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In the early 70s, Nikki followed her NYPD lover, [[Li]], on a stakeout. He wasn't aware of vampires or Slayers, and Nikki discovered that the ring leader was a vampire called [[Le Banc]], who was smuggling in vampires and a giant bat. Li was killed by a vampire in the conflict. Nikki later flew the bat into an on-coming subway train and slayed Le Banc.<ref>''[[Nikki Goes Down!]]''</ref>
 
In the early 70s, Nikki followed her NYPD lover, [[Li]], on a stakeout. He wasn't aware of vampires or Slayers, and Nikki discovered that the ring leader was a vampire called [[Le Banc]], who was smuggling in vampires and a giant bat. Li was killed by a vampire in the conflict. Nikki later flew the bat into an on-coming subway train and slayed Le Banc.<ref>''[[Nikki Goes Down!]]''</ref>
   
On July 24, 1973, Nikki participated in her [[Tento di Cruciamentum]], much to the disapproval of Crowley, who was appalled that the [[Watchers Council]] forced her to undergo it as she was pregnant at the time. Upon surviving her Cruciamentum, she gave birth to her son, Robin. However, she did not know exactly who his father was as she "didn't take names when blowing off steam," Crowley arranged for Nikki to go into hiding and live a normal life with Robin. Nikki took her child and lived in South America as well as Mexico for a while. However, she couldn't dismiss her calling, and returned to New York and her duty as the Slayer.<ref name=":2">''[[On Your Own, Part One]]''</ref>
+
On July 24, 1973, Nikki participated in her [[Tento di Cruciamentum]], much to the disapproval of Crowley, who was appalled that the [[Watchers Council]] forced her to undergo it as she was pregnant at the time. Upon surviving her Cruciamentum, she gave birth to her son, Robin. However, she did not know exactly who his father was as she "didn't take names when blowing off steam." Crowley arranged for Nikki to go into hiding and live a normal life with Robin. Nikki took her child and lived in South America as well as Mexico for a while. However, she couldn't dismiss her calling, and returned to New York and her duty as the Slayer.<ref name=":2">''[[On Your Own, Part One]]''</ref>
   
 
[[File:Nikki Lies My Parents Told Me.jpg|thumb|left|Nikki protects her son after encountering the vampire Spike.]]
 
[[File:Nikki Lies My Parents Told Me.jpg|thumb|left|Nikki protects her son after encountering the vampire Spike.]]
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On July 13, 1977, Nikki and Spike had their final showdown inside a New York City subway train. Nikki was able to pin Spike to the floor and repeatedly punch him, but, as the train went through a dark tunnel, the vampire took advantage and switched positions.<ref name=":1" /> Nikki begged to be able to return home to her son,<ref name=":4" /> but he strangled her, before breaking her neck. After admiring her coat when they first met, he removed it from her body, and claimed it as a trophy.<ref name=":1">"[[Fool for Love]]"</ref>
 
On July 13, 1977, Nikki and Spike had their final showdown inside a New York City subway train. Nikki was able to pin Spike to the floor and repeatedly punch him, but, as the train went through a dark tunnel, the vampire took advantage and switched positions.<ref name=":1" /> Nikki begged to be able to return home to her son,<ref name=":4" /> but he strangled her, before breaking her neck. After admiring her coat when they first met, he removed it from her body, and claimed it as a trophy.<ref name=":1">"[[Fool for Love]]"</ref>
   
After her death, Crowley took Robin in as his own, relocating to Beverly Hills, and raised him to fight like his mother.<ref name=":3">"[[First Date]]"</ref> In 2003, Robin, who had moved to [[Sunnydale]] and teamed up with Buffy and her vampire ally, where he learned from [[the First Evil]], in the guise of his dead mother, that the aforementioned vampire, Spike, was the vampire that killed her.<ref name=":3" />
+
After her death, Crowley took Robin in as his own, relocating to Beverly Hills, and raised him to fight like his mother.<ref name=":3">"[[First Date]]"</ref> In 2003, Robin moved to [[Sunnydale]] and teamed up with Buffy and her vampire ally Spike. While there, he learned from [[the First Evil]], in the guise of his dead mother, that Spike was the vampire that killed Nikki.<ref name=":3" />
   
 
[[File:First Evil Nikki Wood.jpg|thumb|The First Evil appears as Nikki to her son Robin.]]
 
[[File:First Evil Nikki Wood.jpg|thumb|The First Evil appears as Nikki to her son Robin.]]
   
Robin tried to get revenge on Spike by using the First's trigger to achieve Spike's feral nature and fight the demon who had killed his mother. During the fight, Spike was able to recover from his own trauma and defeated him. Although, having regained his soul, Spike let Robin live, saying that he owed him for killing Nikki, but Robin wouldn't get another pass like that if he tried it again. Buffy, following up on the situation, warned Robin she would let Spike kill him, and told him, just like his mother, that the mission that mattered.<ref name=":0">"[[Lies My Parents Told Me]]"</ref>
+
Robin tried to get revenge on Spike by using the First's trigger to bring Spike's feral nature to the surface and fight the demon who had killed his mother. During the fight, Spike was able to recover from his own trauma and defeated him. Although, having regained his soul, Spike let Robin live, saying that he owed him for killing Nikki, but Robin wouldn't get another pass like that if he tried it again. Buffy, following up on the situation, warned Robin she would let Spike kill him, and told him, just like his mother, that the mission was what mattered.<ref name=":0">"[[Lies My Parents Told Me]]"</ref>
   
 
Some time after the [[Slayer Activation spell]] in 2003, the psychologically scarred [[Dana]] took on the personalities of past Slayers, including Nikki's. Since Nikki was killed by Spike, along with another [[Xin Rong]] in 1800, Dana perceived Spike as [[Walter Kindel]], a man who kidnapped and abused her in her childhood. When confronting Spike, Dana mentioned having to look after Nikki's son, which caused Spike to remember Nikki.<ref name=":4">"[[Damage]]"</ref>
 
Some time after the [[Slayer Activation spell]] in 2003, the psychologically scarred [[Dana]] took on the personalities of past Slayers, including Nikki's. Since Nikki was killed by Spike, along with another [[Xin Rong]] in 1800, Dana perceived Spike as [[Walter Kindel]], a man who kidnapped and abused her in her childhood. When confronting Spike, Dana mentioned having to look after Nikki's son, which caused Spike to remember Nikki.<ref name=":4">"[[Damage]]"</ref>

Revision as of 22:29, 14 March 2019

The mission's what matters.
―Nikki Wood[src]

Nikki Wood was a Slayer based in New York City during the 1970s. Nikki was notable for being one of the few Slayers in history to have been a mother, as well as her relatively long tenure as a Slayer (seven years). Her Watcher was Bernard Crowley. In 1977, she met her end at the hands of notorious vampire Spike, who took her leather jacket as a trophy. She had a son named Robin.

Biography

The Slayer

No matter where she went. No matter how much she wanted to be with me. She wasn't strong enough to ignore it. She had to be a Slayer.
―Robin Wood[src]

Nikki was born on July 24, 1955, in New York City. In 1970, she was called as the Slayer and trained by the watcher Crowley.

In the early 70s, Nikki followed her NYPD lover, Li, on a stakeout. He wasn't aware of vampires or Slayers, and Nikki discovered that the ring leader was a vampire called Le Banc, who was smuggling in vampires and a giant bat. Li was killed by a vampire in the conflict. Nikki later flew the bat into an on-coming subway train and slayed Le Banc.[4]

On July 24, 1973, Nikki participated in her Tento di Cruciamentum, much to the disapproval of Crowley, who was appalled that the Watchers Council forced her to undergo it as she was pregnant at the time. Upon surviving her Cruciamentum, she gave birth to her son, Robin. However, she did not know exactly who his father was as she "didn't take names when blowing off steam." Crowley arranged for Nikki to go into hiding and live a normal life with Robin. Nikki took her child and lived in South America as well as Mexico for a while. However, she couldn't dismiss her calling, and returned to New York and her duty as the Slayer.[5]

Nikki Lies My Parents Told Me

Nikki protects her son after encountering the vampire Spike.

Sometime in 1977, the vampire Spike tracked Nikki down, wanting to challenge his second Slayer. They met and fought in Central Park for the first time with Nikki's young son Robin watching from behind a park bench. The fight came to a stand still and Spike fled the scene. Before he left, he complimented her coat. Following the battle, Nikki dropped Robin off at Bernard's apartment where he let Robin play with some "spooky doo-dads", telling her son that the "mission is what matters" as she had to go after the vampire.[3]

Death and legacy

Please don't. I have to get home to my son… to my Robin.
Dana channels Nikki Wood[src]
Spike&Nikki

Nikki has her final battle in 1977.

On July 13, 1977, Nikki and Spike had their final showdown inside a New York City subway train. Nikki was able to pin Spike to the floor and repeatedly punch him, but, as the train went through a dark tunnel, the vampire took advantage and switched positions.[1] Nikki begged to be able to return home to her son,[6] but he strangled her, before breaking her neck. After admiring her coat when they first met, he removed it from her body, and claimed it as a trophy.[1]

After her death, Crowley took Robin in as his own, relocating to Beverly Hills, and raised him to fight like his mother.[2] In 2003, Robin moved to Sunnydale and teamed up with Buffy and her vampire ally Spike. While there, he learned from the First Evil, in the guise of his dead mother, that Spike was the vampire that killed Nikki.[2]

First Evil Nikki Wood

The First Evil appears as Nikki to her son Robin.

Robin tried to get revenge on Spike by using the First's trigger to bring Spike's feral nature to the surface and fight the demon who had killed his mother. During the fight, Spike was able to recover from his own trauma and defeated him. Although, having regained his soul, Spike let Robin live, saying that he owed him for killing Nikki, but Robin wouldn't get another pass like that if he tried it again. Buffy, following up on the situation, warned Robin she would let Spike kill him, and told him, just like his mother, that the mission was what mattered.[3]

Some time after the Slayer Activation spell in 2003, the psychologically scarred Dana took on the personalities of past Slayers, including Nikki's. Since Nikki was killed by Spike, along with another Xin Rong in 1800, Dana perceived Spike as Walter Kindel, a man who kidnapped and abused her in her childhood. When confronting Spike, Dana mentioned having to look after Nikki's son, which caused Spike to remember Nikki.[6]

Over a year and a half after the destruction of Sunnydale, Buffy believed herself to be pregnant after getting drunk at a housewarming party. Unsure of what to do, she turned to Robin for advice on how he handled being the son of a Slayer. Robin told Buffy that she was not Nikki and that he was confident that she could handle raising a child, because she had managed to balance a normal life with her Slayer duties, where most other Slayers, including Nikki herself, did not or could not.[5]

Behind the scenes

  • She was portrayed by April Weeden and K.D. Aubert.
  • Initially unidentified, Nikki was credited as “Subway Slayer” in episode "Fool for Love".
  • Weeden explained that, despite having auditioned to reprise the role, “I got a phone call from casting stating that there was ‘a certain maturity’ about me now, and that I didn't get the part.” In the Buffyverse, she had also acted as stunt double for Kendra Young in "What's My Line, Part One" and Alonna Gunn in "War Zone", as well as different vampires.[7]

Appearances

Canon

Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Angel
Tales
Season Eight
Season Nine
Season Ten
Spike comics
Season Eleven

Other

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Classic
Novels
Angel comics

References

Preceded by:
Unknown,

eventually Anni

The Slayer
1970-1977
Succeeded by:
Unknown,

eventually Buffy Summers