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Background
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The phenomenally successful series Buffy the Vampire Slayer returns for its third season on DVD. The series focuses on the life of Buffy Summers, high school student by day, super strong vampire slayer by night.

Although you could start watching Buffy from this season (after all I originally started watching in season 5) its not recommended, as you would not fully understand the story lines.

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The Packaging
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As with season 2 the dvd's are encased within an impressive book. Each dvd being protected in a seperate page with fluffy lining, the book also contains a useful episode guide.
Once more the book fits nicely into a cardboard sleeve, this is a purple colour with a big picture of Buffy on the front.
The case measures a substantial 16cm x 20cm x 2.5cm, and is therefore bigger than a standard dvd (so it won't fit in your dvd rack). However, when teamed with the other season boxsets, you will have a very nice display on your shelf.

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The DVDs
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There are six dvds in this season, each containing between 3 and 4 episodes plus the special features. There are a total of 22 episodes in the season.

Each of the discs has a purple background with a picture of either Buffy, or Buffy and Angel in the foreground and other characters in the background.

When a dvd is played the first thing that you will see is the copyright warning (boring but only the studio trying to protect itself). Then there is a fancy motion menu leading to the episodes. Now I know I said while reviewing season 2, that I find the motion menus annoying, these are much shorter and it is only the main menu thats motion, much better.

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The Characters
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As with the previous seasons there are quite few main characters and for the purposes of this review I've split them into three groups: The Good, The Bad, and the Otherwise significant.

THE GOOD

Buffy Summers - Played by Sarah Michelle Gellar

Although no longer the one slayer, Buffy is still the best. Wrenched from her life as a cheerleader, three years on Buffy is in her last year of high school and spends her nights slaying the vampires, demons and other evil creatures that inhabit Sunnydale.

* * * * * * * * *

Rupert Giles - Played by Anthony Stewart-Head

The librarian at Sunnydale High School, Giles is Buffy watcher, who trains and guides her in her slaying duties.

* * * * * * * * * *
Willow Rosenberg - Played by Alyson Hannigan

Super smart Willow, Buffys best friend. Has started dabbling in witchcraft. Still seeing Oz

* * * * * * * * * *

Xander Harris - Played by Nicholas Brendon

Faithful Xander, is no longer so much the class clown, but still provides the comic reflief throughout the season. He is still seeing Cordelia, the strangest relationship I've ever seen.

* * * * * * * * * *

Cordelia Chase - Played by Charisma Carpenter

Cordelia is the super rich, but no longer so super popular Queen Bee of the high school. Her street cred, has gone down sharply since it was revealed she is dating Xander.

* * * * * * * * * *

Oz - Played by Seth Green

Oz is willows boyfriend, lead guitar in the band "Dingos Ate My Baby", enjoys howling at the moon 3 nights a month.

* * * * * * * * * *

Faith - played by Eliza Dushku
(I was'nt sure were to put Faith so I've put her in both the good and the bad)

Faith was called as slayer when Kendra died in Season 2. She has'nt had the loving family and friends that Buffy has. She enjoys slaying, maybe too much.

* * * * * * * * * *

Angel - Played by David Boreanaz

Angel is a vampire, who was cursed with a soul by the family of a gypsy girl who he killed. He is doomed to feel the pain of knowing all the evil he has done for ever (or until he experiences complete happiness). He and Buffy are in love but can never again consumate their relationship after last seasons disasterous results.

THE BAD

Mayor Richard Wilkins III - Played by Harry Groener

Richard Wilkins has been the mayor of Sunnydale for over 100 years, He is the big bad of the season.
He is revealed to be a bit of an anti-germ freak, with a strange set of moral values.

* * * * * * * * * *

Kakistos - Played by Jeremy Roberts

Kakistos is a vampire so old that he has cloven feet. He killed Faith's watcher and has come to Sunnydale to finish the job.

* * * * * * * * * *

Mister Trick - Played by K. Todd Freeman

Mister Trick is a technologically advanced vampire, a great beleiver in the use of the internet. Originally Kakistos' sidekick, he worked for the mayor once Kakistos was killed.

* * * * * * * * * *

Faith - Played by Eliza Dushku

Although originally on the side of good, about half way through the season Faith defects to the dark side.

THE OTHERS

Joyce Summers - Played by Kristine Sutherland

Buffy's mom, who although she now knows Buffy is the slayer is having a hard time dealing with it.

* * * * * * * * * *

Wesley Wyndham-Pryce - Played by Alexis Denisof

When Giles is sacked by the watchers council Wesley is sent to replace him. Wesley is a self-centred english twat.

* * * * * * * * * *

Ethan Rayne - Played by Robin Sachs

A former childhood friend of Giles, Ethan worships the Chaos demon. Whenever, Ethan arrives in Sunnydale, trouble is quick to follow.

* * * * * * * * * *

Spike - Played by James Marsters

Bleached haired english vampire from season 2, returns to Sunnydale briefly after his lover leaves him.

* * * * * * * * * *

Principal Snyder - Played by Armin Shimmerman

The principal of Sunnydale High School. Has a great dislike for Buffy, and in this season we find out why, he works for the mayor. Although I do beleive he is genuinely clueless about the mayors plans for Sunnydale.

* * * * * * * * * *

Anyanka/Anya - Played by Emma Caulfield

A vengence demon, who loses her powers and becomes mortal, much to her disgust.

* * * * * * * * * *

The First - Played......many different actors

The first is the ultimate and original evil. It can manefest itself as any dead person it likes. Although appearing in one episode in this season, I thought it was worth a mention, due to the important part the First plays in a later season.

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Previously on Buffy
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Season 2 of Buffy, finished with Angel losing his soul, and trying to destroy the world as his alter ego Angelus. The only way for Buffy to save the world was to kill Angelus, which she did just as Willow restored his soul. In one foul swoop, Buffy was expelled from school, accused of murder and killed her lover. Her mother had also told her not to come back home if she left when she did.

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Episode Guide
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1. Anne
This episode begins with Buffy's family and friends missing her. The scoobies are attempting to carry out her slaying duties. Meanwhile Buffy is waitressing in LA under the assumed name, Anne. It's soon time for Buffy to remember who she is, and save a bunch of street kids from Hell.

My rating...10/10 A great start to a great season.

2.Dead Man's Party
Buffy has returned home, but she feels distant from her family and friends. Too add to this, Snyder won't let her back into school, and her mom wants to send her to a private school.
However, when a mask brings some unwelcome, and somewhat dead gatecrashers to her welcome home party the gang begin to once more pull together.

My rating.....9/10 lots of action.

3.Faith, Hope and Trick.
There's a new slayer in town, Faith. And she is being hunted by an ancient vampire named Kakistos. Although Buffy feels Faith is stealing her life, they must put their differences aside in a fight for their lives.

My rating....9/10

4.Beauty and the Beasts.
When schoolmates of Buffy are being found dead, suspicion immediatelty falls on Oz. But Buffy has another suspect.....Angel, back from the hell and in a ferral state.

My rating....10/10 good episode with a few twists.

5.Homecoming
Buffy decides to take Cordelia on in the Homecoming Queen contsest. However, Mr Trick has a new game.....Slayerfest 1998. Unfortunately instead of Faith, it is Cordelia that is caught up in it with Buffy. Can they survive the night and make it to the Homecoming Prom.

My Rating.....10/10 another action packed episode with a surprising twist.

6.Band Candy
The kids are given a candy to sell to raise money for the band. But this is a candy with a difference, it turns all the adults into teenagers. Can Buffy discover whats going on in time to save the day.

My rating...10/10 a funny episode, especially Giles as Ripper.

7.Revalations
Faith's new watcher arrives and immediately starts critising Giles. Meanwhile a new demon is supposed to be arriving looking for a powerful glove. Then Xander discovers that Angel is back, and sends Faith after him.

My rating....9/10 good episode, but slightly predictable.

8.Lover's Walk
Spikes bad, and he's sad. Drucilla's left him and he wants her back. So her "persuades" Willow to help him make a love spell. Meanwhile, Willow and Xander are desperately trying not to give in to their lustful urges.

My rating........10/10 it's got Spike, what can I say.

9.The Wish
Cordelia's out of hospital, and feeling vengeful. New girl Anya (a vengence demon), persuades her to make a "wish", that Buffy Summers had never come to Sunnydale.
Cue a nightmare world in which the Master has risen and the vampires rule Sunnydale.

My rating.....10/10 a glimpse of what Buffy would be like without her friends.

10.Amends
Angel is tormented by visions of the people he has killed. Someone is trying to drive him to suicide. Meanwhile, Buffy and Giles are trying to discover why he has been sent back to earth. Willow and Oz decide to give their relationship another try.

My rating....9/10 would have been 10 but it was a bit cheesy.

11.Gingerbread
When two young children are found dead, everybody is convinced witches are to blame. Then Wicca equipment is found is Willow's locker, no-one beleives she is just preparing a birthday present for Buffy.

My rating...8/10

12.Helpless
As Buffy reaches her eighteenth birthday, the watchers council prepares a test for her. Stripped of her powers and locked in with a crazed vampire, she must rely onn her wit to survive.

My rating...9/10

13.The Zeppo
Xander feels useless, so he sets out to prove that he's as important a member of the scoobies as everyone else. But getting involved with an undead gang might not be the way to do it.

My Rating...8/10 An interesting look at how one persons actions affect the outcome.

14.Bad Girls
Buffy lets herself be drawn into Faiths reckless way of life, with some tragic consequences.

My rating...9/10

15.Consequences
Buffy is overcome with remorse over the killing, but Faith is acting as though she could'nt care. meanwhile the mayor is glad that he now has a legal means of getting at the slayers.

My rating...8/10 This is the episode where Faith crosses over.

16.Dopplegangland
Fed up with life as a human, Anya enlists Willows help in retrieving her power source. Unfortunately she brings back vamp Willow instead.

My rating...10/10

17.Enemies
Faith attempts to seduce Angel in the hopes of turning him, when this backfires the Mayor brings in a mysterious creature to remove Angels soul.

My rating...10/10 this is a brilliant episode, with a great twist in the tail.

18.Earshot
While killing a demon, Buffy is infected with the "aspect of the demon". She is able to hear everybodies thoughts. When she "hears" that someone is going to kill everybody the next day the race is on to discover who it is.
This episode was orginally withdrawn from US TV due to the scene with Jonathon in the tower.

My Rating...10/10 an exceptional episode dealing with a very sensitive subject. Plus Buffys reaction when she discovers what her mom and Giles got upto is priceless.

19.Choices
Buffy has been accepted to a top university, and everyone but her realises that she can't go. so Buffy decides to launch all out war on the mayor. Faith now has to live with her choices.

My rating...9/10

20.The Prom
Its prom night, and even though Buffy and Angel have split up he turns up as her date. However, some disgruntled students have released some hell hounds.
Buffy is presented with a special award in recognition for the fact that more students have survived in this class than any other.

My rating...9.5/10

21/22.Graduation Day
As the school prepare for graduation day, the mayor prepares for his ascension. Faith shoots Angel with a poisoned arrow, and her blood is the only cure. After a battle btween Faith and Buffy, the whole school clubs together in a fight for their lives.

My Rating...10/10

My rating for the whole season is 9.5/10. This is a pivotal season and I would say surpassed only by season 7.

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Special Features
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Disc 1

*Faith,Hope and Trick original script
(Each of the scripts appears on the screen and is scrolled through using the next button)
Disc 2

* Band Candy Original Script

* Lover's Walk Original Script

Disc 3

* The Wish Original Script

* Featurettes:

Buffy Speak : Short documentary featuring the writers explaining how they came up with the way Buffy and co talk to each other. Lasting approx 6 minutes.

Season 3 Overview: From the perspective of the writers, producer and stars. Introduces the new characters and how they interact with the exsisting stars. Lasting approx 10 minutes

* Biographies of
Sarah Michelle Gellar
David Boreanz
Alyson Hannigan
Nicholas Brendon
Charisma Carpenter
Seth Green
Anthony Stewart Head
Kristine Sutherland
Joss Whedon
This provides a written biography of each of the main stars accessed by using the skip buttons.

* Art Gallery
Collection of 30 photos of the gang and the demons they battle.

Disc 4

* Helpless Commentary by writer David Fury
(Each of the commantries is a voice over by the writer or produce explaining how their ideas for the episode devloped)
* Bad Girls Commentary by writer Doug Petrie

* Consequences Commentary by director Michael Gershman

Disc 5

* Earshot Commentary by writer Jane Espenson

Disc 6

* Featurettes

Wardrobes : Short documentary about how the clothes that the characters wear are chosen as told by the writers, stars and costume designer.. Lasting approx 7 minutes.

Weapons : Featuring the many different weapons used within the season. Lasting approx 5 minutes.

Special Effects: featuring how some of the special effects were created throughout the show. Lasting approx 12.5 minutes.

My rating for special features....9/10
There are some interesting bits in the features, but not worth watching more than once.

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Picture and sound quality
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Picture and sound quality on this boxset are excellent when viewed on a 20" LCD TV combined with a surround sound system. My only gripe is its not 5.1 sound.

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Additional Information
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Feature running time : 935 minutes
Rating : 15
Languages : Unfortunately English is the only language available.
Subtitles : Are available in english for the hearing impaired.
Price : I payed £29.99 for this boxset but it is available at time of writing from £32.99

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Conclusion
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This boxset represents excellent value for money. The continuing storyline is excellent, exceeded only (in my opinion) by the final season.