Season 3

The Third Season premiered on October 4, 2011, and aired on Tuesdays at 9:00 – 10:00 p.m., ET/PT on FOX. It is also being distributed internationally on Netflix.

In the U.S., original episodes of season one aired between October 4, 2011 and May 22 2012.

Cast
Main characters: Recurring characters:
 * Buffy Summers (23 episodes)
 * Rupert Giles (23 episodes)
 * Xander Harris (23 episodes)
 * Willow Rosenberg (23 episodes)
 * Cordelia Chase (23 episodes)
 * Jesse Harris (23 episodes)
 * Angel (23 episodes)
 * Jenny Calendar (18 episodes)
 * Daniel "Oz" Osbourne (20 episodes)
 * Ethan Crane (16 episodes)
 * Joyce Summers (15 episodes)
 * Dawn Summers (15 episodes)
 * Daniel Crane (14 episodes)
 * Sherif Riley Harris (14 episodes)
 * Spike (12 episodes)
 * Drusilla (12 episodes)
 * Derek Hale (7 episodes)
 * Tyson Mcwell (7 episodes)
 * Yellow Eyed Man (7 episodes)
 * Mark Smallwood (5 episodes)
 * Leslie Harper (5 episodes)
 * Principle Snyder (7 episodes)
 * Devon MacLeish (5 episodes)
 * Larry Blaisdell (5 episodes)
 * Jonathan (4 episodes)
 * Amy Madison (4 episodes)
 * Jessica Harris (3 episodes)
 * Harmony Kendall (3 episodes)
 * Kendra (3 episodes)
 * Darla (3 episodes)
 * Mr Rosenberg (2 episodes)
 * John Summers (2 episodes)
 * Mrs Rosenberg (2 episodes)
 * Ethan Rayne (2 episodes)
 * Whisler (2 episodes)
 * Mrs Chase (1 episode)
 * Mr Chase (1 episode)
 * Kelly Zhu (1 episode)
 * Harry Summers (1 episode)
 * Sophie-Anne (1 episode)

Writing
When production of the third season started, Kripke wanted to avoid the monster-of-the-week formula used in the first two seasons. The writers attempted this by including more "human themes," mainly "the things Buffy and Angel, Willow and Buffy, Jesse and Xander are truly afraid of: death, grief, betrayal, etc."

Kripke suggested wanting to keep the viewers guessing on who the big bad was. The second season had Spike and Drusilla as the apparent main villains, along with Darla. But towards the end of the season the true big bad Sophie-Anne emerged.

Season 3 saw two arcs, with the first half focusing on a Werwolf Pack and introduced Derek Hale, and also gave Oz a central storyline. The Twin werewolfs Ethan and Daniel getting some storylines, and Ethan eventually playing a signicant role in Xander's storyline going forward. The Second half saw the return of Spike and Drusilla, and also Angelus emerged as the big bad of season 3 midway through the season.

Originall the season was planned to feature 22 episodes, but an additional episode was ordered to make 23 episodes on July 6, 2011. The 23rd episode was added to the season premier, and turned the show's opening episode into a 2-hour opener. Originally the premier was suppose to be 90-minutes, but was expanded in length.