What did you think of Wood?

[Black Eye Guy]

So what did you think of the character of Principal Wood?
I liked the idea of him being the son of a Slayer, and the "whats uo with the principal" storyline they had going was good. And I really liked the Faith-Wood relationship.

But there are bits were he annoyed me, like in Get it Done, Where he is like "I'm not sure the First has an ass to kick", He kinda came across as cocky. I also really didn't like the bit in Chosen when they went into the school and made his little No running in the halls speech, I didn't like he kinda took charge - OK now thats I have said them out loud my reasons for not liking him seem kinda crap, but there was some small thing about him I just didn't like!

 

[Edmund Blackadder]

Robin Wood.......arrrrgggghhh.
First and foremost, the idea of a Slayer having a child is genius, it adds a dimension back to the Slayer being more then a warrior, it makes the Slayer a Woman, which in my mind adds depth because it does allow Buffy to see that being the Slayer, though consuming of time and energy, is not all consuming, it does allow for some semblance of normalcy.
I do think that this was the wrong season for the character, but thats more to do with too much too fast in too short a time.


Now, Wood as a character. I really didn't like him.
I thought him arrogant and above his station....for instance
When Faith is met by First/Mayor, Wood tells her that she is of importance now, a player(something similar), my question is, on what level did he think he mattered in the scheme of things?
He was putting himself up there along with Buffy, Willow, Faith and even Dawn by suggesting that the First only appears to those of influence, and how on Gods green and beautiful Earth does his petty squabble with a 'man' that isn't actually around any more of importance?
Did the First try and prep Wood to kill Spike? No.
Was the First gaining any ground if Wood died in a fight against Spike? Not really, Spike had already been killing, and Buffy would have understood if Spike killed Wood in self defence.
I really didn't like the character(which is ashame cause DB is excellent as Wayne Palmer - so i can see its not poor acting).

There were other instances too, like the ones BEG produced.
His seeming taking of authority, I didn't like that.
In the throwing out of Buffy, i feel he had no right to be there.
We won't get into that debate again, but all i have to say is, he went looking for Buffy, not the other way around, he should have respected that was the Leader because she was doing what his Mother would have done.
And don't bring that BS about Faith being a Slayer, we know, as well as the characters(thanx Andrew and gossip) where Faith has been and what she has done. This shows that although she is the Slayer and gaining a stability she is in no way ready for the huge responsibilty of leading, yet arguably one of the most learned men in the room is pushing for Buffy(proven BIG STYLEE Slayer) removal and Faith instigation.

Ohh and no way is he better looking then Faith!!!

 

[What happened to good TV?]

I liked the 'idea' of his character. Like whats been said. child of a slayer is a cool storyline. I liked the fact that he was a cooler head teacher. As Willow put it 'so much cooler than Snyder' (Although I much prefered Snyders character.) But Wood really was annoying. Totally agree with whats been said already.

Pluss that speech about that rules when he entered the school in chosen. Arrrrrggghhhh. What a pain in the ass. That was the cringiest, most annoying moment I can think of in the series (except when the theme tune played when Buffy had just been brought back in prophecy girl...on second thought NO! It was the worst!)

 

[zombie.apparatus]

I didnt like him.... is that clear enough....

 

[Wilkins]

I dont think it was meant for us to like him... And if you look at it that way, you may just start to like him.
He should've died though.

 

[Wicked]

So Im the only one who loved him then?

The whole child of a slayer thing was great. i never saw it coming.

Now, to addrress then negative points towards him (cos since Im almost the only one defending him, I really should 😛)

The speech in the hallway in Chosen, what was wrong? I didnt have any problem with this at all. Whats the big deal? It was his school, why not? Besides, to me the situation was tense. they were about to go and fight the ultimate fight. Wood speech gave a sence of normalcy and kinda lightened the tone. For me anyway.

As for the did he think he mattered thing. The way I read al's post there, youre suggesting when he told Faith she was inportant now he meant important like him and Buffy. As in, he was placing himself up there with the slayers.
If this is what you meant, shockingly, I disagree.
He was telling Faith how important she was. Not how important he was. I think he did find himself quite important. But not necessarily as important as the Slayers.

When the First came to him that was because he was important.
The first came to Andrew because it wanted Andrew on its side. It came to FAith because Faith is a danger to it. Spike because it was using him. But it must have though Wood was fairly damn dangerous to it.

And it would be right. His mother was a slayer and killed on the job. He has a serious need for revenge. Hes a great fighter and after he went after Spike (knowing full well Spike had a soul now and was totally innocent) just to get revenge for his mums death. If thats not dangerous, what is?

Hence important. Obviously not as important as the slayers, but definately more dangerous than Xander and Dawn.

 

[Joamna]

I liked the 'idea' of his character. Like whats been said. child of a slayer is a cool storyline. I liked the fact that he was a cooler head teacher. As Willow put it 'so much cooler than Snyder' (Although I much prefered Snyders character.) But Wood really was annoying. Totally agree with whats been said already.

Yeah I agree with this, the idea was good but I didn't like the character.. Or actually, yeah I was a bit annoyed with him, but mostly I just didn't care about him (cared less and less the more we got to know him..), I didn't care about his vendetta against Spike I just wanted it over with and him out of there or something so they could focus on other stuff..

 

[eponinethen]

The speech in the hallway in Chosen, what was wrong? I didnt have any problem with this at all. Whats the big deal? It was his school, why not? Besides, to me the situation was tense. they were about to go and fight the ultimate fight. Wood speech gave a sence of normalcy and kinda lightened the tone. For me anyway.

Heh I loved that thing. The speech was good, eheh.

Anyways, I never liked Wood. Well, in the beginning he was ok, I never really disliked him but I thought the whole revenge thing was too much. I totally understand him as a character, but for me, in season 7, it was too much. I just want to skip those parts basically, I care way more about everything else that is going on, can't be bothered with his personal issues (although, again, they do make sense etc.).