#kendra x buffy

[the-witch-of-woods-beyond]

sun and moon coded couples mean something personal to me.

[sugarbear2001]

They were so yuriful; if only the writers hadn't killed off Kendra, we could have seen more of them together. 

[thechosenthree]

I am back with more Kendra haunting the narrative thoughts after watching Helpless.

This episode is all about slayers and tradition, it’s about the Watcher’s Council treating the slayers as expendable and disposable. Giles says “It's a test, Buffy. It's given to The Slayer once she— if she reaches her eighteenth birthday.”

This episode is about Kendra.

Even though the episode refuses to say her name, Kendra Young is everywhere! Not even a full season before this episode aired, we were shown— for the first time but far from the last— the tragedy of a slayer dying too young in the line of duty, another slayer rising from her grave and then her being seemingly forgotten about.

The show tries to forget Kendra the same way the council does. I’ve already talked in the post I linked above, about how Faith’s existence ensures that we don’t. But it’s more than that!! The tragedy of the slayers and what Buffy and Faith go through, the entire premise of the show, continues to remind the audience of the slayer who didn’t make it as far as them.

Buffy is going through an identity crisis this episode, she has lost her slayer powers and she doesn’t know why. Giles is in no big rush to figure it out, he doesn’t actually seem all that concerned, and Buffy grows increasingly adrift. She realizes she doesn’t know who she is if she’s not The Slayer.

She’s very aware of who she was before. She brings up Cordelia to make this comparison— her ex shadow self who is a representation of her childhood, of the Buffy she was before she was “Buffy, The Vampire Slayer”— and she seems ashamed of who she was then.

She doesn’t want to go back to being that person. She literally CAN’T go back, and she knows that. She has been changed by her experiences, even without her slayer powers, she is a different person than she was. Buffy says “I’ve seen too much. I know what goes bump in the night. Not being able to fight it— what if I just hide under my bed, all scared and helpless?”

She can’t return to the naïveté of the life she lived before she knew what was out there. I mean, she already tried that!! Buffy spent much of s1 trying to hold on to who she used to be, not wanting to let it go, not wanting to acknowledge that that girl and that life were already gone. Her death in Prophecy Girl goes hand in hand with her accepting that she can’t outrun her destiny, she can’t NOT be The Slayer.

Much of s2 was about accepting that being the slayer was a part of her life now. But Buffy continued to treat it like it was a job, one that had been chosen for her and that she’d accepted she needed to do, but a job nonetheless. She was at war with these two sides of herself, unable to see how they could possibly fit. Kendra played a big part in helping her along that journey. “You talk about slaying like it's a job. It's not. It's who you are,” Kendra tells her in What’s My Line.

Kendra who identified as “The Vampire Slayer” before identifying as Kendra. Kendra who never had a childhood or the chance to try and figure out who she was as a person. She was a weapon and a tool forged, used and discarded by the council (and the show). Being the slayer was not only who Kendra was, it was all she was allowed to be.

I can’t imagine the writers were unaware that writing an episode like this would remind people of Kendra. After all that same Buffy speech I quoted earlier includes the first mention of Kendra’s stake since it’s introduction in Becoming. “… Or what if I just become pathetic? Hanging out at the old slayer’s home, talking people’s ears off about my glory days. Showing them Mr. Pointy, the stake I had bronzed.”

Buffy is able to imagine living long enough to grow old IF she doesn’t have her powers. That isn’t the life of a slayer and she knows that, has seen the consequences of this life first hand. She herself has already died young, and a year later she watched her friend die. She goes from being unable to imagine any kind of future at all for herself to spiraling about the possible reality of a powerless one.

Buffy talks about all this while name dropping the stake a 17 year old slayer gave her just before her death… A slayer who didn’t even live long enough to be forced to endure this cruel test.

Reminding the audience of Kendra seems intentional. Which makes them refusing to say her name even more infuriating.

But she IS there, whether truly intentional or not, the show continues to remind me of her. She’s nowhere and everywhere all at once.

[otherworldlychemistry]

Feb 2024 Prompt and Pairing

This month, our featured paring is Kendra/Buffy! Even though they only had a few episodes together, they clearly had chemistry!

This month's prompt is domestic fluff!

Reminder that both of these are totally optional, you can use one, both or neither! If you do write something, you can post to our AO3 collection or livejournal.

[whatisyourchildhoodtrauma]

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER | 2.10 & 1.03

[the-sparkling-diamond-satine]

Before I go, let go of the ghost Just let her disappear And then maybe you'll see me While I'm still here I’m still here Before I go, let’s give up the ghost Just be with me instead I know I might be dying But I'm not dead I'm not dead

— "Before I Go," Kimberly Akimbo

Buffy the Vampire Slayer + theatre — 7/?

Screencaps from here.

[buffysource]

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER ⏤ 2.10 What’s My Line: Part 2

[buffysummers]

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Alphabet ↳ K ✫ Kendra Young

[the-witch-of-woods-beyond]

idk what it is but canon couples are always slightly less appealing to me than the ones that aren’t explicity canon. it’s something about picking two characters because you love their dynamic and rooting for them even though you know it probably won’t happen.

[co-mixed]

Why Boom Still Can’t Get Buffy Right

My love for the Buffyverse is concrete but it has its limits. Yesterday I had a very unpleasant experience finishing yet another unimpressive Buffy run, courtesy of Boom Comics. It’s always disappointing to me because Buffyverse has so much potential and untold stories. It’s a goldmine that is constantly held back and simply can’t find its footing in the comics medium. Why is that? 

Boom’s been rather relentless in trying to make Buffy work. Several years and runs later, there’s still no big WOW story that can attract readers and viewers alike. Not just that, but even seasoned buffy fans don’t seem very interested in continuous attempts at rebooting the Slayer tale. You can blame the word reboot (it does tend to scare people) but the real reason is still Boom’s inability to deliver a good captivating story.

Boom had tried reinventing Buffy, sending her back to school, developing alternate realities and futures. But in every iteration, Buffy and the Scooby Gang were plagued with the same mistakes over and over again. 

Hey, I’m not sure what I am, so bear with me here 

The characters from Buffy are some of the most well-developed characters out there. Each one has a point of origin, a story, and a final form. We love them because we know them. And we know them extremely well. 

Let’s take the fan-favorite, Spike. We’ve seen his whole afterlife and even bits of his life. We know how he became William the Bloody, then Spike, a neutered vampire, and finally, an ensouled champion. We know how, and more importantly, we know why. 

I’d hate to throw in one more why but there is a reason Spike exists in the show, and we know it. 

When you read Boom comics, it feels like writers stick him into every arc just because they like him. He brings nothing to the story, he has no soul or chip yet chooses to join the scoobies. That does not look like the Spike we know. That guy was in s2-s4, not s5-s7. That’s the guy from School Hard or the one who got the Gem of Amara and happily marched to kill Buffy. 

But there’s nothing stronger than the author’s desire to make things ‘right’. Hence this spike lookalike joining the team every time. 

The funny part is, I can very well imagine a soulless chipless Spike who’s not a monster. If Dru sires him and never sees him again, if she never introduces him to Angelus, if he keeps on writing his bloody awful poetry only forever. He probably would’ve turned out like that poor librarian guy whose glasses Dru broke or like Harmony who still tried to be decent. But it’s the writer’s job to explain it, to write it into the story, not just throw a character into a book and see whether they swim or go down. They will always go down. 

Spike is only one of the issues here. In the show, both Kendra and Faith exist to show us the perfect (according to the council) and the fallen slayer. Two possible realities for Buffy. They have their own arcs (well, Faith does) but the show is strong because supporting characters serve a purpose. Just like the people we meet in real life always serve a purpose for us. You might believe that one character pushing the development of another is cruel, but that’s still how good stories are made. That’s still why Buffy is popular 20 years after the show’s finale. 

Kendra and Faith did that for Buffy in the show. In the Boom comics they just exist. They show up for no reason and they just hang around. You can take them out of the story and nothing will change. At one point in the initial reboot there were three slayers at the same time, and that felt more like a fix-it fanfic than a quality comic book. Unfortunately, some slayers have to die and some have to turn evil. Besides, without her rebellious personality, Faith is meaningless.

I have one more bone to pick. I know that Buffy and Angel (still the OTP of the show!) are a complicated matter to many modern writers. And readers, and viewers. There’s no place to hide from the creep factor and even though I will defend this ship till the day everyone finally agrees with me, I can’t deny its presence. But that doesn’t mean you get to discard this ship and separate Buffy and Angel into different books. One doesn’t exist or grow without the other. There is no Buffy in love with a vampire without Angel. There is only Vampire. Slayer. Dead vampire. 

Without Buffy, Angel is not in LA helping the helpless. He’s in New York eating low rats. Before trying to launch two separate books, how about Boom launches one good one, that provides background, even if revised and adapted to the modern days? 

I always worried what would happen when that b*tch got some funding

All this chaotic mess with the characters determines the stories Boom puts out. They tend to have an interesting start but by the time issue 3 comes out, it’s either Camazotz flying around Sunnydale, a giant crab taking over the main street, or whatever the hell Silas was (a soul eater?) Didn’t care for him much. Not even when we were evil. 

More often than not Boom writers suffer from the same disease that plagued Dark Horse comics – scale. Just because you can do anything doesn’t mean you should. Comics allow you to draw literally any kind of baddie but you are playing within a specific world, and suspense of disbelief only goes so far. Besides, in the show, it all grows gradually. You go from the Master to the First evil. In the comics… seriously, what the hell was Silas? 

From what I’ve read so far, Boom knows how to ask interesting questions: 

What if Buffy went to school today?

What if Willow took over as the slayer? 

What if Buffy was older? 

Those are all good what ifs but Boom has a problem following through. They don’t know the answer to this question and it feels like they’re making it up as they go along. If I’m being honest, it even feels like they wrote random ideas on pieces of paper, through them in a hat, and started pulling each time they hit a wall. 

Characters show up for now reason (hi, Tara from the latest run), they don’t feel like themselves, and the saddest part – none of it feels like you are getting your favorite show back. 

These characters deserve better than that. 

And there’s not a one who can say this ended well

At this point, I don’t know if Boom wants Buffy comics to succeed. I don’t mean to be this dramatic but every time someone mentions comics, fans think Dark Horse. Not because they are still considered canon, but because they had a connection to the beloved show. Boom comics don’t give you that, so you can’t look the other way when writers don’t deliver. It’s just how it works. 

I keep thinking what Boom can do to get out of this vicious circle. And I do believe there If they want to successfully play in the Buffyverse, they have to seriously up their game. It’s not impossible either. I mean, Something is Killing the Children is being released by the same studio. And what is that if not a more gruesome version of Buffy? So it’s not exactly magic. It’s doable. 

Personally, I still hold out hope that someone would dare explore the terrifying bloody past of the Whirlwind. Wouldn’t that be fun and gory? I’d like to see deep well-thought-through stories of past slayers. I’d happily read a well-illustrated comic run based on In Every Generation. And if we have to go back to Buffy variants, why not reinvent her story? But before we get to that, we’d have to work through every step of every character. Get them to where we want them, and start with a story that we want to tell, from start to finish. From her first day as a slayer to her last one (she didn’t have to empower the potentials after all).

That, of course, requires a lot of work. And if Boom isn’t ready to put in that kinda effort, they could just move from season 5, introduce a new slayer, and watch how her adventures unravel.  

Buffyverse is a hell of a property and there are too many stories waiting to be written. I’m probably still gonna give it a shot whenever Boom comes up with something new. I just hope I won’t have to write yet another long read complaining about it. 

[thechosenthree]

Okay for science (art reasons) if Buffy had gotten Kendra a stuffed animal, what animal do we think it would be?

[slayer-pride-parade]

Excluding fuffy to give the others a fair chance.

[jasmancer]

ch 2 of splinter is posted!! do u like Kendra? do u like Drusilla? would u like to read some words abt homoerotic lady vampires? how about homoerotic chosen one(s)? check it out!!

cw this chapter does get kinda gory :3

[wandererverse-legacy]

The sequel to "Armour of the Eliminator" set in the Wandererverse.

[marvellousinternethideout]

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER

Season 2

Ep 10 - What's My Line (Part 2)

So, where were we, oh right, a new vampire slayer, Kendra.

Oh so that part is right there's supposed only one and now there is two(possibly two)

Oh snap, I forgot about angel, someone save this guy.

Yes Buffy back off, Kendra is hotter than you .

OHHHHH, buffy died, right, yeah, so that's why Kendra is here.

Finally, tell them where is angel.

Wait, wtf, someone kill this janitor. Oh cmon now spike, find other vampires to bother .

Oh yeah, Jesus I forgot that Cordelia let this monster inside. Run, RUN Cordelia and Xander.

Yes, Xander gets it, Time to Run.

Dont trust the janitor.

B: "I don't listen, I do things my way", Kendra: "No wonder you died". BITCH the way I chortled, Lmao Kendra, youre hilarious.

Gonna say, no matter how cringey, Drusilla's acting is damn God.

I love dorky Willow.

We are gonna meet OZ again now are we ?

Lmao Giles found his match.

Buffy, you can never have normal life.

Xander and Cordelia are gonna kiss now aren't they...

I love when they fight, the tension, the build up. The sex is gonna be absolutely epic.

Yesssssss OZ!!!

Willow: "Your hair is brown", Oz: "Yeah.. Sometimes". LMAOOO I love them so much.

Also, who says the first thing that your hair is brown, only our willow.

Oz is my spirit animal, "I am not work kind of person or any kind". I get you.

I love their interactions, they are so dorky and nerdy. My kinda people.

WTF, CMON NOW, AGAIN! Stop shooting.

OZ JUST JUMPED IN FRONT OF WILLOW. LET ME REPEAT. HE JUMPED IN FRONT OF BULLET FOR WILLOW. AKHDHDIJSNM MY HEART 😭😭😭. BYE.

Two women fighting, my bi-panic

"Damn that guy got a major neck in his days", LMAO Xander.

"but nobody messes with my boyfriend ", Damn buffy. See this is what I am talking about. The superior ship.

No offense or anything but Angel deserves whatever Drusilla is/will do to him for what he did to her.

Now they are flirting instead of fighting, how long before they fuck.

Angel stop riling them up.

Angel is bragging too much, bro spike is gonna fuck buffy so calm down buddy.

Is Angel gonna die or like die but not really? Like maybe they will complete the ritual and angel will lose his soul.

Buffy really is a would.

I kinda want the Drusilla to wake up again. I want them to complete the ritual.

Why is spike is funny and Kendra hot.

I love when women fight.

DAMN BUFFY.

Yesss Kendra kill them for ruining your fav shirt. Priorities.

Did they complete the ritual?.

Why am I disappointed that they saved the angel?

OH HEY, OZ.

I love when their interaction so much.

"You have the sweetest the smile I've ever seen" OZ MY GUY😭😭😭😭😭

Their interactions oh my God 💕💕😭

Xander and Cordelia are back at it again.

X: "It never happened", C: "Good", X: "Good"; they kisses again. Good going.

I hope we see Kendra again.

Drusilla is alive against isn't she... YESSSS!!!

YESS and carrying spike like a badass.

Alright, I loved this episode, especially the second half. The first half was a little slow and I was wondering if it would be able to match up to the last episode and alas it did.

The two hot women fighting bad guys, what more can you ask for. The ultimate dream. Angel, angel, angel, you deserve whatever Drusilla does/do to you. You've literally ruined everything for her, I am sorry but I am on her side. I mean buffy saved you because she loves you but like you would've deserved to die by her hands.

Oh my Drusilla is alive again. Lmao I am really excited for that. Like, if we're gonna support morally grey guys then were supporting woman turned villain too. It's fair. So yeah this is "I support Drusilla in whatever she will do to Angel" Club.

So they saved angel in the end, which was nice, kendra is gone now, hopefully I'll see her again.

Now, my Babies, my OTP Oz and Willow, bitch we finally have them, they're interacting, they're talking, they're laughing, they're becoming friends, yess bitch, I am here for it. Their interactions *Kill me*, they're so nerdy and so cute, soulmate type shit. I know how they end up which is bittersweet and I am gonna cry eventually but you know what i will live in denial and in my head they end up married. Thank you.

I guess, that's it, I am really excited for Drusilla.

See ya in next one, cheers 🥂.

[otherworldlychemistry]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Faith Lehane/Buffy Summers/Kendra Young, Faith Lehane/Buffy Summers, Buffy Summers/Kendra Young, Faith Lehane/Kendra Young Characters: Buffy Summers, Faith Lehane, Kendra Young Additional Tags: Polyamory, f/f/f relationship, No Smut, faith buffy and kendra as representations as the id ego and superego respectively, author really likes the number three, Makeout Session, Present Tense, Short One Shot, No Dialogue, AU everyone is polyamourous, AU everyone is sapphic Summary:

One, two, three. Faith, Buffy, Kendra. Three parts of a whole. Three girls kissing.