Ep 3. The Harsh Light of Day

Buffy The Vampire Slayer season 4 episode 3 titled "The Harsh Light of Day" opens with Buffy waking up in the morning after having a nightmare about the return of Angel. She is visibly shaken by the dream and her mother tries to comfort her by pointing out that it was just a dream. Meanwhile, a group of rich vampire wannabes enters the town and causes havoc by stealing a gem that supposedly has the power to grant immortality.

Spike, who is still heartbroken over Drusilla leaving him, comes back to Sunnydale to retrieve the same gem. He tells Harmony, his new vampire girlfriend, that he intends to kill Buffy once he has the gem. With the help of an underground demon dealer named Willy, he finds out that the gem is in the possession of a member of the same vampire wannabe gang that Buffy and her friends are investigating.

As Buffy and her friends start their hunt for the stolen gem, Spike comes back to town and starts plotting his revenge against Buffy. In contrast to the previous episode, Spike is shown in a much darker hue- consumed by the anger and rage he's holding inside after Drusilla's departure.

The episode takes an interesting turn when Buffy and Spike come across each other in a demon bar where they both discover that the gem they're searching for is the same one. In a tense moment, Buffy and Spike engage in a verbal battle, with Spike taunting Buffy about her past relationship with Angel. In exchange, Buffy talks about Drusilla leaving him. The conversation spirals out of control as they engage in a physical fight.

Meanwhile, Willow, Oz, and Xander have their own set of problems. Xander's new construction job isn't going so great, and Willow is feeling increasingly neglected. They discuss their individual grievances while they also try to track down the whereabouts of the stolen gem.

In the end, Spike gets his hands on the gem but is defeated ultimately by Buffy and her friends. Once again, the fight scene is intense and action-packed, with Buffy and Spike exchanging punches throughout. The episode ends on a somber note, with Buffy and her friends returning to their mundane lives, and Spike walking away defeated, holding the gem he had been searching for.

Overall, "The Harsh Light of Day" is a solid addition to the fourth season of Buffy The Vampire Slayer. The episode sheds light on the emotional turmoil of Spike's character and how the departure of Drusilla has made him a true villain. The episode also sets up some intriguing storylines for the future, involving Willow and Oz's relationship, and the slowly developing friendship between Spike and Harmony. The action scenes are well-executed and the pacing is spot on. Another great episode of one of the most revered shows in TV history.