4. The Wish
No science fiction or fantasy television show worth its salt is complete without a good alternate universe, and the one featured in The Wish is note-perfect. After Cordelia is scorned by her boyfriend Xander, who cheats on her with Willow, she's not exactly discerning in who she blames for her current despair. In particular, she sees Buffy at fault. If she had never moved to Sunnydale, Cordelia's life would still be all sunshine and flowers. Unfortunately, Cordelia makes the mistake of expressing this opinion in front of a vengeance demon, who immediately transports her to an alternate Sunnydale that exists without Buffy. And it's horrifying, with the town completely overrun by vampires without Buffy to fight them off. It's a classic story of being careful what you wish for, and the climactic scene that features all of the friends facing off against one another is heartbreakingly beautiful.
Audrey Fox
Contributor
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
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