The Wish
Written by: Marti Noxon Directed by: David Greenwalt
Cast : Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers, Nicholas Brendon as Xander Harris, Alyson Hannigan as Willow Rosenberg, Charisma Carpenter as Cordelia Chase, Seth Green as Oz, Anthony Stewart Head as Rupert Giles, David Boreanez as Angel.
Main guest stars : Mark Metcalf as The Master, Emma Caulfield as Anyanka, Larry Bagby III as Larry, Mercedes McNab as Harmony, Danny Strong as Jonathan, Mariah O¹Brien as Nancy.
Original broadcast date : December 8, 1998
It¹s a sunny Sunday afternoon, and Buffy is fighting a demon. It seems that they were having a picnic, since Willow grabs a weapon from a picnic basket and tosses it to Buffy. After the demon which, to Willow¹s disappointment, doesn¹t go poof is defeated, the three of them sit and talk about their tattered relationships. Xander and Willow both protest they¹re ready to do anything to get respectively Cordy and Oz back. Xander even reports he¹s left some fifty messages on Cordy¹s voice mail. But that night, as she listens to the aforementioned messages, Cordelia burns pictures of Xander and friends
The next day at school, Willow tries to talk to Oz, but he asks her to leave him alone. Meanwhile, Cordy manages to avoid Xander, and tries to resume her relationship with her old friends, Harmony and Co. At first, it seems promising Harmony introduces Cordy to Anya, a new girl in town. But soon after comes the slap in the face Harmony jokingly matches Cordy with Jonathan, the school dork. She then tries getting a popular jock to go out on a date with her, but he tells her that being seen with her would hurt his reputation. It seems the only one who will give Cordelia a break is Anya, who actually seems eager to do some Xander-bashing with her.
That night at the Bronze, Cordelia tries to show Xander that she¹s over him, by flirting, laughing and socializing. Meanwhile, Buffy, Willow and Xander sit with long faces. When Cordelia finally leaves, Buffy follows her to see if she¹s OK and needs to talk, but a vampire interrupts and Buffy, while fighting him, throws Cordelia into a pile of garbage Just when Harmony and friends happen to walk by. After they make snotty remarks to Cordy, she concludes Buffy is the cause of all her troubles.
The next day, Anya gives Cordelia what she calls her “lucky necklace”, saying she needs it more right now. Then, Cordelia wishes out loud that Buffy had never come to Sunnydale. Anya turns to Cordelia, her face now a monster¹s and says “Done!”. There¹s a flash of light, and suddenly, the school yard is almost empty, a few people worriedly hurrying up the stairs to class.
Realizing with joy what has happened, Cordelia goes inside and finds that she¹s regained her popularity with Harmony and the gang. As Harmony compliments Cordy on her bright blue dress (everyone is wearing dark colours). Cordelia doesn¹t even have a clue as to what¹s changed, even when she goes to class in a room where half the desks are empty and the teacher hurriedly packs his things, because curfew time is close
Cordy finally gets a clue when she suggests to Harmony that they might go to the Bronze that evening, and Harmony reacts as if her friend had made some really sick joke. Even worse, when Cordy asks if at least Xander and Willow are miserable nobodies, Harmony answers “Well, yeah they¹re dead.”
As everyone hurries to get indoors before the sun sets, an unsuspecting Cordelia walks home and suddenly runs into Xander. As Cordy wonders why she was told he was dead, Willow struts out of the shadows, wearing a skanky leather outfit and dark makeup, and spreads herself over Xander, asking him if they can “play now”. Cordelia is outraged that they¹re still together, that she can¹t win. As he vamps out, Xander says “Maybe not, but I¹ll give you a head start.”
As the two vampires catch up to a finally-scared Cordelia and knock her out, a van screeches to a halt, and out come Giles, Oz, Larry and a girl called Nancy the new Scooby Gang.
At The Bronze now the Master¹s headquarters - Willow and Xander report their meeting with Cordelia and tell him that she mentioned something about Buffy, the Slayer. The Master is angry that they let Cordy live, and orders them to go back and eliminate her.
At the library, Cordelia wakes and tells Giles, albeit in a somewhat confused manner, that the wish she made for Buffy never to have come to Sunnydale created this reality. She reveals to Giles that she knows he¹s a Watcher, something he tells her no one is supposed to know. As he goes in the library cage to get weapons, the door slams closed, and Xander and Willow step out, having Giles watch as they drain Cordelia. Once Giles finally breaks free, Larry and Oz arrive take Cordelia¹s body to the incinerator; however, Giles notice¹s Anya¹s necklace around Cordy¹s neck, and removes it.
At the Bronze, the Master is very happy with Xander and Willow¹s work, and he rewards Willow with the permission to “play with the puppy”. As she walks in her strutting gait to a cell downstairs, with some torture instruments, we see that the “puppy” is Angel, whom Willow and Xander torture by throwing lit matches onto his exposed chest.
Having phoned to Cleveland to get the Slayer to come to Sunnydale, and then discovered the meaning of Anya¹s necklace, Giles hurries home, but stops to free some people being loaded into the back of a truck by vampires. The vampires turn on him, but he¹s saved by Buffy Summers. At his apartment, this very tough, embittered and scarred Slayer demands to know why he wanted her in Sunnydale. He tells her about the necklace, the symbol of Anyanka, a vengeance demon who grants wishes for scorned women. Buffy doesn¹t seem to care for all the mojo, setting off to kill the Master as soon as she learns where he hides.
At the Bronze, Buffy meets Angel, who tells her that he waited for her to come to Sunnydale, which she never did, and then got captured by the Master, who kept him alive for his torturing pleasure. He also tells her that he can show her where the Master is in his Factory, where he¹s set up a system to mass-drain the blood of human beings.
There, most of the surviving humans of Sunnydale have been herded in a wooden keep, and forced to listen as the Master gives a speech about mass-production and a new golden era for vampires. He demonstrates by having the machines drain a test subject one of Harmony¹s followers. The blood flows through a set of tubes, and into a wine glass, which is handed to the Master. As the Master prepares to toast the future, Buffy lowers her handheld crossbow to shoot him, but Xander spots her and protects the Master. A fight breaks out, and Larry and Oz set the people free.
Meanwhile, Giles faces Anyanka, furious to have been summoned by a mere man. She tries to choke him to death, but he manages to rip her necklace off her neck.
At the Factory, the scene becomes tragic as those who are closest of friends in another reality now set about to kill each other. Angel dies as he tries to protect Buffy from Xander; then Xander himself is staked by the Slayer. Oz kills Willow by dusting her on a broken piece of fence, while the Master makes his way to Buffy through the crowd. He grabs her head, and as she struggles, snaps her neck. He then lets go and she falls to the ground, dead.
Despite Anyanka¹s warnings that the other reality might not be better than this one, Giles breaks the necklace. There¹s a flash of light, and Cordelia’s back at school, making her wish. Anya turns to face her and once again says “Done”, but nothing happens. As Cordy continues to make unlikely revenge wishes, an increasingly alarmed Anya follows her, keeping on saying “done,” as nothing happens To the side, Buffy, Willow and Xander are laughing and smiling to each other.
Summary by OttsFiveByFive.
Episode Ratings
Mac -
“Alternate universes are fun to watch. Another great episode in a season of great episodes.”
DJ Angelus -
“Be careful what you wish for you just might get it.”
Quotes
Key: B=Buffy, G=Giles, X=Xander, W=Willow, C=Cordelia, O=Oz, A=Angel, J=Joyce, PS=Principal Snyder, T=Mr. Trick, L=Larry, H=Harmony, M=The Master, A=Anyanka
W: Oh, god! Demon, demon, what kills a demon?! B: Nrrff! Nrrff! W: Oh, nerf. Not nerf, knife!
B: Okay, that was too close for comfort. Not that slaying’s ever comfy, but…
W: Isn’t he gonna poof? B: I guess these guys don’t. We’ll have to bury him or something. Ohh, makes you appreciate vamps, though. No fuss, no muss. X: How come Faith was a no-show? I thought mucus-y demons were her favorites.
X: Well, burial detail aside, does this cap us off for the day? B: You got plans? X: I cannot stress enough how much I don’t have plans. B: No luck reaching Cordelia? X: I’ve left a few messages. 60… 70…
X: But you know what really bugs me? Okay, we kissed. It was a mistake. But I know that was positively the last time we were ever gonna kiss. W: Darn tootin’! X: And they burst in, rescuing us, without even knocking? I mean, this is really all their fault. B: Your logic does not resemble our Earth logic. X: Mine is much more advanced.
B: Focus on school. That’s the strong Willow way to heal. W: Actually, I was more thinking Oz will be there and I can beg for forgiveness. B: That works, too. W: I want to be strong Willow. But then I think I may never get to be close to Oz again, and it’s like all the air just goes out of the room.
X: So tell us, wise one, how do you deal?
C: Most people around here can’t tell Prada from Payless.
H: But, it was smart - you know, the injury thing? You take a week off, let everybody forget about the temporary insanity that was Xander Harris? C: Xander who?
Girl: You know what you have to do - start dating. Get back on the horse. C: Oh, absolutely! I am ready to ride. H: Then I have just the stallion - he’s so you. Jonathan: //slurp// H: I’m pretty sure he won’t cheat on you. At least not for a while. Plus, he’s got a kill moped!
A: If that girl had an original thought, her head would explode.
C: I don’t wish, I act. Starting now, Xander Harris is gonna get a bellyful of just how over him I am.
X: Excuse me, I need to be both giving and receiving of mirth. Is it too much to ask for a little back-up? B: I’m here for you, Xand. I’m support-o-gal.
W: It’s true - Cordelia belongs to the justified camp. She should make us pay. And pay, and pay, and pay… In fact, there’s just not enough pay for what… X: Look, you want to do guilt-a-palooza, fine.
X: Behold the beauty that is now. Who’s with me? B: Actually, he’s making sense. We’re young and free in America. How dare we be spun by love, or the lack of same? W: Absolutely. It’s self-indulgent. I’m in. I’m on the joy train. < pause > B: That didn’t work. Who wants chocolate?
X: Look at her - tears of a clown, baby. Or is it… grins of a sad person?
W: Xander, your hand. X: Oops, sorry. But why oops? I mean, we always touch digits. It’s a friend thing. Comfort - like chocolate.
W: But if I want to make things right with Oz, my hands, my - all my stuff - has to be for him only.
H: Oh, hey, it’s garbage girl. Loved the look last night, Cor. Dumpster chic for the dumped.
C: Yeah, I can use some luck. And a stick with pointy, sharp bits.
C: She was like, a good fairy. A scary, veiny… good fairy.
Teacher: Now, don’t forget, tomorrow we have our monthly memorial, so there’s no class.
X: Buffy? The Slayer? C: No, Buffy the dog-faced-girl! Duh! Who do you think I’m talking about?
W: Bored now. This is the part that’s less fun. When there isn’t any screaming. C: What’s up with you two and the leather? W: Play now?
C: No way! I wish us into bizarro-land, and you guys are still together?! I cannot win! X: Probably not. But I’ll give you a head start. W: I love this part! X: You love all the parts.
W: No fun. She didn’t even hardly fight. X: Ah, swell. It’s the white hats.
X: Slap my hand, dead soul man.
M: I’ve lost my appetite for this one. She keeps looking at me. I’m trying to eat and she looks at me!
X: …till that wanna-slay librarian showed up.
X: “Gotta get Buffy here.” Isn’t that what they called the Slayer? W: Hmm, Buffy. Ooh, scary. X: Someone has to talk to her people. That name is striking fear in nobody’s hearts.
W: You’re in a big cage. X: Not too bright, book guy.
M: You killed the girl that sought the Slayer? X: It was too easy. W: I felt cheap.
G: Yes, I’m aware that there’s a great deal of demonic activity in Cleveland. It happens, you know, that Sunnydale is on a Hellmouth. It is so!
W: Bored now. Daytime is the worst. Cooped up for hours. Can’t hunt. But the Master said I could play. Isn’t that fun, puppy? Aw, puppy’s being all quiet.
W: That’s right, puppy. Willow’s gonna make you bark.
W: Don’t you want to? X: No thanks, baby. I just want to watch you go.
O: So Cordelia wished for something? If it was a long, healthy life, she should get her money back.
G: It was better… before. L: Okay, the entire world sucks because some dead ditz made a wish? I just want it clear.
B: Why don’t I just put a stake through her heart? G: She’s not a vampire. B: Well, you’d be surprised how many things that’ll kill.
B: You’re taking an awful lot on faith here, Jeeves. G: Giles.
B: World is what it is. We fight, we die. Wishing doesn’t change that. G: I have to believe in a better world. B: Go ahead. I have to live in this one.
B: I don’t play well with others. Now, I’m gonna ask you this once, and then I’m gonna get testy.
B: Is this a get-in-my-pants thing? You guys in Sunnydale talk like I’m the second coming.
M: Behold the technical wonder which is about to alter the very fabric of our society. Some have argued that such an advancement goes against our nature. They claim that death is our art. I say to them… well, I don’t say anything to them because I kill them.
M: Hunt and kill, hunt and kill. Titillating? Yes. Practical? Hardly. Meanwhile, the humans, with their plebian minds, have brought us a truly demonic concept. Mass production! X: We really are living in a golden age.
A: What’s the plan? B: Don’t fall on this.
W: Uh-oh. Puppy got out.
C: I wish Buffy Summers had never come to Sunnydale. A: Done. C: That would be cool. No, wait. I wish Buffy Summers had never been born. A: Done! C: And I wish that Xander Harris never again knows the touch of a woman. And that Willow wakes up tomorrow covered in monkey hair. A: Done! C: In fact, I wish all men, except maybe the dumb and the really agreeable kind, disappeared off the face of the earth. That would be so cool! Or maybe…
Credit: The Sunnydale Slayers