100% agreement - The Wish might be my favorite episode from S3, and it's probably on my top ten list (if I actually made such a list.) I love pretty much EVERY. SINGLE. DAMN. THING. about this episode.
I actually think that Charisma Carpenter had A+++ acting this episode, she looks SO sad when she's burning the photos of Xander.
*nods* Her performance in that scene not only ramped up my sympathy for the character several notches, but it was the first time I think I really appreciated CC's presence as well; she really did "have layers" and she lets every one of them show here, in absolute silence. I was a little disappointed that they didn't use the opportunity for real growth here, but I understand that happens on AtS (which I haven't seen beyond a couple of episodes.)
I was a little nervous when I first watched the episode about the format, which has been done a thousand times since "It's a Wonderful Life" (someone is shown how their friends and family would have been so much worse off if they hadn't been born), but they subvert that trope wonderfully here. What should have been a cliche is turned absolutely inside-out.
And if we look at the show as a metaphor about storytelling, it's weirdly appropriate that the Wishverse continues on after the person who wished it into being - Cordy - is killed, and that it is broken by Giles smashing Anya's pendant, simultaneous with the Master breaking Buffy's neck. It foreshadows Cordy's departure from the show, while reminding us that btvs is Buffy's story: it can survive the departure of supporting characters but it cannot survive without her.
AH gets a lot of the love for this episode but NB deserves a LOT more acclaim than he's gotten in fandom (IMO) for his performance as VampXander. The pairing of VampXander and VampWillow hangs a lantern on how icky the pairing is at that point in the series (whereas it might have been cute and acceptable in S1 or early S2), but it's also incredibly HOT anyway. The scene in the library where they flank Cordy on either side and drain her, while the camera spins around them, and VX caresses VW's hair - while Giles watches helplessly from the cage - is one of THE most disturbing and erotic moments in the entire series.
no subject
A+++ episode 10/10
100% agreement - The Wish might be my favorite episode from S3, and it's probably on my top ten list (if I actually made such a list.) I love pretty much EVERY. SINGLE. DAMN. THING. about this episode.
I actually think that Charisma Carpenter had A+++ acting this episode, she looks SO sad when she's burning the photos of Xander.
*nods* Her performance in that scene not only ramped up my sympathy for the character several notches, but it was the first time I think I really appreciated CC's presence as well; she really did "have layers" and she lets every one of them show here, in absolute silence. I was a little disappointed that they didn't use the opportunity for real growth here, but I understand that happens on AtS (which I haven't seen beyond a couple of episodes.)
I was a little nervous when I first watched the episode about the format, which has been done a thousand times since "It's a Wonderful Life" (someone is shown how their friends and family would have been so much worse off if they hadn't been born), but they subvert that trope wonderfully here. What should have been a cliche is turned absolutely inside-out.
And if we look at the show as a metaphor about storytelling, it's weirdly appropriate that the Wishverse continues on after the person who wished it into being - Cordy - is killed, and that it is broken by Giles smashing Anya's pendant, simultaneous with the Master breaking Buffy's neck. It foreshadows Cordy's departure from the show, while reminding us that btvs is Buffy's story: it can survive the departure of supporting characters but it cannot survive without her.
AH gets a lot of the love for this episode but NB deserves a LOT more acclaim than he's gotten in fandom (IMO) for his performance as VampXander. The pairing of VampXander and VampWillow hangs a lantern on how icky the pairing is at that point in the series (whereas it might have been cute and acceptable in S1 or early S2), but it's also incredibly HOT anyway. The scene in the library where they flank Cordy on either side and drain her, while the camera spins around them, and VX caresses VW's hair - while Giles watches helplessly from the cage - is one of THE most disturbing and erotic moments in the entire series.