From: daviderl31@yahoo.com   
      
   'Buffy' nostalgia react: The 6 best things about 'The Wish'   
   by Kayleigh Roberts   
      
   “The Wish” is just one of those standout episodes of Buffy the Vampire   
   Slayer that it’s hard to ever get sick of. Not only did it give us a   
   crazy/creepy alternate reality Sunnydale to enjoy, but it also introduced us   
   to Anya, which is enough of a reason to love even the worst Buffy episode.   
      
   So here are my person 6 highlights from the episode, in no particular order:   
      
   1. Everyone dies: I know this probably sounds a little (or a lot) sadistic,   
   but I had forgotten how much I loved the death and bloodshed in “The Wish.”   
   Since it takes place in an alternate reality and everything gets to be   
   reversed as soon as Anyanka’s amulet goes kaput, it’s an episode where   
   anything can (and does) happen. I can only imagine how wonderful it must   
   have been to be in the writers’ room for Buffy that week. I imagine the   
   dialogue went something like this:   
   “So guys, I was thinking … let’s just kill everyone.”   
   “Come again?”   
   “I just mean, like, you know … why not? We have a reset button. Let’s   
   make   
   the most of it and kill everyone.”   
   “Everyone?”   
   “Everyone.”   
   “Buffy?”   
   “Oh, definitely Buffy.”   
   “Willow and Xander?”   
   “Totally.”   
   “Angel?”   
   “A goner!”   
   “Cordelia?”   
   “Yep. That’ll show her not to make a terrible wish about our heroine.”   
   “Giles and Oz?”   
   “Let’s not get carried away.”   
   There was just something really satisfying about seeing everyone die when   
   you know for a fact they’re coming back before the end of the episode. Just   
   me? Maybe.   
      
   2. Anya in all her demon glory.   
   I’m not just talking about her veiny-faced nastiness. Anya is amazing as a   
   human. Watching her try to learn to be a normal human again is fantastic.   
   And yes, watching her go full demon is also cool. But there’s something to   
   say for the cool confidence she exudes as an undercover human when she’s   
   still got her demonic mojo to fall back on.   
      
   3. Giles and Anya‘s scene when he breaks the vengeance-y curse.   
   Anya being so cool and evil. Giles being so stalwart and optimistic (she   
   asks how he knows the other reality is any better than the one he’s in. His   
   answer: “Because it has to be.”). Perfection.   
      
   4. Everything about Sunnydale High in the Bizarro-verse.   
   The cool girls wear black. They have a monthly memorial for the fallen.   
   Students inexplicably aren’t allowed to drive (but really, why? I didn’t   
   catch an actual explanation for this). And best of all, instead of dances,   
   their social events are brunches. It’s fantastic.   
      
   5. Vamp Willow and Xander.   
   But, let’s face it, mostly Vamp Willow. “Bored now” is such a classic   
   line.   
   She’s like a more lucid Drusilla in the best way. It’s no wonder that, of   
   all the characters introduced in the Bizarro version of Sunnydale, Vampire   
   Willow was the only one to make a comeback. We saw a little bit of Vampire   
   Willow when Will went full Evil Willow in season   
   6, but her witchy evil wasn’t quite as playful or twisted as her vampire   
   evil. Of course, being fueled by vengeance instead of your run-of-the-mill   
   lack of a soul does change the game.   
      
   6. Unpopular Cordelia.   
   It’s hard to see Cordelia suffer (three seasons in, BtVS had really made you   
   care about her), but seeing the once Queen Bee (or, more accurately, Queen   
   C) humbled is kind of amazing. Harmony has assumed the leading role at   
   Sunnydale High, and Cordelia is a laughingstock because not only did she   
   stoop so low as to date Xander Harris, but she couldn’t even keep him. The   
   humiliation of being cheated on by a loser is great in the hallowed halls of   
   Sunnydale High.   
      
   I’m only saying this over and over (and over) because it’s true over and   
   over (and over): This episode really holds us. This show is just a gift that   
   keeps on giving. Every time I rewatch it, I notice something new. But I’m   
   biased, what with it being my absolute all-time fave and all.   
      
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