What was their destiny? What should it have been?

[rebooted]

When did their destiny come about and what exactly was it?

I was trying to remember at what point they had a destiny defined or did they already have a destiny by becoming the Charmed Ones?


So was there destiny...

To become the Charmed Ones and protect innocence. (I think Patty also mentions this in Prewitched "its their destiny, its who they are meant to be"

To vanquish the Source of Evil. (when did this change?). I know that the Angel of Destiny states that they had fulfilled their destiny by vanquishing the Source in 4x22 Witch Way Now?

Also towards the end it seemed like their destiny was to defeat the Ultimate Power and to reproduce so that their offspring would be so powerful that evil wouldn't have a chance. 

I think I am confused - did the already fulfill their destiny by becoming the Charmed Ones or was their destiny prescribed after that? How did it become about vanquishing the source, when did this change?

And what do you think their destiny should have been?

[Esmeralda]

I don't think it ever came about. I think their destiny was always protecting innocents and that never stopped. No way I'll believe that just getting rid of the Source was their destiny! I absolutely refuse to believe that - all part of why I count S4-8 as an alternate-universe spin-off where only the names of the characters are the same.

[Sandra]

As far as I'm aware it was never clearly stated. It had been mentioned in the first episode by Phoebe "We're the protectors of the innocent. We're known as The Charmed Ones." Same with Patty in Pre-Witched saying that too. But I don't think it was really so clearly defined. I don't even remember when the Source was defined as being the Source of "All Evil". I also don't remember when they even learned who he was. They heard the name of an upper-level demon known as the Source and then I can't recall after. I'm pretty sure vanquishing the Source being their destiny was first spoken in 'Witch Way Now'.

Nope it wasn't. It was briefly touched on in 'Charmed and Dangerous'.

Leo: Here you go guys, on the house.

Piper: Oh, easy for you to say.

Leo: Yeah, well, we deserve to celebrate. Yeah, I still can't believe it, you guys actually vanquished the Source.

Paige: So what does that mean? Is our destiny fulfilled?

Piper: I don't know. But at least that part of the nightmare's over.

As far as I'm concerned their destiny was and should've always been about protecting innocents not vanquishing the Source. A reason why I don't like S4-S8 making innocents not important as they were in the earlier seasons. It was all about vanquishing demons.