Rating: 
Summary: Minus Angel, not bad
Review: The third season could have been infinitely better if it had done two things differently. One: Angel should have stayed in Hell. His character had no purpose in this season, other than to be the occasional sap, giving Buffy a pep talk or providing badly placed "sexual tension," or whatever. All the segments with Angel looked deliberately contrived, were totally unbelievable, and quite pointless. Buffy could have gotten her moral pep from Giles or Willow or Xander, or even her Mother. Angel was just there. Even worse, Buffy was getting over having killed him in a very well-written way, so that by the third episode she was in a good emotional place. Then, of course, they chose to drag her back down into a wanna-be second season Buffy instead of moving on.The other thing they should have done differently (besides Buffy's hair) was Buffy's attitude. While Faith offered a vibrant, energetic character to move the storyline along with much humorous violence and sarcasm, Buffy became infested with a superiority complex. She became Ms. Morality, the I-Killed-Angel-To-Save-The-World-I-Am-Perfect person. From the absurd Slayerfest episode, with her trying to be homecoming queen, to the Prom, Buffy was trapped in this limbo where she seemed unable to keep from moralizing herself against the infinitely inferior Faith. In this season, Faith seems more authentic than Buffy, because Buffy is all about being the good and proper slayer. She has no vices, she is unable to make a bad decision, and with her guidance, Faith can be a good person. Without an anti-Buffy like Faith, this season would be a total loss, because the whole Mayor thing just wasn't as engaging as the evil-Angel of the second season or the Master. This season is notable for episodes like "The Wish" and "Candy," but once Faith kills the Mayor's assistant, the show becomes a looping "We have to save Faith from herself" plot. What Buffy needs here is a good slap. Too bad Angel didn't have enough personality here to give her one.
Rating: 
Summary: The BEST Season of Buffy!!!
Review: Myself and everyone I've ever known (who watches "Buffy") agree that Season 3 is the best season of Buffy ever! If you're only going to get one season, get this one! This year we get a bit of everything - comedy, in episodes like "band candy" (where all the adults in Sunnydale, including buffy's mom and Giles, eat candy that makes them act like teenagers), horror, in episodes like "helpless" (in which it is Buffy's 18th Birthday and she has to go through a watcher's test, in which they take away Buffy's slayer abilities and put her up against an insane vampire), bitter sweet melancholy, in episodes like "the Prom" (this episode encompasses the essence of character, Buffy. Tag-line "I'm just a girl" fits this description). Not to mention the many episodes including intriguing character, Faith, who spirals into becoming a rogue slayer. This year the buffy gang must grow up, decide where their futures lie, graduate AND fight the mayor and his humorously evil plots. Everything worked perfectly in this season - acting, script writing(with the great addition of comedic writer Jane Espenson joining the team), casting, storylines, all of it. And the score music by Christophe Beck really evoked the right emotion for each and every scene. In addition to this the extras are well worth justifying the buy. Audio commentaries by doug petrie and jane espenson make for interesting viewing. Generally I hate commentaries and find them boring but these guys were a hoot and a half! I would have bought this season on dvd even if there were no dvd extras however cause the episodes stand so strongly together and apart. A buy more than ten times its worth. Just to add - some might wonder what the purpose was of Angel returning. Many many reasons are behind his return. For one thing (from looking at episode "Amends") he doesn't know why he is back - for good or for evil, thus backing his show's statment about making amends and fighting the good fight. Another reason is that this season is about choices. Buffy has to decide where her future lies - with or without Angel - if he was left for dead then she would never have had to make that decision. On top of that what we get is (arguably) a happy "end" to the buffy-angel romance. Though they can't be together they both live with the knowledge that they may one day unite again as a couple. We know this because in the first season of "Angel" we learn that Angel is destined to become a human. It all made perfect sense to bring Angel back - not just for character growth in season 3 of the show but also to give that deeper meaning Joss Whedon likes to incorperate - we can imagine what happens off-screen. The slayer notion, and the buffy/angel romance can continue with speculation and imaganination. It just gives it that deeper meaning that the trip to hell didn't.
Rating:
Summary: Buffy's back, Angel too and also a menacing new evil
Review: still a great show with a great cast that brings in Seth Green(Oz) to the beginning credits, which kicks ass. in the first episode "Anne" Buffy comes back at the end and then to her friends into the next episode. the 3rd episode enters Faith(Eliza Dushku) who plays a pivitol part as the new slayer after Kendra(Bianca Lawson) died at the end of season 2's "Becoming Part1 and the good return of David Boreanaz(Angel/Angelus). relationships also break in "Loverswalk" as Spike(the always great James Marsters) comes to town and the passion of Willow and Xander is revealed. Xander and Cordelia break up but Willow and Oz keep going in the episode "Amends". we are also introduced to some evil villians including Mr. Trick(K. Todd Freeman) and Harry Groener(who seems so nice but then so deadly as Mayor Richard Wilkins III). and of course we have the everso cool Wesley Wyndham Price(Alexis Denisof) who goes to season 1 of Angel and stays there. the good episodes include "Dead Man's Party", "Faith, Hope and Trick", "Beauty and The Beasts", "Loverswalk", "Amends". "Gingerbread", "The Wish", "TheZeppo"., "Dopplegangland", "Enemies", "Earshot". "The Prom and GradDay 1 and 2". in this season David Boreanaz(Angel) and Charisma Carpenter(Cordelia Chase) leave the show so they can go to Angel, which is still on and Spike(James Marsters) is a cast member
Rating:
Summary: A brilliant DVD and season
Review: After Buffys run in with Angel Buffy ran to L.A. She is now living under the name of Anne. This is only the first episode though. The best episodes are "The Wish," "Doppegangland," "Earshot" and "Graduation Day part 1 and 2." The big bad is the healthy living mayor. Apart from the few boring episodes this is one of the best seasons. Bye it if u r a big buffy fan.
Rating:
Summary: A show that deserved more respect than it got
Review: Thank God this program has such a loyal and devoted cult following or else I never would have had the opportunity to get addicted to the show. I never gave it much thought before that, mainly due to it's title, but I started watching during the awesome 3rd season and was fully immersed in the show's lore by the third show that year. It combines the best of many genres; horror, teen movies (from the JD films of the 50's to the teenage melodramas of the 80's), vampire mythology, historical costume drama, comic book super-heroes, a touch of Anne Rice's tortured vampire stylings etc., and throws in a heaping dose of black humour for maximum effect. The writers on this program were top notch and deserved more credit than they got, as do the cinematographers and special effects crew. The show's main thrust is provided by Buffy Summers, a typical California teen who finds that she is the Slayer, the chosen one who is destined to protect the world from the various vampires, demons and ghouls that the general public doesn't know exists. She lives in Sunnydale, which happens to be situated on the Hellmouth, a place where demons ascend from their hellish environs. She's aided by Giles, her Watcher-cum-librarian, Willow, a nerdy little redhead who dabbles in Wicca and the occult and Xander, her reliable, blundering oaf of a friend who had a serious crush on her in the early years. There's the pre-requisite anti-Buffy in the form of snobby, rich girl Cordelia (Betty to her Veronica) and the mysterious Angel, a vampire who was cursed with his soul by gypsies so he could wander the Earth haunted by the atroctities he commited, but who also falls in love with Buffy in spite of his torment. The best seasons are 2 and 3, when the show really hit it's stride, with story arcs that included the loss of Angel's soul when he experienced perfect happiness and his subsequent return as the deliciously evil Angelus, and the introduction of Faith, the anti-Slayer who went from good to bad with the help of the evil Mayor (without a doubt, the best villain the show came up with). It would comfortably leap from well-lit high school hallways, where all the horrors of teenage society would be played out, to creepy graveyards, where the show would delve into ancient mythologies dealing with vampires and demons and adding to that lore in the process. Inventive, carefully constructed and highly entertaining, this show at least deserved to be taken as seriously as any of the Star Trek spinoffs infecting the airwaves. Season 1 was the show finding it's feet, while 2 and 3 were creative peaks. It's once Buffy and the gang left high school that the show became more of a hit and miss proposition. Several unlikeable characters, such as her new love interest Riley and ill-conceived sister Dawn, and a couple of story arcs that just stumbled along (the Glory season was uninspired and the Initiative plotline was a low point.) didn't do much for the series and left fans divided. There were some great characters introduced in the latter years though...Spike was spectacular as the lovesick, de-fanged vampire and Anya was perfect as the former revenge Demon turned bluntly honest and confused human. And the trio of nerd villians in season 6 continued the tradition of purely evil but loveable villians that started with the Mayor in season 3. And while the later seasons as a whole weren't the greatest, some of the best ever Buffy episodes were produced in that time (namely 'Hush', the silent episode which introduced the creepiest demons ever seen in Sunnydale, and 'The Body' where Buffy's mom dies unexpectedly of a brain aneurisym). The show's final season was a return to form and redeemed itself by tying up some loose ends and ending the show while it was still a pleasure to watch it. It's definitely an underrated show that deserves a closer inspection if you never bothered watching it before. Enjoy playing catch up.
Rating: 
Summary: BTVS Season 3, one of the best things ever on TV
Review: Season 3 of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (BTVS) was not only a great season in the series, but a great season of television. Think of an emotion. You can find it in at least one if not many episodes in this season. Not a BTVS fan? I found the show in season 3. It hooked me. I went back and saw the past seasons and became a devoted fan. Get BTVS season 3! It can stand on its own without the rest of the series, beautifully.
Rating:
Summary: Quite possibly the best season!!!!!
Review: I love season three.While it does not carry the emotion of season two and while its best episodes don't quite match up with Passion or Becoming,it does not have any bad episodes at all and the overall story-arc has a stronger flow.Even the worst episode of season three rules.Can't say that about the worst of season two.The worst being Anne by the way.The story has a stronger flow because every episode matters in the big picture.Even,The Wish ends up being a very important episode.Unfortunately,if you expect another heartbreaking like season two,you'll be disappointed.This season sacrifices drama for complexity instead.Faith,for example is one of the most complex and layered characters ever made.The Mayor is an outstanding Big Bad also.Also,this season's first half is just as memorable and important as its second half.This is the first truly all the way complex season of Buffy.That's why.A lot of fans say this is the last truly great season of Buffy.I do not see why though.Probably because it's the last one with Cordy and Angel.Plus,no high school after that.....Well,if you are single-minded enough to think the show jumps the shark after season three,stop there.But me,I won't.There's only one thing annoying me with season three.The Buffy-Angel relationship gets dull in the second half.I love both characters but their relationship gets too repetitive at the end.Oh and Anya gets introduced in season three.I love her.She's so great.She makes up for the loss of Cordelia after this season.Mr.Trick was cool too but he died quickly.This season has great comedy,too.Buffy and friends have some interesting development yet again and well,get season three now.This season looks great on dvd unlike the first two which looked only decent in comparison.Overall,season three is a strong contender for title of best season and it's the best out of the first three seasons.
Rating:
Summary: TV at its FINEST!
Review: Buffy Season 3 is a real gem! Rarely does episodic drama on television get this amazing! Every episode shines with not one bad apple in the mix. Here we have writing and characterization at its finest. Every character is given their chance to shine and the writing is so layered and well-formulated that you really do not expect what will happen next. This season had it all. Faith and the Mayor were the perfect foil to Buffy and Giles and provided not only gripping drama, but truely hilarious moments too. This is the last season for cast regulars Angel and Cordelia, who would move on the next season to the far superior ANGEL. We are also introduced to new characters such as Anne, Mr. Trick, Anya and bumbling Watcher Wesley. Wesley goes from being a one-note joke of a character to an amazingly complex and interesting character later on. Highlight epsiodes include "The Wish" were Cordelia envisions a Sunnydale without Buffy, "Graduation Day" where the Mayor kills off half the student body and we lose such fun characters as Principal Snyder and Harmony (well not really), and the one where a desperate Spike returns to try and find a way to win back Dru. Faith was also a welcome addition as she proved the perfect anti-Buffy! In all, the best it ever got.
Rating:
Summary: My evaluation
Review: What more can really be said about the third season of Buffy? As a latecomer to the show, I have an insistence on watching both Buffy and Angel in the order they were originally shown in, so six boxsets later I only have yet to see the final three seasons of Buffy and the last two of Angel. Of course not watching season five of Angel when it debuts is going to be torture...But I digress. I was hooked before this season, I was already roped it. But this season made me realize, all over again, *why* I was hooked...and just how good Buffy could be when it got going. With the introduction of Faith, and villians that have not been equaled anywhere else like the Mayor Richard Wilkins and Trick, it is not hard to see why this season is so beloved. Also this was Angel's last full season on Buffy before starting his own show. All of this, combined really made season three the best I have seen to date. I hear people praise season five alot...So we shall just have to see. Regardless I highly recommend this for any Buffy fan. If you are new to the series, start with season's one and two. They are great as it is...But when you get to this you will realize the full glory that is The Slayer:)
Rating:
Summary: Deeply satisfying.
Review: Season Three of Buffy - In which we are introduced to Faith, the Vampire Slayer. How would the Slayerettes cope without Buffy? And what would Buffy do with a life as a waitress, forgetting her job as a Slayer? These intriguing questions are answered in the season opener "Anne" (4/5), which is a consistently entertaining episode and one close to my heart as it was the first Buffy episode I ever saw. "Dead Man's Party" (3.5/5) lacked a good demon story, it was a rip off of Night of the Living Dead. The best qualities with this episode was seeing how hard it was for Buffy to fit back into life in Sunnydale. Welcome Faith - "Faith, Hope and Trick" (3.5/5) sees the introduction of our sexy, rogue Slayer Faith with a troubled past. "Beauty and the Beasts" (4/5) is a good, underrated episode with a very blatant metaphor, but the fact of the matter is, that men abusing women is a BLATANT thing. I thought the episode was very well-done. "Homecoming" (3/5) had some original ideas, funny sequences and great effects but there were a whole lot of missed opportunities and the way a certain vampire died was ridiculous. The highly praised "Band Candy" (3.5/5) was quite a bit of fun ruined somewhat at the end by a stupid back-story about a demon who eats babies. Had the story just been Ethan Rayne stirring up trouble the episode would've been a lot more enjoyable. "Revelations" (4/5) sees some great emotion scenes, you feel for all the characters in many different ways here. Very impressive that such enthralling, dramatic writing can come from a first-time writer - Doug Petrie! Well done! "Lovers Walk" (5/5) is one of the most impressive episodes ever. There is great development on every relationship, and just when things are looking at their lowest for the characters, Spike comes back and makes everything worse. You gotta love him. Cordelia's agony against Xander is understandable but whisks her away into bizarro-world when she makes a wish to Anyanka, a vengeance demon in "The Wish" (4.5/5), a brilliant and unique episode with an appealing gothic mood. "Amends" (3.5/5) does not feel like a Joss Whedon episode. It doesn't contain many great character moments or big revelations, its just a nice little holiday episode that moves too slowly for my liking. The final hilltop scene is one to remember though, now that's great writing. "Gingerbread" (3/5) is like a Hansel & Gretel story, except its not that interesting though there is an awesome acronym - MOO. "Helpless" (4.5/5) is terrifying and original, not all-out horror but an intelligent dramatic thriller with a great atmosphere, developments on the arc considering the Watchers Council and Giles' caring for Buffy as a daughter. "The Zeppo" (4/5) is not completely satisfying as a satire. The demons weren't really that good of an idea, and the end of the world thing was too rushed and quite annoying really. There was too much going on in the episode. But the thing that makes "The Zeppo" so good is the development on Xander's character and his eternal struggle to be cool. In this light, the episode succeeds wholesomely. Let's take Faith to a darker place, says Joss. "Bad Girls" (4/5) and "Consequences" (4/5) allow us to do this. They are the beginning of Faith's turning to the dark side and make for great episodes. Balthazar in "Bad Girls" was a boring opponent but you gotta love the Faith/Buffy lesbian subtext, it was so much fun. Consequences have always been an interesting issue on Buffy, the Vampire Slayer and the theme is given justice with the very satisfying and aptly titled "Consequences." "The Wish" was great and on sale now - but wait, THERE'S MORE! Watch "The Wish" and you get "Doppelgangland" (4.5/5), an even better, funnier and better acted episode, written by Joss Whedon himself! There is so much clever dialogue humour in "Doppelgangland" and such a brilliant performance from Alyson Hannigan, which makes it one of the most consistently rewatchable episodes ever of Buffy, the Vampire Slayer. We got more Faithage in "Enemies" (4.5/5), written by Douglas Petrie. The advancement on the Mayor's plan, the return of Angelus, the revelation that Faith has gone to the dark side (not to the audience, but to Buffy) and the great Buffy/Faith lesbo subtext yet again (Douglas Petrie loves these two...) make it so enjoyable. "Earshot" (4.5/5) is one of the most critically praised episodes of Buffy and rightfully so. It has a number of great scenes and is hilarious, but also a dramatic episode at heart because of the Jonathan/Buffy scenes and hearing the horrors of high school. "Choices" (4/5) sees Buffy's struggle to want to leave Sunnydale and go to college, and how Wesley and Giles must not permit that. She decides to go offensive on the Mayor, causing Willow to get captured. It's a great episode that has some excellent character and story developments. "The Prom" (4/5) is a lovely episode where we finally see how the students of Sunnydale High have noticed Buffy. It must've also been a very special episode for Sarah as she never got to go to her high school prom, so this might've been a nice replacement. "Graduation Day, Part I" (4/5) sees the great battle between Buffy and Faith, which is extremely entertaining. A lot of the rest of the episode is quite slow unfortunately, though it is very well structured. "Graduation Day, Part II" (5/5) was the brilliant close to the brilliant season three, with a terrific fight scene, great effects, plot points all tied up and lots of memorable character scenes. Season three had a great season-long story with a few fillers along the way which is the most appropriate way to go. All the plot points were tied up and almost every viewer was left deeply satisfied. I can't give the season anymore praise than that.
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