Principal Snyder
Encyclopedia
Principal R. Snyder is a fictional character in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, played by Armin Shimerman
. Shimerman originally auditioned for the role of Flutie, but lost that role to Ken Lerner. Although his full name is never revealed in the series, his desk name-display revealed that the first letter of his first name is R.
), Snyder replaces him as the principal of Sunnydale High. A strict and incredibly delusional disciplinarian with a dictator-like personality, he has no friends among the Scooby Gang or any other student for that matter, except the swim team. Despite or because of his view of adolescents as hormone-ridden pests, he follows his profession out of a sense of civic duty ("When She Was Bad
"). Snyder takes an immediate and profound dislike to Buffy
, and seeks out any excuse to expel her. He coerces students into serving as chaperones for young children on Halloween, bullies Willow
into tutoring Percy, gives a passing grade to a swim team member who is failing computer class, and forces everyone to sell candy for the marching band.
Snyder (along with Police Chief Bob Munroe) turns out to be one of the many people Mayor Richard Wilkins had put in place to cover up supernatural activities in Sunnydale
("School Hard
", "I Only Have Eyes For You
"), and he was hostile towards Buffy because Wilkins had so ordered him. According to the later episode, Snyder was specifically chosen as principal because the authorities believed he was uniquely suited for the job's equally unique pressures, but precisely what in Snyder's past might have so qualified him was never discussed. The only insight into Snyder's past was his Band Candy-induced regression to adolescence, where he is a socially inept geek with delusions that others can tolerate his presence, and has no obvious understanding of the supernatural.
Snyder finally expels Buffy when she is found beside Kendra's body in the season two finale. He refuses to allow her to return even after Buffy is cleared of all charges, citing Buffy's poor grades, spotty attendance record
, and "tingling pleasure" that he is finally rid of her. However, the school board, as well as physical and professional threats from Rupert Giles
, force him to allow Buffy to return.
Since the school board later involves Snyder in Mayor Wilkins' sacrifice to the demon Lurconis, its members are also clearly aware of at least some of the goings-on in Sunnydale.
Snyder's stern belief in imposing order and discipline proves to be his undoing in the season three finale, "Graduation Day". He loudly scolds Mayor Wilkins for turning into the gigantic, snakelike demon Olvikan following his keynote speech at the 1999 high school graduation. Olvikan swallows Snyder whole.
Snyder makes one more appearance in the role of Colonel Kurtz in Xander's Apocalypse Now
-themed dream in the season four finale "Restless
".
Buffy the Vampire Slayer : Snyder has appeared in 19 Buffy episodes as a guest
Armin Shimerman
Armin Shimerman is an American actor. Shimerman is best known for playing the Ferengi bartender Quark in the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Principal Snyder in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Kramer's caddy Stan on Seinfeld, voicing Dr. Nefarious in the Ratchet & Clank series, and Andrew...
. Shimerman originally auditioned for the role of Flutie, but lost that role to Ken Lerner. Although his full name is never revealed in the series, his desk name-display revealed that the first letter of his first name is R.
Summary
After Robert Flutie is eaten alive by "the Pack" (with the exception of XanderXander 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...
), Snyder replaces him as the principal of Sunnydale High. A strict and incredibly delusional disciplinarian with a dictator-like personality, he has no friends among the Scooby Gang or any other student for that matter, except the swim team. Despite or because of his view of adolescents as hormone-ridden pests, he follows his profession out of a sense of civic duty ("When She Was Bad
When She Was Bad
"When She Was Bad" is the first episode in the second season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The episode was written and directed by series creator and executive producer Joss Whedon...
"). Snyder takes an immediate and profound dislike to Buffy
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...
, and seeks out any excuse to expel her. He coerces students into serving as chaperones for young children on Halloween, bullies 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...
into tutoring Percy, gives a passing grade to a swim team member who is failing computer class, and forces everyone to sell candy for the marching band.
Snyder (along with Police Chief Bob Munroe) turns out to be one of the many people Mayor Richard Wilkins had put in place to cover up supernatural activities in Sunnydale
Sunnydale
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...
("School Hard
School Hard
"School Hard" is episode three of season two of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The story for the episode was conceived by series creator and executive producer Joss Whedon and co-executive producer David Greenwalt, with Greenwalt penning the teleplay. It was directed by John T....
", "I Only Have Eyes For You
I Only Have Eyes for You (Buffy episode)
"I Only Have Eyes for You" is episode 19 of season two of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. A ghost possesses high school boys while his school teacher-lover possesses high school girls .-Plot:...
"), and he was hostile towards Buffy because Wilkins had so ordered him. According to the later episode, Snyder was specifically chosen as principal because the authorities believed he was uniquely suited for the job's equally unique pressures, but precisely what in Snyder's past might have so qualified him was never discussed. The only insight into Snyder's past was his Band Candy-induced regression to adolescence, where he is a socially inept geek with delusions that others can tolerate his presence, and has no obvious understanding of the supernatural.
Snyder finally expels Buffy when she is found beside Kendra's body in the season two finale. He refuses to allow her to return even after Buffy is cleared of all charges, citing Buffy's poor grades, spotty attendance record
Truancy
Truancy is any intentional unauthorized absence from compulsory schooling. The term typically describes absences caused by students of their own free will, and usually does not refer to legitimate "excused" absences, such as ones related to medical conditions...
, and "tingling pleasure" that he is finally rid of her. However, the school board, as well as physical and professional threats from Rupert Giles
Rupert Giles
Rupert Giles is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The character is portrayed by Anthony Stewart Head. He serves as Buffy Summers' mentor and surrogate father figure...
, force him to allow Buffy to return.
Since the school board later involves Snyder in Mayor Wilkins' sacrifice to the demon Lurconis, its members are also clearly aware of at least some of the goings-on in Sunnydale.
Snyder's stern belief in imposing order and discipline proves to be his undoing in the season three finale, "Graduation Day". He loudly scolds Mayor Wilkins for turning into the gigantic, snakelike demon Olvikan following his keynote speech at the 1999 high school graduation. Olvikan swallows Snyder whole.
Snyder makes one more appearance in the role of Colonel Kurtz in Xander's Apocalypse Now
Apocalypse Now
Apocalypse Now is a 1979 American war film set during the Vietnam War, produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The central character is US Army special operations officer Captain Benjamin L. Willard , of MACV-SOG, an assassin sent to kill the renegade and presumed insane Special Forces...
-themed dream in the season four finale "Restless
Restless (Buffy episode)
"Restless" is the 22nd episode and season finale of season four of the fantasy television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer , and the 78th episode of the series overall...
".
Canonical appearances
Principal Snyder has appeared in 19 canonical Buffyverse episodes:Buffy the Vampire Slayer : Snyder has appeared in 19 Buffy episodes as a guest
- Season 1 (1997) – "The Puppet Show", "Out of Mind, Out of SightOut of Mind, Out of Sight"Out of Mind, Out of Sight", also known as "Invisible Girl", is the 11th episode of season one of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer....
". - Season 2 (1997, 1998) – "When She Was BadWhen She Was Bad"When She Was Bad" is the first episode in the second season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The episode was written and directed by series creator and executive producer Joss Whedon...
"; "School HardSchool Hard"School Hard" is episode three of season two of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The story for the episode was conceived by series creator and executive producer Joss Whedon and co-executive producer David Greenwalt, with Greenwalt penning the teleplay. It was directed by John T....
"; "HalloweenHalloween (Buffy episode)"Halloween" is episode six of season two of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It was written by freelance writer Carl Ellsworth and directed by Bruce Seth Green...
"; "What's My Line, Part One"; "I Only Have Eyes For YouI Only Have Eyes for You (Buffy episode)"I Only Have Eyes for You" is episode 19 of season two of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. A ghost possesses high school boys while his school teacher-lover possesses high school girls .-Plot:...
"; "Go FishGo Fish (Buffy episode)"Go Fish" is episode 20 of season two of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.Xander goes undercover on the Sunnydale swim team after two members are seemingly eaten, leaving only their skins. Their coach has been giving them steroids combined with fish DNA, which turns them into sea...
"; "Becoming, Part One"; "Becoming, Part Two". - Season 3 (1998, 1999) – "Dead Man's PartyDead Man's Party (Buffy episode)"Dead Man's Party" is episode 2 of season 3 of the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer.Buffy struggles with life back in Sunnydale. Her problems with Angel, combined with the anger and distance of her friends and mother, only make things more difficult...
"; "Faith, Hope & Trick"; "Band Candy"; "GingerbreadGingerbread (Buffy episode)"Gingerbread" is episode 11 of season 3 of the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer.-Plot synopsis:While on the nightly patrol, Buffy not only encounters a vampire, but her mother looking for some quality time and a chance to "share" in the slaying experience...
"; "DoppelganglandDoppelgängland (Buffy episode)"Doppelgangland" is the sixteenth episode of the third season of the fantasy television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer . It was written and directed by the show's creator, Joss Whedon, and originally aired on The WB Television Network in the United States on February 23, 1999...
"; "ChoicesChoices (Buffy episode)"Choices" is the 19th episode of season 3 of the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer.-Plot synopsis:A box - the Box of Gavrok - is due to arrive by courier at the airport. The Mayor offers Faith a knife in return for intercepting it. In between fighting vampires, Buffy complains that Angel...
"; "Graduation Day, Part One"; "Graduation Day, Part Two" - Season 4 (1999, 2000) – "RestlessRestless (Buffy episode)"Restless" is the 22nd episode and season finale of season four of the fantasy television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer , and the 78th episode of the series overall...
"