Cordelia is becoming convinced that everything bad that’s happened to her is Buffy’s fault.

A girl called Anya talks to her, gives her an amulet, and when Cordelia says “I wish Buffy Summers had never come to Sunnydale!” Anya reveals her demonic powers: “Done!” Cordelia finds herself in an alternate Sunnydale where the Master still rules, ably assisted by his vamp lieutenants Xander and Willow (who likes to play with a chained up Angel). Giles, Oz and Larry are sort of Slayerettes, sans Slayer. The Bronze is Vamp Central. Cordelia asks Giles to get Buffy, just before she’s killed by Xander and Willow. Giles spots the amulet, tries to contact Buffy and researches Anyanka - she’s the patron (matron?) saint of spurned women, and grants wishes. Her weakness is her amulet, her power centre. Buffy turns up - scarred, tough, cynical. She goes to disrupt The Master’s plan (a kind of ‘milking machine’ for humans), and as she battles the vampires, Giles finds and confronts Anyanka. Angel and Xander are staked, as is Willow (by Oz) and The Master kills Buffy. Giles smashes Anyanka’s amulet and everything returns to normal - albeit with a powerless Anya.

Review:
A fascinating ‘what if...’ episode, and another chance for the main cast to play against type. Indeed, Evil Willow proved so popular they brought her back in Doppelgangland. It’s a sign of a series that is supremely confident in it’s writers and actors, that they feel they can have a little fun like this. The final scene is comic genius, with Cordelia making increasingly nasty wishes, and Anya desperately but impotently trying to grant them.

Best line:
“And they burst in, rescuing us, without even knocking? I mean, this is really all their fault.” (Xander.)
“Your logic does not resemble our Earth logic.” (Buffy.)
“Mine is much more advanced. “ (Xander.)

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Trivia:
Anya becomes something of a regular - evidently too fun a character to give up.

Vampires are apparently attracted to bright colours. Makes sense.

Pop culture reference: “Brave new world...” (Cordelia.)

Obviously, this episode is based on It’s A Wonderful Life.