28 Years Ago, Buffy Introduced a New Character That Changed Everything (and Set Up One of the Best Season 3 Arcs)

by

Twenty-eight years ago, Buffy the Vampire Slayer began to challenge its own established rules about Slayers. The show famously introduced the idea that “In every generation, there is a Chosen One… the Slayer.” While Buffy Summers didn’t ask to be the Slayer, it was her fate to fight vampires and demons, standing apart from the normal world she was sworn to protect.

Buffy was a unique Slayer. Unlike those before her, she didn’t want to face her destiny alone. Despite the huge responsibility she carried, Buffy was determined to share that burden with a group of friends – a close-knit ‘found family’ that expanded over time, including unexpected allies. Even with all of this, her Watcher, Giles, never anticipated the biggest surprise of all.

28 Years Ago Today, Buffy The Vamprie Slayer Broke Its Own Rules

Bianca Lawson first appeared as Kendra Young in the Season 2 episode “What’s My Line (Part One).” Her arrival was a shock to both Buffy and Giles, as it defied everything they knew about the Slayer. For the first time, there were two active Slayers, meaning Buffy wasn’t alone anymore. This upset the magical rules governing the Slayer line, and both Buffy and Kendra found it difficult to work together.

Kendra became a Slayer because Buffy briefly died at the end of Season 1. When Buffy died, it automatically activated the next Slayer in line, but Xander was able to bring Buffy back to life with CPR. Although Buffy was only gone for a few moments, it was enough to trigger the activation. Interestingly, this appears to be the first time a Slayer was ever saved from death, suggesting that no other Slayer had a supportive group of friends like Buffy’s ‘Scooby Gang’ to help her.

Kendra’s Legacy Changed The Slayers Forever

Kendra knew from the start she was being trained to become a Slayer, unlike Buffy who was surprised by her calling. Sadly, Kendra only lived for under a year before Drusilla killed her, and Buffy was initially suspected. This event really showed that the Watcher Council’s methods with Slayers might be flawed. While traditionally trained Slayers are destined for early deaths, Buffy—who forged her own path and created a supportive family—is the one who thrives, develops, and ultimately becomes incredibly powerful.

Kendra’s death also had a significant impact on the show’s storyline. Season 3 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer introduced a new Slayer, Faith Lehane, played by Eliza Dushku, who was activated after Kendra died. While Kendra represented the traditional idea of what a Slayer should be, Faith acted as a foil to Buffy, almost like her opposite. She showed the darker side of Buffy’s own personality – a longing for a normal life mixed with a dangerous attraction to power. In many ways, Faith was everything Buffy didn’t want to be – a twisted reflection of the Slayer she aspired to be.

Kendra and Faith were crucial to the success of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Even after only two seasons, the show was boldly challenging its own established rules. Traditionally, Slayers are meant to fight alone, but Buffy introduced Kendra and Faith to create a world with multiple Slayers, highlighting what made Buffy special. Unlike Kendra, who embodied the typical Slayer, Buffy’s strength came from her relationships and the love of her friends. And unlike Faith, who was tempted by power, Buffy chose to prioritize responsibility.

Kendra and Faith Foreshadow how Buffy Would End

As a huge Buffy fan, I always thought the introduction of Kendra and Faith was more than just adding cool villains. Looking back, they really hinted at the massive change coming in Season 7. Buffy’s decision to break the ancient rules and share her power was so powerful! She basically said, ‘For centuries, they told us only one Slayer could exist, but that was just a rule made by some guys a long time ago… let’s change it!’ And she did! Willow helped her activate every potential Slayer around the globe. It was amazing to see the show completely rewrite its own mythology and empower so many women to become fighters.

For a long time, being the Slayer was a lonely job, with Buffy Summers always standing apart. The introduction of Kendra in Buffy the Vampire Slayer hinted at a shift – a time when the established rules would change, and Buffy wouldn’t have to face everything alone. This was a brilliant move, completely flipping the script on everything the show had previously established about the life of a Slayer. Now, it remains to be seen how the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot will address this legacy.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/buffy-the-vampire-slayers-reboot-can-easily-bring-back-1-dead-character-to-fix-a-22-year-old-mistake/embed/#

Read More

2025-11-17 19:45