Kennedy (Buffyverse)
Encyclopedia
Kennedy is a fictional character
in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Portrayed by Iyari Limon
in the TV series, the character was introduced in the final season of the series and goes on to appear in the comic book
series Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight
which continues the story of the television series.
Kennedy is introduced as a "potential Slayer", one of many girls who might become endowed with supernatural abilities, destined to battle evil creatures such as vampires and demons, like protagonist
Buffy Summers
. Distinctly, Kennedy is also a love interest for Willow Rosenberg
; Kennedy is an out
lesbian
with an assertive personality, which is intended to contrast with the shyness of Willow's deceased girlfriend, Tara
. In the series finale of Buffy, Willow magically activates the potential in all girls like Kennedy to become full-fledged Slayers, like Buffy.
. She comes from a wealthy family in New York City
and has at least one sibling, a half-sister. An out lesbian
, Kennedy has known about her sexuality since the age of five (commenting that she found out watching Gone with the Wind
). Kennedy is immediately interested in having a romantic relationship with Willow
when the two meet in the season seven episode, "Bring on the Night
".
Kennedy witnessed her Watcher
's death; he was murdered by Bringers, the lackeys of The First Evil. That she knew about Watchers (as well as having some comprehension of how the Slayer
line works) before being chosen indicates that she was approached by them at some point during her youth, like the late Slayer, Kendra Young.
Kennedy becomes Willow's lover before she completely comprehends Willow's magical prowess and how Willow operates as a witch. In the episode "Get It Done", she gains a first hand understanding when Willow drains a significant portion of her life force in order to reopen a portal for Buffy. This briefly puts a strain on their relationship, but they eventually reconcile.
Kennedy becomes one of the more prominent Potentials, overseeing their training in "Get It Done", and giving orders to them in "End of Days" while Buffy is absent and Faith is incapacitated. She supports Willow in her attempt to activate all Potential Slayers. After Willow's activation spell is completed, Kennedy joins Buffy and the other Potentials in the final battle against the First Evil's army of Turok-Han
as a fully activated Slayer
.
In Season Five of Angel
, a year after the end of Buffy, mention is made that Kennedy and Willow are living in Brazil
together.
In season eight, an in-canon comic book series, in the story titled "The Long Way Home, Part III
", Buffy catches up with Willow in Scotland
, after the latter's year long absence. During this conversation, Buffy asks how Kennedy's doing and Willow reveals that she died, though it was only a short-lived mystical death. However, it still freaked Kennedy out and caused her to slow things down in her and Willow's relationship. In the issue "Anywhere but Here
", a flashback recounts a conversation that reveals that Kennedy is worried that Willow keeps her away from Buffy's inner circle because she is ashamed of her. Willow promptly explains that she blames herself for Tara's death because she kept her close to Buffy and therefore to danger. Willow then states that she refuses to let that happen to Kennedy. In Season Eight, Kennedy directs an army of slayers in New York
, along with Vi. She and Willow finally reunite in the fourth arc of the series, Time of Your Life
, in which Buffy is accidentally sent to the future and Kennedy is helping Willow in an attempt to bring her back.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Kennedy appears as a supporting character in 13 episodes:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight
: Kennedy has appeared in 8 issues thus far:
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Portrayed by Iyari Limon
Iyari Limon
Iyari Pérez Limón is an actress best known for her supporting role as Potential Slayer Kennedy on the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.-Career:Limón has appeared in numerous TV commercials, both in Spanish and English...
in the TV series, the character was introduced in the final season of the series and goes on to appear in the comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
series Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight is a comic book series published by Dark Horse Comics. The series serves as a canonical continuation of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and follows the events of that show's final televised season. It is produced by Joss Whedon, who wrote the...
which continues the story of the television series.
Kennedy is introduced as a "potential Slayer", one of many girls who might become endowed with supernatural abilities, destined to battle evil creatures such as vampires and demons, like protagonist
Protagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
Buffy Summers
Buffy Summers
Buffy Summers is a fictional character from Joss Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer franchise. She first appeared in the 1992 film Buffy the Vampire Slayer before going on to appear in the television series and subsequent comic book of the same name...
. Distinctly, Kennedy is also a love interest for Willow Rosenberg
Willow Rosenberg
Willow Rosenberg is a fictional character created for the fantasy television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer . She was developed by Joss Whedon and portrayed throughout the TV series by Alyson Hannigan...
; Kennedy is an out
The Closet
The Closet may refer to:* The Closet , Chinese film* The Closet , French film* The closet, referring to undisclosed homosexuality- See also :* Closet* Closet * In the closet...
lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
with an assertive personality, which is intended to contrast with the shyness of Willow's deceased girlfriend, Tara
Tara Maclay
Tara Maclay is a fictional character created for the fantasy television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer . She was developed by Joss Whedon and portrayed by Amber Benson from the fourth to the sixth season until the character's death. Tara is a shy young woman with magical talents who falls in love...
. In the series finale of Buffy, Willow magically activates the potential in all girls like Kennedy to become full-fledged Slayers, like Buffy.
Character history
Kennedy is one of the first three Potential Slayers to arrive in SunnydaleSunnydale
Sunnydale, California is the fictional setting for the U.S. television drama Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Series creator Joss Whedon conceived the town as a representation of a generic California city, as well as a narrative parody of the all-too-serene towns typical in traditional horror...
. She comes from a wealthy family in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and has at least one sibling, a half-sister. An out lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
, Kennedy has known about her sexuality since the age of five (commenting that she found out watching Gone with the Wind
Gone with the Wind (film)
Gone with the Wind is a 1939 American historical epic film adapted from Margaret Mitchell's Pulitzer-winning 1936 novel of the same name. It was produced by David O. Selznick and directed by Victor Fleming from a screenplay by Sidney Howard...
). Kennedy is immediately interested in having a romantic relationship with Willow
Willow Rosenberg
Willow Rosenberg is a fictional character created for the fantasy television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer . She was developed by Joss Whedon and portrayed throughout the TV series by Alyson Hannigan...
when the two meet in the season seven episode, "Bring on the Night
Bring On the Night
Bring on the Night is a 1986 live album by Sting recorded over the course of several live shows in 1985 and released in 1986. The title is taken from a song by The Police from their 1979 album Reggatta de Blanc. The songs performed include Sting's early solo material from the studio album The Dream...
".
Kennedy witnessed her Watcher
Watcher (Buffyverse)
In the fictional Buffyverse established by the television series Buffy and Angel, a Watcher is a member of a secret organization, the Watchers' Council, which seeks to prepare the Slayer to fight demonic forces.-Description:...
's death; he was murdered by Bringers, the lackeys of The First Evil. That she knew about Watchers (as well as having some comprehension of how the Slayer
Slayer (Buffyverse)
A Slayer, in the fictional Buffyverse established by Buffy and Angel, is a young female bestowed with mystical powers that originate from the essence of a pure-demon, which gives her superhuman senses, strength, agility, resilience and speed in the fight against forces of darkness...
line works) before being chosen indicates that she was approached by them at some point during her youth, like the late Slayer, Kendra Young.
Kennedy becomes Willow's lover before she completely comprehends Willow's magical prowess and how Willow operates as a witch. In the episode "Get It Done", she gains a first hand understanding when Willow drains a significant portion of her life force in order to reopen a portal for Buffy. This briefly puts a strain on their relationship, but they eventually reconcile.
Kennedy becomes one of the more prominent Potentials, overseeing their training in "Get It Done", and giving orders to them in "End of Days" while Buffy is absent and Faith is incapacitated. She supports Willow in her attempt to activate all Potential Slayers. After Willow's activation spell is completed, Kennedy joins Buffy and the other Potentials in the final battle against the First Evil's army of Turok-Han
Turok-Han
The Turok-Han vampires are fictional characters from Joss Whedon's TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. They appear in the 7th and final season of the series, making their first appearance in the episode "Never Leave Me", when the Seal of Danzalthar is opened under the basement of Sunnydale High,...
as a fully activated Slayer
Slayer (Buffyverse)
A Slayer, in the fictional Buffyverse established by Buffy and Angel, is a young female bestowed with mystical powers that originate from the essence of a pure-demon, which gives her superhuman senses, strength, agility, resilience and speed in the fight against forces of darkness...
.
In Season Five of Angel
Angel (TV series)
Angel is an American television series, a spin-off of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The series was created by Buffys creator, Joss Whedon, in collaboration with David Greenwalt, and first aired on October 5, 1999...
, a year after the end of Buffy, mention is made that Kennedy and Willow are living in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
together.
The Long Way Home (Buffy comic)
"The Long Way Home" is the first arc from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight series of comic books, a direct continuation of the television series of the same name. It is written by creator Joss Whedon. It ran for four issues. The first issue was released on March 14, 2007, and the final...
", Buffy catches up with Willow in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, after the latter's year long absence. During this conversation, Buffy asks how Kennedy's doing and Willow reveals that she died, though it was only a short-lived mystical death. However, it still freaked Kennedy out and caused her to slow things down in her and Willow's relationship. In the issue "Anywhere but Here
Anywhere but Here (Buffy comic)
"Anywhere but Here" is the tenth issue of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight series of comic books, a continuation from the television series of the same name. It is written by Joss Whedon.-Plot:...
", a flashback recounts a conversation that reveals that Kennedy is worried that Willow keeps her away from Buffy's inner circle because she is ashamed of her. Willow promptly explains that she blames herself for Tara's death because she kept her close to Buffy and therefore to danger. Willow then states that she refuses to let that happen to Kennedy. In Season Eight, Kennedy directs an army of slayers in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, along with Vi. She and Willow finally reunite in the fourth arc of the series, Time of Your Life
Time of Your Life (Buffy comic)
"Time of Your Life" is the fourth story arc that spreads from the sixteenth to the nineteenth issue of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight series of comic books, a continuation of the television series of the same name...
, in which Buffy is accidentally sent to the future and Kennedy is helping Willow in an attempt to bring her back.
Appearances in Buffyverse
Kennedy has appeared in 21 canonical Buffyverse appearancesBuffy the Vampire Slayer: Kennedy appears as a supporting character in 13 episodes:
- Season 7 (2002–2003)- "Bring on the NightBring on the Night (Buffy episode)"Bring on the Night" is the tenth episode of the seventh and final season of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.-Plot synopsis:...
"; "ShowtimeShowtime (Buffy episode)"Showtime" is the eleventh episode of the seventh and final season of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.-Plot synopsis:A young woman gets off a bus at a bus station at night and heads to a payphone to find the number for Buffy Summers. Before she can find the number, one of the...
"; "PotentialPotential (Buffy episode)"Potential" is the twelfth episode of season 7 of the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer.-Plot synopsis:Two Potential Slayers, Rona and Vi, walk alone in the cemetery until Spike knocks Rona out of the way, grabs Vi and leans in for the kill. Buffy and the other Slayers watch and learn from...
"; "The Killer in Me"; "First DateFirst Date (Buffy episode)"First Date" is the fourteenth episode of season 7 of the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer.-Plot synopsis:Buffy discusses the removal of Spike's chip with Giles; Giles doesn't believe that it was the right thing to do, while Buffy is convinced that it was.At work, Buffy tries to hunt for...
"; "Get It Done"; "StorytellerStoryteller (Buffy episode)"Storyteller" is the sixteenth episode of season 7 of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Storyteller refers to Andrew Wells, who has become a pseudo-member of the Scooby Gang after being a villain in the previous season, and has been held hostage at Buffy's home since early in the...
"; "Lies My Parents Told Me"; "Dirty Girls"; "Empty Places"; "TouchedTouched (Buffy episode)"Touched" is the 20th episode of the seventh and final season of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.-Plot:After being ejected from her home when the Scooby Gang loses faith in her leadership, a depressed Buffy is comforted by Spike....
" ; "End of DaysEnd of Days (Buffy episode)"End of Days" is the 21st episode of the seventh and final season of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.-Plot synopsis:Starting moments after the previous episode ended, "End of Days" begins as Buffy effortlessly pulls the scythe from the stone...
"; "ChosenChosen (Buffy episode)"Chosen" is the series finale of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It serves as the 22nd episode of the seventh season, and the 144th episode overall. The episode was written and directed by series creator Joss Whedon and originally aired on UPN on May 20, 2003...
"
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight is a comic book series published by Dark Horse Comics. The series serves as a canonical continuation of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and follows the events of that show's final televised season. It is produced by Joss Whedon, who wrote the...
: Kennedy has appeared in 8 issues thus far:
- "Anywhere but HereAnywhere but Here (Buffy comic)"Anywhere but Here" is the tenth issue of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight series of comic books, a continuation from the television series of the same name. It is written by Joss Whedon.-Plot:...
" (in a flashback) - "Time of Your Life, Parts I-IVTime of Your Life (Buffy comic)"Time of Your Life" is the fourth story arc that spreads from the sixteenth to the nineteenth issue of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight series of comic books, a continuation of the television series of the same name...
". - "Predators and Prey, Part II" ("Swell")Predators and Prey"Predators and Prey" is the fifth story arc that spreads from the twenty-first to the twenty-fifth issue of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight series of comic books, a continuation of the television series of the same name. The arc is written by Jane Espenson, Steven S. DeKnight, Drew Z...
" - "Retreat, Part I & IIIRetreat (Buffy comic)"Retreat" is the sixth story arc of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight series of comic books, based upon the television series of the same name, and is written by television screenwriter Jane Espenson...
"