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The parallel universe story has a long tradition in telefantasy TV series. In dramatic terms it's a gift to writers: a chance to throw away the rulebook, and an opportunity to explore the kinkier aspects of the series' characters without upsetting established continuity in any lasting way. They also present actors with a golden opportunity to bring new dimensions to characters that they may have been playing for years with little leeway, so it's not surprising that such episodes often end up being fan favourites.

The Wish upholds this fine tradition in spades. Before the end of the episode we’re offered the return of the Master, vampire versions of Willow and Xander – feasting on Cordelia while Giles watches helplessly, no less – Willow torturing Angel, a cynical, battle scarred Buffy and several regular cast members being killed.

The Wish also has another plot device common to most parallel universe stories: fish-out-of-water characters who know that something is amiss (in this case Cordelia and, to a lesser extent, Angel). If all this wish fulfilment wasn't enough, this episode also deals with the fallout from the scene in Lovers Walk where Oz and Cordelia discover Willow and Xander canoodling, (the catalyst for the whole wish scenario).