Worst 'Friday the 13th' Final Girl Pam Roberts Fails to Impress

Melanie Kinnaman's character in 'A New Beginning' is a letdown compared to other iconic final girls in the slasher franchise

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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In the Friday the 13th franchise, the role of the "final girl" who survives the killer is a well-known trope. While some final girls like Laurie Strode and Ginny have become iconic, the character of Pam Roberts in Friday the 13th: A New Beginning is considered the worst of the bunch. Despite starting off as an interesting and compassionate character who works at a halfway house for troubled teens, Pam ultimately fails to live up to the strength and resilience of other final girls, spending much of the climax reacting to the killer rather than taking an active role.

Why it matters

The Friday the 13th series is known for its memorable final girls, who often represent the last line of defense against the unstoppable killer Jason Voorhees. Pam Roberts' failure to measure up to other iconic final girls like Laurie Strode and Ginny highlights how important this character archetype is to the success of slasher films, and how a weak final girl can undermine an entire movie.

The details

In Friday the 13th: A New Beginning, a copycat killer emerges after the apparent death of Jason Voorhees at the end of the previous film. Pam Roberts is introduced as a kind-hearted staff member at the Pinehurst Halfway House who takes a special interest in helping the troubled teens, including the returning character of Tommy Jarvis. While Pam starts off as a potentially compelling final girl, she ultimately spends much of the climax reacting to the killer's attacks rather than taking an active role in fighting back. She has a few moments of bravery, like grabbing a chainsaw, but is largely portrayed as helpless and needing to be rescued, a far cry from the strength and resourcefulness of other final girls.

  • In 1984's Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, Jason Voorhees is killed by Tommy Jarvis.
  • The following year, Friday the 13th: A New Beginning was released, featuring a new copycat killer wearing Jason's iconic hockey mask.

The players

Pam Roberts

A staff member at the Pinehurst Halfway House who takes a special interest in helping the troubled teens, including Tommy Jarvis. She is considered the worst final girl in the Friday the 13th franchise.

Tommy Jarvis

A troubled teen who previously killed Jason Voorhees and is now a resident at the Pinehurst Halfway House, where the copycat killings take place.

Ginny

The final girl from Friday the 13th Part 2, who is regarded by many as the best final girl in the franchise due to her compassion and strength.

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What they’re saying

“Pam Roberts falters badly. She's not a coward who flees the scene per se, but she adds so little. Pam will investigate, and she makes it her mission to protect young Reggie, which is of course commendable. Yet scene after scene has Pam on the defense with her screaming, falling in the mud, or having to be saved by Reggie.”

— Brad Lacour, Author (Collider)

What’s next

The article does not mention any clear next steps or future newsworthy moments related to this story.

The takeaway

The character of Pam Roberts in Friday the 13th: A New Beginning serves as a cautionary tale for slasher films, highlighting how important a strong final girl character is to the success of the genre. Her failure to live up to the strength and resilience of other iconic final girls like Laurie Strode and Ginny underscores the need for slasher films to create female protagonists who can actively fight back against the killer, rather than simply reacting to the threats around them.