Ep 5. Homecoming

In Buffy The Vampire Slayer season 3 episode 5, titled "Homecoming," Buffy and Cordelia are in competition to become Sunnydale High's Homecoming Queen. While they are preoccupied with the contest, two dangerous vampires arrive in town with a mission: to kill Buffy. The two contenders end up working together to fight the vampires and protect the town and their classmates.

As the episode begins, Buffy and Cordelia are campaigning for the title of Homecoming Queen. Buffy is surprised at the competitive spirit, as Cordelia's reign as Queen is threatened by Buffy's presence. Meanwhile, Willow and Xander are busy with their own extracurricular activities but are still involved in the contest by helping Buffy with campaign materials and making sure she looks her best for her formal dress fitting.

As the girls focus on the competition, the two vampires, Lyle Gorch and his brother, Tector, make their appearance in Sunnydale. They are on the run from a gang and hope to hide out in the town for a few days. Sunnydale, of course, is the slayer's territory, and the vampires decide to hunt down Buffy and add her to their list of victims.

At school, the Homecoming festivities are in full swing, and Buffy and Cordelia continue to compete fiercely for the crown. Suddenly, the Gorch brothers crash the party, causing chaos and destruction. They threaten to hurt the other students unless Buffy surrenders herself to them. The slayer, however, is not intimidated, and with Cordelia's help, she manages to fend off the attackers and protect her classmates.

Buffy and Cordelia briefly set aside their differences and team up to track down the vampires. With the help of Faith, they discover that the brothers are hiding out in an old factory, where Buffy and Faith confront them. After a dramatic fight scene, Buffy and Faith emerge victorious, but not before the Gorch brothers manage to escape.

Back at the school, the Homecoming dance is still going on. Buffy and Cordelia have both been nominated for the title of Homecoming Queen, but the competition seems to have lost its meaning after the events of the night. The two friends share a moment of mutual respect, understanding that the contest, while important, is hardly the most critical thing in their lives.

In the end, the episode ends on a sweet note, with Buffy being crowned Homecoming Queen, and Cordelia receiving the honorable title of Princess. Despite the temporary drama, the girls have strengthened their bond and managed to save the day once again.

Overall, "Homecoming" is an exciting episode that offers a fun look at the various dynamics present at Sunnydale High. The episode explores the themes of competition and friendship while delivering intense action scenes and vampire fights. It pushes Buffy and Cordelia to work together, despite their differences, and allows them to underscore how important their friendship is to the show's overall themes. It's a great addition to the series that fans will undoubtedly enjoy.