Nikki Wood
Encyclopedia
Nikki Wood is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon
in the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, portrayed originally by April Weeden-Washington and later by K.D. Aubert.
She was called as the Slayer early in 1973. Her Watcher, Bernard Crowley, found her and told her of her role on February 10, 1973, the same night that her grandmother was killed by a vampire.
She had a Chinese-American boyfriend named Li, a policeman who was killed while investigating smugglers – who were importing a demon. Li may or may not be Robin's father.
For most of her tenure as the Slayer, Nikki and Robin lived rent-free in a small apartment behind the projection room of The Gem movie theatre on 42nd street, because she had rescued the owner's nephew from vampires.
In 1977 she was killed by Spike, who had already killed a Chinese Slayer during the Boxer Rebellion
. (Spike took a black leather duster
from Nikki's body, and it became his trademark.) Crowley then retired from the Watchers' Council and raised Robin.
", was a fight scene with no dialogue; she was portrayed by stuntwoman April Weeden-Washington. When the character was brought back in "First Date", the casting directors preferred a younger actress, who could seem more like a vulnerable teenage mother, and hired K.D. Aubert.
Nikki thus joined Buffy Summers
and the First Evil
as characters in the Buffyverse
that have been portrayed by more than one actor (not counting stunt doubles).
appears in bold
Joss Whedon
Joseph Hill "Joss" Whedon is an American screenwriter, executive producer, director, comic book writer, occasional composer and actor, founder of Mutant Enemy Productions and co-creator of Bellwether Pictures...
in the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, portrayed originally by April Weeden-Washington and later by K.D. Aubert.
Biography
Nikki Wood grew up in a poor area of New York. After her parents were killed in a mugging about 1966, she lived with her grandmother. She eventually dropped out of school when she became pregnant with Robin Wood, and got a job as a waitress to help pay the rent.She was called as the Slayer early in 1973. Her Watcher, Bernard Crowley, found her and told her of her role on February 10, 1973, the same night that her grandmother was killed by a vampire.
She had a Chinese-American boyfriend named Li, a policeman who was killed while investigating smugglers – who were importing a demon. Li may or may not be Robin's father.
For most of her tenure as the Slayer, Nikki and Robin lived rent-free in a small apartment behind the projection room of The Gem movie theatre on 42nd street, because she had rescued the owner's nephew from vampires.
In 1977 she was killed by Spike, who had already killed a Chinese Slayer during the Boxer Rebellion
Boxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion, also called the Boxer Uprising by some historians or the Righteous Harmony Society Movement in northern China, was a proto-nationalist movement by the "Righteous Harmony Society" , or "Righteous Fists of Harmony" or "Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists" , in China between...
. (Spike took a black leather duster
Duster (clothing)
A duster is a light, loose-fitting long coat.The original dusters were full-length, light-colored canvas or linen coats worn by horsemen to protect their clothing from trail dust. These dusters were typically slit up the back to hip level for ease of wear on horseback and were the recommended...
from Nikki's body, and it became his trademark.) Crowley then retired from the Watchers' Council and raised Robin.
Casting
Nikki's first appearance, in "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...
", was a fight scene with no dialogue; she was portrayed by stuntwoman April Weeden-Washington. When the character was brought back in "First Date", the casting directors preferred a younger actress, who could seem more like a vulnerable teenage mother, and hired K.D. Aubert.
Nikki thus joined 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...
and the First Evil
First Evil
The First Evil is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The First Evil first appeared in the third season episode "Amends", and became the main antagonist of the 7th and final season.A being manifested from all evil in existence, the First is an...
as characters in the Buffyverse
Buffyverse
The Buffyverse, also known as the Whedonverse or Slayerverse , is the shared fictional universe in which the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel are set. This term, originally coined by fans of the TV series, has since been used in the titles of published works, and adopted by Joss...
that have been portrayed by more than one actor (not counting stunt doubles).
Appearances
CanonBuffyverse canon
The Buffyverse canon consists of materials that are thought to be genuine and those events, characters, settings, etc., that are considered to have inarguable existence within the fictional universe established by the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer...
appears in bold
- 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...
(flashbacks) - Get It Done (mentioned)
- Lies My Parents Told Me (flashbacks)
- DamageDamage (Angel episode)"Damage" is episode 11 of season 5 in the television show Angel, originally broadcast on the WB network. In this episode, Angel calls on the Watchers' Council for help in tracking down a psychotic vampire slayer named Dana, who was tortured by a serial killer as a child.-Plot:At Wolfram & Hart,...
(mentioned) - "It's All About the Mission", a prose short story in Tales of the SlayerTales of the SlayerTales of the Slayer are volumes containing prose short stories. Four volumes of this series have been released, all published by Pocket Books...
Volume IV - Nikki Goes Down!, a graphic short story in Tales of the SlayersTales of the SlayersTales of the Slayers is a Dark Horse Comics Buffy the Vampire Slayer graphic novel that consists of multiple stories written by Joss Whedon, Amber Benson, and others which tell of different members of the Slayer line....
- BlackoutBlackout (Buffy novel)Blackout is an original novel based on the U.S. television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.-Plot summary:It is 1977, the summer of a brutal blackout, the time of the Son of Sam murders, and a period of brutal fiscal disaster for New York. The slayer Nikki Wood fights against the forces of darkness...
, novel - Queen of the SlayersQueen of the SlayersQueen of the Slayers is an original novel based on the American television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.-Plot summary:Following the Hellmouth's closure, hundreds of potential slayers have been awakened. Buffy Summers hoped that overturning the Slayer's self-sacrifice would result in her earning...
: Nikki and other Slayer ghosts protect XanderXander HarrisAlexander 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...
on the Ghost Roads - Auld Lang Syne graphic novel, issues 2–3