Maybe give her an arc so she can finally become cookies. I assume cookies means mature, responsible, selfless etc.
Well, I hope so.
It could start with her simply taking a hiatus, away from Spike and from her friends, to clear her head. The catalyst is Willow telling her that she's going to leave (A&F or own comic, something has happened to cause this and it's a welcome opportunity for Willow). Buffy, as her usual self, thinks it's because of her (and she is partly right, considering S10). Afterwards, she gets into a fight with Spike and in extending, with Dawn, Xander and Giles because they side with Willow. That needs to be done without Buffy bashing. Tricky. Buffy has a little emotional breakdown and comes to the conclusion a little break would become her well.
Of course, she gets enmeshed in action, several supernatural cases and meets interesting people on her journey but the overall tone is finding herself, coming to terms with her life, making some conclusions, adjusting some habits, making plans for the future, yadayada
In the meantime, Spike, Xander, Dawn and Giles remain in San Francisco and have their own adventures. A good opportunity to give Spike more depth. For instance, a plausibly developed Spander friendship (instead of sudden pillow fight). And some Spawn bonding so his caring for Dawn is believable and not just convenient. In general, all four characters can breathe a bit more and develop. Giles needs his adult body back, and his arc shouldn't always be about his age or him feeling useless (since S04!). He's a great character when he isn't so damn insecure. He could work on his evasion issues (*cough* Willow) for instance. Dawn explores her keyness and rl with Xander. Xander get's something to do on his own as well.
Both storylines are of course wrapped up in action, dangers, horror, struggling, emotions, cool baddies, comic relief etc. And they're both connected to the season's big bad, which was several times foreshadowed, eventually. Buffy returns as a new person and they fight and defeat it together. Something like that. At the end, Buffy integrates herself as an equal to the group since that's what S01-07 was all about! Buffy wanting to be normal or at least as normal as it gets. Not the leader, the one with all the pressure etc. Since "Chosen" it's possible and long overdue. And I just realise it sounds pretty much like A&F S10. Damn. Well, the writers are challenged now.
I deliberately forgot about Andrew.

I wonder how long it would take the fans to recognise his removal

.
Occasional crossovers (Giles to A&F/Willow, Xander to A&F/Willow, Angel or Faith to Scoobies etc.) would be appreciated.
I think, as the seasons go on, Buffy gets more and more self centered. In the show, when it came to slaying, she was always badass and you could trust her to get the job done. As a friend/girlfriend/sister she could be pretty selfish though. Season 3 Buffy is probably the best Buffy. She still annoyed me sometimes, but she was a good friend, girlfriend and slayer that season - helping Willow with Oz, nursing Angel to help, trying to help Faith, saving Angel from himself at times, plus all the Hellmouth stuff. I miss that Buffy. She needs to go someplace new, meet new people, start being that Buffy again.
I agree with everything. For me, Buffy S01-05 is overall very likeable.
