Halfrek
Encyclopedia
Halfrek or Hallie is a recurring fictional character on the TV
series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She appears as a vengeance demon
in seasons 6 and 7, and has previously appeared as Cecily in season 5. She is played by actress Kali Rocha
.
, who knew her from her days as a vengeance demon. The two had worked together in the past, notably during the Russian Revolution
. However, Halfrek's raison d'etre differed from Anya's. Whereas Anya was an avenger of scorned women, Halfrek's "thing" (as Anya put it) is to perform vengeance for children who have been wronged by their parents or guardians. Anya attributes this to "daddy issues". Even after Anya ceases to be a vengeance demon, she continues her friendship with Halfrek. Like Anyanka used the name Anya when masquerading as human, Halfrek's mortal persona goes by the name Hallie.
In her second appearance in season 6, Halfrek poses as a guidance counselor and coaxes Dawn
into making a wish. Feeling that no one wants to spend time with her, Dawn wishes that people would never leave; Halfrek therefore casts a spell that prevents anyone from leaving the Summers residence. The crisis ends when Halfrek herself is caught in the spell and has to break it. Halfrek also appears as a bridesmaid at the failed wedding of Anya and Xander
. Early in season 7, Halfrek attempts to coax Anya back into vengeance, but Anya has spent too long as a mortal; while she was initially successful in her return to demonhood, she subsequently regrets the deaths she has caused. D'Hoffryn
asks Anya what she wants, and she says that she wants to reverse the vengeance she had done. D'Hoffryn grants her wish, telling her that it'll require the sacrifice of a vengeance demon's body and soul. Believing she is about to die, Anya is resigned to her fate—only to watch helplessly as D'Hoffryn summons her friend Halfrek and incinerates her.
": Cecily, the upper-class object of the then-human William's affections in Victorian
England circa 1880. Cecily spurns William's advances, saying he is "beneath her", and upsetting him greatly. This sets in motion the events that lead William to accept comfort from Drusilla, and become a vampire. (Cecily's surname was implied to be Underwood in the episode "Lies My Parents Told Me", but stated to be Addams in the script and credits of "Fool for Love" and the non-canon tie-in novel These Our Actors.)
(circa 1853) which is mentioned in "Lessons" and shown in "Selfless". The timing of this event would indicate that Halfrek existed as a demon at least three decades prior to the adoption of youthful human form in Cecily. Joss Whedon and Kali Rocha have both made statements that Halfrek and Cecily were indeed the same entity.
Halfrek later appeared in the comic Spike: Old Times
, which established that she was 'on a job' at the time that William fell for Cecily. The night William became a vampire, she caused the deaths of the rude party-goers who had laughed at William's poetry.
Continuity-wise, the comic story takes place in Buffy Season 6, and assumes that an ensouled Spike briefly left Sunnydale and visited LA.
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She appears as a vengeance demon
Vengeance demon
Vengeance demons are a group of beings that appear in the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. They are immortals who travel the world exacting vengeance on behalf of victims, such as scorned men, women or neglected children...
in seasons 6 and 7, and has previously appeared as Cecily in season 5. She is played by actress Kali Rocha
Kali Rocha
-Early life:Rocha was born in Memphis, Tennessee and grew up in Providence, Rhode Island, graduating from Carnegie Mellon School of Drama in 1993.-Career:...
.
Halfrek
Halfrek is a long-time associate and sometime friend of AnyaAnya Jenkins
Anya is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She also appears in the comic book series based on the television show. Portrayed by Emma Caulfield, the character appears as a guest star in the third and fourth seasons of the show before...
, who knew her from her days as a vengeance demon. The two had worked together in the past, notably during the Russian Revolution
Russian Revolution of 1917
The Russian Revolution is the collective term for a series of revolutions in Russia in 1917, which destroyed the Tsarist autocracy and led to the creation of the Soviet Union. The Tsar was deposed and replaced by a provisional government in the first revolution of February 1917...
. However, Halfrek's raison d'etre differed from Anya's. Whereas Anya was an avenger of scorned women, Halfrek's "thing" (as Anya put it) is to perform vengeance for children who have been wronged by their parents or guardians. Anya attributes this to "daddy issues". Even after Anya ceases to be a vengeance demon, she continues her friendship with Halfrek. Like Anyanka used the name Anya when masquerading as human, Halfrek's mortal persona goes by the name Hallie.
In her second appearance in season 6, Halfrek poses as a guidance counselor and coaxes Dawn
Dawn Summers
Dawn Summers is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon and introduced by Marti Noxon and David Fury on the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, portrayed by Michelle Trachtenberg. She made her debut in the premiere episode of the show's fifth season, and subsequently appeared in every...
into making a wish. Feeling that no one wants to spend time with her, Dawn wishes that people would never leave; Halfrek therefore casts a spell that prevents anyone from leaving the Summers residence. The crisis ends when Halfrek herself is caught in the spell and has to break it. Halfrek also appears as a bridesmaid at the failed wedding of Anya and Xander
Xander Harris
Alexander LaVelle "Xander" Harris is a fictional character in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as well as in numerous items in the series Expanded Universe, such as comic books, tie-in novels and video games...
. Early in season 7, Halfrek attempts to coax Anya back into vengeance, but Anya has spent too long as a mortal; while she was initially successful in her return to demonhood, she subsequently regrets the deaths she has caused. D'Hoffryn
D'Hoffryn
D'Hoffryn is a fictional character on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, played by Andy Umberger. He is a powerful entity high in the demonic hierarchy. He's the master of the vengeance demons, a cabal which includes humans who are "elevated" to demonic status and endowed with mystical powers enabling them...
asks Anya what she wants, and she says that she wants to reverse the vengeance she had done. D'Hoffryn grants her wish, telling her that it'll require the sacrifice of a vengeance demon's body and soul. Believing she is about to die, Anya is resigned to her fate—only to watch helplessly as D'Hoffryn summons her friend Halfrek and incinerates her.
Cecily
Kali Rocha, the actress who plays Halfrek, also earlier played another character in the season 5 episode "Fool For LoveFool for Love (Buffy episode)
"Fool for Love" is episode 7 of season 5 of the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It is a companion to the Angel episode "Darla", which first aired later the same night on The WB network; both episodes include multiple flashbacks to the history of Spike and Darla, shown from their...
": Cecily, the upper-class object of the then-human William's affections in Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
England circa 1880. Cecily spurns William's advances, saying he is "beneath her", and upsetting him greatly. This sets in motion the events that lead William to accept comfort from Drusilla, and become a vampire. (Cecily's surname was implied to be Underwood in the episode "Lies My Parents Told Me", but stated to be Addams in the script and credits of "Fool for Love" and the non-canon tie-in novel These Our Actors.)
Identity
In the season 6 episode "Older and Far Away", Halfrek recognizes Spike and calls him by his human name, William. Spike also recognizes Halfrek, but when asked to explain this they both sheepishly deny being acquainted. This implies that Halfrek had previously been Cecily. However, Halfrek and Anya witnessed the Crimean WarCrimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
(circa 1853) which is mentioned in "Lessons" and shown in "Selfless". The timing of this event would indicate that Halfrek existed as a demon at least three decades prior to the adoption of youthful human form in Cecily. Joss Whedon and Kali Rocha have both made statements that Halfrek and Cecily were indeed the same entity.
Halfrek later appeared in the comic Spike: Old Times
Spike: Old Times (Angel comic)
Spike: Old Times is a comic based on the Angel television series.-Story description:Spike struggles to protect a man from Halfrek, a vengeance demon who has wronged Spike in the past; she in fact had been the object of his unrequited crush....
, which established that she was 'on a job' at the time that William fell for Cecily. The night William became a vampire, she caused the deaths of the rude party-goers who had laughed at William's poetry.
Continuity-wise, the comic story takes place in Buffy Season 6, and assumes that an ensouled Spike briefly left Sunnydale and visited LA.
Appearances
Buffy the Vampire Slayer : Halfrek/Cecily has appeared in 7 Buffy episodes as a guest.- Season 5: "Fool for Love" (as Cecily)
- Season 6: "Doublemeat Palace"; "Older and Far Away"; Hell's Bells"; "Entropy"
- Season 7: "Lessons"; "Selfless"