Buffy the Vampire Slayer/The Complete Third Season

The Complete Third Season Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Release Date	January 7, 2003
Format	DVD
Region	1
Distributor	20th Century Fox
Disc Count	6
Episode Count	22
Running Time	1060 minutes
Retail Price	$59.98
Video	Full Frame (1.33:1)
Audio	English: Dolby Digital Surround Spanish: Dolby Digital Surround French: Dolby Digital Surround
Subtitles	English, Spanish
Purchase	Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk
Previous Season Set	The Complete Second Season
Next Season Set	The Complete Fourth Season

The Complete Third Season collects all 22 episodes from the third season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Two versions of the set exist in Region 1, one which collects each disc in a single binder released in 2003 and another with individual thinpack DVD cases in a slipcase released in 2006. Both sets are identical in terms of content.

Disc Breakdown

Disc 1

• Anne (44:52)
• Dead Man's Party (44:01)
• Faith, Hope and Trick (44:48)
• Beauty and the Beasts (44:52)
• Original script for "Faith, Hope and Trick"

Disc 2

• Homecoming (44:47)
• Band Candy (44:22)
• Revelations (44:51)
• Lover's Walk (44:52)
• Original scripts for "Band Candy" and "Lover's Walk"

Disc 3

• The Wish (44:46)
• Amends (44:50)
• Gingerbread (44:21)
• Original script for "The Wish"
• "Buffy Speak" featurette (6:28)
• "Season 3 Overview" featurette (21:28)
• Art Gallery

Disc 4

• Helpless (44:38)
  • Commentary by writer David Fury
• The Zeppo (44:12)
• Bad Girls (44:28)
  • Commentary by writer Doug Petrie
• Consequences (43:04)
  • Commentary by director Michael Gershman
• Interview with Joss Whedon on "Bad Girls" and "Consequences" (5:44)

Disc 5

• Doppelgangland (44:09)
• Enemies (44:30)
• Earshot (44:07)
  • Commentary by writer Jane Espenson
• Choices (42:49)
• Interview with Joss Whedon on "Enemies" and "Earshot" (5:58)

Disc 6

• The Prom (44:25)
• Graduation Day (1) (43:42)
• Graduation Day (2) (43:48)
• Interview with Joss Whedon on "Graduation Day" (4:16)
• Making Monsters with John Vulich (4:50)
• "Wardrobe" featurette (7:05)
• "Weapons" featurette (5:22)
• "Special Effects" featurette (13:25)

Special Features

• Buffy Speak: Several writers from the series—David Fury, Marti Noxon, Jane Espenson and Douglas Petrie—talk about how the characters' voices are developed, specifically focusing on how they keep teenage dialogue sound young without it being dated. They mention that each script is given a pass by series creator Joss Whedon, who adds jokes and fixes tonal issues. They also talk about using pop culture references and the other aspects of dialogue. This featurette features clips from episodes on the fourth DVD of the set and, as such, contains spoilers.

• Season Three Overview: The writers for the series analyze the changes made to various characters' relationships like Buffy and Angel coming to grips with the realization that they could never function as a couple. They state at the beginning that the season is largely about growing up and explain how that motif travels though out the other themes. They also talk about how Faith embodies the Slayer who takes "road not traveled", how that personality clashes with Buffy's and her father/daughter relationship with the Mayor. The writers present Wesley as a reflection of Giles, like Faith is a reflection of Buffy, and forces him to act in a subversive way. After tackling the major themes of the season, they then get into some of the more important episodes like "Band Candy" and "Bad Girls". Actors Eliza Dushku, Harry Groener, Alexis Denisof, Charisma Carpenter, Nicholas Brendon, Kristine Sutherland, James Marsters and Danny Strong also appear. This featurette features clips from and commentary on the entire series, including episodes on discs 4, 5 and 6 (including the season finale). For that reason, this featurette contains spoilers.

• Making Monsters: John Vulich, special make-up effects artist, speaks about how the make-up department created some of the demons and other creatures for this season including the scarab beetles, the Mayor's head split and the shaman who helps Buffy and Angel trick Faith. Vulich goes into more detail on creating the entire demon by using Balthazar from "Bad Girls" as an example.

• Wardrobe: Cynthia Bergstrom, costume designer for the series, explains the process she goes through in order to properly dress each character. Essentially, she breaks down each script into day breaks, makes a budget, buys, rents or otherwise makes the necessary costumes, takes polaroids and Joss Whedon approves or disapproves. She also talks about her report with Sarah Michelle Gellar and the conscious decisions made about each character's style. Very little is said about the male characters, with most of the attention given to Buffy and Willow, although Xander, Giles, Angel, Spike and Mayor Wilkins are mentioned. Marti Noxon, Jane Espenson, Charisma Carpenter, Harry Groener and David Fury also appear.

• Weapons: The writers of the series and property master Randy Eriksen talk about how weapons are used symbolically in the show, specifically to show immediately what kind of threat is being faced and reflecting the character using them. Eriksen touches on why guns are rarely used before speaking briefly about stakes, the hunga munga, swords, crossbows, battle axes and knives.

• Special Effects: Visual effects supervisor Loni Peristere and visual effects artists who work on the show walk the viewer through how they accomplish some of the special effects on the show. For instance, they break down the components on dusting a vampire into a step by step process and how they overcome certain obstacles like seamless transitions. The artists also talk about morphing, the pool from "Anne", lightning, 3D effects, the mayor's invulnerability and his ascension, which pulls multiple elements from that list.

Alterations

• None of the "previously on" segments are included on any of the episodes.