Editing First Evil (section)

{{short description|Buffy the Vampire Slayer villain}}
{{more footnotes needed|date=January 2012}}
{{Infobox character
| name      = The First Evil
| series    = [[Buffyverse|Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]
| caption   = Screenshot of the First Evil which merges with [[Caleb (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Caleb]] from "[[End of Days (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|End of Days]]" (2003)
| first     = "[[Amends]]" (1998)
| last      = "[[Chosen (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Chosen]]" (2003)
| creator   = [[Joss Whedon]]
| portrayer = [[Robia LaMorte]]<br>Cornelia Hayes O'Herlihy<br>[[Edward Edwards (actor)|Edward Edwards]]<br>Shane Barach<br>[[Adam Busch]]<br>[[Clare Kramer]]<br>[[George Hertzberg]]<br>[[Harry Groener]]<br>[[Juliet Landau]]<br>[[Mark Metcalf]]<br>[[Sarah Michelle Gellar]]<br>[[Azura Skye]]<br>[[Kristine Sutherland]]<br>[[James Marsters]]<br>[[Danny Strong]]<br>Amanda Fuller<br>[[K. D. Aubert]]<br>[[Lalaine]]<br>[[Carrie Southworth]]<br>[[Nathan Fillion]]
| lbl21     = Classification
| data21    = Higher deity, The Devil
| lbl22     = Notable powers
| data22    = Assumes form of anyone that has died<br>Can bestow superhuman strength and durability<br>Limited reality warping<br>Beyond life and death, thus truly immortal.
}}
The '''First Evil''' (usually called '''The First''') 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 (Buffy episode)|Amends]]", and became the main antagonist of the seventh and final season.

A being manifested from all evil in existence, the First is an incorporeal entity that can assume the appearance of any person who has died (however briefly) – including [[vampire]]s and humans who have been resurrected. Over the course of the series, and depending upon its audience, it takes various guises as a method of deception and manipulation – for example, the First usually appears as [[Buffy Summers]] ([[Sarah Michelle Gellar]]) to the Slayer and her allies, but it also assumes the forms of [[Warren Mears]], [[Spike (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Spike]], [[Drusilla (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Drusilla]] and [[Jonathan Levinson]] on multiple occasions, among a variety of other forms taken less frequently.

Its only real weakness is that it is non-corporeal, and therefore cannot cause any real physical damage. It is expert at [[psychological manipulation]], and can act through its servants, such as the [[Bringers of the First Evil|Bringers]], [[Turok-Han]], [[Caleb (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Caleb]] or whatever person it can manage to influence.