Faith

2010-08-20T23:56:08Z

TheSaint:

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{{Infobox character
| name = Faith
| series = Buffy the Vampire Slayer
| image = [[File:btvs-faith3.jpg|199px]]
| caption = [[Eliza Dushku]] as '''Faith'''.
| first = "[[Faith, Hope & Trick]]"
| creator = [[Joss Whedon]], [[David Greenwalt]]
| portrayer = [[Eliza Dushku]]
| lbl21 = Affiliation
| data21 = [[Scooby Gang (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Scooby Gang]] [[Watchers' Council]] [[Wolfram & Hart]] [[Mayor (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Mayor Wilkins]]
| lbl22 = Classification
| data22 = [[Slayer (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Slayer]]
| lbl23 = Notable powers
| data23 = [[Superhuman strength|Supernatural strength]], [[stamina]], [[Sport agility|agility]], and [[reflex]]es [[healing factor|Rapid healing]] [[Prophecy|Prophetic dreams]]
}}

'''Faith'''  is a [[fictional character]] created by [[Joss Whedon]] for the [[television series]] ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series)|Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]''. Played by actress [[Eliza Dushku]], Faith was introduced in the third season of ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' and was a focus of that season's overarching plot. She returned for shorter [[story arc]]s on ''Buffy'' and its [[Spin-off (media)|spin-off]], ''[[Angel (TV series)|Angel]]''. The character's story is continued in the [[comic book]] series ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight]]'', and she also appears in [[apocrypha (fiction)|apocryphal]] material such as other comic books and [[novel]]s. Faith was set to receive her own spin-off television series after the final season of ''Buffy'', but Eliza Dushku declined the offer, and the series was never made. Seven years after the character's creation, Whedon granted her the surname '''Lehane''' for a [[role-playing game]] and subsequent material.

Faith is a [[Slayer (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Slayer]]: a girl endowed with supernatural abilities and destined to battle evil creatures such as [[Vampire (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|vampires]] and [[Demon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|demons]]. Created as a [[foil (literature)|foil]] to the [[protagonist]], [[Buffy Summers]], she is a Slayer who comes from a damaged background and often makes the wrong decision. Initially an ally to the main characters, events take a toll on Faith's sanity and she slips into a villainous role. Later storylines show her feeling remorse for her past crimes, and with [[Angel (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Angel's]] help she eventually rejoins the side of good in the hopes of achieving redemption.

==Appearances==
===Television===

In ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' season three, Faith arrives in [[Sunnydale]],<ref name=FHT>{{cite episode|title=Faith, Hope & Trick|episodelink=Faith, Hope & Trick|series=Buffy the Vampire Slayer|serieslink=Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series)|credits=[[Joss Whedon]], [[David Greenwalt]], [[James A. Contner]]|network=[[The WB Television Network|WB]]|airdate= 1998-10-13|season=3|number=3}}</ref> having been activated as the Slayer by [[Kendra (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Kendra's]] ([[Bianca Lawson]]) death in the episode "[[Becoming, Part One]]".<ref name=Becoming1>{{cite episode|title=Becoming, Part One|episodelink=Becoming, Part One|series=Buffy the Vampire Slayer|serieslink=Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series)|credits=[[Joss Whedon]]|network=[[The WB Television Network|WB]]|airdate=1998-05-12|season=2|number=21}}</ref> Coming from a [[psychological trauma|traumatic]] and [[child abuse|abusive]] background, Faith tries to fit in with Buffy ([[Sarah Michelle Gellar]]) and her friends, but becomes increasingly isolated and bitter as the season progresses.<ref name=Revelations>{{cite episode|title=Revelations|episodelink=Revelations (Buffy episode)|series=Buffy the Vampire Slayer|serieslink=Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series)|credits=[[Joss Whedon]], [[Douglas Petrie]], [[James A. Contner]]|network=[[The WB Television Network|WB]]|airdate= 1998-11-17|season=3|number=7}}</ref> A major turning point for the character occurs in the mid-season episode "[[Bad Girls (Buffy episode)|Bad Girls]]"; while trying to show Buffy the fun side of slaying, Faith accidentally kills [[Minor characters of Buffy the Vampire Slayer#Deputy Mayor Allan Finch|Deputy Mayor Allan Finch]] ([[Jack Plotnick]]), a human being whom she mistakes for a vampire.<ref name=BadGirls>{{cite episode|title=Bad Girls|episodelink=Bad Girls (Buffy episode)|series=Buffy the Vampire Slayer|serieslink=Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series)|credits=[[Joss Whedon]], [[Douglas Petrie]], [[Michael Lange]]|network=[[The WB Television Network|WB]]|airdate= 1999-02-09|season=3|number=14}}</ref> Feeling more alienated than ever, she betrays the [[Scooby Gang (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Scooby Gang]] and allies herself with the villainous [[Richard Wilkins (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Mayor of Sunnydale]] ([[Harry Groener]]),<ref name=Consequences>{{cite episode|title=Consequences|episodelink=Consequences (Buffy episode)|series=Buffy the Vampire Slayer|serieslink=Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series)|credits=[[Joss Whedon]], [[Marti Noxon]], [[Michael Gershman (director)]]|network=[[The WB Television Network|WB]]|airdate= 1999-02-16|season=3|number=15}}</ref> eventually forming a sincere father-daughter relationship with him. After Faith tries to murder Buffy's vampire lover [[Angel (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Angel]] ([[David Boreanaz]]) under the Mayor's orders, the two Slayers finally battle it out in the season finale, a confrontation which leaves Faith alive but [[coma]]tose.<ref name=Graduation1>{{cite episode|title=Graduation Day, Part One|episodelink=Graduation Day, Part One|series=Buffy the Vampire Slayer|serieslink=Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series)|credits=[[Joss Whedon]]|network=[[The WB Television Network|WB]]|airdate= 1999-05-18|season=3|number=21}}</ref>

Faith returns to ''Buffy'' for two episodes in the fourth season. Waking up from her coma, she seeks revenge on Buffy by [[body swap|switching their bodies]] using a mystical device left to her by the now-deceased Mayor.<ref name=ThisYearsGirl>{{cite episode|title=This Year's Girl|episodelink=This Year's Girl|series=Buffy the Vampire Slayer|serieslink=Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series)|credits=[[Joss Whedon]], [[Doug Petrie]], [[Michael Gershman (director)]]|network=[[The WB Television Network|WB]]|airdate=2000-02-22|season=4|number=15}}</ref> As Buffy is taken into custody by the [[Watcher (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)#Watchers' Council|Watchers' Council]] for crimes she did not commit, Faith discovers for the first time what it is like to be surrounded by loving friends and family. After feeling obligated to rescue a church full of people from vampires, Faith battles Buffy once again, expressing extreme self-hatred before being returned to her own body.<ref name=WhoAreYou>{{cite episode|title=Who Are You|episodelink=Who Are You (Buffy episode)|series=Buffy the Vampire Slayer|serieslink=Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series)|credits=[[Joss Whedon]]|network=[[The WB Television Network|WB]]|airdate=2000-02-29|season=4|number=16}}</ref> The storyline is continued in the first season of spin-off series ''Angel'', as Faith escapes to Los Angeles and is hired by [[Wolfram & Hart]] to assassinate Angel.<ref name=5x5>{{cite episode|title=Five by Five|episodelink=Five by Five (Angel episode)|series=Angel|serieslink=Angel (TV series)|credits=[[Joss Whedon]], [[Jim Kouf]], [[James A. Contner]]|network=[[The WB Television Network|WB]]|airdate=2000-04-25|season=1|number=18}}</ref> Instead, she plots an intricate plan to have Angel kill her, but Angel convinces her to face the consequences of her actions, and helps her on the path to redemption. Faith hands herself over to the police and she is sentenced to a women's prison, where Angel later visits her.<ref name=Sanctuary>{{cite episode|title=Sanctuary|episodelink=Sanctuary (Angel episode)|series=Angel|serieslink=Angel (TV series)|credits=[[Joss Whedon]], [[Tim Minear]], Michael Lange|network=[[The WB Television Network|WB]]|airdate=2000-05-02|season=1|number=19}}</ref>

In ''Angel'' season four, Angel is reverted to the evil Angelus after having his soul removed.<ref name=Awakening>{{cite episode|title=Awakening|episodelink=Awakening (Angel episode)|series=Angel|serieslink=Angel (TV series)|credits=[[Joss Whedon]], [[David Fury]], [[Steven S. DeKnight]], [[James A. Contner]]|network=[[The WB Television Network|WB]]|airdate=2003-01-29|season=4|number=10}}</ref> Faith is approached by her former [[Watcher (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Watcher]], [[Wesley Wyndam-Pryce]] ([[Alexis Denisof]]), who informs her of Angelus's presence, sparking her to break out of prison and help them.<ref name=Salvage>{{cite episode|title=Salvage|episodelink=Salvage (Angel episode)|series=Angel|serieslink=Angel (TV series)|credits=[[Joss Whedon]], [[David Fury]], Jefferson Kibbee|network=[[The WB Television Network|WB]]|airdate=2003-03-05|season=4|number=13}}</ref> Wanting to help Angel the way he helped her, Faith injects herself with a mystical drug and feeds herself to Angelus in order to incapacitate him.<ref name=Release>{{cite episode|title=Release|episodelink=Release (Angel episode)|series=Angel|serieslink=Angel (TV series)|credits=[[Joss Whedon]], Sarah Fain, [[Elizabeth Craft]], [[Steven S. De Knight]]|network=[[The WB Television Network|WB]]|airdate=2003-03-12|season=4|number=14}}</ref> She nearly dies from the drug, but during a psychic mind walk, Angel persuades her subconscious not to give up and that life is worth living.<ref name=Orpheus>{{cite episode|title=Orpheus|episodelink=Orpheus (Angel episode)|series=Angel|serieslink=Angel (TV series)|credits=[[Joss Whedon]], [[Mere Smith]], [[Terrence O'Hara]]|network=[[The WB Television Network|WB]]|airdate=2003-03-19|season=4|number=15}}</ref>

[[File:nofuturecover01.jpg|thumb|left|The character of Faith is expanded upon in media outside of the television series, such as the ''Buffy Season Eight'' comic book.|upright]]
Afterwards, a recovered Faith travels back to Sunnydale, where she plays a significant role in the battle against the [[First Evil]] in the final season of ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer''. In these episodes, she reconciles with her fellow Slayer,<ref name=DirtyGirls>{{cite episode |title=Dirty Girls|episodelink=Dirty Girls|series=Buffy the Vampire Slayer|serieslink=Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series)|credits=[[Joss Whedon]], [[Drew Goddard]], [[Michael Gershman (director)|]] |network=[[UPN]]|airdate=2003-04-15|season=7|number=18}}</ref> although their relationship is tested when the [[Slayer (Buffyverse)#The Slayer line|Potential Slayers]] appoint Faith as their leader over Buffy.<ref name=EmptyPlaces>{{cite episode|title=Empty Places|episodelink=Empty Places|series=Buffy the Vampire Slayer|serieslink=Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series)|credits=[[Joss Whedon]], [[Drew Z. Greenberg]], [[James A. Contner]]|network=[[UPN]]|airdate=2003-04-29|season=7|number=19}}</ref> This decision later proves disastrous when Faith's plan leads them into a trap, leaving several girls dead. She and the survivors are saved by Buffy, and the two finally make peace with one another.<ref name=Touched>{{cite episode|title=Touched|episodelink=Touched (Buffy episode)|series=Buffy the Vampire Slayer|serieslink=Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series)|credits=[[Joss Whedon]], [[Rebecca Rand Kirshner]], [[David Solomon (producer)|David Solomon]]|network=[[UPN]]|airdate=2003-05-06|season=7|number=20}}</ref><ref name=EndofDays>{{cite episode|title=End of Days|episodelink=End of Days (Buffy episode)|series=Buffy the Vampire Slayer|serieslink=Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series)|credits=[[Joss Whedon]], [[Jane Espenson]], [[Doug Petrie]], [[Marita Grabiak]]|network=[[UPN]]|airdate=2003-05-13|season=21|number=19}}</ref> After a [[one-night-stand]] together,<ref name=Touched/> Faith begins a romantic relationship with school principal [[Robin Wood (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Robin Wood]] ([[D.B. Woodside]]) when they both survive the battle in the series finale.<ref name=Chosen>{{cite episode|title=Chosen|episodelink=Chosen (Buffy episode)|series= Buffy the Vampire Slayer| serieslink=Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series)|credits=[[Joss Whedon]]|network=[[UPN]]|airdate=2003-05-20|season=7|number=22}}</ref> Faith was set to receive [[Undeveloped Buffyverse productions#Faith the Vampire Slayer|her own spin-off]] following the end of ''Buffy'', which, according to Tim Minear, would have featured Faith "probably on a motorcycle, crossing the Earth, trying to find her place in the world." However, Eliza Dushku had other commitments so the series never materialized.<ref>[[Femme Fatales (magazine)|''Femme Fatales'']], May/June 2003. (details archived online [http://spoiledrotten.tvheaven.com/buffy.html here]. The information from this interview is also reviewed [http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/news/buffy/2003/04/14/3812.shtml by the BBC], and [http://whedonesque.com/comments/1131 by Whedonesquers])</ref>

===Literature===
Faith makes appearances in various ''Buffy'' and ''Angel'' [[List of Buffyverse comics|comic books]] and [[List of Buffyverse novels|novels]]. In the ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' comic book story "[[Haunted (Buffy comic)|Haunted]]", an imprisoned Faith reveals to Angel her memories of being in a coma between ''Buffy'' seasons three and four; she shared a psychic link with the Mayor's spirit and could see him attacking people through his eyes.<ref name=Haunted>{{cite book|last=Espenson|first=Jane|authorlink=Jane Espenson|coauthors=[[Julio Ferreira]] and [[Jeromy Cox]]|title=Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Haunted|publisher=Titan Books Ltd|year=2002|location=[[London]]|isbn=1840235152}}</ref> "[[Note from the Underground (Buffy comic)|Note from the Underground]]" sees Faith being temporarily released from jail into Angel's custody, in order to help Buffy defeat the demonic [[fascist]]s, the Scourge.<ref name=Note>{{cite book|last=Lobdell|first=Scott|authorlink=Scott Lobdell|title=Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Note from the Underground|publisher=Dark Horse Comics|year=2003|location=[[Milwaukie, Oregon|Milwaukie, OR]]|isbn=1569718881}}</ref> ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Faith Trials, Vol. 1'' is a [[novelization]] of ''Buffy'' season three episodes which center around Faith, including "[[Faith, Hope & Trick]]", "[[Bad Girls (Buffy episode)|Bad Girls]]", and "[[Consequences (Buffy episode)|Consequences]]". These episodes focus specifically on Faith's arrival in Sunnydale, and her subsequent turn to the dark side following the death of the Deputy Mayor.<ref name=Trials>{{cite book|last=Laurence|first=James|authorlink=James Laurence|title=Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Faith Trials, Vol. 1|publisher=Pocket Books|year=2001|location=[[New York]]|isbn=0743400445}}</ref> Faith appeared prominently in her own 2006 novel ''[[Go Ask Malice|Go Ask Malice: A Slayer's Diary]]'' by [[Robert Joseph Levy]], which elaborates on Faith's back-story in [[South Boston, Boston, Massachusetts|South Boston]] and how she came to be the Slayer. Written in [[Personal journal|diary]] format, it fleshes out many areas of Faith's past which were only alluded to in the show, such as her alcoholic mother's abuse, her previous relationships, and her first Watcher's gruesome death at the hands of the vampire [[Kakistos]].<ref name=Malice>{{cite book|last=Levy|first=Robert Jospeph|authorlink=Robert Joseph Levy|title=Go Ask Malice: A Slayer's Diary|publisher=Pocket Books|year=2006|location=[[London]]|isbn=1416526358}}</ref> Author Robert Joseph Levy describes writing the book, "I wanted to explore the choices she made and the choices that were taken away from her, and how they affected her mental state and her development from Potential to Chosen before she arrived."<ref name=LevyInterview>{{cite journal|last=DiLullo|first=Tara|authorlink=Tara DiLullo|year=2006|month=August|title=A Town Called Malice|journal=[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Magazine incorporating Angel Magazine]]|issue=87|pages=12–13}}</ref> Expanded Universe material such as this is not usually considered [[Buffyverse canon|canonical]] unless otherwise stated.<ref name=Canon1>{{cite news|author=Devin Faraci|url=http://www.chud.com/index.php?type=interviews&id=4434|title=EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: JOSS WHEDON - PART 2|publisher=Chud|date=2005-09-22|accessdate=2007-11-28}}</ref><ref name=Canon2>{{cite news|author=Ileane Rudolph|url=http://www.tvguide.com/News-Views/Interviews-Features/Article/default.aspx?posting={0C084F89-5673-43B9-9FFC-022578DAA927}|title=''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' Is Back: The Complete Joss Whedon Q&A|publisher=TV Guide|date=2001-12-07|accessdate=2007-11-28}}</ref>

Faith is featured in the ongoing comic book, ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight]]'', which serves as a canonical continuation of the television series. In the storyline "[[No Future For You]]", Faith goes undercover on a mission from Giles to assassinate rogue Slayer Genevieve "Gigi" Savidge,<ref name=BS8#6>{{comic book reference|writer=[[Brian K. Vaughan]]|penciller=[[Georges Jeanty]]|inker=[[Andy Owen]]|story=[[No Future For You]]|title=[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight]]|issue=6|date=September, 2007|publisher=[[Dark Horse Comics]]}}</ref> who plans to usurp Buffy's position as leader to the Slayers.<ref name=BS8#7>{{comic book reference|writer=[[Brian K. Vaughan]]|penciller=[[Georges Jeanty]]|inker=[[Andy Owen]]|story=[[No Future For You]]|title=[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight]]|issue=7|date=October, 2007|publisher=[[Dark Horse Comics]]}}</ref> Instead, Faith forms an unexpected connection with Gigi and finds herself torn between her new friend and her old enemy.<ref name=BS8#8>{{comic book reference|writer=[[Brian K. Vaughan]]|penciller=[[Georges Jeanty]]|inker=[[Andy Owen]]|story=[[No Future For You]]|title=[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight]]|issue=8|date=November, 2007|publisher=[[Dark Horse Comics]]}}</ref> When Gigi discovers her true identity, Faith unintentionally kills her in battle, and the arc ends with Faith finding a new purpose alongside Giles, helping slayers so they won't go down the path she and Gigi did.<ref name=BS8#9>{{comic book reference|writer=[[Brian K. Vaughan]]|penciller=[[Georges Jeanty]]|inker=[[Andy Owen]]|story=[[No Future For You]]|title=[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight]]|issue=9|date=December, 2007|publisher=[[Dark Horse Comics]]}}</ref> Faith and Giles later reappear over a year later in "[[Predators and Prey|Safe]]", which recounts one of their missions in Germany.<ref name=BS8#24>{{comic book reference|writer=[[Jim Krueger]]|penciller=[[Cliff Richards]]|inker=[[Andy Owen]]|story=[[Predators and Prey|Predators and Prey, Part IV (Safe)]]|title=[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight]]|issue=24|date=April, 2009|publisher=[[Dark Horse Comics]]}}</ref> Faith reconvenes with Buffy to face the threats of the villain Twilight in "[[Retreat (Buffy comic)|Retreat]]",<ref name=BS8#26>{{comic book reference|writer=[[Jane Espenson]]|penciller=[[Georges Jeanty]]|inker=[[Andy Owen]]|story=[[Retreat (Buffy comic)||Retreat, Part I]]|title=[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight]]|issue=26|date=July, 2009|publisher=[[Dark Horse Comics]]}}</ref> and is captured alongside Giles and Andrew by Twilight.<ref name=BS8#31>{{comic book reference|writer=[[Joss Whedon]]|penciller=[[Georges Jeanty]]|inker=[[Andy Owen]]|story=Turbulence|title=[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight]]|issue=26|date=January, 2010|publisher=[[Dark Horse Comics]]}}</ref> As such, she is witness to the reveal that Twilight is in fact Angel in "Twilight, Part II".<ref name=BS8#33>{{comic book reference|writer=[[Brad Meltzer]]|penciller=[[Cliff Richards]]|inker=[[Andy Owen]]|story=[[Twilight (Buffy comic)|Twilight, Part II]]|title=[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight]]|issue=33|date=March, 2009|publisher=[[Dark Horse Comics]]}}</ref>


==Concept and creation==
{{Quote_box|width=30%|align=right|quote="I know Faith isn't exactly on the cover of ''Sanity Fair'' but she's had it rough. Different circumstances, that could be me."|source=—Buffy empathizes with Faith in "[[Doppelgangland]]", echoing the intended parallels between the two Slayers.}}The initial concept for Faith's character was "the road not taken", a Slayer who makes the wrong choices in life.<ref name=S3Overview>{{cite video|people=[[Joss Whedon]], [[Jane Espenson]], [[Marti Noxon]], [[Eliza Dushku]]|title="Season 3 Overview" (''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series)|Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer DVDs#Season 3|The Complete Third Season]] DVD Special Features)|medium=DVD (Region 2)|location=United States|publisher=20th Century Fox|date=2001}}</ref> She is intended to be a reflection of Buffy, and what Buffy could have become were it not for her support system of friends and family.<ref name=S3Overview/> The question the writers wanted to answer was, despite being made from the same "raw materials," how would upbringing and environment affect the type of people they would become later in life?<ref name=S3Overview/> Joss Whedon describes her as everything Buffy would never let herself become; although Buffy is tempted by Faith's approach to slaying, she ultimately decides not to make the same choices herself.<ref name=S3Overview/> Some fans argued that the show developed a lesbian [[subtext]] between Faith and Buffy; [[Jane Espenson]] states that Joss says he didn't intend this, but admitted it was there after he had it pointed out to him, jokingly attributing this to his subconscious.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afterelton.com/blog/michaeljensen/live-chat-with-jane-espenson|title=Live Chat with Jane Espenson|last=Jensen|first=Michael|work=AfterElton.com|date=2009-03-19|accessdate=2009-08-15}}</ref>

With Faith, the writers explored the nature of power, and the boundaries and consequences of its use. They wanted to address the issue that, whether the creatures a Slayer kills are good or evil, she is still a professional killer.<ref name=S3Overview/> Co-executive producer [[Doug Petrie]], and writer of Faith-centric episodes such as "[[Revelations (Buffy episode)|Revelations]]" and "[[Bad Girls (Buffy episode)|Bad Girls]]", says one of the things he loves about the character is that Faith is not wrong in describing herself and Buffy as killers. He goes on to discuss a Slayer's rights and responsibilities, and how Faith believes her contributions to society relieve her of any legal or moral responsibilities, a view which Buffy does not share.<ref name=S3Overview/> When writing Faith, Petrie looked to [[Frank Miller (comics)|Frank Miller]]'s violent [[Marvel Comics]] character [[Elektra (comics)|Elektra]] for inspiration, claiming, "In a different, teen, punkier context, Faith is so much like Elektra."<ref name=MonsterBook>{{cite book|last=Golden|first=Christopher|authorlink=Christopher Golden|coauthors=[[Stephen R. Bissette]] and [[Thomas E. Sniegoski]]|title=Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Monster Book|publisher=Pocket Books|year=2000|location=[[New York]]|pages=VI|isbn=0671042599}}</ref>

Known only as "Faith" during the television series; she was not given a surname until 2005, seven years after her first appearance. Joss Whedon was approached by Eden Studios to create surnames for Faith and Kendra to use in a [[Buffyverse role-playing games|''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' role-playing game]], and chose "Lehane" for Faith, because he wanted something "[[South Boston|southie]]".<ref>[[Joss Whedon]] announced in January 2005 that Faith's surname was "Lehane," and this would be used in all future products, starting with Eden Studios' [[Buffyverse role-playing games|''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' role-playing game]] . The name appears in Eden's books and is considered to be [[canon (fiction)|canonical]]. Whedon explained at the time:
: ''There was this role playing game or something. They said she hadda have a last name for her so I chose Lehane 'cause I wanted something [[South Boston|Southie]], just as you thought.'' — [http://whedonesque.com/?comments=5682#47049 Joss Whedon at whedonesque.com]</ref>

==Characterization==
Actress Eliza Dushku describes Faith as the "[[working class]]" Slayer, a reason she feels so many people identify with her.<ref name=S3Overview/> She was written as a sympathetic character; with Doug Petrie claiming "I connected with Faith early on. I love that character. She's totally tragic." According to Petrie, "The whole key to Faith is that she's in pain. If you took that away, she would be a monster. But she's so lonely and so desperate, and all of her toughness comes out of trying to cover that. That's what real monsters are made of. No one thinks they're really a monster."<ref name=MonsterBook368/> Petrie claims Faith's main motivation is to find a family and friends; she sees treacherous Watcher Gwendolyn Post as the mother she never had, the Scooby Gang as the friends she never had, and the Mayor as the father she never had. "So she's always looking for a family and always coming up short and making these horrible choices, and it drove her insane" says Petrie. "Plus I think she was missing a couple of screws to begin with. 'If you don't love me, you will fear me,' is kind of her [[modus operandi|m.o]]. She's not a stable girl, but a fun one."<ref name=MonsterBook368/> Petrie describes the character's name as "wildly ironic", due to her cynical nature. According to Petrie, "She's the most faithless character we've got. She doesn't trust herself or anyone around her. We try to do that a lot with our monsters. It's much more fun if you look at it from their point of view."<ref name=MonsterBook368>{{cite book|last=Golden|first=Christopher|authorlink=Christopher Golden|coauthors=[[Stephen R. Bissette]] and [[Thomas E. Sniegoski]]|title=Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Monster Book|publisher=Pocket Books|year=2000|location=[[New York]]|pages=368–369|isbn=0671042599}}</ref>

Writer Jane Espenson believes one of the reasons why Faith elicits sympathy from the audience is the touching father/daughter relationship between her and the Mayor, comparing their affection for one another to that between vampires [[Spike (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Spike]] and [[Drusilla (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Drusilla]] in the earlier season. The writers wanted to make both Faith and the Mayor as human as possible by showing they need connection and love as much as the heroic characters. Eliza Dushku claims Faith's bond with the Mayor stems from his being one of the few people in her life who does not put her down, which is something she has battled with her whole life; Dushku goes on to say Faith's misplaced trust in the Mayor "leads her into being more crazy".<ref name=S3Overview/>

In the ''Angel'' season one episode "[[Sanctuary (Angel episode)|Sanctuary]]", Faith forms a bond with the vampire-with-a-soul Angel; executive producer David Greenwalt explains Angel can help her because he alone is able to understand the suffering she has been through and how to help her atone for her sins.<ref name=FeaturetteS1>{{cite video|people=[[David Greenwalt]]|title="Featurette: Season 1" (''[[Angel (TV series)|Angel]]'' [[Angel DVDs#Season 1|The Complete First Season]] DVD Special Features)|medium=DVD (Region 2)|location=United States|publisher=20th Century Fox|date=2001}}</ref> Faith is then able to return the favor in ''Angel''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s fourth season, when she is the only one determined to defeat Angel's soulless alter ego Angelus without killing him in the process. Actor David Boreanaz explains, "I think having a character like Faith come back at a pivotal point when she finds out Angelus is loose is really, for her character, a way of saying: 'I'm paying you back, Angel, for saving me, therefore, I'm gonna save you.'" The writers believed it would be an interesting dynamic to have former "bad girl" Faith play a heroic role against the show's now villainous protagonist, Angel.<ref name=S4Overview>{{cite video|people=[[David Boreanaz]], [[David Fury]]|title="Prophecies: Season 4 Overview" (''[[Angel (TV series)|Angel]]'' [[Angel DVDs#Season 4|The Complete Fourth Season]] DVD Special Features)|medium=DVD (Region 2)|location=United States|publisher=20th Century Fox|date=2004}}</ref>

{{Quote_box|width=30%|align=left|quote="Much as I love Buffy, I'm way happier writing flawed, damaged people who don't always make the right decisions. Faith is such a complex, beautiful character."|source=—[[Brian K. Vaughan]] explains what attracted him to the character.<ref name=BKV>{{cite news|author=Matt Brady|url=http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=126514|title=TALKING FAITH & BUFFY WITH BRIAN K VAUGHAN |publisher=Newsarama|date=2007-08-23|accessdate=2007-11-27}}</ref>}}
Faith was brought back for the final season of ''Buffy'', because, according to David Solomon, "she had been such a crucial character at a very specific junction in the series that there would be no way to tie it up without her." However, in season seven the dynamic between the two Slayers has changed. As Rebecca Rand Kirshner explains, "[Faith] is no longer such a complete opposite of Buffy. And there's sort of a subtler and more complicated dynamic between them". As Buffy struggles with her unwanted position of mentor to the Potential Slayers, the writers used Faith to create an outside conflict about Buffy's leadership abilities. Although Faith is questioning Buffy and her choices she is making, she is no longer an enemy to her either. In the episode "[[Empty Places]]", the Potentials lose trust in Buffy and appoint Faith as their leader instead, a decision that literally blows up in their faces. As Drew Goddard explains, "Faith is like the cool aunt that everyone loves, because the cool aunt doesn't have the responsibility of raising the children. She just gets to show up and have fun. The problem is, Faith is not ready to lead. She's damaged in her own way. She's just beginning to pull herself together. As much as she wants to be Buffy, she has to learn how to become Faith."<ref name=S7Overview>{{cite video|people=[[Joss Whedon]], [[Drew Goddard]], [[David Solomon (producer)|David Solomon]], [[Rebecca Rand Kirshner]]|title="Season 7 Overview - Buffy: Full Circle" (''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series)|Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer DVDs#Season 7|The Complete Seventh Season]] DVD Special Features)|medium=DVD (Region 2)|location=United States|publisher=20th Century Fox|date=2004}}</ref>

When writing ''Go Ask Malice'', author Robert Joseph Levy encountered a number of issues to negotiate in writing a back-story for Faith. One of these was retaining the mystery of the character; Levy explains many aspects of Faith's background, such as her delinquency and promiscuity, are supposed to be assumed by the viewers of the show, and he didn't want to spell everything out by writing a "case study" of her. In order to do something non-traditional, Levy chose to tell the story in a diary format, watching many episodes of the television series to get a hold on the natural cadence of her voice. He reveals he looked to Faith herself in order to overcome his fear of writing such a popular character, "She's not hesitant and in a lot of ways, I took a lot of inspiration from the character itself in terms of creative process — to really go for it and be strong in my choices".<ref name=LevyInterview/>

==See also==
* [[List of women warriors in folklore, literature, and popular culture]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
{{wikiquote|Buffy the Vampire Slayer}}
* {{imdb character|0004913|Faith}}
* [[Wikia:Buffy:Faith Lehane|Faith Lehane]] at [http://buffy.wikia.com/wiki/Buffyverse_Wiki Buffyverse Wiki], a ''[[Buffyverse|Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' [[Wikia]]
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Faith