Day 06 | Favorite episode of your favorite TV show
As difficult as it was to pick just one episode, it had to be done. I somehow narrowed it to about 13 or so episodes and then I looked at them and asked myself which episode I wanted to re-watch RIGHT THAT MINUTE and the answer came: "The Wish" (Season 3, Episode 9)
What's not to love about this episode? I'm such a huge fan when TV shows do the whole alternate reality thing, because if done right those types of episodes not only give insight to the show and its characters, but also give a chance for the actors to show off their skills. This episode did all of that and more.
The basic premise of the episode is that Cordelia comes to the realization that Buffy is the cause of everything awful that has happened to her, more recently being dumped by Xander, and wishes that Buffy had never come to Sunnydale. Her wish is granted by the demon Anyanka and the rest of the episode takes a look at this brave new world where Buffy never made it to Sunnydale, the Master and his vampires rule, and everything is upside down.
I can't even begin to list all of the things that make this episode so exceptional. First of all, you could tell the actors really had fun with this episode, probably Alyson Hannigan and Nicholas Brendon most of all being asking to play leather-donned-fierce vampires. Charisma Carpenter had a few, but poignant scenes where you could really feel the pain she felt being ostracized by the kids in school and losing the support and friendship she had with the Scooby gang. Finally, Sarah Michelle Gellar played the emotionless anti-happy-go-lucky version of Buffy that made you really appreciate regular Buffy's gung-ho persona.
Second, the episode had so many stunningly shocking and unforgettable scenes. When the vampire versions of Xander and Willow killed Cordelia in front of a helpless Giles, I was stunned they actually went there. Little did I know that later on in the episode, the show would deliver a more powerful and absolutely beautiful scene/sequence i.e. the battle at the warehouse--Buffy not flinching at Angel's death, Xander getting staked by Buffy, Willow killed by Oz, the Master snapping Buffy's neck. To say I was breathless throughout that whole sequence would probably be undercutting the emotions I felt during it. The voice overs from Giles and Anyanka (plus the musical score) just added to the layer.
Third, we got our first appearance of Anyanka and of course one of my favorite villains, Vamp Willow. Whenever I re-watch the episode, I can't help but smile knowing the full journey that the character of Anya will go through leading to her heartbreaking death in the series finale. Then of course there's Vamp Willow. Alyson Hannigan was pure brilliance in this role and was solely responsible in me using "Bored now" for years to come. And actually one of the things I liked about this episode is related to Anya/Vamp Willow in that as much as I like alternate realities and those sort of story lines, I sometimes am disappointed that there's usually just one big reset button in the end. And while this is true for this episode as well, we do get Anya who remembers it all and of course the re-appearance of Vamp Willow later in the season.
The timing of the episode, too, was like a perfect storm as it aired right after a very good "Lover's Walk" when Spike made his welcome return to Sunnydale just in time to cause havoc and drama to the group and right before a truly classic Buffy episode in "Amends" where the gang tried to juggle the holidays with their first encounter with The First Evil. So with those three episodes, all in a row, it was just a plethora of awesome for Buffy fans everywhere. Furthermore, one can even think of "The Wish" as the first part of a two-parter episode with another fantastic episode "Dopplegangland" in which Vamp Willow crosses over to our reality. That episode was much more an Alyson Hannigan showcase, which frankly, rocks and was in fact THIS close to being my answer today for this meme!
Finally, I just want to give a shout-out to the general awesomeness that was season 3. When trying to answer this meme, I was shocked to see how many episodes I loved coming from this amazing season. Like the featured episode, what's not to love about it? We had the peak of Willow/Oz, the introductions of Faith, Wesley, and Anya, the senior year of the Scooby Gang, and some of the best episodes the series had ever delivered. All that and it was also the final season of Angel and Cordelia as cast regulars! Make sure to check out my friend's Bunny's Pop Culture Blog where she also picked a S3 BtVS episode for her Day 6 entry.
Some choice quotes:
Buffy: Your logic does not resemble our Earth logic.
Xander: Mine's much more advanced.
Oz: So Cordelia wished for something? If it was a long, healthy life, she should get her money back.
The Master: Hungry? I've lost my appetite for this one. She keeps looking at me. I'm trying to eat and she looks at me!
Buffy: World is what it is. We fight, we die. Wishing doesn't change that.
Giles: I have to believe in a better world.
Buffy: Go ahead. I have to live in this one.
Willow: Uh-oh. Puppy got out.
"You trusting fool! How do you know the other world is any better than this?!"
ReplyDelete"Because it has to be."
My favorite line. And delivery.
Awesomeness. I struggled, because I wanted to do this one, too. But a little niggling part of me said, "Ry's going to do this."
And yay, shout out to ME! ;-)