Kendra Young
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 Bianca Lawson as Kendra Young |
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Kendra Young (born 1981, died 1998 in Sunnydale, California) is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon and introduced by Marti Noxon for the TV series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The character is portrayed by Bianca Lawson.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
[edit] Character history
Her parents gave her up for Slayer training at a very early age. Kendra Young did not know her own surname as she studied under her Watcher, Sam Zabuto. She is called when Buffy Summers dies at the hands of The Master in 1997; though Xander manages to revive her, Buffy's death nevertheless activates a second Slayer, causing two to exist for the first time in history. Kendra is fully versed in the Slayer Handbook and fighting techniques. She owns a trusty stake called Mr. Pointy. Her appearance is the first time the Watchers Council has been shown to identify potential Slayers ("What's My Line, Part One").
In her first year as the Slayer, Zabuto sends Kendra to Sunnydale after hearing a rumour that the vicious vampire Spike has come into possession of a du Lac Cross. Kendra sees Angel, a former associate of Spike's, kissing Buffy with his vampire face, and assumes that she too is a vampire — the first of many quick conclusions she will draw. Kendra imprisons Angel in a cage to kill him by sunrise and surprises Buffy as she wakes up from a night on Angel's bed. After physical contact, they learn that they are both Slayers (at the time, Spike and Drusilla had hired an organization of assassins to kill Buffy; it was thus intended to be a surprise when both Buffy and the viewer discover she is not an assassin). Rupert Giles tells them this is unprecedented. Kendra's social isolation and dedication to discipline and technique in pursuing her calling contrast sharply with Buffy's independence. Buffy believes, however, that her emotions and friendships make her a better Slayer.
Meanwhile, Angel is taken unconscious by Willy the Snitch and sold to Spike and Drusilla. Severely weakened by sunlight, he as Drusilla's sire is to be used to return her to health. The Scooby Gang arrive to free Angel, and Kendra returns to her home country with a keepsake from Buffy.
Kendra returns in 1998 when her Watcher informs her that Acathla will open its mouth and suck the world into hell. Zabuto gave Kendra a special sword, which Kendra passes on to Buffy after surprising her as she patrols. Kendra helps the Scooby Gang protect Willow Rosenberg while she performs the Ritual of Restoration. Drusilla and her vampire lackeys arrive in the library to stop the attempt to restore Angel's soul and after a brief fight, Drusilla hypnotizes Kendra and slits her throat ("Becoming, Part One"). At the very moment that Kendra loses her life, her successor Faith is called as a Slayer in Boston.
[edit] Powers and abilities
- Kendra is a Slayer and therefore has the powers and abilities of one. She has mastered the use of every sort of weapon reliant on muscle power, such as swords, knives and axes.
[edit] Romantic interests
- Xander Harris: Due to her calling and strict upbringing, Kendra had no experience with boys and was visibly flustered at the sight of Xander.
[edit] Appearances
Kendra has appeared in:
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- Kendra appears in three season-two episodes: "What's My Line, Part One", "What's My Line, Part Two", and "Becoming, Part One".
[edit] Expanded Universe
- The Book of Fours - Uncanon novel reveals that she is from Cane Town Plantation, Jamaica. The novel also shows a closer friendship between Buffy and Kendra and how deeply affected Buffy was by Kendra's death. Also, it reveals Kendra's past- including an encounter she and her Watcher had with a zombie-making wizard- and suggests her doom was inevitable; she was contaminated by a zombie strain during her fight with the zombie master, and would have become one if Drusilla hadn't killed her first.
- Ring of Fire - Graphic novel written by Doug Petrie, where Kendra returns to Sunnydale to help Buffy and the Scooby Gang stop a demon called Kellor who has been awakened by Angelus.
[edit] Notes and Trivia
- Actress Bianca Lawson who plays Kendra was initially considered to play Cordelia Chase, as was Sarah Michelle Geller (who was actually offered the part before being offered the title role of Buffy)
- Kendra was the last example of a deceased slayer passing on the title to a successor along the traditional slayer line route. Her successor; Faith; thereon carried the traditional slayer line, but after the activation of every potential slayer in the world, was never able to pass on the legacy via its traditional method.
- Kendra's last name (Young) was never used in the original series; in fact, she explicitly states in "What's My Line, Part Two" that she has none. However, the publishers of Tea and Crossbows: The Watcher Sourcebook, a supplement to a Buffyverse RPG, wanted to include the full names of all Slayers for authenticity. Accordingly, Joss Whedon agreed to devise surnames for Faith (Lehane) and Kendra. These names can therefore reasonably be considered Buffyverse canon.
