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{{character
  
{{character
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|Image = Merrickcanon.jpg
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|Image = Merrickcanon.jpg
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|First = [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (film)|''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' (film)]] <small>(non-canon)</small><br>"[[Becoming, Part One]]" <small>(canon)</small>
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|First = "[[Becoming, Part One]]" {{FBO}}
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|Last = "[[The Origin]]"
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|Last = ''[[The Origin, Part Two]]''
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|Name = Merrick Jamison-Smythe
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|Appear =
 
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|Died = 1996, Los Angeles
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|Name = Merrick
  
  ⚫
|Status = Deceased
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|Aliases =
 
  ⚫
|Classification = [[Human]]
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|Status = Deceased
  
  ⚫
|Affiliation = [[Watchers Council]]
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|Classification = Human
  
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|Known relatives = [[Helen Jamison-Smythe|Helen]] (partner)<br />[[Athena Jamison-Smythe|Nina]] (daughter)<br />[[Artemis Jamison-Smythe|Artemis]] (daughter)
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|Affiliation = [[Watchers Council]]
  
  ⚫
|Powers = [[Watcher]] training grants him moderate fighting techniques and immense knowledge of demonology and the black arts.
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|Known relatives = Unnamed father
  
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|Actor = [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0726223/ Richard Riehle]<ref name=":1" /><br />[[Donald Sutherland]]<ref>''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (film)|Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' film</ref>
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|Powers = <br>
  
  ⚫
}}
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* [[Watcher]] training grants him moderate fighting techniques and immense knowledge of demonology and the black arts.
  
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{{Quote|Buffy Summers? I need to speak with you. There isn’t much time. You must come with me. Your destiny awaits.|Merrick|Becoming, Part One}}
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* Psuedo-immortality (with every death, he reincarnates and retains all memories and experience of his past life). <small> ''(exclusive to film)''</small>
  
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|Actor = [[Donald Sutherland]]<br>Richard Riehle
  
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'''{{PAGENAME}}''' was a member of the [[Watchers Council]] and the first [[Watcher]] of [[Buffy Summers]].
⚫
}}
 
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'''Merrick Jamison-Smythe''' was a member of the [[Watchers Council]] and the first [[Watcher]] of the [[Slayer]] [[Buffy Summers]]. Merrick died in 1996 shortly after meeting Buffy when he committed suicide to protect her from the [[vampire]] [[Lothos]].
  
   
 
==Biography==
  
==Biography==
  +
{{Quote|Do you know how many girls I’ve trained to be Slayers? Five, they worked harder than you’ve worked in your life, and I saw them all ripped apart, Buffy.|Merrick|The Origin}}
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[[Image:MerrickTheOrigin.jpg|thumb|160px|left|Merrick informs Buffy of her destiny.]]
  
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Merrick was raised from a young age to be a Watcher. His father taught him "a lot of subtleties the Council never bothered with" regarding training, legends, and research. In his lifetime, he trained five Slayers, all of whom he saw "ripped apart" by the dark forces they were destined to combat. He lost two of them to a powerful vampire master named [[Lothos]].
 +
Merrick was raised from a young age to be a Watcher. His father taught him “a lot of subtleties the Council never bothered with” regarding training, legends, and research. In his lifetime, he trained five [[Slayer]]s, all of whom he saw “ripped apart” by the dark forces they were destined to combat.<ref name=":0">''[[The Origin, Part Two]]''</ref>
   
−
In 1996, he arrived in [[Los Angeles]] to meet the newest Slayer, Buffy Summers. He informed her she was the Chosen One. He became her first Watcher, as Buffy had not been identified as a Potential Slayer.
 +
In 1996, he arrived in Los Angeles to meet the newest Slayer, Buffy Summers. He informed her she was the Chosen One. He became her first Watcher, as Buffy had not been identified as a [[Potential Slayer]].<ref name=":1">"[[Becoming, Part One]]"</ref><ref>''[[The Origin, Part One]]''</ref>
   
−
Initially, Merrick's attitude towards his charge was sarcastic, tough and stern, and frustrated by Buffy's apparent lack of commitment to her calling. Eventually, Merrick grew somewhat attached to her and came to respect her methods after he spent some time training her, recognizing that she possessed an inner strength that he had rarely seen in Slayers, even if she didn't acknowledge it herself. When Lothos attacked Merrick and Buffy, Merrick was truly concerned for her safety. He used a gun to distract Lothos while Buffy fled, subsequently committing suicide by shooting himself in the head to prevent Lothos from turning him and thus learning where Buffy lived. His death nearly prompted a traumatized Buffy to quit slaying, but when Lothos attacked the gym, she staked the powerful vampire in memory of both Merrick, despite the short time under his training, and the girl she had once been.<ref name=Origin>"[[The Origin]]"</ref>
 +
Initially, Merrick’s attitude towards his charge was sarcastic, tough, and stern, and he grew frustrated by Buffy’s apparent lack of commitment to her calling. He confessed the importance of Buffy not seeing him as her friend, which would interfere with her work, but she understood the reason was to not make it worse when she died. Eventually, Merrick came to respect her methods after he spent some time training her, recognizing that she possessed an inner strength that he had rarely seen in Slayers, even if she didn’t acknowledge it herself.<ref name=":0" />
   
  +
When Lothos attacked Merrick and Buffy, Merrick was truly concerned for her safety. He used a gun to distract Lothos while Buffy fled, subsequently committing suicide by shooting himself to prevent Lothos from siring him and using him against Buffy.<ref name=":0" /> His death nearly prompted a traumatized Buffy to quit slaying, but when Lothos attacked the gym, she staked the powerful vampire in memory of both Merrick, despite the short time under his training, and the girl she had once been.<ref>''[[The Origin, Part Three]]''</ref>
⚫
== Behind the scenes ==
  
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* Merrick first appeared in the [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (film)|''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' film]] in which he was played by [[Donald Sutherland]]. His first appearance in [[canon]] was the [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer|''Buffy'']] episode "[[Becoming, Part One]]", played by Richard Riehle. This interpretation of the character was later fleshed out in the canon comic book "[[The Origin]]".
  
−  
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* There are two different deaths for Merrick. In the movie, while trying to stake [[Lothos]], Lothos killed him by dragging the stake from his direction to Merrick's, and dies telling Buffy to do things her own way rather than live by others' rules. In the ''Origins'' comic, Merrick kills himself in order to protect Buffy.
  
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* In the film, Merrick's original nationality was British, but was changed to American in the series.
  
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* In the film, he was a pseudo-immortal, born to train Slayers, eventually dying, and reborn again with the memories of his previous life.
  
⚫
* Besides Buffy and her parents, Merrick is the only character to appear in both the original film and the television series.
  
   
 
==Gallery==
  
==Gallery==
  +
<gallery widths="120" spacing="small" orientation="portrait">
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<gallery>
  
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Image:Merrick1992.jpg|Donald Sutherland as Merrick in the 1992 film.
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Merrick1992.jpg
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Film still 33 Buffy Merrick.jpg
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Film still 24 Buffy Merrick.jpg
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Film still 23 Buffy Merrick.jpg
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Film still 31 Merrick.jpg
 
</gallery>
  
</gallery>
  +
  ⚫
==Behind the scenes==
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*He was portrayed by [[Donald Sutherland]] in the movie and [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0726223/ Richard Riehle] in the series.
  +
  +
*Merrick was not named during his appearance in "[[Becoming, Part One]]" and was listed in the end credits as “LA Watcher”. The name had been included in the episode’s script, though.<ref>"[[The Script Book: Season Two, Volume 4]]"</ref>
  +
  +
*Merrick had been differently portrayed in the [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (film)|''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' film]]. He had a British accent, and was a pseudo-immortal; born to train Slayers, eventually dying, and reborn again with the memories of his previous life. His death differed as well: while he was trying to stake Lothos, the vampire dragged the stake from his direction to Merrick’s, and Merrick dies in Buffy’s arms.
  +
  ⚫
*Merrick is one of the few characters to appear in both the original film and the television series, along Buffy and her parents.
   
 
==Appearances==
  
==Appearances==
  ⚫
{{Scroll box
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===Canonical===
  
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|width=100%
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*"[[Becoming, Part One]]" <small>(Only in flashbacks)</small>
  
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|content=
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*"[[The Origin]]"
  
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;[[Canon|Canonical]]
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*"[[Becoming, Part One]]" {{FBO}}
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*''[[The Origin, Part One]]''
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*''[[The Origin, Part One]]''
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*''[[The Origin, Part Three]]'' {{Om}}
   
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;Other
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===Non-canon===
  
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* [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (film)|''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' (film)]]
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*''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (film)|Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' film
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*"[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (novel)|Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]" novel
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*"[[Sins of the Father]]" {{Om}}
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*''[[Note from the Underground, Part Three]]'' {{FBO}}
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*"[[The First Time]]" {{FBO}}
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*''[[Broken Parts]]'' {{Om}}
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*"[[Heat]]" {{Om}}
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*"[[Slayer (novel)|Slayer]]" {{Om}}
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}}
   
 
==References==
  
==References==
  +
{{References}}
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<small><references /></small>
  
−  
⚫
{{Start box}}
  
 
{{Succession box
  
{{Succession box
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| title=[[Buffy Summers]]' Watcher
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|title = '''Watcher'''
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| years='''1997'''
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|years = ????–1996
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|before = Unknown, eventually '''[[Bernard Crowley]]'''
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| before=None<br>
  
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| after=[[Rupert Giles]]
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|after = '''Himself'''
 
}}
  
}}
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{{End box}}
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{{Succession box
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|title = '''[[Buffy Summers]]' Watcher'''
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|years = 1996
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|before = '''Himself'''
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|after = '''[[Rupert Giles]]'''
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}}
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[[fr:Merrick Jamison-Smythe]]
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[[de:Merrick Jamison-Smythe]]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Jamison-Smythe, Merrick}}
 
[[Category:Watchers]]
  
[[Category:Watchers]]
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[[Category:Humans]]
 
[[Category:Males]]
  
[[Category:Males]]
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[[Category:Deceased individuals]]
  
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[[Category:Buffy Summers]]
  
 
[[Category:Los Angeles residents]]
  
[[Category:Los Angeles residents]]
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[[Category:Humans]]
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[[Category:Deceased individuals]]

Revision as of 11:26, 18 May 2020

“Buffy Summers? I need to speak with you. There isn’t much time. You must come with me. Your destiny awaits.”
―Merrick[src]

Merrick was a member of the Watchers Council and the first Watcher of Buffy Summers.

Biography

“Do you know how many girls I’ve trained to be Slayers? Five, they worked harder than you’ve worked in your life, and I saw them all ripped apart, Buffy.”
―Merrick[src]

Merrick was raised from a young age to be a Watcher. His father taught him “a lot of subtleties the Council never bothered with” regarding training, legends, and research. In his lifetime, he trained five Slayers, all of whom he saw “ripped apart” by the dark forces they were destined to combat.[3]

In 1996, he arrived in Los Angeles to meet the newest Slayer, Buffy Summers. He informed her she was the Chosen One. He became her first Watcher, as Buffy had not been identified as a Potential Slayer.[1][4]

Initially, Merrick’s attitude towards his charge was sarcastic, tough, and stern, and he grew frustrated by Buffy’s apparent lack of commitment to her calling. He confessed the importance of Buffy not seeing him as her friend, which would interfere with her work, but she understood the reason was to not make it worse when she died. Eventually, Merrick came to respect her methods after he spent some time training her, recognizing that she possessed an inner strength that he had rarely seen in Slayers, even if she didn’t acknowledge it herself.[3]

When Lothos attacked Merrick and Buffy, Merrick was truly concerned for her safety. He used a gun to distract Lothos while Buffy fled, subsequently committing suicide by shooting himself to prevent Lothos from siring him and using him against Buffy.[3] His death nearly prompted a traumatized Buffy to quit slaying, but when Lothos attacked the gym, she staked the powerful vampire in memory of both Merrick, despite the short time under his training, and the girl she had once been.[5]

Gallery

Behind the scenes

  • Merrick was not named during his appearance in "Becoming, Part One" and was listed in the end credits as “LA Watcher”. The name had been included in the episode’s script, though.[6]
  • Merrick had been differently portrayed in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer film. He had a British accent, and was a pseudo-immortal; born to train Slayers, eventually dying, and reborn again with the memories of his previous life. His death differed as well: while he was trying to stake Lothos, the vampire dragged the stake from his direction to Merrick’s, and Merrick dies in Buffy’s arms.
  • Merrick is one of the few characters to appear in both the original film and the television series, along Buffy and her parents.

Appearances

Canonical
Other

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Becoming, Part One"
  2. ↑ Buffy the Vampire Slayer film
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 The Origin, Part Two
  4. ↑ The Origin, Part One
  5. ↑ The Origin, Part Three
  6. ↑ "The Script Book: Season Two, Volume 4"
Preceded by:
Unknown, eventually Bernard Crowley 		Watcher
????–1996 		Succeeded by:
Himself
Preceded by:
Himself 		Buffy Summers' Watcher
1996 		Succeeded by:
Rupert Giles
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