Post by codebox on Oct 4, 2020 19:52:54 GMT -5
Paige is often the ignored and less considered sister of the Charmed Ones (especially by less critical or non observant fans) and even in writing she's constantly shafted in favor or PhoeMe and Poor Pitiful Piper. Even if Paige has the bigger focus on magic or more interesting storylines, but one thing that doesn't get brought up that I just noticed recently after watching some Paige centered episodes from the final two seasons (Seasons 7-8) is that Paige was written with less of an identity by the end and actually started to become Leo.
This is especially more noticable after Leo's wings are clipped at the end of The Seven Year Witch when Leo falls from grace after choosing to stay with Piper and his family. Soon after Paige starts to become more emphasized in her whitelighter role to the point her witch side is barely acknowledged. Since they didn't have Leo around to heal or orb them or get info, Paige started taking this role.
The episodes
Ordinary Witches
Imaginary Fiends
Little Box of Horrors
The Jung and the Restless
Generation Hex
The Lost Picture Show
Freaky Phoebe
All showcased this at fullfront. Paige is shown communicating with the elders on the Golden Gate Bridge something none of them (not even Paige did) started doing until Leo got his wings clip, she was namely the "go to" for Elder info and was even seen communicating with them when prior she wasn't seen in that role. She's even more actively involved with charges in ways that keep her away from Piper and Phoebe, often only showing up last minute or act of the demon situation to help them. I mean Imaginary Fiends is literally about Paige picking up the slack and opening more of her inner whitelighter. To the point she's absent in the battle scene in the attic. It also affected the lack of sisterhood the show was having around Seasons 6-8. As with Paige starting to have this role made them less time to focus on the sisters (as well as the shift in overfocusing on dates and normal lives)
I admire that Paige still has this side because it kept her the most likable sister during the remainder of her run. But I also feel it came at the cost of Paige having her own identity. What makes it even worse is it felt like she used her Telekinesis Orbing less (hence by all the times she just orders Piper to blow it up to solve the situation as if she didn't have an active power) and making Piper's exploding power reflect demon projectiles and powers in the same way Paige did. Making Piper's exploding power do part of Paige's active power.
This is especially more noticable after Leo's wings are clipped at the end of The Seven Year Witch when Leo falls from grace after choosing to stay with Piper and his family. Soon after Paige starts to become more emphasized in her whitelighter role to the point her witch side is barely acknowledged. Since they didn't have Leo around to heal or orb them or get info, Paige started taking this role.
The episodes
Ordinary Witches
Imaginary Fiends
Little Box of Horrors
The Jung and the Restless
Generation Hex
The Lost Picture Show
Freaky Phoebe
All showcased this at fullfront. Paige is shown communicating with the elders on the Golden Gate Bridge something none of them (not even Paige did) started doing until Leo got his wings clip, she was namely the "go to" for Elder info and was even seen communicating with them when prior she wasn't seen in that role. She's even more actively involved with charges in ways that keep her away from Piper and Phoebe, often only showing up last minute or act of the demon situation to help them. I mean Imaginary Fiends is literally about Paige picking up the slack and opening more of her inner whitelighter. To the point she's absent in the battle scene in the attic. It also affected the lack of sisterhood the show was having around Seasons 6-8. As with Paige starting to have this role made them less time to focus on the sisters (as well as the shift in overfocusing on dates and normal lives)
I admire that Paige still has this side because it kept her the most likable sister during the remainder of her run. But I also feel it came at the cost of Paige having her own identity. What makes it even worse is it felt like she used her Telekinesis Orbing less (hence by all the times she just orders Piper to blow it up to solve the situation as if she didn't have an active power) and making Piper's exploding power reflect demon projectiles and powers in the same way Paige did. Making Piper's exploding power do part of Paige's active power.