Spike returns to Sunnydale seeking the Gem of Amara, a vampire "Holy Grail," along with his new girl -- one of Buffy and Willow's high school classmates.
The discovery of a lost mission unleashes a murderous Native American spirit out for vengeance. Angel returns to watch Buffy after his friend sees a vision of her in danger, and Spike seeks refuge.
Trying to get over Oz, Willow casts a spell that gives her power to have her will done -- though she does not realize it worked. Buffy explores her relationship with Riley, only to find new love blossoming with someone else.
A group of monsters called "the Gentlemen" steal the voices of everyone in Sunnydale and begin carving out people's hearts, and the team must find a way to stop them without being able to speak.
While trying to stop a trio of demons from bringing about the end of the world, Buffy tries to convince Riley that a relationship between them cannot work. Spike finds a new lease on life.
Walsh invites Buffy to join the Initiative after seeing her Slayer skills first-hand, but quickly grows impatient with her methods and constant questioning of orders.
Buffy's relationship with Riley is strained after she learns that Professor Walsh tried to have her killed. Walsh's monstrous creation, Adam, proves more than Buffy can handle.
Having traded bodies with Buffy, faith takes a turn leading her life -- and having sex with her man. Trapped in Faith's body, Buffy is dragged away for trial by the Watcher's Council.
Buffy begins to suspect that the world's most handsome, more popular, most universally loved hero -- her high school friend Jonathan -- may have changed reality around them.
Willow is stunned when Oz returns to town, having apparently cured his werewolfism and ready to rekindle their relationship. But when Oz transforms during daylight hours, he is captured by the Initiative.
Planning his final move against Buffy, Adam enlists Spike's help to drive the Slayer and her friends apart. Angel's return leads him to a stand-off with Riley.
Having lost Riley to Adam's control, Buffy and the team plan a daring infiltration of the Initiative, leading to a final confrontation with Adam and his plans to create more demon-human-machine hybrids.