You could tell from the start that Buffy The Vampire Slayer was made by card-carrying geeks. Even without the constant references to the likes of Star Wars and Homestar Runner, the show was constantly drawing not only on horror films but also comic books and science fiction, and The Wish is a perfect example. And a scary one. The titular desire is Cordelia's, who wishes that Buffy had never come to Sunnydale. As a result, she accidentally creates an alternate reality where that wish has come true with terrible results. The episode introduces Anya to the series in a spectacular way, the creation of a reality where vampires rule Sunnydale being all her fault. The Wish is so unnerving because at this point in the series, the characters and world as so well developed. You love all the characters, you love Sunnydale. Seeing it turned into something dark and twisted with Willow and Xander vampires in thrall to a resurrected Master a perverse fever dream, the familiar made frighteningly unfamiliar.
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/
