Charmed Re-watch...

[Esmeralda]

This is the start of my first Charmed re-watch in many years. Unlike others, I’m not going to post any analysis, just comments, and rather than waiting until the end of each season, I’m going to watch an episode a day and then post my reaction towards it. Please keep in mind that everything in this is just my own opinion. Feel free to post either your own comments or analysis or your reaction towards any of the comments made here, keeping in mind that they are just opinions.

To anyone watching Charmed for the first time, please be aware that this thread will contain a lot of spoilers!

Something Wicca This Way Comes
Written by: Constance M. Burge
Season 1, Episode 01
Episode Number: 01

Oh, man! I have totally forgotten how very much I love this series! That’s my original reaction to watching “Something Wicca This Way Comes”, Charmed’s series premiere, for the first time in I'm-not-sure-how-long. I’d forgotten how powerful the other witches and the warlocks started out to be – Jeremy is darn right terrifying with what he can do. Seeing Kit’s previous owner being able to light the candles with her fingers – there’s a power that could’ve been useful but one we never see again – well, except when Jeremy shows that he has stolen it. And when he goes after the sisters in the attic, he is darn right demonic, as in hellspawn, what I’d truly think of when I think of demons much more than the shimmering/energy-ball throwing leather-wearing "demons" that will soon become the standard Halliwell opponent.

What surprised me right off the bat were the credits. I always thought “And Holly Marie Combs as Piper” was the first “and” – but it’s not. This one shows Shannen, then Holly, then Ted, then Dorian and then “And Alyssa Milano”. Of course, I know that she was added after another actress, Lori Romm, left the show before the premiere even aired, but it was still a surprise. I'm not sure if this was the case during the entire first season or just this episode, but I'm curious to find out.

No need to go through the plotline – you guys all know it - but it was such fun to watch it play out! I’d forgotten how Prue’s power to move things with her mind was so much more than her just waving her arm or squinting her eyes - and how things happened when she wasn't even in the same room; how Piper’s powers to freeze time/slow down molecules (as we’d later find them to be) was everything, not just the thing she pointed her hand at, and how Phoebe not only got premonitions when she touched something, but also when something was going to happen – she’s just riding her bike the first time she’s hit with one.

Of course, I love how they all play the typical roles – Prue the overly-protective Big Sister (and definitely a bit of a b!tch, there’s no doubt about that), Piper, the frantic peacemaking Middle Sister, and Phoebe the reckless, fearless Baby, which made her totally loveable and already my favorite of the bunch, which is probably why at this point, I really don’t like Prue at all – I’d forgotten what a judgmental stick-in-the-mud she started out being! I even love watching their different reactions to everything that happens – Prue upset and angry, especially at Phoebe, Phoebe totally fascinated, and Piper trying to hang onto her normal life as long as she can until it almost kills her! All three actresses did a fantastic job of making them truly seem like sisters.

There’s a thread here about which Charmed One is the cutest, so I was thinking about that while I was watching. I thought that Phoebe was cute all the time, but for the other two, it’s funny how at times I thought each was cute and at times I didn’t, and in both case a lot of it was the hair. When Prue’s hair is just straight, she looks cute – when it curls at the end and she turns into bossy Prue, she’s not. When Piper’s bangs hangs straight in her eyes, she’s not, but when she pushes them aside, she’s adorable. I didn’t find any of the beautiful, not like I know I will later in the series, but in this episode they were all cute.

I also noticed clothes - Prue all in black, emphasizing how strait-laced she was, Piper constantly changing to fit the situation which seems to fit her constantly trying to fit in and Phoebe, mainly in her sleep clothes with her navel showing. Nothing particularly revealing or slutty, just all seeming to fit the character.

I smiled at the use of the picture that Grams took to show how witchcraft would bring these three so-different sisters together, the introduction of Kit – especially Andy’s reaction towards the introduction of Kit… and, of course, the two spells – the spell that made the thorns stick out of Jeremy and the Power of Three protection spell - and can’t help wondering why they wouldn’t use it more often in the future when they’d need protection.

I liked the introduction of Darryl and Andy, and already showing their different reaction to witchcraft. I especially loved the chemistry between Andy and Prue when they met - it seemed to soften Prue a bit and her conversation with Andy is when I liked her best – Shannen and Ted did a fantastic job – but even more, I loved the chemistry between Jeremy and Piper – even knowing what was coming, I could really believe that they were in love with each other and was still shocked when Jeremy suddenly changed, even as I was yelling at the TV, “No, Piper! Don’t go up in that building with him!” And when Jeremy appears in the open Manor door, oh, man, I screamed!

I must admit that I was surprised when it was Prue who suddenly remembered the inscription on the back of the spirit board and was suddenly in the middle telling the others what to do, with her in the front and the others behind, putting the emphasis on her. Although it felt right for her in her role as Big Sister-protector, she doesn’t seem like the type who would remember the inscription. It feels like it would’ve worked so much better for Phoebe to remember the spell and then for Prue to take over. Looking back, it now seems a bit too much of the producers trying to make Shannen the star, with her character shoved at us the way others would be in the future. Maybe that's why I just didn't like her - she started out as my least-favorite of the first set of Charmed Ones - the way so many other fans didn't like her at first.

But despite that, I am already thoroughly enjoying this stroll down Memory Lane and hope others decide to do the same and do the same thing I just did – as soon as they’re done watching, write down and post their reactions!

GRADE: A

[Esmeralda]

I’ve Got You Under My Skin
Written by: Brad Kern
Season 1, Episode 02
Episode Number: 02


Again, I am enjoying my re-watch of the first season of Charmed, although there were several things that I admit made me roll my eyes. This is the first (but definitely not the last) time we hear Piper moan about being a witch and wanting a normal life, although I thoroughly loved her discovery that she was indeed good, and especially loved the conversation she and Phoebe had regarding this, although I rolled my eyes at Phoebe’s conversation with Piper about having sex on the first date and even our first sight of Prue being her in bed with Andy, and then her using her power to get rid of Andy’s time clock, and later using it on the elevator, while later berating Phoebe for using her powers to help a little old couple (and herself..)…um, ever hear of “practice what you preach”, Prue, especially when you can already control your powers much better than Phoebe can, who continues to just get premonitions when she gets them, no matter if she’s touching something or not? All part of why Prue continues to be my least-favorite sister.

Speaking of the lottery ticket, I still don’t understand why they were able to use their powers for their own personal gain so often, but then Phoebe’s lottery ticket just fades. I sigh to think how inconsistent this was even way back then…But then I notice who wrote this episode and just shrug…

I was fascinated to find out that the credits were the same as the premiere, including the “And Alyssa Milano”. Piper’s bangs still hang in her eyes too much – she needs to either keep them brushed back or needs them trimmed, as does Prue need her ends trimmed. Phoebe’s hair is different than the premiere. I’m not sure why it’s different, but it suits her a lot better and she’s easiest the cutest of the sisters in this episode, although there’s moments when both Piper and Prue are so cute!

I smiled to see Brittany, their first innocent, especially because she’s in the second issue of the Charmed comics, and loved seeing them save her, even if it was actually her who helped them save Phoebe from Javna/Stephen. The special effects of Javna turning to Stephen to Javna and back again (and Brittany turning back from old to young) were hokey but neat, as was the battle, especially the use of the mirror, and naturally, Prue being the one who somehow gain the Hand of Fatima that can destroy Javna.

I was also surprised to see Quake – I’d forgotten that it pops up this fast and also what a busy place it is…or that Chef Moore had quit right away and Piper finds herself a manager, something she says she’s never wanted to be – she just wants to be a chef, which made me giggle when I remember that she won’t be able to do that until the comics.

I’d forgotten that Prue runs into Rex and Hannah this early. I admit it – I’m falling under Rex’s spell much more than Andy’s, despite knowing what’s coming. Not quite sure why I don’t like Andy as much as I did the first time I watched the show, but…I keep thinking of my Dream Charmed and wishing that it was Phoebe who was matched with Andy…

I’m still enjoying this – but not quite as much as I was yesterday…like I remember reading in various other reviews…it takes Charmed a bit of time to find its footing. It’s definitely still feeling its way – I think I’m going to enjoy the journey watching it find it.

GRADE: B

[Deleted]

Ah classic Charmed. I do love how the sisters look in season 1 and I completely agree that Phoebe looks the cutest. Yeah, Prue is a major itch-bay in the early episodes, I'm glad she dialed it down a bit later on.
I've always wondered why they changed Phoebe's premonitions so that touching things was a must. If they wanted to weaken it a little so that it could advance to that stage later on, I'd sort of understand (since they did a similar thing with Prue's TK being in her hands), but Phoebe never even grew to that stage (with the exception of a few rare occasions that had special circumstances).

Great reviews, can't wait to see more

[thepowerofnicki]

I disagree, I think it makes sense that Prue remembered what was carved on the spirit board it allowed us to see how much Prue really was affected by their mother and how she held on to her by remembering every little thing. It also allowed us to see that Prue is not just some stick in the mud and that somewhere inside she truly does believe in witchcraft as it has always been apart of her.

Bitchy Prue is awesome!!! Anyways I understood her animosity to Phoebe she left them after the death of the only person who was there for them. Like Phoebe said she is mad that she went after Victor she felt it like a slap in the face when Phoebe turned her back on them to go after the person that abandoned them, Victor. Whether it was justified or not she felt betrayed.

[Esmeralda]

Jan 16, 2013 14:18:52 GMT -5 @p3nathan said:

Ah classic Charmed. I do love how the sisters look in season 1 and I completely agree that Phoebe looks the cutest. Yeah, Prue is a major itch-bay in the early episodes, I'm glad she dialed it down a bit later on.

Yes, it's why I like her best in Season 2 (but then I liked all of the sisters best in Season 2, part of why it's my favorite season). Like her sisters, she started changing for the worse in Season 3 - the only reason I'm glad she died.

I've always wondered why they changed Phoebe's premonitions so that touching things was a must. If they wanted to weaken it a little so that it could advance to that stage later on, I'd sort of understand (since they did a similar thing with Prue's TK being in her hands), but Phoebe never even grew to that stage (with the exception of a few rare occasions that had special circumstances).

They also changed Piper's freezing from freezing the whole dagnab room to just people or pieces of people. I wonder if they found their powers *too* powerful and had to dial them down, the same way they dialed down Prue.

Too bad...had they not dialed down their powers, they wouldn't have needed the extra ones which also dialed down Melinda Warren's prophecy.

Great reviews, can't wait to see more

Thank you! Like I said, they're more comments than reviews, but I'm glad you're enjoying them.

[Esmeralda]

Jan 16, 2013 19:55:58 GMT -5 thepowerofnicki said:

I disagree, I think it makes sense that Prue remembered what was carved on the spirit board it allowed us to see how much Prue really was affected by their mother and how she held on to her by remembering every little thing. It also allowed us to see that Prue is not just some stick in the mud and that somewhere inside she truly does believe in witchcraft as it has always been apart of her.

But that's because you know the Prue we'll meet during the rest of the series. For what we've seen so far, the only reason to do that is to make her the star...

Bitchy Prue is awesome!!! Anyways I understood her animosity to Phoebe she left them after the death of the only person who was there for them. Like Phoebe said she is mad that she went after Victor she felt it like a slap in the face when Phoebe turned her back on them to go after the person that abandoned them, Victor. Whether it was justified or not she felt betrayed.

Well, she obviously did not go after Victor since I just watched "Thank You for Not Morphing" and he didn't even know that her name was Phoebe and not Piper.

Prue just held a grudge much too long, against Victor, against Phoebe. Think of how much she could've enjoyed life more for the short time she got to live had she not...

[Esmeralda]

First, many apologies for taking so long to do this one - Real Life got in the way so I wasn't able to do my "episode a day" like I had hoped. Unfortunately it is going to continue to be busy for a few weeks (until after Valentine's Day - I work for a wholesale florist and this is one of our busiest periods), but I'll do this as often as I can.

Now onto tonight's episode:

Thank You for not Morphing
Written by: Chris Levinson and Jack Estrin
Season 1, Episode 03
Episode Number: 03
Original Airdate: October 14, 1998


Just finished watching “Thank You For Not Morphing” and am still smiling from watching one of my favorite scenes from “Charmed” – the sisters watching the Christmas video from Victor. Even if none of the little ones looked a lot like their older selves – had the Victor in the film not called out their names or had we not seen the picture of Prue at the piano, I would’ve thought the one who played Prue was playing Piper…) and remembering that it was Alyssa Milano playing Patty (who was never named…she was always just Mom or “your mother”) and not Finola Hughes, . the looks on their faces as they watch always makes me smile.

It’s funny. This episode makes me smile even as it creeped the tar out of me! Yeah, maybe the special effects are dated, but I don’t watch many scary TV shows or movies – this is more than scary enough for me! – and it looked real enough as is for me! I still find the shape-shifters – especially the dog with the glowing eyes (who I didn’t realize was Cinna until one of the guys told her to heel!) – much, much scarier than any of the demons they would run into, with the single exception of Shax. No, I sincerely don’t like episodes that get any scarier than this one, which is probably why I am looking forward to watching Season Four with much trepidation – but I will.

For now I just want to enjoy getting to know the original three again, still all looking cute, especially when their bangs are pushed back (which Piper’s never are – still cute, but not as cute as the other two in this one). I noticed that Phoebe’s are pushed back with a butterfly barrette, which I liked – it made me think of another insect – a ladybug…

I continue to enjoy to getting to know them again, even as I smile over the inconsistencies we see even now. Later we’ll find that Piper is three years older than Phoebe; in this one we find out that she’s four. Phoebe’s just barely legal now – making her 21, making her 25 when Prue will die, around the age that Paige is supposed to be.

Speaking of Patty’s death – Victor talks about all the demons that the Book of Shadows will attract and the fact that *they* got Patty, when, of course we know that it was Sam distracting her from electrocuting the water demon that actually caused Patty’s death. *shakes head* Inconsistencies followed by inconsistences followed by inconsistences…even from Season One to Season Two! I always thought that it was Brad Kern who was the Demon of Inconsistency, but I guess it was Connie Burge, too.

And, of course, there’s the differences in Victors. There’s the biggest inconsistency. Not just in looks or actors, but in name. The credits say that he is “Victor HALLIWELL” – as in the sisters got their last name from HIM, not from their mother’s side of the family, making even more of a lie when Penny tells Piper that women keep their maiden name in their side of the family, when Penny Johnson “Halliwell” didn’t do that. So how the heck could he go from not only LOOKING different but having a different last name? Especially after establishing that Melinda Warren *is* Melinda Warren and not Melinda Halliwell, so very obviously Halliwell women do *not* keep their last name?

I do like James Read’s Victor, although tonight I like Tony Dennison’s better – just little looks in his eyes when he’d look at his girls, I so believed that in his own way he truly loved his little girls and was truly doing what he was doing in order to protect him. Now it makes sense why he lets the shape-shifters let him go after Phoebe – so he could warn her via the premonition.

And then there was the Book of Shadows not letting itself be moved out of the Manor, unless, as we will see later, it is moved by one of the family. To me, the Book was as much a member of the family as Grams or Patty or Victor or Kit. I hated so much when it became less important later on – when it became a family history book more than the source of the sisters’ powers – when going after the Hollow was what would make the Manor evil – not taking over the Book.

Finally, of course, we have the first appearance by Leo Wyatt who just pops in and disappears up towards the attic…led by Phoebe who shoves aside Piper. That always makes me laugh, but only because I know what’s coming…

*sigh* Much as I hate all of the inconsistencies coming, I’m still thoroughly enjoying this rewatch. This episode I enjoyed much more than the previous one but not as much the series premiere. But tomorrow is one of my all-time favorites – “Dead Man Dating”…can’t wait!

GRADE: A-

So? What's your reaction towards *this* episode?

[Esmeralda]

Dead Man Dating
Written by: Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Season 1,Episode 04
Episode Number: 04
Original Airdate: October 28, 1998

For the second day in a row, my Charmed rewatch has me sitting at my new laptop, typing and crying. Oh, this is *so* the series that I remember and that I love! The sisters actually using their powers to help and save innocents, one a ghost, one a mortal who you absolutely wanted to slap, but who Phoebe still saved. One of my favorite lines is Phoebe’s reaction after she saves him from being hit by the pink Cadillac (and she knew it was pink how?? They look awful black-and-white to me! [wink] ): “That will be 20 bucks. Not counting tip.” Hehehehe! I love how much Phoebe loves her powers and how happy she is to have helped someone…why couldn’t that have continued??

And then there’s Prue and Andy and their secrets…with Prue being upset that Andy kept from her the fact that he had an ex-wife (and why did she ask if she was his sister if they grew up together?? Wouldn’t he know?? When she said she was “Susan Trudeau”, I was expecting her to ask if it was a cousin…) until she remembers that she’s keeping a much bigger secret. And for Phoebe, of all people, to be the one who gives her advice…oh, man, I loved it!

And, of course, there was Piper helping and falling for a ghost named Mark…when she cries at the funeral about leaving it to her to fall for a dead man, oh, how I wish that *this* was the dead man she had ended up with. Oh, I’m sure somehow Kern would’ve found a way to screw him up, but Piper and Mark were such a perfect couple... The whole thing reminded me a lot of one of my favorite movies, “Ghost,” especially Piper and Mark starting to make love when the bad guys come in and grab her, and, of course, having to say good-bye! But I wouldn't call it a rip-off the way later episodes would rip off shows or movies, but in that same tears-rolling-down-my-face way.

I don’t know if it was what she was doing or if was how Holly was acting, but she was absolutely beautiful in this episode. Her “sisters” were cute – especially Prue in her shorter hair with no curl at the end – but Piper was absolutely beautiful – she blew me away! Not sexy (she could’ve done without that top…), just beautiful.

The shock for me was that for the first time in this series I could practically look down a sister’s top and it wasn’t Phoebe’s (although you could later on…) and it wasn’t Prue (who was always very conservatively dressed) but Piper’s! I almost dropped my teeth!

And of course, there was Mark warning Prue about making sure she celebrated her birthday because she never knew when she wasn’t going to get another…knowing what I do know now, that’s even more bittersweet than it was the first time around.

Oh, yes, this one was one of my favorites going into my rewatch and it still is. I’d definitely put it somewhere in my Top Ten, maybe even Top Five. Totally love it!

Grade: A+

[Esmeralda]

Dream Sorcerer
Written by: Constance M. Burge
Season 1, Episode 05
Episode Number: 05
Original Airdate: November 4, 1998


After two episodes that left me happily crying, this one left me very glad that this episode is over. Although the final scene was very sweet, both between Prue and her sisters, and then between Prue and Andy, the main plot between Prue and the Dream Sorcerer was much too intense and creepy and scary for this girl! I’m still shaking and will probably have nightmares of my own from it. I’m going to guess that for the rest of you it’s probably just ho-hum, but not me! That was the last time in a while that I’ll watch that part.

Instead I’ll fast-forward past Prue and just watch her sisters and their situations. The subplot between Piper and Phoebe and their “dream guys”, brought by their spells, was a different story – a lot lighter until it too got scary. What they wanted still makes me smile – Phoebe described Cole and Piper described Leo, while Phoebe showed herself to be the wild child while Piper showed herself to be the romantic – the heart of the family. But as Prue told them, watch out what you wish for… Although the one I felt bad for was poor Kitt – all those tomcats, just because she happened to be in the attic when Piper and Phoebe cast the spell! I’m glad they learned to be careful in how they use their powers, but in a way, that’s sad. Not being able to use their powers for fun – especially when it could be reversed so it wasn’t personal gain, but a lesson - is what will make them a curse rather than the blessing that Phoebe now thinks they are. I wish they could’ve been more of a blessing – I think I would’ve loved the show even more than I do.

Prue’s hair is still short like I like it, but when she pushes it behind her ear and you can see her ear, it’s probably one of my least-favorite look on her (I remember a very curly do that I didn’t like at all but haven’t seen yet). Phoebe, on the other hand, looks her best. Her hair is smooth and she looks more grownup while she still looks like she’s having fun. Spunky. That’s what this hairdo makes her look like, and I like it – this is so the Phoebs who is my favorite sister. Piper’s the only one who hasn’t changed and I’m glad – she looked beautiful in the previous episode and still does.

Funny how even though Prue was the one in the tub, it’s still her sisters that show more cleavage….but given who they were attracting, that was probably a good thing.

It was nice to see Andy and Darryl actually figure out who the bad guy is, and see Piper and Phoebe save Prue. AND nice to show how not every non-magical is an innocent…

But despite that, sorry, Connie Burge, I really don’t like this episode.

GRADE: C-

[Chrisaholic]

It wasn't one of my favorites either, Es. So I agree with you here.

[Esmeralda]

Wedding From Hell
Written by: Greg Elliot and Michael Perricone
Season 1, Episode 06
Episode Number: 6
Original Airdate: November 11, 1998


Srange…this is the first time during my re-watch when the episode is over and I’m not really sure what I think. I liked the story; I liked the consistency with a couple of earlier episodes, but I’m just not quite sure…

I think part of it is the fact that it seemed out of place. It might have been aired after “Dream Sorcerer” but I don’t think it was filmed after it, because after looking so cute and spunky in the previous episode, Phoebe was back to her earlier hairstyle. And like that, the whole thing seemed out of step.

I feel like it with the mention of Jeremy and the mention of Chef Moore, even the inclusion of Rex and Hannah and their conversation at the end that sounds so much like the one at the end of the premiere, that it should’ve come right after “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”. Perhaps it was pushed ahead so that it would seem more likely that Piper’s pregnancy test would’ve been accurate, I don’t know, but it just seems…out-of-sequence.

There’s also the fact that for the first time the “special effects” only made me roll my eyes. Much like when we saw the Source’s face in Season Four, I found nothing demonic or spooky about Hecate and her demonic bridesmaids – like him, they just looked like actors with bad makeup jobs.

Naturally with the idea of Hecate as the Queen of the Underworld giving birth to a baby demon, I couldn’t help thinking of Phoebe the Queen of the Underworld and her dark wedding that helped her conceive her demonic spawn, along with all of the other demons the sisters will run into. For once I was glad that those demons will look nothing like these. Although I can’t help wishing that Piper *had* been pregnant with Jeremy’s evil spawn. She’s the only sister who truly doesn’t get a chance to take a walk on the dark side and it would’ve been fun to see how she would’ve done, and how her sisters, especially Prue, would’ve handled it…

Speaking of Piper, she and her cooking was probably my favorite part of the whole thing – why couldn’t she have gone into catering right away rather than getting a nightclub? This is just so…so…Piper!

I also loved the bachelorette party with Piper upset that they’re not eating her food and then more upset when the pizza man shows up, but then he starts dancing, all three sisters enjoy it tremendously until the bride and her bridesmaids show their true self…yikes! But after what the Demon Sorcerer did to Prue in the previous episode, this didn’t seem all that scary, even if we know what the demons did. But I really do think that this one would’ve been a lot scarier if it had been episode 1x03 rather than 1x06 – but not as terrifying as that one that I think I would’ve enjoyed it. As is, I didn’t.

*shakes head at myself* I keep thinking of all those times when I’d re-watch the first three seasons over and over and over again, enjoying all of it, and now I’ve just watched two where when I watch them again, I’ll go past a lot of parts. Strange how your reaction towards shows change…

I wonder if it’s because before I really believed in happy-ever-after, like what the sisters thought Elliot and Allison would have…and I just don’t think so any more. *sigh* I hope that doesn’t mean that I won’t enjoy the love story in “Magic Hour” – my favorite love story on Charmed…we shall see.

GRADE: C-

[Esmeralda]

The Fourth Sister
Written by: Edithe Swensen
Season 1,Episode 07
Episode Number: 07

After not particularly caring for the last couple of episodes, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It was such a great sister vs. witch one, while also showing the difference between white magic and black magic. The way Aviva got her powers was just plain scary, so different than how the Halliwells got theirs.

I can see how Aviva got fooled by Kali – she looked so beautiful and seemed so sweet until Aviva got her powers and suddenly Kali thought she had her under control. It was great to see how much Aviva cared for her mother despite her being a drug addict, while the tension between her and her Aunt Jackie felt real – both actresses did a great job. Although it seemed so strange seeing the actress who would play Elise playing Aunt Jackie! Wouldn’t it have been cool if Elise actually was Aviva’s mother, perhaps Aunt Jackie’s twin? It would’ve been cool seeing a rehabbed drug addict turned into the head of a newspaper! And I would’ve liked to have seen more of Aviva, especially once she was no longer into dark magic. Charmed never really did young people well – Aviva’s an exception. I specifically would’ve preferred seeing Aviva in Season 8 as compared to Billie…

I also really liked seeing Phoebe relate to someone closer to her own age, a preview to the way she’ll treat Paige. It also makes me wonder just how Prue would’ve treated Paige or Chris or Billie, seeing how she treated Aviva…I always thought she’d treat them well…now I’m not so sure.

And then you had the sisters and their lovelifes – Phoebe and Piper first both oohing over Leo’s “glutes” and then battling over Leo was hilarious with Piper telling Leo that Phoebe was at her Gay and Lesbian group made me howl thinking of her and Kyra who I still think is Phoebe’s true love, while Phoebe talking about Piper and her medication…maybe Prue should use something like that on Andy…

Speaking of Prue and Andy, that whole thing made me ache for Andy, the way I know my heart will ache for Dan in Season Two. Like Andy says at the end, why can’t any of the sisters trust the guy they supposedly love enough to let them in on their secret? And, of course, that’s shown in the next episode, when Prue casts her trust spell...

I *really* liked the idea that Aviva possessed by Kali was still a good witch who wouldn’t freeze – Piper freezing Aviva/Kali so that Aviva fell while Kali remained frozen was just plain neat! I wish Piper had tried freezing the Source/Shane or the Source/Cole in Season Four – it would’ve been a much better way of finding out if they were possessed as compared to how it was handled.

This episode proves that “The Wedding From Hell” was aired out of order, since all three sisters have the same hairstyles from Dream Sorcerer – and all three looking very good. Also for the first time one of them was very inappropriately dressed for work – Prue. No cleavage at all this episode but definitely too revealing for the office, especially for someone like Prue – I was shocked when she said she was late for work.

Still, all-and-all, after the last two episodes it was great to watch an episode that felt more like the Charmed I remember and love.

GRADE: A

[Esmeralda]

The Witch is Back
Written by: Sheryl J. Anderson
Season 1,Episode 09
Episode Number: 09

Here we go again. I’m sitting here having just watched an episode of Charmed bawling my eyes out! I’ll admit that I came into watching this episode with some trepidation. It was always one of my favorites and I was afraid it would disappoint. It most certainly didn’t. Melinda Warren is one of my all-time favorite Charmed characters and she most definitely still is. Sheryl J. Anderson does a great job writing her and Tyler Lawton does a great job portraying her, as does Billy Wirth portraying Matthew – the first of many nummy guys we females get to ogle! And how scary is that – if a witch uses their power on him, not only does he gain that power, but then they can’t use their power against him – and once he had all three, they wouldn’t be able to vanquish him! Just the thought of that gave me more shivers than anything Shax or the Source ever did.

I get a huge kick out of the fact that the power that Matthew copied from a witch before he was cursed into the locket will become the standard mode of transportation for warlocks when it truly should belong to a witch. And showing what you can do with Prue’s power to move things with her mind when you don’t worry about personal gain – wow. Although even more than that, I love how this episode shows how important both Piper’s power to freeze and Phoebe’s power to see the past and the future are. It still makes me ache to think how unimportant they become in latter episodes when gimmicky powers like levitation and explosion become more important.

Speaking of levitation, despite that, I grinned from ear-to-ear when Phoebe said that she always thought that when her powers expanded that she’d be able to fly…that so remains one of her fondest wishes throughout the series.

I thoroughly loved Phoebe pushing Piper at Leo and smiled so much when she finally got the nerve to ask him out and he said he’d love to. It’s another one of those episodes when they’re just so sisterly.

*sigh* But then there is Prue and Andy. Yes, Prue knows that Andy can’t accept her as a witch – at least not now – but why couldn’t she tell him the truth? It would’ve made things so much easier, even if it wouldn’t have been so dramatic. And I got a huge kick that of all people, Darryl is the reason why Andy doesn’t turn Prue in…

There is also Rex and Hannah. I still don’t like Hannah, but still love to ogle Rex! This is the first time they mention “him”. I always thought they meant Satan; now we know they meant the Source… I really do wish that it was Rex who was the main antagonist throughout the whole series – they get rid of him much too soon. Note I don’t include Hannah – if you don’t include Zankou, I would’ve loved to have seen Prue end up with Rex, especially if Andy does only appear in this season.

One of my all-time favorite scenes is when Melinda puts her hand to Phoebe’s heart and sees that long line of strong daughters. It’s the only part of Forever Charmed that I like – the fact that Phoebe is the only one who only has daughters…

Speaking of Melinda, I love all of the things that Melinda is able to teach them and like Phoebe, I wish that she could’ve remained as their teacher – she would’ve done such a better job than Grams or Leo did! But now I finally understand why despite what Prue says, they never actually do bring her back. She goes off into oblivion with the locket around her neck. As long as she doesn’t come back, neither can Matthew….

And that's what made me cry.

GRADE: A+

[Esmeralda]

Wicca Envy
Written by: Brad Kern and Sheryl J. Anderson
Season 1, Episode 10
Episode Number: 10

Oh, man! Congratulations, Brad Kern. Job well done!

I never thought I’d say these words, since thinking about the episodes I know he wrote, I don’t particularly care for any of them, except maybe "Charmed Again, Part One" (but not "Part Two"), but “Wicca Envy” has jumped way up into the realm of favorite Charmed episodes. And thinking about it before my re-watch, I knew I liked it, but didn’t love it – a B+ at best.

Not now! Although I wonder how much input Sheryl J. Anderson had, since she wrote “The Witch is Back” and I love that one, too. This one had a lot of the same characteristics that I love about early Charmed and that was missing in latter Charmed. You have the very strong sister aspect, much more important to the story than any witchy thing – they are truly sisters who happen to be witches. You have an adversary who truly seems capable of defeating the sisters, and does it with his brain rather than just powers. You have Andy and Darryl discussing the case and Andy actually figuring out what happened. You have the budding romance between Leo and Piper, while you have the tension between Prue and Andy, and you have Phoebe absolutely loving being a witch while jealous of her sisters’ powers. You have Leo being much more than just a magical taxicab or magical doctor, even doing something more to help the girls than just “I’ll go check with the Elders.” And best of all, all of these come together fantastically! The special effects are laughable at best, but that doesn’t matter one iota to me because the story is so very good!

The sisterly aspect was so much fun between Prue and Phoebe clothes-shopping to catching Piper and Leo to Prue and Phoebe wanting Piper to “spill” to the tension between Prue and Phoebe over Rex, to finally Prue and Phoebe loving watching Piper tell Leo good-bye for now. They just felt so very much like sisters! I also loved Phoebe coming up with the idea of breaking Prue out, Prue not liking the idea, Piper quick to mention that it was Phoebe's idea and her trying to keep the peace between Prue and Phoebe after Rex sends the roses...

Best of all was their bond as sisters and witches within the Power of Three – their discussion over whether they should or shouldn’t give up their powers, to the point where each one had to say the spell (unlike in “Brain Drain” when only Piper had to say it…) was just so heart-breaking. Even Piper didn’t want to give them up. And I love the fact that they don't want to become fugitives because that would not be the best way to protect the innocents!

Then you had Rex! Oh, how I loved the warlocky version of astral projection! Unlike Prue when she would get it the following season (and much closer to true astral projection, the type of astral projection that she could’ve taught Leo to teach her sisters in “Something Wicca This Way Goes?” rather than the type that was her own power as part of the Power of Three), no one could see him and he couldn’t do anything besides plant suggestions in the sisters’ mind. How absolutely totally creepy was that?? A bit like “Dream Sorcerer” but even more. And that might be why Rex couldn’t stick around for all eight seasons as I could wish – with that power he became *too* powerful. I could almost wish he hadn’t gotten it until Season Three with that as the last season…And, oh, how I wish Zankou could’ve had that power in Season Seven! For *sure* he could’ve been the one to beat the Charmed Ones as he should’ve!

Hopefully I’ll feel differently when I actually reach the end of my re-watch, but it’s the way I feel right now…

I also loved how Kit was the only one who could sense when Rex was around. I wish they'd used that a bit more, the way they didn't use Paige's ability to sense evil as much as they could've/should've.

But more than Rex’s new power, I love how he went about trying to defeat the Charmed Ones, doing it much the same way that Zankou would – setting up Prue for theft (the episode after she steals the feather…) and murder in order to break up the sisters. So much more demonic than just trying to kill them.

This whole first arc- that of Rex and Hannah versus the new Charmed Ones - has to be among my all-time favorites, even though I’d pretty much forgotten about it leading into this re-watch.

The budding romance between Leo and Piper was just *so* sweet – how I hate remembering what it will turn into with Leo going back to being nothing more than a handyman and not even that, just Piper’s little errand boy. I truly wish that as originally planned that this was the only season where we would’ve seen him. Again, that may change through this re-watch - I sincerely hope so – but I wonder…

And Andy and Prue…more and more I wish that she had told him about her being a witch after the truth spell was over in “The Truth is Out There and It Hurts”, even knowing that they couldn’t be a couple, because seeing how much these two are hurting each other even when you know how much they care about each other simply makes my heart ache. Prue was the only one of the sisters who didn’t look beautiful to me in this episode, but that makes sense – tension and stress will do that to you, and Prue definitely has a lot of that. My hats off to the makeup person, the hair person and Shannen Doherty herself who made that so.

Even though Rex was simply using Phoebe to get at Prue and try to break up the Power of Three, I still loved the whole idea. It was a foreshadowing of Phoebe and Cole and again makes me wish that this had been saved for Season Three with Rex playing Cole’s role, except actually having Rex falling for Phoebe since by that point Hannah would be long gone. Much as I loved how Julian McMahon played Cole (and if it was my dream scenario, it would be him playing Rex…), I prefer Rex the warlock over Cole the mercenary half-demon.

This episode was the first time I heard Phoebe mention being jealous of her sisters’ active powers, in this case Piper’s freezing. Although poor Piper could’ve done without it when she was in bed with Leo! The idea of her freezing him right at the wrong moment just makes me howl!

And then there’s Leo…I love Phoebe wondering if *he* happens to be a warlock and Piper wondering why they always suspect the ones *she* dates, and love Piper’s reaction when she finds out that Phoebe was dating one! I love Leo using TK in the attic and mostly love how he heals The Book of Shadows. Him orbing out the door (with a totally different special effect than what we’re used to) was such a shock the first time I watched it; now it just makes me smile.

And the way all of these aspects came together to bring an episode with drama, with comedy, with romance, with fun…bravo, Brad Kern and Sheryl Anderson! Bravo!

GRADE: A+

[Chrisaholic]

Hehe, the fun of the first episodes. Interesting to see how much has changed over the years.

[Esmeralda]

Hehehehe, that it is! I'm amazed by how much I'm enjoying episodes I didn't particularly like the first time around!

I'm almost wondering if I should change my mind and watch 55, S6 and S8 and see if re-watching them will change my mind about them....

NOT!

[Esmeralda]

Feats of Clay
Teleplay by: Michael Perricone, Greg Elliot, Chris Levinson and Zack Estrin
Story by: Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Season 1, Episode 11
Episode Number: 11

Here we go again! Another episode that I didn’t particularly care for the first time around or during my re-watches (a C- at best), that I thoroughly enjoyed this time around. Not as much as the two earlier episodes, and as the first episode of the second half it was a bit of a disappointment, but still a lot better than I remembered.

As always, the reason is the sisters very simply being sisters. Piper letting Prue know that they don’t tell her anything because she tends to be judgmental. Phoebe letting Prue know that it’s okay for her to worry about her little sister (both things that make me like Prue a lot more than I have up to this point). Piper letting Phoebe talk her ear off and also giving good advice. Prue first apologizing for walking in on Phoebe and Clay, and later having to tell her that Clay is a thief and a liar and may know about the curse of the urn.

All of this and caring, too – Andy letting Prue know that even if they aren’t dating he still cares about her and if she needs help to come to him…Clay letting Phoebe know that no matter what he said, he still cares for her…even Piper trying to help out Shelley and Doug, but not quite doing it the right way…

I also found out some stuff that I’d forgotten. First of all, *sigh*, after Season Two, I really thought that the nickname “Freebie” was all talk and no action – that Cole was truly Phoebe’s first after Cupid helped her open her heart *sigh*. This definitely showed us otherwise. Oh, well.

The other is that I always thought that Claire (another “I do not like this stereotypical woman!”) was the new owner of Buckland’s but instead she’s the one the bank assigned to see if Buckland’s was worth saving.

Not sure why, but the whole Egyptian thing with the urn and the curse and guardian, I don’t know, just didn’t like it as much as earlier episodes (although better than both "Dream Sorcerer" and "Wedding From Hell", when before I would've put them on the same level.

That's probably because it was all about the Guardian’s power and nothing about her using her brain to protect the Urn. Besides, punishing by killing just seems a little too harsh to me, especially when she wanted to also kill the sisters who never stole the urn. That’s what will bring my grade down to a B-, but still quite a bit higher than the C- I thought I’d be giving it.

Grade: B-

[Astral Alex]

How ironic Es, I've just started a rewatch myself. I'm enjoying reading your views and I agree on most of them!

[Esmeralda]

That's so cool, Astral! Feel absolutely free to reply to my post and put in your own review as you go along. Just keep in mind that I'm doing it the Dstarr way where I'm skipping S5, S6, S8 and parts of S7. But if you want to go all the way and watch all of them and review them, feel absolutely free. Besides, what I might do is use a different thread for each season...

But then again...after what I just found out...I may want to watch at least *pieces* of S8 after all...

[Astral Alex]

I do feel bad actually, it's been forever since I've posted on here - I think I may do a review season on season, so after I've finished S1 I'll post a review, and oh yeah I remember that way of watching - was very clever, but I do enjoy elements of Seasons 5 & 6 so I'll just do it normally.