"" is the third episode of season 3 of the television show ''
Buffy The Vampire Slayer ''. See also
List Of Buffy The Vampire Slayer Episodes .
Buffy is still having dreams about the love of her life, Angel. Meanwhile, Scott Hope, a boy from school, is showing interest in her. Buffy has little time to think about this, as she meets Faith, a new Slayer with a lot of secrets. Faith has been followed to Sunnydale by two deadly vampires, Mr. Trick and Kakistos, the latter having killed her Watcher in Boston. After coming to terms with her fears, Faith stops Kakistos from killing herself and Buffy, and Buffy finally accepts Scott's date invitation — unaware that Angel has returned from Hell.
Whilst Buffy and her friends try to patch-up their relationships after the climatic events of the previous two episodes ("Anne" and "Dead Man's Party" -- during which Buffy had to face the music over her friends' anger at her running away from Sunnydale at the end of season two) a new slayer, Faith Lehane, arrives in Sunnydale.
At first, Buffy and Faith hit it off, and even Buffy's mother, Joyce, is pleased that Faith has shown up, claiming that Faith could 'take over' the slayer duties from Buffy. However, Buffy begins to feel as if Faith is stealing everything that she holds dear away from her -- winning over her friends, mother and Giles with her zesty and fun-loving attitude.
Then, Faith starts criticising Buffy's methods of slaying and how she "needs to find the fun". Insulted, Buffy starts an argument with Faith -- moments later, vampires attack and Buffy is left to slay several by herself, whilst Faith uses her strength to beat a single vampire to a bloody pulp. Buffy becomes concerned that Faith has issues which she needs to resolve.
When Faith claims that her watcher is attending the annual watcher's retreat in England, Giles decides to contact them himself. Buffy is approached by Scott Hope, a guy who has a crush on her. After rebutting his advances several times, he makes a last-ditch attempt to ask her out on a date, which she agrees to -- until she sees the gift that Scott gives her, a ring identical to that which Angel gave her once. Buffy freaks out and Scott concludes that she is not interested in him. Moments later, Giles informs Buffy that Faith's watcher is not at the retreat -- because she is dead.
Buffy visits Faith and asks her what happened to her watcher, but Faith is reluctant to spill the details. When Buffy adds that an old vampire named
Kakistos has rolled into town -- so old that his hands have become cloven -- Faith quickly packs her things. Unfortunately, Kakistos and his lackeys, including the cocky vampire Mr Trick, have tracked down Faith to the motel in which she is staying. Buffy and Faith escape the vampires, eventually hiding in a warehouse, where Faith explains that Kakistos killed her watcher and, though she could not save her watcher, managed to leave Kakistos with a scar across his eye -- which is why he is after her, for revenge.
Suddenly, the slayers realise that they are in the very warehouse where Kakistos has been hiding -- they were tricked into fleeing there. Sure enough, the vampires show up and, whilst Buffy battles Kakistos's lackeys, the old vampire himself takes on a terrified Faith, who doesn't put up much of a fight. Kakistos backhands Faith, sending her crashing through a large wooden support beam.
Buffy dusts the lackeys, then takes on Kakistos. Mr Trick decides that he would rather live another day than sacrifice himself for Kakistos, and escapes before he can be staked.
Buffy eventually stakes Kakistos, but it has no effect -- he is so old that she will surely need a much larger stake. Suddenly, a determined Faith grabs the huge splintered support beam and impales it through Kakistos, turning him to dust. Her ordeal is over.
After contacting the watchers' council, Giles confirms that both Buffy and Faith shall be mentored by him until a new watcher arrives. Buffy tells Giles and Willow that Faith had a lot to deal with but she got through it in the end. This prompts Buffy to reveal the truth, that Angel's soul had been returned before she killed him, and that's why she ran away to LA.
Buffy confronts Scott and apologises for freaking out at the ring. She asks him out and he agrees.
The weight of her pain lifted somewhat by her admission to Giles and Willow, Buffy goes to the mansion and places Angel's ring on the floor. Taking a last look around, she leaves... however, in the middle of the night, the ground suddenly shakes and a figure bursts from the sky, landing in the very spot where Buffy put the ring. It's Angel, back from hell.
This episode is a favourite with fans, mainly because it introduces the character of Faith Lehane, who plays a vital part in the remainder of the season and the eventual spin-off series, 'Angel'.
The surprise ending -- the return of Angel -- is a major point of conflict for the Scooby Gang for the remainder of the season.
Faith is often favored by those fans of the show who do not identify with the character of Buffy. Indeed, the two slayers represent two stereotypes of teenager -- the responsible, straight-laced teen (Buffy) and the less responsible, rebellious one (Faith). The fact that the two girls are united in their work but opposites in personality is an apparent reflection of how all teenagers are united in their years of hormonal angst, but have a freedom to explore their desires that can make them complete opposites.
: What's your problem, B?
: Why are you lips still moving, F?
: You guys are a hoot a half. If I'd had friends like you in high school, well, I probably would have still dropped out, but I would have felt sad about it.
: Consider this my last-ditch effort. I know that any more will qualify as stalking.
The title may have been a play on Corinthians, 13:13. "And now abide faith, hope, and love; these three; but the greatest of these is love."
This episode features the band Darling Violetta performing in the Bronze. The songs Blue Sun and Cure appear in the episode, one of which Scott and Buffy comment favorably on. The band also wrote and performed the theme to Angel.
Several story arcs begin during this episode, among them:
- Buffy finally faces up to her ordeal last season.
- Angel returns from Hell.
- A new slayer, Faith, arrives. Although she and Buffy are united as Slayers, they are polar opposites as young women.
- Willow continues to dabble in magic after her attempt to restore Angel's soul. She is even more encouraged when she finds out that she had in fact succeeded in the Ritual of Restoration.
- Buffy begins a relationship with Scott.
- Stories that take place around the same time in the Buffyverse:
