Robin Wood (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Robin Wood
Buffy the Vampire Slayer character
First appearance	"Lessons" (2002)
Created by	Joss Whedon
Portrayed by	D. B. Woodside
Information
Affiliation	Scooby Gang, Sunnydale High Administration
Classification	Principal of Sunnydale High School, vampire hunter

Robin M. Wood is a recurring character on the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The character, present for most of Season Seven, is played by D. B. Woodside.

Biography

Robin is the first (and only) principal of the newly rebuilt Sunnydale High School when 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. Buffy is surprised at his youth. He is shown to have a good sense of humor 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 popular educator among the students and alums. However, in one episode, "Him," a troubled student, RJ Brooks, develops a resentment towards Robin, leading Buffy's (who was under Brooks' family's love spell at the time) attempt to kill him with her rocket launcher at one point until he is saved by Xander Harris, Willow Rosenberg and Spike.

In the episode "First Date," it is revealed that Robin's mother, Nikki Wood (who was first seen in the episode "Fool for Love"), 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, from the First Evil, that this vampire is Spike. He was raised and trained by Nikki's Watcher, not in New York but in Beverly Hills (according to the episode "Help").

As retribution for his mother's murder, Robin conspires with Giles to distract Buffy and kill Spike. However, the plan fails and Buffy realizes 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", though it appears to be a one-night stand. 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.

Post-Sunnydale

Robin appears in "No Future for You", the second arc of the canonical comic book series Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight. Like Andrew, Robin is in charge of a squad of slayers, and is shown to be working at the Hellmouth in Cleveland. In his one-panel appearance he calls Faith to tell her of a family that was recently attacked by vamps. Faith refers to him as "the ex" implying the couple has ended their relationship since "Chosen".^[1]

Powers

Robin did not inherit any powers from his mother. He was however trained in the martial arts and various vampire killing tactics by his mother's former Watcher.

Appearances

Canonical appearances

Robin appeared in 14 canon Buffyverse episodes

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

• Season 7: "Lessons", "Beneath You", "Help", "Him", "Never Leave Me", "Bring on the Night", "First Date", "Get It Done", "Storyteller", "Lies My Parents Told Me", "Dirty Girls", "Empty Places", "Touched", "Chosen"

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight

• "No Future for You, Part 1"

References