Season synopsis
Contains spoilers for this season and earlier seasons.
Buffy returns to Sunnydale after running away and is gradually readmitted to school, while Angel returns from the hell dimension to which she sent him and recovers in hiding. Her friends distrust him until he proves he is himself, and a second Slayer, Faith, arrives after Kendra’s death. Buffy and Faith initially patrol together, but Faith accidentally kills Deputy Mayor Allan Finch and refuses to face what happened. Mayor Richard Wilkins draws her into his protection and Ascension plans. The Watchers’ Council sends Wesley to supervise the Slayers, but Buffy resists his authority. Faith later commits to the Mayor’s side; on his instruction she poisons Angel to distract Buffy from the Ascension, using a toxin curable only with a Slayer’s blood.
Buffy fights Faith to obtain the antidote and stabs her; Faith falls onto a passing truck and survives in a coma. With Faith out of reach, Buffy lets Angel feed from her, briefly losing consciousness while he recovers. The Mayor tries to smother Buffy in hospital, but Angel stops him. At commencement, Wilkins transforms into a giant demon and eats Principal Snyder as the graduating class attacks his vampires. Buffy lures him into the library, where Giles detonates explosives, killing the Mayor and destroying Sunnydale High; students die in the battle. Afterward, Angel leaves Sunnydale, convinced their relationship will keep Buffy from a normal future. Giles gives Buffy the diploma he rescued from the wreckage, and the friends leave the remains of their high school together.