Previously on Buffy
Just remembered one warning worth mention…

Wouldn't be the "same character" as what?

Zla'od wins.

I've got to disagree with Har v. So what if we forgot about the gates? They're just the plot device/mcguffin/falcon/one ring anyway. The divided arc gives a few shining moments of simultaneous character and plot development (V and Belkar, obviously) that simply aren't possible with the full group around.
OK, coulda…