Dawn Summers
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Dawn Summers is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, portrayed by Michelle Trachtenberg.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
[edit] Character history
The arrival of Dawn Summers is foreshadowed in cryptic dream sequences in both the Season Three finale "Graduation Day, Part Two" and the Season Four episode "This Year's Girl," in which a still-comatose Faith says, while making a bed with Buffy in Dawn's future bedroom, "Little sis coming, I know." Buffy replies, "So much to do before she gets here." In the Season Four finale, "Restless," Tara warns Buffy to "be back before dawn."
In 2000, Czech monks of the Order of Dagon have possession of The Key, a mystical ball of energy that can open a portal to all dimensions. Once opened, the portal would create chaos on Earth as hell dimensions flood into this world until the energy is used up and the portal is closed again. The monks want to put this dangerous power to good use, but forces of darkness track them down. In an act of desperation, three surviving monks use powerful magic and part of Buffy to forge The Key into human form as a fourteen-year-old girl, and send it to the Slayer as a sister to protect from Glory, a hell-god bent on returning to the hell dimension from which she had been exiled for being too vicious.
Dawn first appears at the end of the episode "Buffy vs. Dracula." When Buffy walks into her bedroom, preparing for a date at the movies, she finds Dawn looking through her stuff. Buffy's mother then suggests, "Buffy, if you're going out, why don't you take your sister?" and both Buffy and Dawn shout "Mom!"
Dawn becomes a series regular in the last three seasons, appearing in all 66 episodes. She is supposedly born to Hank and Joyce Summers in 1986 in Los Angeles. Dawn's immediate family are unaware of her mystical origin for a while, as they have been imbued with artificial memories of her as Buffy's younger sister. Only those "outside reality," such as mental patients, can see Dawn's true nature. Joyce's brain tumor allows her to see that Dawn is different, and Dawn struggles to accept her existence and others' love upon learning the truth.
After the shocking death of Joyce, Dawn struggles with kleptomania, overcoming her problems with the help of Rupert Giles and the rest of the Scoobies. By becoming more involved with Buffy's slaying, she grows less dependent on those around her and begins to take an active role in helping the Scooby Gang battle its foes.
Dawn was originally intended to appear in the Angel episode "The Girl in Question." However, Michelle Trachtenberg was unavailable for filming, so the character of Andrew Wells, played by Tom Lenk, replaced her.
[edit] Post-Sunnydale
In season eight, Dawn has begun college at Berkeley City College where she met a boy called Kenneth, accurately described by new Slayer Leah, Giles and Buffy as a "thricewise". Having lost her virginity, Dawn has spontaneously become a giant and lives in the basement of Command Central's Scottish citadel. She refuses to talk to Buffy about why this has happened, and is anxiously waiting for Willow to arrive, rather than discuss the matter with any of the novice witches under Xander's employment.
[edit] Powers and abilities
Dawn is a human being who, as the mentally unstable can see, is really a green ball of energy. With the right ritual, her blood opens a dimensional portal to all universes, bringing chaos and destruction to Earth within minutes.
Dawn's experience in battling vampires and demons has made her a more capable fighter and spellcaster with the ability to cast spells from memory. She can also read a variety of languages ranging from Turkish to Latin. Dawn has grown to rarely flinch when in danger, and her loyalty to her sister and friends is absolute.
In Season Eight, Dawn is now a giant. As such, she possesses superhuman strength sufficient to squash Buffy "like a flea."
[edit] Dawn and the gang
Dawn has never been considered a real part of the gang, but many of its members have tried to include her in activities, especially when Buffy is being "the big sister" and telling Dawn to go away. Tara, Willow, and Xander are the members who include her the most frequently.
The most blatant child-like treatment of Dawn was in the episode "Older and Far Away," when Anya speaks to her as if she were speaking to a five-year-old child, instead of a 15-year-old teenager.
The only person to whom Dawn relates is Spike, who treats her with respect. Dawn develops a slight crush on Spike, but nothing comes of it.
Dawn befriends Tara early in Season Five. Neither of them are considered to be part of the Scooby Gang at that point. She was deeply affected by Tara's death, finding the courage to voice her opinion of what Warren deserved.
[edit] Romantic relationships
- Xander Harris — Dawn harbors a crush on Xander into her adolescence, as she felt that he is the only one who treats her like an adult.
- Spike — Feeling alone after her origin was discovered, Dawn develops a crush on Spike, as she felt that only he treated her like a real human being. However, she realised that he loved Buffy and accepted that nothing would come of it; she came to regard him as a kind of 'older brother' figure while he acted as a guardian.
- Kevin — Dawn adores this shy boy in her junior high art class.
- Justin — A manipulative, teenage vampire with whom Dawn, unaware of his identity, shares her first kiss. When Justin tries to turn her into a vampire, Dawn has to stake him with a loose crossbow bolt.
- R.J. Brooks — Dawn develops an obsessive crush on this popular high school athlete due to his bewitched letterman jacket, resulting in her nearly committing suicide to 'prove' her love for him.
[edit] Appearances
Dawn has appeared in:
Buffy The Vampire Slayer Dawn became a series regular for the show's fifth, sixth, and seventh seasons. She appeared in all 66 episodes.
