Ep 16. Doppelgangland

In "Doppelgangland," the sixteenth episode of the third season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Willow accidentally summons her vampire doppelgänger from an alternate dimension while trying to perform a spell to empower her magical abilities. The doppelgänger, named Vampire Willow, quickly adjusts to the world without a second thought and begins to wreak havoc on Sunnydale.

Meanwhile, Buffy and the Scooby gang are preoccupied with a decision from the Watcher's Council to pull Giles out of Sunnydale. Giles is tasked with helping train and prepare a group of newly called potential slayers in an upcoming apocalypse. Buffy must make a difficult decision about what her next steps will be without Giles by her side.

As the episode progresses, Vampire Willow proves to be a formidable adversary with her superhuman strength and lack of empathy. However, Willow quickly realizes that there are certain aspects of her doppelgänger's personality that she admires, such as her confidence and assertiveness. The two Willows end up meeting face-to-face and sharing a conversation about their lives and what has led them to where they are.

The episode also explores themes of identity and self-discovery, as Willow grapples with the discovery of someone who looks just like her but is so fundamentally different. Buffy and her friends also confront their own identities and roles in the world as they continue to fight against the forces of evil.

As tensions rise and the threat of a demon villain called The Mayor looms closer, Willow must make a decision about whether to stay in her current dimension or risk leaving behind everything and everyone she knows to go with her vampire doppelgänger to the other dimension.

Overall, "Doppelgangland" is a thrilling and thought-provoking episode that showcases the show's ability to explore themes of identity and self-discovery while also balancing humor and action. Fans of the series are sure to enjoy this standout episode.