Buffy begins a new job as school counsellor at Sunnydale High. On her first day she encounters a troubled young girl who is convinced she is about to die.

Buffy takes the Potentials to a demon bar and then to Spike's crypt, in order to teach them the art of slaying. When Willow casts a spell to seek out the next Potential, the spell leads them to believe that Dawn may be a future slayer.

Buffy accepts a dinner invitation from Principal Wood, and tries to figure out his true intentions. Xander goes out with a girl from the hardware store. The First tries to convince Andrew to murder the potential Slayers. Giles returns from China with a new Potential, but struggles with the language barrier.

Buffy introduces Principal Wood to the rest of the team. He brings an artifact that transports Buffy to see the origin of the Slayer, but the others must face a powerful demon to bring her back.

Andrew creates a documentary called "Buffy, Slayer of the Vampyres", a record of the current situation in Sunnydale to show to future generations. He manages to capture many important moments, and to annoy almost everyone in the house. But Buffy needs to tear him away from his filmmaking because the Seal of Danzalthar is active and Andrew may hold the key to closing it before it destroys the town.

Faith returns to Sunnydale just as a new villain, Caleb, arrives and sends Buffy a message in the form of a badly beaten Potential. Buffy leads the rest of the girls to Caleb and The First's lair, with devastating consequences.

After their horrifying loss at the vineyard, the gang turn against Buffy and begin to follow Faith instead. Meanwhile, Spike and Andrew travel to an old church to question a priest about Caleb.

After being ousted from the group, Buffy tries to figure out how to move forward. Faith and the Potentials plan to interrogate a Bringer for information on Caleb and the First. Many people turn to each other for comfort in the face of the impending apocalypse.

Buffy has a powerful new weapon, but the gang cannot find any information about the origins of the mysterious scythe. Eventually the Slayer goes herself in search of knowledge, and finds a new ally, an old friend, and great danger.

Buffy conceives a plan to defeat the First once and for all.