The vampire Spike returns to Sunnydale and kidnaps Willow to make her do a love spell, so that he can get back together with his lover Drusilla.
Buffy's unexpectedly high SAT score makes her start to think about the college opportunities open to her.
At school the next day, Giles prepares to leave for a Watchers' retreat and urges Buffy go to an out-of-state college if she wants to.
Spike, who is hiding at the back of the shop, decides that a spell to make Drusilla love him again would be a good idea.
Buffy hears Spike's voice in the background and immediately runs home, thinking her mom is in danger.
As they leave with the supplies, Buffy, Angel and Spike are attacked by a welcoming committee of vampires sent by the Mayor.
[2] The characters Spike and Drusilla were inspired by the Sex Pistols bass guitarist Sid Vicious, and his girlfriend Nancy Spungen.
It dissolves all the core romantic relationships of the show — and sets up the eventual return of Spike, cured of his lovesickness through his yen for violence and back to his old, evil self.
"[8] Paste Magazine, in a similar list, ranked it at #31 and called it "one of Season Three’s most emotionally resonant (read: tragic) episodes.
"[9] Roger Pocock writes, "Spike is back, and immediately the series hits a level of fun that it simply can’t achieve without him.
"[10] Myles McNutt writes, "If you’re going to have Xander and Willow get to second base within a 'Monster of the Week' story, it needs to be one that doesn’t feel like they’ve been possessed or that it was entirely a heat of the moment decision.