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{{character
 
{{character
|Image = Caleb01.jpg
+
|Image = Dirty Girls Caleb 02.jpg
|First = "[[Dirty Girls]]"
 
|Last = ''[[Always Darkest]]''
 
 
|Name = Caleb
 
|Name = Caleb
  +
|Died = May 2003, [[Sunnydale]]
 
|Status = Deceased
 
|Status = Deceased
 
|Classification = [[Human]]
 
|Classification = [[Human]]
 
|Affiliation = [[First Evil]]
 
|Affiliation = [[First Evil]]
|Powers = <br>
+
|First = "[[Dirty Girls]]"
 
|Last = "[[Chosen]]"
* Psychic abilities allow him to detect the aura and powers of opponents, read their minds, and channel the power of the First for extended periods.
 
* Merging with the First grants him temporary superhuman strength, stamina, and durability far superior to that of most vampires, demons, and Slayers; the process also turns his eyes black and mutates his blood into a thick, black, oil-like substance.
 
 
|Actor = [[Nathan Fillion]]
 
|Actor = [[Nathan Fillion]]
 
[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (season 7)|B7]] - [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight|B8]]
 
 
}}
 
}}
   
{{quote|I know what [[Shannon|you're]] thinking: 'Crazy Preacher Man, spoutin' off about the Whore of Babylon' or some such. That ain't me. I'm not here to lecture you. What's the point? My words just curdle in your ears, you don't take in a thing. So much filth inside your head, ain't no room for the words of truth.|Caleb|Dirty Girls}}
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{{Quote|I know what you're thinking: 'Crazy preacher man, spoutin' off about the Whore of Babylon' or some such. That ain't me. I'm not here to lecture you. What's the point? My words just curdle in your ears, you don't take in a thing. So much filth inside your head, ain't no room for the words of truth.|Caleb|Dirty Girls}}
   
'''Caleb''' was a misogynistic defrocked preacher and serial killer who served the [[First Evil]] as its leading enforcer during its crusade in 2002-2003 to end the [[Slayer timeline|Slayerline]].
+
'''Caleb''' was a defrocked preacher and misogynistic serial killer who served the [[First Evil]] as its leading enforcer during its crusade to end the [[Slayer timeline|Slayer line]]. In 2002, he was responsible for organizing the [[Harbingers of Death]]'s systematic attacks on [[Potential Slayer]]s and [[Watcher]]s worldwide. In [[Sunnydale]], he sought the Slayer weapon [[Mʔ]], an artifact destined for [[Buffy Summers]] to defeat him and the First's plans.
   
== Biography ==
+
==Biography==
 
===The Calling===
{{Quote|I am [[First Evil|thy]] humble servant. And I am ready to serve thee|Caleb|End of Days}}
 
 
{{Quote|All these girls... they followed you willingly.|First Evil|Dirty Girls}}
   
 
Prior to becoming the right-hand man of the First Evil, Caleb was responsible for the deaths of at least two girls, whom he lured with his stirring sermons and masculine charm. One of these was [[Betty (Dirty Girls)|Betty]]; the second girl was apparently a choir girl in Knoxville, Tennessee. However, the First referred as well to "all these girls" who followed him, implying many more were killed.<ref name=":2" />
=== The Calling ===
 
{{Dialogue a-b|The First|All these girls...they followed you willingly. You tricked them.|Caleb|I only told them the truth.|The First and Caleb|Dirty Girls}}
 
   
 
In 2002, Caleb was responsible for organizing the Bringers' systematic attacks on the Potential Slayers<ref>"[[Lessons]]"</ref><ref>"[[Beneath You]]"</ref><ref>"[[Showtime]]"</ref> as well as their respective Watchers.<ref>"[[Sleeper]]"</ref> He orchestrated the bombing of the [[Watchers Council headquarters]] in London, causing the deaths of its director [[Quentin Travers]] and many other members of the [[Watchers Council]], such as [[Phillip]], [[Lydia]], and [[Nigel]].<ref>"[[Never Leave Me]]"</ref>
Prior to becoming the right-hand man of the First Evil, Caleb was a defrocked priest and serial killer responsible for the deaths of at least two girls, whom he lured with his stirring sermons and masculine charm. One of these was [[Betty (Dirty Girls)|Betty]]; the second girl was apparently a choir girl in Knoxville, Tennessee.
 
   
 
[[File:18452592.jpg|thumb|Caleb with the First Evil, in the form of Buffy.]]
Caleb was responsible for organizing the [[Harbingers of Death]]'s systematic attacks on the [[Potential Slayers]], as well as their respective Watchers. Caleb was also responsible the bombing of the [[Watchers Council]] Headquarters in London, causing the deaths of [[Quentin Travers]] and many other Watchers, such as [[Phillip]], [[Lydia]] and [[Nigel]]. However, while the Council was indeed crippled, a few Watchers, such as [[Roger Wyndam-Pryce]] and [[Duncan Fillworthe]], survived the First's onslaught.
 
   
  +
After the destruction of the Council, Caleb traveled to the United States. He presented himself at a Catholic [[Gilroy mission|mission]] in the town of Gilroy, where he was welcomed and given food, though he disturbed the mission's members because of his rantings about destiny. There, he uncovered a secret room, which bore an inscription that translated to "It is not for thee. It is for her alone to wield". Caleb then turned on his benefactors, burning his mark into one of them and killing the rest.<ref name=":3">"[[Empty Places]]"</ref>
[[File:18452592.jpg|thumb|Caleb with the [[First Evil]], in the form of Buffy]]
 
   
After the destruction of the Council, Caleb traveled to the United States. He presented himself at a Catholic mission in the town of Gilroy. He was welcomed and given food, though he disturbed the mission's members because of his rantings about destiny. Caleb uncovered a secret room which bore an inscription that translated to "It is not for thee. It is for her alone to wield". Afterward, Caleb turned on his benefactors, burning his mark into one of them and killing the rest. Later he seemingly traveled to the women's prison in Stockton, where he tried to have [[Faith Lehane]] eliminated by her fellow inmate [[Debbie]], though the would-be-assassin failed in her task.
+
Caleb seemingly orchestrated as well an attack to the women's prison in Stockton, where he tried to have [[Faith Lehane]] eliminated by her fellow inmate [[Debbie]], though the would-be-assassin failed in her task.<ref name=":0">"[[Salvage]]"</ref>
 
=== Sunnydale ===
 
   
 
===Sunnydale===
 
{{Quote|You girls are just burning with righteousness, aren't you? Problem is, you think they're blazing like suns, when really you're matchsticks in the face of the darkness.|Caleb to Buffy|Dirty Girls}}
 
{{Quote|You girls are just burning with righteousness, aren't you? Problem is, you think they're blazing like suns, when really you're matchsticks in the face of the darkness.|Caleb to Buffy|Dirty Girls}}
   
 
Caleb eventually made his way to Sunnydale, running into a Potential Slayer named [[Shannon]] on a highway. The girl had been on the way to the town as well, but was targeted by a group of Bringers who drove her right to Caleb's truck. Believing herself to be safe, Shannon told Caleb she was on her way to [[1630 Revello Drive|Revello Drive]]. After a sermon, Caleb quickly turned on Shannon, burning his mark on the side of her neck, stabbing her in the stomach, and throwing her to the highway. She was then found by [[Willow Rosenberg]] and Faith, who were travelling from Los Angeles in the same road. Before injuring her, Caleb gave Shannon a message for Buffy Summers: "I have something of yours."<ref name=":2">"[[Dirty Girls]]"</ref>
[[File:Caleb.png|thumb|left|Caleb, revived with a power transfusion from the First]]
 
   
 
[[File:Xandereye-thumb-330x245-26874.jpg|thumb|right|Caleb pierces Xander's eye.]]
Afterward, Caleb made his way to Sunnydale, running into a Potential Slayer named [[Shannon]] on a highway. Shannon had been on the way to Sunnydale as well, but was targeted by a group of Bringers who drove her right to Caleb's truck. Believing herself to be safe, Shannon told Caleb she was on her way to [[Revello Drive]]. Caleb quickly turned on Shannon, burning his mark on the side of her neck, stabbing her in the stomach and throwing her to the highway, knowing she would be found by [[Willow Rosenberg]] and Faith. Before injuring her, Caleb gave Shannon a message for [[Buffy Summers]]: "I have something of yours".
 
   
After arriving in Sunnydale, Caleb set up camp at the [[Shadow Valley Vineyards]], where the Bringers began to dig in order to find the artifact Caleb had been seeking in the Gilroy Mission. Due to Caleb's challenge, the [[Scooby Gang]] attacked the Vineyard. In the ensuing fight, Caleb murdered two potential Slayers and effortlessly defeated Buffy, Faith, and [[Spike]]. The murders enraged Buffy enough that she was able to knock him down temporarily to allow the group to escape. However, before the Scooby Gang retreated, he also managed to violently gouge out [[Xander Harris]]'s left eye with his bare hands. Before he could do more, Spike knocked him down and Caleb allowed the group to escape. 
+
Caleb set up camp at the [[Shadow Valley Vineyards]], where the Bringers began to dig in order to find the artifact Caleb had been seeking in the Gilroy mission: the Slayer weapon Mʔ.<ref name=":4">"[[Touched]]"</ref> Due to Caleb's challenge, the [[Scooby Gang]] attacked the Vineyard. In the ensuing fight, Caleb murdered two potential Slayers and defeated Buffy, Faith, and [[Spike]]. Buffy was able to knock him down temporarily to allow the group to escape; however, before the group retreated, Caleb also managed to gouge out [[Alexander Harris]]'s left eye with his bare hands. Spike knocked him down to rescue Xander and the group was allowed to escape.<ref name=":2" /> 
   
===Death ===
+
===Death===
{{Template:Dialogue a-b|Caleb|You can't stop me, you don't have the ba-|Buffy|Who does these days?|Buffy kills Caleb in a way that poetically defeats his misogyny. |Chosen}}
+
{{Quote|You can't stop me, you don't have the ba—|Caleb's last words|Chosen}}
   
  +
Empowered by a new transfusion of power from the First, Caleb had a final duel against Buffy in the [[Guardian's crypt]], killing the [[Last Guardian]] just as she talked with Buffy.<ref name=":5">"[[End of Days]]"</ref> The Slayer was armed with the recently retrieved Mʔ, but still had difficulty fighting him enough for him to use the weapon against her. As Caleb prepared to kill Buffy with the scythe, [[Angel]] suddenly arrived and knocked Caleb out for a moment, allowing Buffy to recover. She refused further help from Angel, wanting to finish the job herself, and the two resumed the fight. This time, Buffy managed to slice Caleb across the stomach with the Mʔ, apparently killing him.<ref name=":1">"[[Chosen]]"</ref>
[[File:Chosen15jpg-1e72-2053d.jpg|thumb|Caleb with Buffy's Scythe]]
 
   
 
[[File:Caleb.png|thumb|Caleb, revived with a power transfusion from the First.]]
Caleb [[Duel in the Guardian's crypt|confronted Buffy in the Guardian's tomb]] empowered by a new transfusion of power from the First. Buffy, who had started to be able to fight Caleb better, was no match for him even with the [[Scythe]]. As Caleb prepared to kill Buffy with the Scythe, [[Angel]] suddenly arrived and knocked Caleb out for a moment, allowing Buffy to recover, although she refused further help from Angel, wanting to finish the job herself. The two fought again and this time Buffy managed to slice Caleb across the stomach with the Scythe, apparently killing him. However, Caleb's recent transfusion of power apparently granted him great endurance and he rose again and knocked Angel out for a final confrontation with Buffy. While still incredibly powerful, his wound apparently weakened him a bit, as Buffy was able to fight more evenly with Caleb. Finally, Buffy killed Caleb by using the Scythe to cut him vertically from the groin up. As Angel regained conscious, aware Buffy had killed Caleb and ready for another round, Buffy jokingly confirmed that Caleb 'split'. The First later confirmed that Buffy did in fact kill him that time. 
 
   
 
However, Caleb's recent transfusion of power apparently granted him great endurance, so he rose again and knocked Angel out for a final confrontation with Buffy. While still incredibly powerful, this time Buffy was able to fight more evenly with Caleb. She killed Caleb by using the scythe to cut him vertically from the groin up. As Angel regained conscious, aware Buffy had killed Caleb and ready for another round, Buffy jokingly confirmed that Caleb "split". The First confirmed that Buffy did in fact kill him that time, then being able to assume his form.<ref name=":1" /> 
===Legacy===
 
   
 
===Legacy===
Some time later, the First Evil appeared to Buffy, manifesting under the guise of the slain Caleb. The First lectured Buffy on the futility of her campaign against it, and it is this meeting that encourages Buffy to come up with her plan to activate the remaining Potentials to full Slayer status using the essence of the Scythe.
+
Some time later, the First Evil appeared to Buffy, manifesting under the guise of the slain Caleb. The night before she went on direct battle against his army of [[Turok-Han|Turok-Hans]], the First lectured Buffy on the futility of her campaign against it. Although, this meeting that encouraged Buffy to come up with her plan to activate multiple Potentials worldwide to full Slayer using the essence of the Scythe.<ref name=":1" />
   
Buffy later dreamed that Caleb was again alive, in the home of [[The Seed of Wonder]], with her claiming "I left you in a smoking crater." After he lectures Buffy while she's devastated by her two vampire lovers, [[Angel]] and [[Spike]], kissing each other, the dream changes to Caleb heading the wedding ceremony of Buffy and a skinless [[Warren Mears]]
+
While at the Slayer Organization, Buffy had a recurring nightmare in which Caleb was again alive, in the home of the [[Seed of Wonder]], with her claiming: "I left you in a smoking crater." In the dream, he lectured Buffy while she was devastated by her two vampire lovers, [[Angel]] and [[Spike]], kissing each other. The dream changed to Caleb heading the wedding ceremony of Buffy and a skinless [[Warren Mears]].<ref>"[[Always Darkest]]"</ref>
   
Caleb was also one of the red herrings thought to be behind the mask of [[Twilight]], Buffy attempted to cut Twilight in half by the crotch and he retorted with, "I know that move, Slayer." Twilight was eventually revealed to be Angel, who was present when Buffy defeated Caleb.
+
At the time, Caleb was also one of the red herrings thought to be behind the mask of [[Twilight]]. When Buffy attempted to cut Twilight in half by the crotch, he retorted: "I know that move, Slayer."<ref>''[[A Beautiful Sunset]]''</ref> Twilight was eventually revealed to be Angel, who was present when Buffy defeated Caleb with this same move.<ref name=":1" />
   
 
==Powers and abilities==
 
==Powers and abilities==
 
{{Quote|You're in me. Gave me strength no man can have.|Caleb to The First|Touched}}
 
{{Quote|You're in me. Gave me strength no man can have.|Caleb to The First|Touched}}
   
  +
===First Evil empowerment===
[[File:Xandereye-thumb-330x245-26874.jpg|thumb|Caleb pierces Xander's eye]]
 
  +
Caleb's body served as a vessel for some of the power of the noncorporeal First Evil and imbued him with immensely powerful strength and endurance.
   
Caleb's body served as a vessel for the power of the noncorporeal First Evil. With the exception of [[Glory]], and possibly [[Adam]], Caleb's strength dwarfed that of Buffy's previous adversaries, able to shatter solid concrete with his bare hands and send an opponent flying for dozens of feet with a single blow. The merger also temporarily turned Caleb's eyes solid black and mutated his blood into a thick oily substance.
+
*'''Biological mutations:''' The merger also temporarily turned Caleb's eyes solid black and mutated his blood into a thick oily substance.<ref name=":1" />
  +
[[File:Caleb's_Strength.gif|thumb|Empowered by the First, Caleb punches Buffy across the room.]]
 
  +
*'''Superhuman strength:''' Caleb was able to shatter solid concrete with his bare hands, snap people's necks with ease and send an opponent flying dozens of feet with a single blow.<ref name=":2" />
In their first encounter, he effortlessly defeated the entire Scooby Gang and their large numbers of Potentials, even managing to outmatch the combined might of Buffy, Faith, and Spike, however, neither of these knew what they were up against and were unprepared. With more experience against him and Caleb's powers starting to wane, this diminished over time in Buffy's case with the two fighting nearly evenly before he is empowered again. Caleb's empowerment also allowed him to survive lethal injuries, as demonstrated when he revived after being severely wounded with the [[Scythe]]. However, this may have weakened him some as Buffy had a somewhat easier time defeating him afterward though he still possessed incredible power. Because of how powerful he was, it took cutting him in half to kill him completely, something that the First confirmed did work.
 
  +
*'''Superhuman endurance:''' Caleb's empowerment also allowed him with superhuman durability which borders on near invulnerability. It allows him to survive lethal injuries, as demonstrated when he revived after being severely wounded with the Scythe. Because of how powerful he was, it took cutting him in half to kill him completely.<ref name=":1" />
 
Caleb also possessed a degree of psychic abilities, able to detect the aura and powers of his opponents, track them, and read their minds.
+
*'''Psychic powers:''' Apparently, Caleb also possessed a degree of psychic abilities, able to detect the aura and powers of his opponents, track them, and read their minds.{{Cite}}
 
*'''Combat prowess:''' In their first encounter, he effortlessly defeated the entire Scooby Gang and their large numbers of Potentials, even managing to outmatch the combined might of Buffy, Faith, and Spike.<ref name=":2" /> However, none of these knew what they were up against and were unprepared. With more experience against him and Caleb's powers starting to wane, his advantages diminished over time in Buffy's case with the two fighting nearly evenly before he is empowered again.<ref name=":3" /> Afterwards, even with his strength restored, he wasn't able to win as easily as before. Although Buffy had a somewhat easier time defeating him afterward, he still possessed incredible power.<ref name=":1" />
   
  +
===Weaknesses===
 
{{Quote|Your strength is waning. It's been a while since we've... merged.|The First|End of Days}}
 
{{Quote|Your strength is waning. It's been a while since we've... merged.|The First|End of Days}}
   
However, Caleb's powers were only temporary, requiring periodical mergers with the First's manifestation in order to sustain it.
+
*'''Temporary powers:''' However, Caleb's powers were only temporary, requiring periodical mergers with the First's manifestation in order to sustain it.<ref name=":5" />
  +
*'''Extreme injuries:''' By slicing him in half, Buffy was able to finally kill him.<ref name=":1" />
   
== Personality and traits ==
+
==Personality and traits==
 
{{Quote|You were born dirty. Born without a soul, born with that gaping maw that wants to open up and suck out a man's marrow. Makes me puke to think too hard on it.|Caleb's view of women|Dirty Girls}}
 
{{Quote|You were born dirty. Born without a soul, born with that gaping maw that wants to open up and suck out a man's marrow. Makes me puke to think too hard on it.|Caleb's view of women|Dirty Girls}}
   
 
Behind his priest's collar, Caleb was sadistic and misogynist. Impressed by his body's fortitude as well as his single-minded nature, the First Evil made him the commander of its campaign of carnage and mayhem. He liked to reenact his killings by asking the First to take on the form of the girls he had killed, so that he may "kill them again".<ref name=":2" />
[[File:Buffy-always-darkest-web-comic-page-preview-gq-01-2.jpg|thumb|Caleb, as he appears to Buffy in a dream of her]]
 
   
 
Caleb often delivered quasi-biblical quotes, frequently even making allusions to his belief that the First was actually God. Caleb seemed to quote the Old Testament in order to support his own twisted beliefs. For example, his views on women being evil related to his views on Eve, the biblical first female (in the Jewish and Christian book of Genesis), and how she gave Adam, the first created man and first created human, the forbidden fruit. When the First asked Caleb if he thought the First was God, Caleb replied that he believed the First is beyond such definition.
Behind his priest's collar, Caleb was a sadistic misogynist. Impressed by his body's fortitude as well as his single-minded nature, the First Evil made him the commander of its campaign of carnage and mayhem. He liked to reenact his killings by asking the First to take on the form of the girls he killed, so that he may "kill them again." Caleb was also quite likely insane. Given that The First chose Caleb of all humans, and presumably demons, as its general, it can be assumed that Caleb was one of the most evil living beings on the planet.
 
   
 
Caleb also commented further on his admiration of the First, when it (under the guise of Buffy) vocalized its envy of humans' ability to feel lust and engage in primal sexual acts and/or violence. Caleb dismissed them all as "sinners", commenting enthusiastically that the First is miles beyond that, for it is "sin" itself.<ref name=":4" />
== Beliefs ==
 
{{Quote|She didn't know the good news, the glory that was coming. That'd be you. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever.|Caleb to the First|Dirty Girls}}
 
 
Caleb often delivered quasi-biblical quotes, frequently even making allusions to his belief that the First was actually God. Caleb seemed to quote the Old Testament in order to support his own twisted beliefs. For example, his views on women being evil related to his views on Eve, the biblical first female (in the Jewish and Christian book of Genesis), and how she gave Adam, the first created man and first created human, the forbidden fruit. When the First asked Caleb if he thought the First was God, Caleb replied that he believed the First is beyond such definition.
 
   
  +
Prior to becoming a preacher of the First Evil's "glory", Caleb was a preacher who was defrocked due to his insanity. Despite this, Caleb would often go on to do long sermons to the First Evil, preaching his glory and even manipulating biblical terminology and quotes to suite his own views the the First Evil was not just God, but is far beyond such a definition. Even the First Evil found his sermons admirable and enjoyed them to the point where the First Evil eve encouraged him to keep on preaching.
Caleb also commented further on his admiration of the First, when it (under the guise of Buffy) vocalized its envy of humans' ability to feel lust and engage in primal sexual acts and/or violence. Caleb dismissed them all as "sinners," commenting enthusiastically that the First is miles beyond that, for it is "Sin" itself.
 
   
 
==Behind the scenes==
 
==Behind the scenes==
 
*He was portrayed by [[Nathan Fillion]].
 
*He was portrayed by [[Nathan Fillion]].
  +
*When asked about Caleb's religious connections, [[Joss Whedon]] said: "I want to come down against the patriarchy and there was simply no more potent image. At the same time, I'm not coming down against priests. This guy clearly is not one. He's very bad at it." About his denomination being unclear, he explained: "Yeah well, again, it's the image of the thing. I believe that religion has contained within it an enormous amount of misogyny, and that cannot be denied. That's something that I will always bridle against and that image [a priest] is potent because of that."<ref name=":6">Laura Miller, [https://www.salon.com/2003/05/20/whedon/ "The man behind the Slayer"]. ''Salon'', May 21, 2003.</ref>
 
*Caleb was introduced, according to Joss Whedon, because the mutable, non-corporeal nature of the First Evil "meant that we didn't really have anything to push against. We needed... a sidekick. Somebody physical that we can see from episode to episode." Whedon describes him as "the creepiest priest", adding "he is the most bold-faced misogynist we've had since, well, since last year, with [[Warren Mears|Warren]]."<ref name=":6" />
   
  +
==Gallery==
*Nathan Fillion is one of four actors who had appeared on Whedon's ''[[w:c:firefly:Firefly|Firefly]]'' series who later played a villain on one of Whedon's other shows, along with [[Gina Torres]] and [[Adam Baldwin]], who respectively portrayed [[Jasmine]] and [[Marcus Hamilton]]. Jasmine and Caleb played big bads simultaneously in Buffy Season 7, and Angel Season 4. All of them were also some of the most physically powerful villains in terms of strength on the respective shows. The fourth was Alan Tudyk, who played "Alpha" in ''Dollhouse''.
 
  +
<gallery widths="120" spacing="small" orientation="portrait">
 
Dirty Girls Caleb 01.jpg
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Dirty Girls Caleb 02.jpg
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Dirty Girls Caleb Buffy.jpg
  +
Dirty Girls Spike Caleb 01.jpg
  +
Dirty Girls Spike Caleb 02.jpg
  +
Touched Caleb First 01.jpg
  +
Touched Caleb First 02.jpg
 
End of Days Caleb 01.jpg
  +
End of Days Caleb 02.jpg
  +
</gallery>
   
 
==Appearances==
*Nathan Fillion later starred with Kathryn Joosten ([[Genevieve Holt]]), Shawn Pyfrom ([[Hans and Gretta Strauss|Hans Strauss]]), [[Pat Crawford Brown]] ([[Wig Lady]]), [[John Rubinstein]] ([[Linwood Murrow]]), Ridge Canipe ([[Tommy (Smile Time)|Tommy]]), Nick Chinlund ([[Ellis]]), Justina Machado ([[Jo]]) and [[Julie Benz]] ([[Darla]]) on ''[[Wikipedia:Desperate Housewives|Desperate Housewives]]''. Additionally, Dagney Kerr ([[Kathy Newman]]), Patricia Bethune ([[Mrs. Kalish]]) and Ron Melendez ([[James (vampire)|James]]) appeared in an episode.
 
  +
===Canonical===
  +
{{AppearancesBuffySeason7
  +
|episode18=yes
  +
|episode19=yes
  +
|episode20=yes
  +
|episode21=yes
  +
|episode22=yes
 
}}
  +
{{AppearancesBuffySeason8
  +
|issue3=vision
  +
|issue11=flash
  +
|Always=vision
  +
}}
   
  +
===Other===
*When asked about Caleb's religious connections, Joss Whedon said "I'm not coming down against priests. This guy clearly is not one."
 
 
*''[[Chosen: The One]]''
  +
*''[[Sacrifice (game)|Sacrifice]]''
   
  +
==References==
*Caleb was introduced, according to Joss Whedon, because the mutable, non-corporeal nature of the First Evil "meant that we didn't really have anything to push against. We needed... a sidekick. Somebody physical that we can see from episode to episode." Whedon describes him as "the creepiest priest", adding "he is the most bold-faced misogynist we've had since, well, since last year, with Warren."
 
  +
{{References|scroll=1}}
   
  +
[[fr:Caleb]]
*Caleb could be considered a true polar opposite to Nathan Fillion's previous Joss Whedon created character ([[w:c:firefly:Malcolm Reynolds|Malcom Reynolds]]) in many ways. While Caleb is a villain, Mal was the hero of the story, and while Caleb is a defrocked priest, Mal lost his faith during the war several year before the Firefly series. Perhaps the most ironic, however, is their respective views on women, Caleb being an extreme misogynist, while Mal seemed to have a deep respect for women in general.
 
   
*Nathan Fillion later starred the principal role on ''[[Wikipedia:Castle|Castle]]''. This show include also many actors of Buffyverse like Randall Batinkoff ([[Jeffrey Kramer]]), [[Ken Lerner]] ([[Robert Flutie]]), Christopher Doyle ([[Colin]]), Chad Lindberg ([[David Kirby]]), Tamara Braun ([[Tara (vampire)]]), Gil Birmingham ([[Bodyguard|Peru Man]]), Carlease Burke ([[Winslow]]), Mary-Pat Green ([[Joan]]), Nicole Bilderback ([[Unidentified Cordette|Asiatic Cordette]]), [[Channon Roe]] ([[Jack O'Toole]]), Alex Skuby ([[Vincent]]/[[Harlan]]), [[Ethan Erickson]] ([[Percy West]]), [[Marc Blucas]] ([[Riley Finn]]), [[Leonard Roberts]] ([[Forrest Gates]]), Josh Randall ([[Unidentified bartender (Expecting)|Bartender]]), Colby French ([[Tay]]), Chet Grissom ([[Clark]]), [[Conor O'Farrell]] ([[McNamara]]), John Kapelos ([[Ronald Meeks]]), Brett Rickaby (young [[Denver]]), Angel Parker ([[Veronica]]), Erik Betts ([[Brown]]), Nick Chinlund ([[Ellis]]), Jim Piddock ([[The Valet]]), Oliver Muirhead ([[Phillip]]), Matt Champagne ([[Gene Rainey]]), Darby Stanchfield ([[Denise]]), Thomas Kopache (old [[Denver]]), Stephanie Nash ([[Mrs. Kramer]]), Sam Ayers ([[Unidentified Baby Killer|Baby Killer Demon]]), Christopher May ([[Unidentified man customer|Male Customer]]), David J. Miller ([[Rat-faced Demon (Life Serial)|Rat-faced demon]], Jordan Belfi ([[Ryan (Smashed)]]), Susan Ruttan ([[Doris Kroeger]]), Brett Wagner ([[Nahdrah Prince]]/[[Unidentified Bohg'dar demon|Bohg'dar demon]]), Bernard K. Addison ([[Hotblonde37159|Root Monster]]), Jeff Denton ([[Stevie]]/[[Pelletti]]), Patrick St. Esprit ([[Jenoff]]), Amy Hathaway ([[Christine]]), Anthony Starke ([[Tyke]]), Ed F. Martin ([[Mr. Lonegrin]]), Rick Gonzalez ([[Tomas]]), Tom Irwin ([[Elliot]]), Brandon Keener ([[Lance Brooks]]), Rob Naglle ([[Robson]]), Josh Braaten ([[Torg]]), Caroline Lagerfelt ([[Anne Pratt]]), Carrie Southworth ([[Betty (Dirty Girls)|Betty]]), [[Gina Torres]] ([[Jasmine]]), Jim Abele ([[Laurence Reilly]]), Braeden Marcott ([[Jacob Crane]]), Michael Maize ([[Artode]]), Brendan Hines ([[Eli]]), Nick Jaine ([[Sahrvin Clan]] Leader), Navi Rawat ([[Dana]]), Joel Polis ([[Captain Franklin]]) .
 
 
==Notes==
 
*Despite Buffy's aversion to killing humans, she killed Caleb with no hesitation, something previously unseen in her character.
 
 
==Appearances==
 
===''Buffy the Vampire Slayer''===
 
{| border="1" class="appearances" style="width:668px;margin:2em2em2em0px;border:2pxsolidrgb(0,0,102);border-collapse:collapse;text-align:center;font-size:11px;color:black;"
 
|- bgcolor="#000066"
 
| colspan="11" style="color:white;font-size:larger;"|'''[http://buffy.wikia.com/wiki/Buffy_the_Vampire_Slayer_(season_7)/Season_Seven <span style="color:white;">Season Seven:</span>]'''
 
|-
 
|[[Lessons]]
 
|[[Beneath You]]
 
|[[Same Time, Same Place]]
 
|[[Help]]
 
|[[Selfless]]
 
|[[Him]]
 
|[[Conversations with Dead People]]
 
|[[Sleeper]]
 
|[[Never Leave Me]]
 
|[[Bring on the Night]]
 
|[[Showtime]]
 
|-
 
|[[Potential]]
 
|[[The Killer in Me]]
 
|[[First Date]]
 
|[[Get It Done]]
 
|[[Storyteller]]
 
|[[Lies My Parents Told Me]]
 
|[[Dirty Girls]]
 
'''Appears'''
 
|[[Empty Places]]
 
'''Appears'''
 
|[[Touched]]
 
'''Appears'''
 
|[[End of Days]]
 
'''Appears'''
 
|[[Chosen]]
 
'''Appears'''
 
|}
 
===Buffy Season Eight===
 
*''[[A Beautiful Sunset]]'' {{FBO}}
 
*''[[Always Darkest]]'' <small>(Only in dreams)</small>
 
 
==External Links==
 
*{{IMDb character|0004919}}
 
[[Category:Scooby Gang enemies]]
 
[[Category:Human Minions]]
 
 
[[Category:Males]]
 
[[Category:Males]]
[[Category:Deceased individuals]]
 
[[Category:Disguises of the First Evil]]
 
[[Category:Sunnydale residents]]
 
 
[[Category:Humans]]
 
[[Category:Humans]]
 
[[Category:Big Bads]]
 
[[Category:Big Bads]]
[[Category:The First Evil]]
+
[[Category:Scooby Gang enemies]]
 
[[Category:Priests and religious figures]]
 
[[Category:Priests and religious figures]]
[[Category:Human Masters]]
 
[[Category:Warriors]]
 
 
[[Category:Servants of the First Evil]]
 
[[Category:Servants of the First Evil]]
[[Category:Mentally-ill individuals]]
+
[[Category:Sunnydale residents]]
 
[[Category:Deceased individuals]]
 
[[Category:Disguises of the First Evil]]

Revision as of 16:25, 1 April 2020

I know what you're thinking: 'Crazy preacher man, spoutin' off about the Whore of Babylon' or some such. That ain't me. I'm not here to lecture you. What's the point? My words just curdle in your ears, you don't take in a thing. So much filth inside your head, ain't no room for the words of truth.
―Caleb[src]

Caleb was a defrocked preacher and misogynistic serial killer who served the First Evil as its leading enforcer during its crusade to end the Slayer line. In 2002, he was responsible for organizing the Harbingers of Death's systematic attacks on Potential Slayers and Watchers worldwide. In Sunnydale, he sought the Slayer weapon , an artifact destined for Buffy Summers to defeat him and the First's plans.

Biography

The Calling

All these girls... they followed you willingly.
―First Evil[src]

Prior to becoming the right-hand man of the First Evil, Caleb was responsible for the deaths of at least two girls, whom he lured with his stirring sermons and masculine charm. One of these was Betty; the second girl was apparently a choir girl in Knoxville, Tennessee. However, the First referred as well to "all these girls" who followed him, implying many more were killed.[1]

In 2002, Caleb was responsible for organizing the Bringers' systematic attacks on the Potential Slayers[2][3][4] as well as their respective Watchers.[5] He orchestrated the bombing of the Watchers Council headquarters in London, causing the deaths of its director Quentin Travers and many other members of the Watchers Council, such as Phillip, Lydia, and Nigel.[6]

18452592

Caleb with the First Evil, in the form of Buffy.

After the destruction of the Council, Caleb traveled to the United States. He presented himself at a Catholic mission in the town of Gilroy, where he was welcomed and given food, though he disturbed the mission's members because of his rantings about destiny. There, he uncovered a secret room, which bore an inscription that translated to "It is not for thee. It is for her alone to wield". Caleb then turned on his benefactors, burning his mark into one of them and killing the rest.[7]

Caleb seemingly orchestrated as well an attack to the women's prison in Stockton, where he tried to have Faith Lehane eliminated by her fellow inmate Debbie, though the would-be-assassin failed in her task.[8]

Sunnydale

You girls are just burning with righteousness, aren't you? Problem is, you think they're blazing like suns, when really you're matchsticks in the face of the darkness.
―Caleb to Buffy[src]

Caleb eventually made his way to Sunnydale, running into a Potential Slayer named Shannon on a highway. The girl had been on the way to the town as well, but was targeted by a group of Bringers who drove her right to Caleb's truck. Believing herself to be safe, Shannon told Caleb she was on her way to Revello Drive. After a sermon, Caleb quickly turned on Shannon, burning his mark on the side of her neck, stabbing her in the stomach, and throwing her to the highway. She was then found by Willow Rosenberg and Faith, who were travelling from Los Angeles in the same road. Before injuring her, Caleb gave Shannon a message for Buffy Summers: "I have something of yours."[1]

Xandereye-thumb-330x245-26874

Caleb pierces Xander's eye.

Caleb set up camp at the Shadow Valley Vineyards, where the Bringers began to dig in order to find the artifact Caleb had been seeking in the Gilroy mission: the Slayer weapon Mʔ.[9] Due to Caleb's challenge, the Scooby Gang attacked the Vineyard. In the ensuing fight, Caleb murdered two potential Slayers and defeated Buffy, Faith, and Spike. Buffy was able to knock him down temporarily to allow the group to escape; however, before the group retreated, Caleb also managed to gouge out Alexander Harris's left eye with his bare hands. Spike knocked him down to rescue Xander and the group was allowed to escape.[1] 

Death

You can't stop me, you don't have the ba—
―Caleb's last words[src]

Empowered by a new transfusion of power from the First, Caleb had a final duel against Buffy in the Guardian's crypt, killing the Last Guardian just as she talked with Buffy.[10] The Slayer was armed with the recently retrieved Mʔ, but still had difficulty fighting him enough for him to use the weapon against her. As Caleb prepared to kill Buffy with the scythe, Angel suddenly arrived and knocked Caleb out for a moment, allowing Buffy to recover. She refused further help from Angel, wanting to finish the job herself, and the two resumed the fight. This time, Buffy managed to slice Caleb across the stomach with the Mʔ, apparently killing him.[11]

Caleb

Caleb, revived with a power transfusion from the First.

However, Caleb's recent transfusion of power apparently granted him great endurance, so he rose again and knocked Angel out for a final confrontation with Buffy. While still incredibly powerful, this time Buffy was able to fight more evenly with Caleb. She killed Caleb by using the scythe to cut him vertically from the groin up. As Angel regained conscious, aware Buffy had killed Caleb and ready for another round, Buffy jokingly confirmed that Caleb "split". The First confirmed that Buffy did in fact kill him that time, then being able to assume his form.[11] 

Legacy

Some time later, the First Evil appeared to Buffy, manifesting under the guise of the slain Caleb. The night before she went on direct battle against his army of Turok-Hans, the First lectured Buffy on the futility of her campaign against it. Although, this meeting that encouraged Buffy to come up with her plan to activate multiple Potentials worldwide to full Slayer using the essence of the Scythe.[11]

While at the Slayer Organization, Buffy had a recurring nightmare in which Caleb was again alive, in the home of the Seed of Wonder, with her claiming: "I left you in a smoking crater." In the dream, he lectured Buffy while she was devastated by her two vampire lovers, Angel and Spike, kissing each other. The dream changed to Caleb heading the wedding ceremony of Buffy and a skinless Warren Mears.[12]

At the time, Caleb was also one of the red herrings thought to be behind the mask of Twilight. When Buffy attempted to cut Twilight in half by the crotch, he retorted: "I know that move, Slayer."[13] Twilight was eventually revealed to be Angel, who was present when Buffy defeated Caleb with this same move.[11]

Powers and abilities

You're in me. Gave me strength no man can have.
―Caleb to The First[src]

First Evil empowerment

Caleb's body served as a vessel for some of the power of the noncorporeal First Evil and imbued him with immensely powerful strength and endurance.

  • Biological mutations: The merger also temporarily turned Caleb's eyes solid black and mutated his blood into a thick oily substance.[11]
Caleb's Strength

Empowered by the First, Caleb punches Buffy across the room.

  • Superhuman strength: Caleb was able to shatter solid concrete with his bare hands, snap people's necks with ease and send an opponent flying dozens of feet with a single blow.[1]
  • Superhuman endurance: Caleb's empowerment also allowed him with superhuman durability which borders on near invulnerability. It allows him to survive lethal injuries, as demonstrated when he revived after being severely wounded with the Scythe. Because of how powerful he was, it took cutting him in half to kill him completely.[11]
  • Psychic powers: Apparently, Caleb also possessed a degree of psychic abilities, able to detect the aura and powers of his opponents, track them, and read their minds.[citation needed]
  • Combat prowess: In their first encounter, he effortlessly defeated the entire Scooby Gang and their large numbers of Potentials, even managing to outmatch the combined might of Buffy, Faith, and Spike.[1] However, none of these knew what they were up against and were unprepared. With more experience against him and Caleb's powers starting to wane, his advantages diminished over time in Buffy's case with the two fighting nearly evenly before he is empowered again.[7] Afterwards, even with his strength restored, he wasn't able to win as easily as before. Although Buffy had a somewhat easier time defeating him afterward, he still possessed incredible power.[11]

Weaknesses

Your strength is waning. It's been a while since we've... merged.
―The First[src]
  • Temporary powers: However, Caleb's powers were only temporary, requiring periodical mergers with the First's manifestation in order to sustain it.[10]
  • Extreme injuries: By slicing him in half, Buffy was able to finally kill him.[11]

Personality and traits

You were born dirty. Born without a soul, born with that gaping maw that wants to open up and suck out a man's marrow. Makes me puke to think too hard on it.
―Caleb's view of women[src]

Behind his priest's collar, Caleb was sadistic and misogynist. Impressed by his body's fortitude as well as his single-minded nature, the First Evil made him the commander of its campaign of carnage and mayhem. He liked to reenact his killings by asking the First to take on the form of the girls he had killed, so that he may "kill them again".[1]

Caleb often delivered quasi-biblical quotes, frequently even making allusions to his belief that the First was actually God. Caleb seemed to quote the Old Testament in order to support his own twisted beliefs. For example, his views on women being evil related to his views on Eve, the biblical first female (in the Jewish and Christian book of Genesis), and how she gave Adam, the first created man and first created human, the forbidden fruit. When the First asked Caleb if he thought the First was God, Caleb replied that he believed the First is beyond such definition.

Caleb also commented further on his admiration of the First, when it (under the guise of Buffy) vocalized its envy of humans' ability to feel lust and engage in primal sexual acts and/or violence. Caleb dismissed them all as "sinners", commenting enthusiastically that the First is miles beyond that, for it is "sin" itself.[9]

Prior to becoming a preacher of the First Evil's "glory", Caleb was a preacher who was defrocked due to his insanity. Despite this, Caleb would often go on to do long sermons to the First Evil, preaching his glory and even manipulating biblical terminology and quotes to suite his own views the the First Evil was not just God, but is far beyond such a definition. Even the First Evil found his sermons admirable and enjoyed them to the point where the First Evil eve encouraged him to keep on preaching.

Behind the scenes

  • He was portrayed by Nathan Fillion.
  • When asked about Caleb's religious connections, Joss Whedon said: "I want to come down against the patriarchy and there was simply no more potent image. At the same time, I'm not coming down against priests. This guy clearly is not one. He's very bad at it." About his denomination being unclear, he explained: "Yeah well, again, it's the image of the thing. I believe that religion has contained within it an enormous amount of misogyny, and that cannot be denied. That's something that I will always bridle against and that image [a priest] is potent because of that."[14]
  • Caleb was introduced, according to Joss Whedon, because the mutable, non-corporeal nature of the First Evil "meant that we didn't really have anything to push against. We needed... a sidekick. Somebody physical that we can see from episode to episode." Whedon describes him as "the creepiest priest", adding "he is the most bold-faced misogynist we've had since, well, since last year, with Warren."[14]

Gallery

Appearances

Canonical

Other

References