Season 3, Episode 3 | Aired: 13 October 1998 | Written by: David Greenwalt | Directed by: James A. Contner
The episode that introduces Faith — and does so at full speed, all energy and leather and compensating bravado. Eliza Dushku arrives fully formed, and the show immediately understands what it has. The episode also introduces Mr. Trick (K. Todd Freeman), a rare Black vampire and one of the season’s more entertaining villains, alongside his employer Kakistos, an ancient vampire whose hands have become cloven hooves.
What Happens
A new Slayer arrives in Sunnydale — Faith, who tells the Scoobies she was activated when Kendra died. She’s loud, physical, reckless, and immediately popular. She’s also running from something: Kakistos, an ancient vampire who killed her Watcher in front of her. When Kakistos tracks her to Sunnydale, Buffy helps Faith face him. Faith kills him with a large piece of timber. The catharsis is real but incomplete.
Meanwhile: Scott Hope (Fab Filippo) asks Buffy out. She begins to consider it. And in the closing scene, Giles reveals that the Acathla entrance spell is finally readable — he needs Buffy’s blood print to complete it — and Buffy lies, claiming she doesn’t remember what happened before she pushed Angel into the vortex. She remembers everything.
Key Moments
Faith’s introduction at the Bronze — she just takes over the scene, takes over the dancing, takes over the conversation. Dushku plays her as someone who fills every room because she’s terrified of what happens when things go quiet.
Monster / Villain
Kakistos — ancient, genuinely frightening for about ten minutes, then staked. Mr. Trick, who survives, is far more interesting long-term.
Notable Quote
“Five by five.” — Faith, meaning things are fine. Things are not fine.
Where It Fits
Faith and Buffy are going to be the season’s real story — two Slayers, one calling, fundamentally different approaches to what that means. This episode sets the terms. Faith survives by going loud. Buffy survives by caring. The tension between those positions will take the whole season to resolve.