Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Why Did Principal Wood Survive the Finale?

While DB Woodside stars as Amenadiel on FOX‘s Lucifer, playing the King of Hell’s big brother is not the 24 vet’s first supernatural gig. In 2002-03, Woodside recurred as Sunnydale High School Principal Robin Wood, in the seventh and final season of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV show.

While doing press for Lucifer, the talented actor recalled his days on the Joss Whedon series and revealed why his character survived Sunnydale. Nicknamed “Principal McHottie” by the fandom (before Grey’s Anatomy coined “McDreamy” et al) —  Woodside’s character was one of the few popular additions to Buffy‘s final chapter. Find out what he has to say about working with Sarah Michelle Gellar and James Marsters, as well as what he thinks of Wood’s relationship with Faith (Eliza Dushku), after the jump.

DB Woodside Recalls Playing Principal Robin Wood on Buffy the Vampire Slayer

From AV Club:

DBW: Buffy was the show that I had to do. I had to be on that show. I think I drove my manager crazy. And when they turned the character and made him into the son of the original slayer [sic*], which meant that I got to be badass as hell, I got to do some crazy stunts, fight training. Working with Sarah [Michelle Gellar] was fantastic, working with James [Marsters] was great… It was a blast.

Like I was saying earlier, it’s kind of what I wanted to get back to, because I felt like that’s what I love to do. And Lucifer is giving me a chance to do more of that. And hopefully DC/Warner Bros. will take a look at me for the role of John Stewart as Green Lantern. [Leans into the recorder.] Which is something that I would really love! [Laughs.] This is not the first time I’ve pitched myself for this, but now that I’ve done it again, I’m waiting for my phone to ring, WB. Just waiting for my phone to ring.

AVC: What was the experience like to become part of the Whedon-verse? Certainly you find yourself under the microscope in terms of fandom.

DBW: Joss is great. I don’t want to insult anyone here, but he’s probably the most intelligent person I’ve worked with. He’s like a savant. He has this very literate sense of humor, so sometimes he’s cracking a joke, and if you’re not familiar with that part of history or you’re not familiar with that genre, you’re going to miss it. He’s a very, very smart guy. But he’s also a guy who just likes to have fun. He doesn’t take himself too seriously, but he takes the work seriously. There’s something really nice about that.

AVC: How far ahead did you know what your [Buffy] character’s ultimate fate was going to be?

DBW: Joss cracked a joke when we were shooting the finale of Buffy, where he came over to me and he said, “You know, I’ve got to be honest with you. When I was writing this, I was going, ‘Does he die? Does he live? Does he die? Does he live? And you caught me on the day that I said, ‘He lives.’” [Laughs.] So that was great. I’m happy that Robin Wood is still out there somewhere kicking ass. And I know for a fact that Wood and Faith are together somewhere.

Remembering Buffy the Vampire Slayer

As Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans know, surviving Sunnydale is no mean feat. Whedon liked nothing better than creating beloved characters, only to kill them off. Personally, this writer has yet to recover from the deaths of Joyce Summers (Kristine Sutherland) and Jonathan Levinson (Danny Strong). And don’t get me started on Anya’s (Emma Caulfield) demise. Suffice it to say it comes as no surprise that Sunnydale survival all comes down to Whedon’s caprice. Which Buffy the Vampire Slayer character deaths still stick with you?

* NOTE: While Principal Wood’s mother, Nikki Wood, was a New York City slayer who was killed in the 1970s by Spike, Woodside misspoke. Nikki was not the first slayer. April Weeden originated the “subway slayer” character in the season five episode, “Fool for Love.” In season seven, KD Aubert assumed the role of Nikki Wood in “First Date” and “Lies My Parents Told Me.” The “Primative” or first slayer, Sineya (Sharon Ferguson), was introduced in the Buffy season four finale, “Restless.” The show revisited the character in season five’s “Intervention,” and further explored the slayer mythos in season seven’s “Get It Done.”

What do you think? Are you a DB Woodside fan? Did you like him better as the Buffy the Vampire Slayer principal, or in his Lucifer role? Let us know, below.