27 Years Ago Today, Buffy the Vampire Slayer Released One of Its Best Episodes Ever (And It Set Up a HUGE Reveal)

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With seven seasons, over 140 episodes, and a fantastic spin-off series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer delivered countless memorable moments and stories that continue to impact television today. Fans still rave about episodes like the musical installment “Once More With Feeling,” the surprisingly poignant “The Body,” and the nearly silent “Hush.” What really made Buffy stand out was its willingness to experiment with storytelling, always pushing its characters to their limits even within self-contained plots.

Today marks the 27th anniversary of a truly pivotal episode of the series. Airing on December 8, 1998, Season 3’s “The Wish” had a huge impact on the show and dramatically changed the course of the characters’ lives. Just a single line of dialogue – “I wish Buffy Summers had never come to Sunnydale” – sent shockwaves through the entire Buffy universe and altered the show’s planned direction.

“The Wish” Gives Buffy Its First Alternate Universe

The episode “The Wish” begins with everyone feeling down. Xander and Willow shared a quick kiss, which both their partners, Cordelia and Oz, saw, upsetting all four of them. Cordelia is particularly distraught because rumors about her ex-boyfriend’s infidelity are damaging her social standing at school. While feeling miserable, she makes a wish aloud to Anya, a new student who surprisingly reveals herself to be a demon and instantly grants it.

When Cordelia makes a wish, everything changes instantly. She finds herself in a world where Sunnydale High is nearly empty, and everyone talks with a strange mix of respect and fear about their lives. It quickly becomes apparent that this is a reality where Buffy never came to town, and vampires have taken over. The Master wasn’t defeated here, and he’s turned a large number of Sunnydale’s people into vampires – including Xander and Willow, who now see Cordelia as a target as she unknowingly walks through the town.

Cordelia is rescued from danger by Giles, Oz, and other students who are still battling the vampires. She explains to Giles what happened, and is shocked to learn he’s still in Sunnydale, assuming he’s Buffy’s Watcher. This surprises Giles, as he’s kept his role as the Watcher a secret, and it makes him start to believe Cordelia is right about something being wrong with their world. When Xander and Willow reappear and focus on Cordelia, things look grim, but it motivates Giles to look into her claims. He tries to find Buffy and also investigates the amulet Cordelia was wearing when she died – an amulet Anya had given her before making a powerful wish.

The episode reveals this alternate universe has evil versions of Xander and Willow, and a shockingly different Buffy – one who’s lost her usual spark. The timeline quickly spirals into chaos, with a massive battle erupting. This fight mirrors events from the main storyline in a twisted way, featuring heartbreaking moments like Angel sacrificing himself to save Buffy, Buffy killing Xander, and Oz being forced to stake Willow. Remembering Cordelia’s warning, Giles destroys the necklace that caused the wish, stripping Anya of her powers and resetting everything to normal.

“The Wish” Remains One of the Best Buffy Episodes For One Reason

It’s common for sci-fi and fantasy shows like Star Trek and Doctor Who to feature episodes set in alternate universes. Buffy the Vampire Slayer did this too, and like those other episodes, it presented a reality very different from what viewers expected. In this alternate timeline, Buffy is hardened and cynical, bearing the physical and emotional scars of her years as the Slayer. This fresh take on the main character, along with reimagined versions of the supporting cast in the episode “The Wish,” offered fans a new perspective on familiar faces and prompted them to consider how even small changes could alter the established dynamics of the show’s world.

“The Wish” remains a standout episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer because it brilliantly plays with the “What if?” concept that fans love. The episode tells a complete story while cleverly using established character dynamics to its advantage. It quickly shocks viewers with a dramatically altered reality, subverting expectations by resurrecting villains, turning heroes into villains, and completely changing Buffy’s personality. It’s a masterclass in storytelling; the new reality feels so real, so fast, that the audience is genuinely led to believe beloved characters have died.

What really made this episode stand out was how its alternate universe storyline continued to impact the show throughout Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The introduction of Anya, initially appearing as a vengeance demon, wasn’t just a one-time event. She became a recurring character in Seasons 3 and 4, then a series regular in Season 5, staying with the show until the very end. The idea of Anya’s powers also came back into play later that season, when she tried to convince Willow to help her regain them. This led to the emergence of the powerful and unpredictable Vampire Willow, giving actress Allyson Hannigan a chance to showcase her range and subtly hinting at Willow’s eventual acceptance of her sexuality, famously declared with the line, “I’m so evil and skanky. And I think I’m kinda gay!”

The ‘Wish’ episode of Buffy had the potential to be a misstep. Being an alternate reality story, it could easily have felt unimportant to the overall series, and Sarah Michelle Gellar isn’t in it very much. However, it turned out to be one of the best episodes ever made. It’s so well-written that even someone who’s never seen Buffy could enjoy it, though the sudden appearances of characters like Giles and Angel might be confusing.

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2025-12-09 02:15