Faith's Warning: Robin's Woods Adventure

In the seventh and final season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Robin Wood is the principal of Sunnydale High School. He is a freelance demon fighter and a skilled vampire hunter, having been trained by his mother's former Watcher, Bernard Crowley. Robin's mother, Nikki Wood, was also a Slayer, and he seeks revenge for her murder at the hands of the vampire Spike.

Robin joins Buffy's fight against the First Evil, but is initially put off by her alliance with Spike. He conspires with Watcher Rupert Giles to kill Spike, but the plan fails, and Robin's life is spared. After Slayer Faith Lehane returns, Robin becomes interested in her, and the two become physically intimate.

Robin Wood's character is a freelance demon fighter and vampire hunter

Robin Wood is a recurring character on the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The character, present for most of the seventh and final season, is played by D. B. Woodside.

Robin is the first (and only) principal of the newly rebuilt Sunnydale High School when Buffy's sister Dawn Summers begins her sophomore year. At first, Buffy wonders if he may be evil, but nevertheless accepts a job offer from him. For much of the season, hints are dropped that Robin is aware of the mystical situation in Sunnydale — he finds and buries Jonathan Levinson's body, for example — but the viewer is left without any indication as to which side he fights for.

Robin is a freelance demon fighter and vampire hunter. He is shown to have a good sense of humour and communicates well with students. He is a vegetarian and claims to have once been suspended for threatening to attack another student who bullied him during high school. Robin's easygoing attitude and confidence are in sharp contrast to the nervous Principal Flutie and strict disciplinarian Principal Snyder, making him a well-liked educator among the students, alumni, and faculty members.

In the episode "First Date", it is revealed that Robin's mother, Nikki Wood, had been a Slayer in New York City, and that he is a "freelance" demon fighter. On a date with Buffy, Robin explains that his mother was killed by a vampire; he later learns that this vampire is Spike. He was raised and trained by Nikki's Watcher, not in New York but in Beverly Hills.

As retribution for his mother's murder, Robin conspires with Giles to distract Buffy and kill Spike. However, the plan fails and Buffy realises what has gone on, temporarily alienating Robin from the group. After Faith's return, Robin returns to the fold and becomes interested in Faith; the two become physically intimate in the episode "Touched". Prior to the final battle in the episode "Chosen", Robin expresses concern that Faith views men as mere sex objects, and pledges to surprise her if they survive.

Robin did not inherit any powers from his mother. However, he was trained in martial arts and various vampire-killing tactics by his mother's former Watcher. He was also trained to have exceptional strength, reflexes, and endurance, rarely being overpowered by vampires despite their superhuman strength.

Robin is the principal of Sunnydale High School

Robin is a recurring character in the seventh and final season of the show. He is played by D.B. Woodside. Robin is the son of a Slayer, Nikki Wood, who was killed by Spike in 1977. Robin was raised by his mother's Watcher, Bernard Crowley, and trained in martial arts and vampire-killing tactics. He seeks revenge for his mother's death and conspires with Rupert Giles to kill Spike. However, the plan fails, and Robin's life is spared.

Robin is initially suspicious of Buffy, believing her to be evil. He later joins her fight against the First Evil, although he is put off by her alliance with Spike. Robin becomes interested in Faith and they become physically intimate. He expresses concern that Faith views men as mere sex objects and pledges to surprise her by surviving the final battle, which he does.

Robin is unique among the principals of Sunnydale High School in that he is the only one to have survived.

Robin's mother, Nikki Wood, was a Slayer

Robin's mother, Nikki Wood, was indeed a Slayer. She was based in New York City during the 1970s and was notable for being one of the few Slayers known to have been a mother. Nikki was born in 1955 and called to be a Slayer in 1970. She was trained by the Watcher Crowley, who also raised her son Robin after Nikki's death.

Nikki was killed in 1977 by the vampire Spike, who took her leather jacket and wore it for the next 26 years. Nikki's final showdown with Spike took place inside a New York City subway train. She begged to be able to return home to her son, but Spike strangled her and broke her neck.

Robin did not inherit any Slayer powers from his mother, but he was trained in martial arts and vampire-killing tactics by Crowley. In 2003, Robin moved to Sunnydale and teamed up with Buffy and Spike, eventually learning that Spike was his mother's killer. Robin attempted to get revenge on Spike but was defeated, and Buffy warned him that she would let Spike kill him if he tried again.

Some fans have questioned how Nikki could have been a mother and a Slayer at the same time, arguing that Slayers are always busy fighting monsters and have no breaks or maternity leave. However, others have pointed out that Nikki had the support of her Watcher, who helped her balance her duties as a Slayer and a mother.

Robin conspires with Rupert Giles to kill Spike

Robin Wood, the principal of Sunnydale High School, conspires with Rupert Giles to kill Spike as retribution for the murder of Robin's mother, Nikki Wood, who was also a slayer. Robin's mother was killed by Spike in 1977, and Robin, who was only four years old at the time, was subsequently raised by his mother's Watcher, Bernard Crowley. Trained by Crowley in all forms of slayer combat, Robin became an independent vampire hunter, swearing to find the vampire that killed his mother and get his revenge.

Robin learns that Spike is the vampire responsible for his mother's death and conspires with Giles to kill him. They plan to distract Buffy and lure Spike into Robin's garage, where Robin will play an old folk song that the First Evil used as a trigger to enable a feral state in Spike, allowing Robin to kill him. However, their plan fails, and Spike, freed from the First Evil's influence, turns the tables on Robin. Although Spike spares Robin's life out of respect for Nikki, Buffy warns Robin that she will allow Spike to kill him if he tries anything like that again. Robin ultimately ends his vendetta against Spike and fires Buffy so that she can focus on the mission, telling her that "the mission is what matters," something his mother often said to him as a child.

Robin and Faith's relationship ends

The relationship between Robin and Faith is a contentious topic among fans of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". Some fans argue that the pairing is unnecessary and takes away screen time from more important characters and relationships. Others appreciate the chemistry between the characters and the exploration of their respective mommy and daddy issues.

Despite their relationship ending, Robin and Faith's story appears to have a somewhat happy ending. In an interview, actor D.B. Woodside, who portrayed Robin, revealed that Joss Whedon, the creator of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", had initially been unsure whether Robin would live or die in the series finale. Ultimately, Whedon decided to let Robin live, and Woodside expressed his happiness that his character was "still out there somewhere kicking ass".

In the comics that continued the story after the show ended, it is revealed that Robin and Faith did pursue a relationship together. However, their relationship was not meant to last, as Faith referred to Robin as her "ex" in "No Future for You, Part One". Despite their romantic relationship ending, Robin and Faith continued to work together as allies in the fight against evil.

Frequently asked questions