The police find Buffy crying over Kendra's body and try to arrest her, Buffy troes to explain that this wasn't her doing but they don't believe her. Snyder turns up to gloat over Buffy's downfall and this causes enough of a distraction for Buffy to break free of the police officer and runs away. The police put a call out on her, saying that is is very dangerous.

Later, Buffy walks into the hospital wearing different clothes and a hat. She walks into Xander and gives him a huge hug, she is so happy to see him alive. He shows off his plaster cast, his souvenir of the night. he spots the police and envelopes Buffy in another bear hug so that the poilice don't see her. He tells her about Willow and they go to her hospital room. he says that the sooner Willow waskes up the better. Buffy asks if he got hold of Oz and Xander realises that he totally forgot about him. Cordelia comes in and apologises for running away, Buffy says that she did the right thing. Then they discover that Giles is missing. Buffy goes to Giles apartment, but the olny person there is Whistler. Whistler tries to explain what she has to do the save the world, but she wont't listen to him, she's sick of having to do everything by herself.

Meanwhile, Angel is torturing Giles and having a lot of fun with it. he wan't to know why the spell to revive Acathla isn't working. Giles refuses to co operate though and remains stoically silent through the torture.

The police go to Buffy's house looking for her and tel Joyce to ring them as soon as she shows up, they won't tell her what Buffy has done though.

Buffy is walking the streets, unsure of what to do next when a police car spots her. She is saved from a nasty situation by the most unlikely of sources: Spike. Buffy and Spike fight until Spike asks for a truce. Buffy relutantly listens to what he has to say. Spike doesn't want Angel to suck the world into hell, he likes it as it is, with its dog racing and Manchester United. he is willing to help Buffy stop Angel is she lets himself and Dru leave town and not come back. The officer starts to come round and Spike asks to kill him. Buffy tells him 'no' and says thatthey should go somewhere to talk.

At the hospital, Cordelia and Xander are watching over Willow. Cordelia goes for drinks leaving Xander there by himself. he takes Willow's hand and tells her that she has to wake up, she his best friend and doesn't want to lose her - and he loves her. Just at that moment Willow starts to come round and (as is always the way) asks for Oz who walks in at that moment.

Spike and Buffy get to Buffy's house just as Joyce (who has been driving the streets loooking for Buffy) pulls up. She asks Buffy where she's been and who is Spike. Spike and Buffy come up with a cover story: Buffy is in Spike's band and plays the drums. it might have worked if a vampire hadn't have chosen that very moment to attack Buffy. Spike fights it and Buffy stakes it, so that it explodes into dust in front of Joyce.

Joyce, naturally, wants to know what's going on so Buffy tells her the truth - she's the vampire slayer.

Angel is still torturing Giles and is impressed that he hasn't cracked, he carries on hurting Giles, but he won't give Angel the information he wants.

Back at Buffy's house: Willow is on the telephone to Willow, she apologises for not being there and is very glad that Willow is okay. While Buffy is on the phone Spike and Joyce are sitting in the living room in an uncomfortable silence. Joyce tries to make small talk but it very stilted. Buffy and Spike finalise their deal, Spike is pleased that Dru finally bagged a Slayer, then quickly apologises for his slip up. Buffy will let Spike go if he helps her kill Angel, but if Giles dies, Dru dies also. Spike leaves leaving Buffy to face her mother. She doesn't want Buffy going out fighting, and Buffy gets into a hugfe argument with her. She can't ignore ger destiny and she can't let Giles die and the world get sucked into Hell. She makes to leave and Joyce gives her an ultimatum: If she walks out she can never come back. Buffy doesn't look back as she walks away.

At the hospital Willow is feeling quite chirpy. She is unhappy that she didn't get to finish the spell and decides to try it again. Xander tries to persuade her otherwise, but Willow has her Resolve Face on and won't be budged. She tells Oz and Cordy to go to the library and bring her the stuff that she will need for the spell and tells Xander to go and find Buffy and tell her that she's going to try and do the spell again.

Buffy is already at the library to get Kendra's sword. Snyder walks in and tells her that she is expelled and to get off school property. he's very pleased that he's got rid of Buffy. Buffy asks whether he got a date at all in school (he didn't) and after threatening him with Kendra's sword walks out.

At the mansion, Angel is starting to get annoyed with Giles' silence and decides to go with chain saws. Spike (back in his wheelchair) overhears and tells him not to, he doesn't want to spend the next month getting librarian out of the carpet. He says that maybe Dru can help and calls for her. She hypnotises Giles and makes him see his heart's desire: Jenny. Jenny (really Dru) asks him about the spell and gets Giles to tell them that Angel needs to use his own blood to activate the spell. Angel can't believe that he's been so stupid and is about to kill Giles when Spike reminds him that maybe Giles is lying. While they are talking Dru is kissing Giles . . . and still kissing Giles, Spike and Angel try to attract her attention and when she does finaly hear them she says (with a wicked grin) that she was caught up in the moment.

At dawn, Buffy heads off towards the mansion. Xander jumps out of the undergrowth brandishing a big rock, he's cavalry. He says that he's got a message from Willow, but instead of telling her that Willow is going to try the spell he tells her that Willow says to kick Angel's ass.

In the mansion, Angel starts the ritual by cutting his hand open. Buffy walks in and beheads the vampire closest to her, it distracts the ceremony. Spike stands up from his wheelchair and smashes an iron bar into the back of Angel's head, repeatedly. (Here's a vamp with issues). While Buffy is fighting Xander creeps around the edge of the room and goes off to find Giles. Drusilla flings herself at Spike to stop him hurting her Angel. Xander finds Giles and gets him out after convincing him that he is not a product of Giles' imagination.

Spike throws Drusilla against a wall and grabs her around the neck, he tells her that he doesn't want to hurt her but she gives him no choice. He knocks her out.

Angel wakes up and unnoticed pulls the sword out of Acathla, completing the ritual. Buffy fights Angel with Kendra's sword.

Willow begins the ritual from the comfort of her hospital bed. Cordelia is in charge of the stinky herband Oz is reading out of the book Jenny gave Giles in Latin. Willow starts chanting, but she is still weak and looks like she is going to pass out when something goes into her. Her head snaps up and she chants chanting in Latin. Cordy is a little scared by Willow's change.

The fight between Buffy and Angel moves out into the walled garden, Angel manages to knock Buffy's sword out of her hand and knock her down. He points the sword at her throat. She closes her eyes, ready to die. Angel asks her what she is left with now she has lost her friends and her hope? he brings the sword in to stab her but she catches it between her hands and answers simply - "me". She pushes the sword backwards and it smashes Angel in the face. She gets her sword and they start fighting again. Buffy gains the upperhand and is about to cut off Angel's head when Willow finishes the spell. Angel's eyes glow and he collaspses in pain. Buffy stops herself from killing him bursting into tears when she realises what happened. Angel doesn't know what is going on, Buffy doesn't tell him, she's just happy to have him back. She hugs him tightly. While she's hugging him she opens her eyes and sees Acathla opening the portal to Hell. Angel tells her that he loves her and Buffy says the same back to him. She then tells him to close his eyes and steps away from him. She pulls back the sword and plunges it into his stomach. He opens his eyes in shock and stares at Buffy as he is pulled into the vortex. Buffy bursts into heart-wrenching tears.

Some time later, the scooby gang are back at school. Willow's in a wheelchair and Giles still looks a little worse for wear. No one has seen Buffy and no one knows what has happened to her. But, as Oz points out, she saved the world because here they are. They turn to go into school.

Across the road Buffy is watching her friends. She is carrying a suitcase, she walks away down the road.

To Willow and Xander's conversation, Buffy gets on a coach and leaves Sunnydale . . .

Our View -
What a fantastic season end. More surprises, this time in the form of Spike, and a conclusion that brought many to tears. (not us though, we're hard :o) ) So many great scenes: Giles's torture, Spike and Joyce (the funniest scene), the brilliant sword fight, Angel and the very sad final scene. Brilliant dialogue and directing.

Our Score - 10

The Professional View
Initally more concerned with Snyder's power-politics, and for twenty minutes the plot loses its focus, stuttering close to a dead end before a magnificant recovery to its emotional, shocking and tragic conclusion

Their score - 8