The underlying theme for this season was choices and their consequence.
No matter what episode you watch it is always there.
Xander and Willow develop (and act upon) strong feelings for one another,
destroying their relationships with Cordellia and Oz.
Buffy comes home from Los Angeles and must endure her mothers fears
and feelings towards her.
Hurt by Xander’s betrayal, Cordellia calls upon Anyanka, a vengeance
demon who grants wishes. Cordellia wishes that Buffy had never moved to
Sunnydale (because if she hadn’t then Xander and Cordellia would never
have become an item). This wish catapults her into a scary alternate world
where Joyce moved Buffy to Cleveland and Vampires rule Sunnydale.
Anyanka’s powers are destroyed, rendering her mortal and powerless and
stuck in the body of a High School senior, thus creating one of the most
entertaining characters so far.
But the best example of this season’s theme is Faith. Like Buffy, Faith is a
Slayer. Because Buffy died in Season One, Kendra was called. Kendra was killed
at the end of Season Two. Upon her death, we were given Faith. Faith is what
Buffy would have been like if she hadn’t had the gang and her mother around.
She is the darker half of Buffy’s personality. The part that loves being a Slayer
and the part that Buffy denies is there. She’s dangerous, cocky and sleeps with
Xander after his break up with Cordellia. But when Faith accidentally kills a
human on her patrol, she closes herself off, turns evil and becomes one of
the Mayor’s lackeys.
