Plot holes/ inconsistencies that bug you?

[Aaeiyn]

I'm only giving Witchstock a "free pass" merely because of the sisterly moment (which is a rare occasion, in the later seasons), at the end:

[zoeysmom]

Oct 26, 2021 15:42:43 GMT -5 Aaeiyn said:

I can handle inconsistencies from one episode to another, or even from one season to the next.  What I can't handle is inconsistencies, within the same episode.

For example, Kyra being able to "see" through practically everything in S7E10 "Witchness Protection" but couldn't "see" through Zankou's shapeshift, all in the same episode.  Don't make her a "seeing" God just to make her oof, all in the same episode.

Or, Litvack unable to telepathically sense that Bane was going to double-cross him, in S2E15 Give Me a Sign.  Sorry, I don't buy Bane making it look like he was going to double-cross the Charmed Ones that believable of a scapegoat, for Litvack's demise.  Litvack should've picked up on that.

That being said, examples of inconsistencies throughout the show:

I think Prue's character is extremely inconsistent and doesn't really flow nor make sense, to me.  She seems to change every season.  In S1, her character was not happy about being a witch and was a work-a-holic.  In S2, she's all fine with being a witch but is no longer a work-a-holic and is artistic through photography.  In S3, she's still into magic and is artistic, but the work-a-holic personality came back, this time, it was dedicated to the craft, and (supposedly) we can infer S2E9 Ms. Hellfire as Prue learning martial arts, and that's why she's a God at it, come S3.  But, this is typical for Mary Sue type of characters.  At least she was consistently inconsistent ;P

My all time favorite inconsistency is the mishandling of whitelighters.  In S1, they weren't supposed to expose themselves, to their charges (S1E14 Secrets & Guys).  In S2/S3, that all changed, and charges began knowing who whitelighters are.  Also, in S1 Leo healed Mr. Franklin (S1E14 Secrets & Guys) who was mortally wounded, along with Daisy (S1E20 Love Hurts) who cut herself.  In S2, Leo (supposedly) can only heal what the Elders "allow" him to heal (S2E8 P3 H2O).  In S3, healing then became "restricted" to only if they were attacked by demons/evil (S3E8 Sleuthing with Enemy and S3E11 Blinded by the Whitelighter).  In S4, Leo be healing w/e but demons, specifically.  At least that part remained the same (him being unable to heal demons).  Then, the concept of whitelighters being "pacifists" LOL

Anyway, another inconsistency that gets on my nerves...Paige forgetting that Phoebe was a blonde (S5E18 Cat House), when they met (S4E1 Charmed Again, Pt 1).  Or, Paige forgetting how they vanquished the source in S8E4 Desperate Housewitches.

Phoebe inferring Piper was engaged to Jeremy (S5E18 Cat House), when Piper and Jeremy were only BF and GF (S1E1 Something Wicca This Way Comes).  Phoebe (and everybody else, really, but mostly Phoebe) inferring Cole "decided" to become the Source.  Tell you what, Cole "decided" to become the Source the same way Phoebe "decided" to be evil in S1E15 Is There a Woogy, in the House?  Also, Cole having and/or using his "demonic" powers does NOT make him evil.  It's how he uses those powers, that determines that.  Also, don't get me started on S2E2 Morality Bites slippery slope argument.

The concept of both the Cleaners and Magic School.  The confusion on how the Shadow/Nexus and Hollow works/functions.  The fickle concept of what constitutes as "personal gain" and what doesn't.

Vanquishing a ghost actually changed.  In S1E20 The Power of Two, only a spell while dead can be used.  In S2E11 Reckless Abandon and S4E17 Saving Private Leo,  you can use a potion on their bones, to "vanquish" them, as well.  S2E11 Reckless Abandon even had killing the object of a ghost's rage, does the trick, as well, but that did not make a comeback for S4E17 Saving Private Leo.  At least they remembered a ghost had to say the spell, right (S5E21 Necromancing the Stone)?  LOL

Blinking became a Warlock only power despite Melinda Warren in S1E9 The Witch is back saying Matthew Tate possibly copied blinking from another witch.  Also, not all warlocks blinked.  In S2E3 The Painted World, Jane is a warlock who couldn't blink.  Malcolm had to open up the door, for her.

Demons being less demonic and a substitute for warlocks.

All I can think of, for now.

EDIT:
S1E8 The Truth is Out There...and it Hurts, claiming that only female kin will have powers, within the Halliwell line.  Later in S5-S6 and S8...that's not the case...

I had almost forgotten about Litvack. You're right, he should've been able to see Bane was going to double cross him. That bugs me, too. 

[Aaeiyn]

Nov 15, 2021 10:36:10 GMT -5 zoeysmom said:

I had almost forgotten about Litvack. You're right, he should've been able to see Bane was going to double cross him. That bugs me, too. 

After re-watching S4E4 Enter the Demon (with the re-watch groups), that episode is the most inconsistent episode, I've ever seen. We have the Charmed Ones calling Yen-Lo a "demon", even though he's a mortal 'cause the Zen Master even said he was mortally wounded. Supposedly, "too small" things of water, Yen-Lo cannot "pass through", yet Phoebe was concerned over the rain, and Yen-Lo is exiting Limbo through small watery linings, in the clouds. The Zen Master forgetting his conversation with Yen-Lo, about how Yen-Lo stole the Dragon Blade, from his "useless daughter" but yet was still asking the Charmed Ones "who has the Dragon Blade". That is one hot mess, of an episode, as far as inconsistencies goes xD

[Aaeiyn]

Oct 26, 2021 17:20:10 GMT -5 Prue's Feather said:

So Piper can’t use her freezing power on good witches, right?

I re-watched S1E17 "That 70s Episode", and both adult Prue & Piper froze from little Piper's freeze, along with little Andy, before they made their quick escape and stealing Grams' car and re-freezing little Andy, again.

[BriannaWarren2.0]

I am not sure whether or not this would be considered as a plot hole or an inconsistency but I would like to refer to the first episode with the first interaction between Prue and Phoebe when Phoebe brings up a rumour that was about her, it's implied that she slept with Roger but this is never mentioned again, I would believe if something like this can cause a riff in their relationship why wasn't it brought up the following episodes?

It would have been an awesome storyline about how Phoebe got slut-shamed in High School, and that's how the nickname Freebie came about, and how Prue probably witnessed what this did to Phoebe's mental health and is probably the reason why she rebelled so much in her mid-late teens to her early twenty's, and how much of an impact someone like her oldest sister believing such rumours caused more damaged to her mental health. 

It would have been such a wonderful sisterly moment when Prue has to acknowledge her bias towards her sister and how she was wrong in believing someone else rather than her own sibling, this could have been the root of why she moved to New York, with using the false reason of trying to find their father to hide her emotions from her sisters. 

(Reference: www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8cfW1VgvA0 | timestamp: 2:05 - 2:15)

[Aaeiyn]

During our re-watch of S4E6 A Knight to Remember, we're confused on the fact that to bind someone's powers is for them to drink the potion, rather than the potion to be thrown at them.

We do know Cole in S3E20 Exit Strategy, Cole's power stripping potion was in a glass, before Phoebe smashed it.  Yet, we come into S4E6 A Knight to Remember, and we can easily bind the evil enchantress' powers by throwing a potion at her.  This same tactic is used in S4E8 "Black as Cole", when Elizabeth threw what she thought was a vanquishing potion (really it was a power stripping potion), at Cole which rendered him powerless.  Then, we go back to drinking the potion, for power stripping via S4E12 Lost & Bound (for Tyler) and S6E15 I Dream of Phoebe (for Richard).

EDIT: I'm assuming S2E20 Astral Monkey (for Dr. Williamson) it was a similar case.  Trying to get him to consume a power stripping potion, but I could be wrong.

EDIT 2: Basically...

Power Stripping Drinking Potion
S2E20 Astral Monkey - Dr. Williamson
S3E20 Exit Strategy - Cole
S4E12 Lost & Bound - Tyler
S6E15 I Dream of Phoebe - Richard

Power Stripping Throwing Potion
S4E6 A Knight to Remember - Evil Enchantress
S4E8 Black as Cole - Cole

[Aaeiyn]

Nov 22, 2021 9:17:32 GMT -5 Aaeiyn said:

During our re-watch of S4E6 A Knight to Remember, we're confused on the fact that to bind someone's powers is for them to drink the potion, rather than the potion to be thrown at them.

Apparently, there's a difference between binding/bounding powers and stripping powers

[louislemon]

Season 7, Last Ep: The girls astral project. Phoebe says that Prue was very protective over it and only showed Leo how to do it. (why would she show Leo of all people and not her sisters who she loved more than anything?)

Phoebe had astral projected twice before this: In Season Four when she astral projects down to the underworld to speak to Cole and in Season Five when she astral projects herself to bait Barbas into coming to the manor.

[Aaeiyn]

Bringing this quote, over here 'cause I feel like it's somewhat on topic, for this thread rather than the other one, but I digress:

Jan 27, 2022 17:29:53 GMT -5 Emmett said:

They never did throughout the show's run. Never had a proper story editor or continuity editor to keep track. But more so, Kern was the only writer on the payroll for all the seasons, and never cared.

I never understood the purpose of the creation of the Hollow when we had the Nexus. Should have just had The Source want to control that to vanquish the Charmed Ones.

Yeah, that's probably why Jeannine Renshaw's story in S8E4 Desperate Housewitches passed through, as we discussed here:

Jan 22, 2022 18:25:58 GMT -5 Aaeiyn said:

Jan 22, 2022 18:22:41 GMT -5 Emmett said:

Oh, do they use these potions to replicate their powers in 'A Witch in Time'? Won't surprise me they don't.

And throughout S8. I guess this is where writer Jeannine Renshaw misconstrued the episode, in S8E4 Desperate Housewitches. Thinking the Source required potions to vanquish lol

Jeannine didn't start writing for the show until S6, so...lol

Jan 22, 2022 18:27:16 GMT -5 Emmett said:

Jan 22, 2022 18:25:58 GMT -5 Aaeiyn said:

And throughout S8. I guess this is where writer Jeannine Renshaw misconstrued the epusode, in S8E4 Desperate Housewitches. Thinking the Source required potions to vanquish lol

Jeannine didn't start writing for the show until S6, so...lol

Got it.

Now, I get why she mixed up the the Source required potions to vanquish. I don't blame her, seeing as Kern was the only writer who was around for the whole run.

[louislemon]

Jan 27, 2022 17:24:50 GMT -5 louislemon said:

Season 7, Last Ep: The girls astral project. Phoebe says that Prue was very protective over it and only showed Leo how to do it. (why would she show Leo of all people and not her sisters who she loved more than anything?)

Phoebe had astral projected twice before this: In Season Four when she astral projects down to the underworld to speak to Cole and in Season Five when she astral projects herself to bait Barbas into coming to the manor.

And the downstairs bathroom suddenly being turned into a closet,

[Esmeralda]

Jan 27, 2022 17:24:50 GMT -5 louislemon said:

Season 7, Last Ep: The girls astral project. Phoebe says that Prue was very protective over it and only showed Leo how to do it. (why would she show Leo of all people and not her sisters who she loved more than anything?)

Phoebe had astral projected twice before this: In Season Four when she astral projects down to the underworld to speak to Cole and in Season Five when she astral projects herself to bait Barbas into coming to the manor.

Anyone can astral project - I've done it myself several times and once went "visiting" a friend in Chicago (my body was in Minneapolis) and described what she was wearing to my friends (I always have someone watching my body, helping me pull back if there's problems). After I came back, my friends and I called our friend in Chicago, asked what she was wearing and it was exactly what I had seen.

BUT when you astral project, no one can see you and you can only watch. Your astral projection is not able to interact with where it is. For Prue to be able to do that was part of her power as a Charmed One. For Piper, Phoebe and Paige's astral selves to be able to hold hands and cast a spell is IMOHO the HUGEST plot hole of the entire series! That should've been their true bodies and all three should've died, which I believe would've happened had the series not been renewed at almost the last minute. It should've ended with Phoebe saying, "Here we go!" and KaBOOM! End of "Charmed". I've always counted that moment as Charmed's last moment with them sacrificing themselves, leaving Leo, Victor and Henry to raise the boys. PERFECT set up for a spin-off, all about the men, not the women.

Leo could've taught them to astral project, but for him to be able to teach them how to interact with each other and cast a spell would be like him teaching Piper how to have premonitions, Phoebe to blow up things and Paige to freeze stuff. I screamed so loudly at the TV when they used that as an excuse as for why they survived! What a HORRIBLE "tip of the cap" to Prue - stealing her power and then not even using it properly! If you wanted them to survive (after those touching good-byes to the boys, I didn't want them to...), then their bodies should've cast the spell, Piper freeze the explosion and Paige orb them out. No "tip of the cap" but it wouldn't have been a plot hole and made much more sense.

[louislemon]

Jan 28, 2022 9:03:03 GMT -5 louislemon said:

Jan 27, 2022 17:24:50 GMT -5 louislemon said:

Season 7, Last Ep: The girls astral project. Phoebe says that Prue was very protective over it and only showed Leo how to do it. (why would she show Leo of all people and not her sisters who she loved more than anything?)

Phoebe had astral projected twice before this: In Season Four when she astral projects down to the underworld to speak to Cole and in Season Five when she astral projects herself to bait Barbas into coming to the manor.

And the downstairs bathroom suddenly being turned into a closet,

And why didn’t Piper just call for Leo to orb to her so he could heal Prue instead of Piper driving a stabbed Prue to the house? In be careful what you witch for

[Sasha]

Jan 30, 2022 10:04:26 GMT -5 louislemon said:

Jan 28, 2022 9:03:03 GMT -5 louislemon said:

And the downstairs bathroom suddenly being turned into a closet,

And why didn’t Piper just call for Leo to orb to her so he could heal Prue instead of Piper driving a stabbed Prue to the house? In be careful what you witch for

Dramatic effect for story reasons.

But, I'm more surprised Leo didn't just come with them. He was just waiting at the manor for them to return, when they brought Prue to be healed.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but calling for Leo wasn't established yet. I don't remember any episodes during S2, where they called for Leo and would appear. Same way Leo couldn't orb the whole family, and only one. You had to hug, and they had side effects. 

[louislemon]

When Piper was in hospital with that disease she got from importing fruit. Prue and Phoebe call out his name a couple of times and he Orbs to them.

It’s just like you said that it’s down to story telling and creating some drama lol

[Melinda Halliwell]

And writing as well don't forget. Had Leo been called and saved Prue the episode would've ended before it did.

Like you and Sasha said the reason he wasn't was due to the plotline and dramatic effect.

[Adarious]

Okay, so apparently my last reply didn't take for some odd reason. My issue isn't so much an inconsistency so much as the direction the series went after Prue left. It stopped being Charmed and instead became a Phoebe & Cole soap opera. I think the dynamic of the three would have been superior and the episodes in general better had it been Prue who stayed on, and not Phoebe..who I can't stand in general.

[Aaeiyn]

Feb 6, 2022 18:13:30 GMT -5 Adarious said:

My issue isn't so much an inconsistency so much as the direction the series went after Prue left.

I do believe, even in the Prue era, every season differs from one another. I don't believe S1 to be the same as S2 nor S3. I don't believe S2 to be the same as S1 nor S3, and I don't believe S3 to be the same as S1 nor S2. I feel the same way regarding the Paige era. To me, every season will always be different from each other and is a new direction, from the last.

Feb 6, 2022 18:13:30 GMT -5 Adarious said:

It stopped being Charmed

I think it's important for us to define what the word "Charmed" even means, and how the show can even achieve that especially since words mean something different, to different people.

I'm going to make an assumption based off of certain keywords I see and correlate to the average response that swings back to the initial statement said prior but feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. I will say S1-S2 is much more "sisterly" compared to S3-S8. And, S3 tried to stay within the boundaries of "protectors of the innocent" as opposed to the "demon hunters" concept that later took over S4-S8 but began back in S3. By S5, the series wanted to become more light-hearted as opposed to remaining in its original dark and gothic story telling that was S1-S4. Though, S2 attempted to be light-hearted but still pertained that "protectors of the innocent" message (this is why I say every season is different), but I digress. Again, just an assumption based off of keywords I'm seeing via "after Prue left". I do not make any judgements as to whether the new directions are "good" nor "bad". Just making clear distinctions between each season and era.

Feb 6, 2022 18:13:30 GMT -5 Adarious said:

became a Phoebe & Cole soap opera.

See, I find S1 to be the Prue & Andy "soap opera", and S2 to be the Piper, Leo & Dan love triangle "soap opera". S3 (I'm assuming) wanted to give Phoebe her own "soap opera", as she hadn't had her own long term romantic struggle, yet, like both Prue & Piper did, back in S1-S2.

However, I'll meet you half-way and say that it did feel like Charmed became the Phoebe show. As Phoebe & Cole's doomed relationship took up S3-S5a. Then, Phoebe & Jason was S5b-S6a. In S6b, we get episodes talking about the loss of Phoebe's powers, and how she can handle life and demon fighting without her powers. In S7a, she has a new love interest via Leslie, and we have a number episodes surrounding their relationship. Then, they break up, she gets Drake for 3 episodes and most of S7E21 "Death Becomes Them" was about Phoebe blaming herself, over the loss of an innocent (which she should feel that way, but it made it seem like it was all about Phoebe, but I digress). S8a she has her drama with Dex and finally...S8b she has her drama with Coop. While most of the show revolved around Phoebe, I do think we had sprinkles of both Piper & Paige, as well but most of it revolved around Phoebe...IMO, anyway.

Feb 6, 2022 18:13:30 GMT -5 Adarious said:

I think the dynamic of the three would have been superior and the episodes in general better had it been Prue who stayed on, and not Phoebe..who I can't stand in general.

I do feel, similarly (IDK if you can tell ;P). Though, I did like the Phoebe character from S1-S4a. From S4b-S8, I can't stand her. Otherwise, I agree with the premise, the dynamic of having Shannen remain and giving Alyssa the boot, I would've loved to see a Prue, Piper & Paige PO3

[goldeneye049]

I totally agree that season 1 is about Prue. The 2 Piper. The 3 Phoebe and a little Piper. I would have liked so much that Cole was killed in finale season 3. And that horrible Brad Kern disappeared. Let's face it, once Shannen fired and Constance M burge left, the men completely controlled the show and gradually destroyed the mythology. I realize that I don't like Charmed 4-8 anymore and it's a huge waste... I'm sad about my reaction. The series was so promising. The power of three should never have been pieced together even though Paige is my second favorite sister. She should have been less powerful than Phoebe and maybe part of a small power of three but not THE power of three.
So now I also think that 4-8 is an alternate reality.

[Elle Em]

Feb 8, 2022 7:45:34 GMT -5 goldeneye049 said:

I totally agree that season 1 is about Prue. The 2 Piper. The 3 Phoebe and a little Piper. I would have liked so much that Cole was killed in finale season 3. And that horrible Brad Kern disappeared. Let's face it, once Shannen fired and Constance M burge left, the men completely controlled the show and gradually destroyed the mythology. I realize that I don't like Charmed 4-8 anymore and it's a huge waste... I'm sad about my reaction. The series was so promising. The power of three should never have been pieced together even though Paige is my second favorite sister. She should have been less powerful than Phoebe and maybe part of a small power of three but not THE power of three.
So now I also think that 4-8 is an alternate reality.

I feel the same. The show had such a different feel to it when men were more in charge. 

I want to like the entire show. I wish I had eight seasons to watch over and over again and enjoy them instead of just four. Even if the storylines of the later seasons had stayed the same, the execution could have been done better.

Even if I like season 4 and a few elements of the latter half, there was something really special about the first three seasons that still hasn't gotten old for me after all this time. 

[Aaeiyn]

Feb 8, 2022 7:45:34 GMT -5 goldeneye049 said:

Let's face it, once Shannen fired and Constance M burge left, the men completely controlled the show and gradually destroyed the mythology.

While, I understand Charmed is supposed to be, or in my opinion attempted to be about women, but (let's face it) it's about this family. And, this family is going to include men whether it be their fathers, husbands and/or children. There's no escaping the inclusion of men and their history. In S2, IK more information regarding Dan than anything about demons, warlocks, innocent lives, etc. And, even the Prue era has its inconsistencies via Litvack (from S2E15 Give Me a Sign) should've totally called out Bane's double crossing, but I digress.

I don't think it's fair to drag the Paige era through the mud because of personal grudges against Brad Kern. He's only one person, and there are other behind the scenes cast & crew members who have also poured their hearts and souls into the Paige era/show, in general. It takes more than Brad Kern to put together a show. Without any of the actors via Holly, Alyssa, Rose, etc., other writers via Krista Vernoff, Monica Owusu-Breen, Jeannine Renshaw, etc., costume designers via Eilish (female costume designer who's, also, responsible for the costumes in a lot of Marvel films), etc., Kern wouldn't have a continued nor even have Charmed, same with Constance. It takes a team to create these things and not one person.