Ep 8. Lover's Walk

During season 3 episode 8 of Buffy The Vampire Slayer titled "Lover's Walk," Buffy and her friends are celebrating homecoming week when Spike unexpectedly returns to Sunnydale, suffering from a broken heart after being rejected by Drusilla. In a drunken rage, Spike wreaks havoc on the town, threatening to kill anyone who gets in his way.

As Spike arrives in Sunnydale, he notices how happy the couples in town are, and it only serves to highlight his own misery. When he runs into Willow, she's working on a love spell that ultimately fails, causing Spike to mock her for being inexperienced and not knowing the true pain of love.

Spike continues to make his way through town, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. As he comes across Xander, he tells him how he wishes he could forget Drusilla and everything they ever had. Xander sympathizes with Spike and tries to relate to him, telling him how difficult it is to be in love with someone who doesn't love you back. However, Spike simply brushes him off, telling him that he knows nothing about his pain.

Meanwhile, Buffy and Angel continue to struggle with their own relationship problems as they prepare for the homecoming dance. Angel confesses to Buffy that he's still not sure if they should be together, citing their different destinies and the fact that his existence brings danger to those around him. Buffy becomes frustrated with Angel's distance and ultimately decides to attend the dance alone.

As the night progresses, Spike continues to cause chaos, eventually holding Willow hostage and demanding that she perform a love spell to win back Drusilla's heart. However, Willow's spell goes awry, and instead, all the couples in the town begin to experience overwhelming feelings of passion and love. Even Buffy and Angel can't resist the spell's effects as they eventually find their way to each other on the dance floor.

In the end, Spike is left alone and heartbroken once again, realizing that love is not something that can be forced or conjured up with magic. Buffy and Angel's relationship takes a step forward, but it's still unclear whether they will be able to overcome their differences and make it work in the long run.

"Lover's Walk" is a moving episode that explores the complexities of love and relationships. Through Spike's journey, viewers see how even the most hardened hearts can be broken by rejection and despair. The episode also offers a rare glimpse into the vulnerabilities and doubts of Buffy and Angel's relationship, highlighting the challenges they face as two people from different worlds. Ultimately, "Lover's Walk" is a poignant reminder that love cannot be forced or controlled, and that even the most powerful spells cannot bend the will of the heart.