her alliance with the Mayor of Sunnydale and her complex relationships with Angel and the Scooby Gang. These storylines added depth to the show and provided opportunities for character development, particularly for Angel, who formed a unique bond with Faith.
• Exploration of redemption and atonement: Faith's journey from a villainous Slayer to a redeemed hero showcased the themes of redemption and atonement. With Angel's help, she confronted her past crimes and worked towards achieving redemption, demonstrating the power of second chances and personal growth.
• Impact on Buffy's personal life: Faith's actions had a significant impact on Buffy's personal life and relationships. From attempting to kill Angel to switching bodies with Buffy, Faith created chaos and conflict in Buffy's world. These events challenged Buffy's relationships with her friends, family, and romantic partners, forcing her to navigate complex emotions and make difficult choices.

Faith's redemption arc

Faith Lehane, a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series *Buffy the Vampire Slayer*, undergoes a compelling redemption arc across multiple seasons and episodes of the show and its spin-off, *Angel*.

Faith is a Slayer, a girl endowed with supernatural abilities and destined to battle evil creatures such as vampires and demons. She is introduced as a foil to the protagonist, Buffy Summers, and is a Slayer who comes from a damaged and abusive background, often making the wrong decisions. Faith's redemption arc can be divided into five parts:

Part One: The New Slayer

Faith arrives in Sunnydale in Season 3, Episode 1, "Faith, Hope & Trick," as the new Slayer, replacing Kendra, who was activated by Buffy's temporary death in Season 1. Faith has a traumatic past, including witnessing the murder of her Watcher by a vampire named Kakistos. Despite her difficult upbringing, she initially comes across as fun and energetic, and everyone except Buffy likes her. Buffy is jealous because Faith is a reminder of her own mortality, and she is also envious of Faith's free-spirited nature.

Part Two: The Villain

As the season progresses, Faith's mental state deteriorates due to various betrayals and her inability to fit in with Buffy and her friends, the "Scooby Gang." She spirals into a downward spiral, culminating in her killing a man in the episode "Bad Girls" and then trying to pin the blame on Buffy in the episode "Consequences." This marks a turning point for Faith, and she becomes the show's secondary villain, allying herself with the Mayor of Sunnydale, the primary antagonist of Season 3. She even tries to kill Buffy and goes after Angel, using magic to become his lover. However, her plans backfire, and she ends up in a coma after a fight with Buffy.

Part Three: The Lost Slayer

In the back half of Season 4, Faith wakes up from her coma and switches bodies with Buffy thanks to a gift from the Mayor. These episodes allow Faith and Buffy to literally see things from each other's perspective. Faith realizes that she hates herself and is disgusted by her actions. After seducing Riley, who tells her (thinking she is Buffy) that he loves her, Faith can't stand the lie and starts to understand Buffy's life and the love she has from her friends and family.

Part Four: The Prisoner

In the first episode of Angel's second season, "Judgment," we see Faith in prison, where she seems more at peace than ever before. She tells Angel that she has learned to control her violent impulses and is choosing to be better. However, when Angelus returns in Angel's fourth season, Faith breaks out of prison to help Angel, the only person who has never given up on her.

Part Five: The New (and Improved) Slayer

In the final season of *Buffy the Vampire Slayer*, Faith returns to Sunnydale to help in the fight against The First. Despite her history, Buffy lets Faith into the inner circle, recognizing that they have both struggled with their roles as Slayers and the isolation that comes with it. Faith's redemption is complete when she and Buffy finally make peace with each other, understanding each other's pain and jealousy.

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