Merrick Jamison-Smythe is a supporting character in the film Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He is a Watcher that has been sworn to train and guide the Slayer, a chosen girl destined to defend the world against vampires. He is portrayed by Donald Sutherland.
History[]
Merrick is a Watcher whose task it is to guide and train the Slayer, a woman destined to battle against vampires and the forces of darkness. He has lived over a hundred lives, always reincarnating to guide a new Slayer each generation. In the late 20th century, he travelled to Los Angeles to train the latest Slayer, a high-school girl known as Buffy Summers.
When Merrick introduced himself to Buffy at her school, he was quite blunt with his explanation as to his purpose, giving Buffy little time to fully comprehend the existence of vampires and her role in exterminating them. He told her to meet him at the local graveyard one night; there she would discover her innate fighting abilities as she fought off and killed two vampires. Over the next several weeks, Merrick would oversee Buffy's training and explain her destiny in slightly more depth, also explaining his role as the Watcher. While Merrick considered Buffy's attitude and approach to slaying as unorthodox, he welcomed it and would encourage Buffy to follow her path in her own way.
Death[]
When Buffy encountered the vampire lord Lothos for the first time, Merrick stepped in to stop Lothos from feeding on her. Stepping between them, he attempted to stake Lothos himself, but Lothos grabbed Merrick's arm and directed the stake into Merrick's chest. Lothos and his acolyte Amilyn then departed, leaving Merrick to die in Buffy's arms.