In which season does Spike first appear?

In which season does Spike first appear? Spike first appears in Season 2 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

The vampire Spike arrives in Sunnydale in the episode “School Hard,” which introduces him as a dangerous and theatrical vampire accompanied by his longtime lover, Drusilla. He comes to town intending to kill Buffy Summers, who is the latest Slayer to attract his attention. The episode also places him in conflict with the Anointed One and the vampires already operating in Sunnydale.

Spike is initially presented as a villain, but his role changes dramatically over the series. His history includes killing two previous Slayers, Nikki Wood and Xin Rong, before facing Buffy. Over time, he becomes an uneasy ally, develops complicated feelings for Buffy, and eventually seeks a soul. A common mix-up is remembering Spike's later prominence and assuming he was present from Season 1; he was not.