Regular Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy), Nicholas Brendon (Xander), Alyson Hannigan (Willow), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia), David Boreanaz (Angel), Seth Green (Oz), Anthony Stewart Head (Giles).

 

Recurring Guest Stars: Eliza Dushku (Faith), Alexis Denisof (Wesley Wyndham-Pryce); Harry Groener (Mayor Richard Wilkins III), K Todd Freeman (Mr Trick), Armin Shimmerman (Principal Snyder), Kristine Sutherland (Joyce Summers).

3.1: Anne (Original Airdate 29th September 1998)

Writer: Joss Whedon

Director: Joss Whedon

 

Still not knowing where Buffy is, the rest of the Gang returns to school. When Buffy, who is living under an assumed identity, is recognised in a diner, she begins her fight to return home from the netherworld she has fallen into.

Writer: Marti Noxon

Director: James Whitmore Jr

 

Buffy returns home, only to find that Principal Snyder won't let her back in school, Willow seems to be ignoring her and her Mother is thinking of sending her to a private girl's school. It isn't until Buffy saves them from an invasion of zombies that things get back to "normal."

Writer: David A Greenwalt

Director: James A Contner

 

There's a new slayer in town, named Faith, and she's moving in on Buffy's territory. But Faith and Buffy soon join forces when they are threatened by Kakistos, Mr Trick and a bunch of Vampires.

Writer: Marti Noxon

Director: James Whitmore Jr

 

When Willow lets Xander watch Oz, who is in full werewolf form and locked in the library, things get a little hairy. Xander falls asleep on duty and a friend of Ox's is found mauled. Did Oz do it...or did Angel, who's back and in a feral state?

Writer: David Greenwalt

Director: David Greenwalt

 

School's ending and everyone's under pressure. Buffy misses getting her yearbook picture taken then challenges Cordelia in the run for Homecoming Queen; Scott breaks up with Buffy; Willow and Xander share a passionate kiss; and Mr Trick kicks off "Slayerfest '98."

Writer: Jane Espenson

Director: Michael Lange

 

As Buffy strugglers over her SATS, Principal Snyder enlists the students to sell candy to raise money for the Band's new uniforms. Everyone knows kids love candy, but what these chocolate bars do to the adults of Sunnydale is anything but sweet.

Writer: Douglas Petrie

Director: James A Contner

 

Faith's new Watcher arrives and brings distressing news: she's been sent to report on Giles' performance, and a demon named Lagos is coming to Sunnydale in search of the Glove of Myhnegon. Things get worse when Giles finds out that Angel is back, and that he has the Glove.

Writer: Dan Weber

Director: David Semel

 

Love casts its magic spell and leaves a trail of broken hearts in Sunnydale. Spike blames Angel and Buffy when Drusilla breaks up with him, Cordelia and Oz catch Xander and Willow kissing, and Buffy decides it's time she stops seeing Angel.

Writer: Marti Noxon

Director: David Greenwalt

 

Cordelia finds out you must be careful what you wish for, when she tells her new friend Anya that Buffy is to blame for all her problems. Cordelia unleashes a demon that only Buffy can save her from.

Writer: Joss Whedon

Director: Joss Whedon

 

The Christmas spirit is dead in Sunnydale. Buffy, Giles and the Gang's research into why Angel has been sent back to Earth leads them to "the First Evil", and the first snow Sunnydale has ever seen. Meanwhile, Willow and Oz decide to give their relationship another shot.

Writers: Jane Espenson, Thania St John

Director: James Whitmore Jr

 

When two young children are found dead, the whole town rallies together and blames the death on witchcraft. When witch paraphernalia is found in Willow's locker, no one believes it was for a special birthday present she was preparing for Buffy.

Writer: David Fury

Director: James A Contner

 

As Buffy's 18th birthday approaches, she begins losing her powers. When she finds out from Giles that it is a test that she must pass at this age, she feels betrayed by him. As she struggles to regain her powers, Giles is fired for not being an impartial Watcher.

Writer: Dan Vebber

Director: James Whitmore Jr

 

Is Xander losing his cool? When a series of incidents leads Cordelia to remark that he is useless compared to his friends, who are Slayers and Werewolves, Xander sets out to prove her wrong. But joing a gang and fooling around with Faith might get him in more trouble than ever.

Writer: Douglas Petrie

Director: Michael Lange

 

Mr Trick brings the Sword of El Eliminati Vampires to Mayor Wilkins, who doesn't want anything to get in the way of the upcoming "Dedication." But Buffy and Faith are determined to eliminate the Eliminati, and nothing will stop them.

Writer: Marti Noxon

Director: Michael Gershman

 

Even though Giles thinks it's a waste of time, new Watcher Wesley orders Faith and Buffy to investigate the murder of Finch. With everyone, including the police, questioning them, Buffy and Faith soon find themselves arguing over whether to tell the truth about their involvement.

Writer: Joss Whedon

Director: Joss Whedon

 

Doomed to live life as a mortal since her amulet was destroyed by Buffy and the Gang, Anya begs with a demon to get her powers back. When she approaches Willow for help, Willow agrees hoping to shred her reputation as "old reliable."

Writer: Douglas Petrie

Director: David Grossman

 

A demon offers to sell Buffy and Faith the books of Ascension but Faith, acting on  behalf of the Mayor and defying Buffy, kills the demon and steals the books. When Angel refuses to help Faith, the Mayor enlists a shrouded demon to rob Angel of his soul.

Writer: Jane Espenson

Director: Regis Kimble

 

After a vicious fight with a couple of demons, glowing demon ooze seeps into Buffy's skin. At first she is not pleased to learn what happened...until she starts to have fun with her new found powers.

Writer: David Fury

Director: James A Contner

 

Even though Buffy's been accepted to Northwestern University, it is obvious to everyone but her and her mother that she cannot leave Sunnydale. When Wesley tells her that she can't leave, Buffy decides to launch an immediate offensive against the Mayor, instead of waiting for the Ascension.

Writer: Marti Noxon

Director: David Solomon

 

The only thing more worrisome than finding a date for the dance is whether or not the students are safe from the Hell Hounds, who have been unleashed by a kid in Oz's Chemistry lab. Even though Angel breaks up with Buffy, he shows up at the Prom to share her big night with her.

Writer: Joss Whedon

Director: Joss Whedon

 

As the Gang prepares for Graduation they continue to search for a way to stop the Mayor's Ascension. As they dig for answers, Angel gets shot by Faith with a poison arrow, and the only cure for him is draining Faith's blood, which would kill her.

 

Writer: Joss Whedon

Director: Joss Whedon

 

When the Mayor finds out about Faith, he sends his henchmen after Buffy, who runs to Angel and offers him some of her own blood to save him. Then Buffy, armed with Faith's knife, joins the rest of the students for Graduation, which turns into a ceremony that no one will ever forget.