Crush

In which Spike's secret love for Buffy is revealed, and rejected, even after he offers to stake the recently returned, and still-homicidal, Dru for her. In this case romance really is dead.

Official back-of-box synopsis:

When Spike admits his love for her, Buffy is appalled by his admission. Her brutal rejection sends him back into the arms of Drusilla who has returned to Sunnydale intent on returning Spike to his killer ways.

From the old WB Buffy website:

SPIKE CONFESSES HIS LOVE TO THE SLAYER - Buffy confronts Spike about his suspected crush and is appalled by his admission of love, but her brutal rejection sends him back into the clutches of Drusilla who has returned to Sunnydale intent on returning Spike to his killer ways.

Links:

This episode's page at http://www.restlessbtvs.com/, the Restless BTVS Trivia Guide

This episode's page at http://www.vrya.net/bdb/, the Buffyverse Dialog Database

Cross-reference:

episodes featuring literary references:

• Some Assembly Required
  "Thank you, Cyrano" -- Giles responds to Buffy's val-speak advice on wooing Jenny
• Band Candy
  The gang are getting "all Willy Loman" with the candy
• Bad Girls
  Faith, Lady-MacBeth-like, scrubs away at an already-clean shirt
• Enemies
  Faith is less punctual than Godot
• The Prom
  Buffy quotes Frost -- "miles to go"
• Fear, Itself
  Willow calls Oz "Brutus" and then has to explain the reference...
• New Moon Rising
  Buffy threatens to get William-Burroughsy with Colonel MacNamara
• The Gift
  Spike's "we band of buggered" echoes Henry V
• this episode
  Dru riffs on Othello: "We can love quite well. If not wisely."

episodes in which Sunnydale acquires new transport mechanisms:

• Inca Mummy Girl
  Sunnydale bus depot. Classy! What better way to introduce Ampada to our country?
• What's My Line? (part 1)
  Kendra arrives at the airport
• Surprise
  Angel intends to leave from the docks
• this episode
  Dru arrives by train

Cast:

• Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy
• Alyson Hannigan as Willow
• Nicholas Brendon as Xander
  

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• Anthony Stewart Head as Giles
• Kristine Sutherland as Joyce
• Mercedes McNab as Harmony
• James Marsters as Spike
• Juliet Landau as Drusilla
• Emma Caulfield as Anya
• Amber Benson as Tara
• Michelle Trachtenberg as Dawn
• Charlie Weber as Ben
• Walter Borchert as Jeff
• Frederick Dawson as Porter
• Joseph Diciandomenico as Matt
• Asher Glaser as Boy In Bronze
• Jennifer Bergman as Girl In Bronze
• Nell Shanahan as Waitress
• Greg Wayne as Student