I liked this episode but do wish there were more to it somehow. I wish the mother were thinking when she made her second wish--wish for the girl to healthy and alive of course!
As an other worldly story, I think this one works. It is odd to have that man in the basement but it is also odd to have him give the mother 2 wishes.
On a totally different level though, I love this episode. It is one of the few I remember listening to as a child with my mom. I was FREAKED out and mom had to calm me down. That alone makes this a great episode--it touched me as if it were real. Of course I was a little kid at the time so it makes sense I would be freaked out. However, the memory of this episode over rides any bones I have to pick with it.