Buffy's Faith: A Journey Of Betrayal And Loss

Faith Lehane, the rogue Slayer in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, was a tragic antagonist to Buffy. She was called in 1998 and was the last Slayer to be called by the original succession line abolished in 2003. Faith was a foil to Buffy, wearing her Slayer mantle much differently, choosing to think of their status and privilege as something that set them apart from everyone else. She also possessed a more aggressive nature and seemed to enjoy hunting and killing on patrols, where Buffy deemed it a necessary evil.

Faith's story continued after the TV show's seventh season, moving into Dark Horse's comic book adaptations. After the series finale, Faith kept her connection with Robin Wood, the son of a Slayer, open when he travelled to Cleveland to lead a group of Slayers there. She also took on the occasional job to help Robin or Giles, who contracted her as an assassin to kill another rogue Slayer who was a potential threat to Buffy.

Faith's friendship with the rogue Slayer, Gigi, ended up getting her in hot water with Buffy and Giles, who were convinced that she was starting another backslide toward her old ways. After Gigi's death, she considered hanging up her stake for good, as she had earned her passport from Giles and a ticket for a free life. However, Faith was drawn back to being a Slayer with the new goal of helping other Slayers who were straying from the path.

Faith is a foil to Buffy's character

Faith Lehane, the "rogue" Slayer in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, is a foil to Buffy's character. She is Buffy's polar opposite, a mirror image of what Buffy would have been like if she had lived a different life. Faith is impulsive, aggressive, and irresponsible, while Buffy is more serious and tense. Faith is also shown to be flirtatious, promiscuous, and irresponsible with alcohol, in contrast to Buffy's more reserved nature.

Faith's backstory is also markedly different from Buffy's. Faith was born in South Boston, Massachusetts, and had a difficult upbringing that left her with trust and emotional issues. She was raised by abusive and neglectful parents, while Buffy grew up in a loving home surrounded by caring friends and family. Faith's first Watcher was killed by the vampire Kakistos, and she retreated to Sunnydale, where she became an ally of Buffy and the Scooby Gang.

Despite their differences, Faith and Buffy shared certain similarities. Both were Slayers with the same powers and duties, and both had a yearning for a family and a deep-seated desire for a father figure. Ultimately, Faith's character served as a foil to Buffy's, highlighting the complexities and nuances of their respective personalities and backgrounds.

Faith's story continues in the Dark Horse comics

Faith's connection with Robin Wood, the son of a Slayer, is kept open when he travels to Cleveland to lead a group of Slayers there. She also maintains her friendship with Angel, who helps her through her guilt and self-hatred, similar to his own brooding nature. Ultimately, Faith ends up with the remaining members of the Scooby Gang in San Francisco and becomes part of a supernatural police division with Buffy.

Faith's love of being a Slayer fades over the years, and she takes on the occasional job to help Robin or Giles, who contracts her as an assassin to kill another rogue Slayer who was a potential threat to Buffy. After Angel kills Giles, Faith takes Angel's side and decides to help him through his guilt and pain as he had once done for her. She then settles down in London, taking a group of Slayers under her wing and caring for Angel as he succumbs to guilt.

Through her friendship with Angel, Faith finds a new sense of purpose and maturity. It becomes her goal to keep Slayers not only together, banded together and strong, but help them realize their purpose and keep them from making her old mistakes. Faith has always possessed a great deal of guilt and self-hatred, and it is now her mission to help other Slayers who are straying from the path.

Faith's friendship with Robin Wood

Faith and Robin Wood's friendship began with a brief sexual tryst after the final battle at the Hellmouth. Robin, the son of a Slayer, led a squad of new Slayers in Cleveland, and Faith remained in touch with him, calling on him to perform slayings that would be considered disturbing.

Faith was a "rogue" Slayer, and her friendship with Robin was tested when she was tasked with assassinating a rogue Slayer named Lady Genevieve Savidge, who was killing other Slayers and could potentially bring about the apocalypse. Faith befriended Savidge under the disguise of British aristocrat Hope Lyonne, but their friendship ended when Savidge discovered Faith's true identity. Savidge attacked Faith, but she accidentally killed her.

Despite this, Faith continued her work as a Slayer, and she and Robin remained friends. Faith eventually joined Robin in Cleveland, where she helped him lead a group of Slayers.

Faith's relationship with Angel

Faith Lehane, a Slayer, was introduced in the third season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She was a focus of that season's overarching plot and returned for shorter story arcs on Buffy and its spin-off, Angel.

After Angel is re-ensouled, Faith returns to Sunnydale to help Buffy and her allies battle the First Evil. She eventually reconciles with Buffy, and their relationship improves. In the final season of Buffy, Faith and Angel fight together in the ruins of Sunnydale.

In the comic book series Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight, Faith and Angel are captured by the masked Twilight leader, who is revealed to be Angel. Angel snaps Giles' neck to prevent the destruction of his power source, and Faith is left to care for a distraught Angel, intending to rehabilitate him.

In the spin-off comic Angel & Faith, Faith and Angel are residents in Giles' London home, and Angel covertly pursues a plan to resurrect Giles. Faith takes on the role of mentor to a group of Slayers, but her relationships with them are strained by her friendship with Angel. Ultimately, the group successfully resurrects Giles and averts the apocalypse. The story ends with Faith deciding to take some time alone to find herself.

Faith's self-hatred and guilt

Despite her redemption arc and attempts to atone for her past deeds, Faith continued to carry a significant degree of self-loathing and guilt. She believed that she deserved every bad thing that had happened to her and struggled with feelings of unworthiness. However, with the help of Angel, she eventually came to terms with her past and worked through her guilt and self-hatred.

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