Comparing Season 1-8 Review

[Esmeralda]

This is a continuation of the previous post. I'll reiterate that these are *not* my reviews - although I agree with a lot of what this guy says, there's a lot I don't, especially in these two seasons. These are the reviews from a guy who is doing a Charmed re-watch and then posting his reviews at a different site after he finishes watching a season.

Here his review for Season Four:

Well, my Season 4 re-watch is complete and I'm currently on Season 5. So once again, let's just cut to the chase.

Now....Season 4:

This season is probably the most controversial season of the series. Following virtually 3 seasons of great chemistry between 3 great leads and the show evolving immensely by the end of its third year to have its biggest star leave (actually fired, *sigh*) couldn't come at the worst possible time.

Some fans hate Season 4 out of anger over Shannen's departure by putting it with the second half of the series (Season 5-8) as being just as bad, some think it's too dark, some think along with Season 3, it's Charmed's finest season, etc.

Me? I think considering losing Shannen/Prue, Season 4 is without a doubt one of the best seasons of the series While I do admit, coming off a pretty Prue-heavy season, it's just as hard for the viewer (I'm assuming) as it is for Piper and Phoebe not having their eldest sister with them anymore. Luckily, while Prue not being present gives the season sometimes an underwhelming feel, her presence is certainly felt. The writers are smart in this regard, realizing that Prue was too integral to the series' first 3 years to just swipe her existence under the rug. They didn't just lose a cast member, they lost a major character and had to make sure that Prue in some form was remembered almost every episode to give her absence some emotional resonance. From the aftermath of Prue's death at the start of the season to Phoebe's temptation of evil taken to a whole new level, the Charmed Ones are put through a whirlwind of pain and grief that kinda trumps last season's dilemmas. Add in the imminent threat of the Source and you have truly an unsettling year for all the right reasons

Without Prue, the dynamic between this new set of sisters is pretty jarring, if not intriguing. Another great way the writers use Prue's death during this season is by taking Piper and Phoebe to some new places personally and emotionally they otherwise would have never been if Prue was still alive.

Each pushed to the next level of sisterhood, Piper is now the oldest and the matriarch of the family. If last season was Shannen Doherty/Prue's time to shine, Season 4 was certainly Piper's by far. Holly Marie Combs was always the second actress after Shannen who always performed very well and during this season, especially "Charmed Again, Part 1" and "Hell Hath No Fury", her performances are tremendous Not only is the writing for Piper incredibly strong but it's obvious Holly was incorporating some of her real feelings towards Shannen's messy exit considering her acting is so raw and surreal. It's no surprise Piper takes Prue's death the hardest, she was always the closest to her and spent more time with her than Phoebe. It's the loss of that closeness that makes Piper the most resistant when Paige comes into their lives.

Luckily, Piper makes some efforts in connecting with Paige, while also trying to adjust to her new role as the big sister. While last season, Piper had some moments of taking charge, here is where she needs to take lead and seeing Piper grow into that role is pretty awesome.

Being the oldest sister, she now has the strongest powers and seeing her master her molecular combustion was cool. It's also great seeing her develop as the big sister. Sure, Prue had it, but Piper's take on this new role was definitely different. Not to mention, while dealing with Prue's death and becoming the eldest sisters, she's once again dealing with her burden over being a witch. In the psychologically potent "Brain Drain", Piper reaches her breaking point considering what she's been through, it's understandable that she wants to give up being a witch and when put into a reality where she's a sick mental patient who's only delusional about being supernatural, who wouldn't want to be free from that? Holly showcases more phenomenal acting here and you really feel for Piper deeply.

Another side of Piper we see develop are her maternal instincts, like in "Lost and Bound", where she becomes sort of a surrogate mother to Tyler, a firestar. While not the best episode in quality (quite poor actually), it's cool to see Piper take charge and being so nurturing. In "Black as Cole", Paige gives Piper and Leo a robo-baby to test out their parenting skills and while humorous, it gets pretty saddening in the last half of the season. In "Bite Me" and "Womb Raider", the reality of Piper not being able to conceive is all too real for her and Holly once again conveys such a realistic human element in a supernatural-based series.

The pain doesn't end there when Phoebe becomes queen of the Underworld and she loses a sister again. Piper feels she failed in her big sister role and let her family fall apart. Luckily, Paige helps Piper get her strength back and she manages to get Phoebe back on their side.

Lastly, when it comes to the finale, "Witch Way Now?", when the sisters are given a chance to relinquish their powers by the Angel of Destiny, Piper's reasons for giving up her powers are reasonable given her season arc. It's a rewarding ending when Piper and her sisters discover she is pregnant. In the end, it was great seeing Piper step up as the oldest sister, work through her grief over Prue's death, yearning to be mother and finally getting be one like she foresaw in "Morality Bites". Great stuff

Phoebe's character evolution is actually more intriguing than Piper's if you think about it. Personally and visually, Phoebe's almost a completely different character by the end of the season and matures a great deal. By the start of the season, she's still the cute blonde little sister with an eagerness for witchcraft but now with Prue gone, she's quickly becomes the middle sister/mediator of Piper and Paige ("Hell Hath No Fury"). Not only that, but she get's engaged, struggles with the idea of marriage, eventually get's married to Cole, gets a job, gets pregnant demonically, vanquishes her husband and by season end, she's a now mature-looking young woman who has lost all her innocence and wants a demon-free life ("Witch Way Now?")

This is truly a transitional season for the character and while most fans hate this season for altering Phoebe's personality, I think the writers did it realistically. She's not the baby anymore and with any loss in the family, people are forced to grow up. Without Prue to keep her in check, Phoebe was forced to grow up whether she liked it or not. Alyssa was great this season in showing Phoebe's hesitation and near disdain for growing up so fast. Little things like Phoebe not seeing herself as the marrying type ("Black as Cole"), being afraid of being a home bound housewife ("Lost and Bound"), to wanting to move out the Manor ("Saving Private Leo") to wanting to maintain her relationship with her sisters ("Bite Me"), it all made Phoebe seems wiser, older yet still Phoebe.

Then you have her dark turn as the Queen of the Underworld, the darkest arc of episodes the series ever did. Phoebe's darker nature has been hinted at by the writers since the first season and we finally get what feels like some major payoff. Alyssa is quite riveting in these episodes as well as the writing, with the series really pushing the emotional drama and moral ambiguity to its peak. Never has the series been so dark and powerful, love those episodes.

It's no wonder after Cole's manipulation and the consequences of that lead to her changing her outlook on being a witch ("Witch Way Now?"). Phoebe has every right to feel that way and now with Cole still contacting her from the beyond, she has reached her limits. I sometimes feel this is the most fascinating season for Phoebe - the writers put her through the ringer and Alyssa for the most part rose to the occasion. "Long Live The Queen" is possibly the finest acting of her career.

Lastly, we get to the newest sister: Paige Matthews. The idea of a long-lost sister could have been the death of the series but surprisingly, Paige's introduction is handled with such care. Thanks to some conveniently-established plot developments (Sam and Patty's affair revelation in Season 2's "P3 H20"), Paige's existence was not only plausible but believable. Not to mention, Rose McGowan made for a fine choice for the character. Sure, she's no Shannen Doherty and her performances in the later seasons feature some of the most horrendous facial expressions I've ever seen........ but...here, she's pretty darn good. The character fits her and she makes it her own right from the start ("Charmed Again"). Instantly, you relate to Paige and it's nice that writers crafted her a nice back story that gives her character some depth. She was a reckless teen who lost her adopted parents at a young age yet managed to find a career in social services. Unlike the next 4 seasons combined, Paige feels so fleshed out and her own person here. She's not simply Phoebe-lite or Prue's shadow; she's a quirky, independent young woman who's not afraid to speak her mind and whose heart is always in the right place. Her initial fear over discovering being a witch is believable and reminiscent of the sisters during the first season.

Paige has her doubts not only about magic but about her new sisters. In "A Knight To Remember", Paige faces not only her past life but the possibility of moving in with Piper and Phoebe. There are great discussions brought up about reuniting the sisterhood under one roof, especially from Paige's point of view, feeling like she won't measure up to Prue.

The writers also find the time to elaborate on Paige's past in "A Paige From The Past" when she re-visits her past and finds out the reason why she lost her parents. While the episode itself is blogged down by filler material, Rose gives probably her best performance on Charmed.

On the sister front, Paige didn't match the closeness that was the original sisters, but the writers never tried to force that bond. Paige naturally fits in because she doesn't exactly fit in. They establish that while Paige is a blood relative, she was raised differently than Piper and Phoebe and her eager independence is a key character trait that separates her from them that was interesting to watch. I also enjoyed her bonding with Piper once Phoebe left the Manor. It's unlike Prue and Piper's relationship but it's something new and fun to watch. I realize Holly and Rose really bounce off each other better than Alyssa and Rose. Something about Piper's brooding sarcasm mixed with Paige's upbeat, jittery assertiveness works so well.

The sister moments for the most part still work like Piper and Phoebe introducing Paige to Patty ("Charmed Again, Part 2"), Piper declaring Paige is her sister to her boss ("Hell Hath No Fury"), Phoebe and Paige hilariously clashing on Phoebe's wedding day ("Marry Go Round") Paige talking to Piper about her pregnancy issues ("Bite Me" and "Womb Raider"), the sisters doing their make-up and talking about their sex lives ("The Fifth Halliwell"), the sisters' arguments over whether they should stay witches or not? ("Witch Way Now?") and who could forget Piper and Paige coming to Phoebe's bedside just to show their undying support ("Long Live the Queen") It's without a doubt the finest sister moment of the Paige years and shows that while the dynamic wasn't as strong as with Prue, it still had some genuine, heartfelt moments that were undeniable. The show was still about the sisters and sadly, here is where that sisterhood focus ended.

Paige being half-witch/half-whitelighter was a cool angle for the character as well. Her Telekinetic Orbing is a cool variation of Prue's power as well as finally having a sister that could teleport or Orb.

As a new Charmed One, she quickly learned all aspects of magic from potions to Power of 3 spells, aids in vanquishing the Source 3 timesand manages to hone her instincts by realizing before anyone else Cole was up to no good. "The Fifth Halliwell" is probably where Paige feels the most like an outsider as Cole psychologically pushes Paige to her limit. Another strong performance from Rose by the way.

Ironically, Paige is the sister who helps bring her sisters back together in "Long Live The Queen" and is the sister wanting to stay a witch in "Witch Way Now?" Paige's journey this season is filled with such depth and maturity, that it's such a shame where the character goes from here.

Cole's return this year was a bit jarring at first, another consequence of a slightly messy resolution to Season 3's cliffhangers. Everyone seems back to seeing him as an ally - I'm guessing because he helped get Leo and Phoebe out of the Underworld? But anyway, Cole's presence this season is just as refreshing as the last, probably even moreso, since we see more instances of Cole fighting for good and making serious attempts at redemption. He helps the sisters track down Paige ("Charmed Again"), tries to reason with Piper when she gets out of control ("Hell Hath No Fury"), trains Phoebe to fight the Source ("Enter The Demon") and even manages to temporarily hurt the Source ("Brain Drain").

"Black As Cole" is a superb episode centered on the character as Cole faces his past head on when not only is a demon copycatting his old schemes but a widow of one of his previous victims is out to stop him for good. It's a great morally-gray episode that truly capitalizes and ends Cole's journey as Belthazor.

Once Cole is human, we see a man who is trying to find his identity and struggling to find his place among a world he doesn't belong in anymore. Phoebe's lack of an answer to his wedding proposal doesn't help either, although he gets a chance to show how powerful he can be even a mortal when he helps the sisters stop the Source in "Charmed and Dangerous".

But it proves to be at a horrifying consequence when Cole is possessed by the Source. While it's hard watching Cole being forced into the villain role again, Julian is so captivating in the role as the new Source, it's hard not to feel too bad. His manipulation of the family, especially Phoebe are dark, twisted and bring some of the most profound material from the series. Not to mention with the wonderful Seer by his side, played with delicious menace and cool by Debbi Morgan, the character of Cole is at his finest this season in all his evil glory.

The only downside is Cole should have stayed dead after "Long Live The Queen". His return in "Witch Way Now?" begins to drag his/Phoebe's story to the ground and only promises a tiresome recycling of what we've seen the both of them go through next season. Sigh.

Leo...well....is Leo. But honestly, Leo's role has always been the background character with occasionally strong moments with Piper and guiding the Charmed Ones, anything more proves to be underwhelming especially in "Saving Private Leo". The first episode to focus on Leo and it feels so contrived. Suddenly Leo has all his army photos all over the manor, especially when he hates the idea of even reminiscing about it? Also, Brian Krause shows how limited his acting is as he makes Leo's dilemma seem like a kid at the school yard stole one of his favorite toys than a man dealing with deep regret over his past. I don't know, but that episode just didn't work for me.

Darryl has a decent moment in "Charmed Again" by standing up for the sisters to Inspector Cortez showing him that he's developed a deep relationship with them. While Darryl is once again underused, he proves to be a worthy human ally for the sisters and fits in with rest of the characters well, especially his funny moments when Cole is human.

Season 4 is filled with themes of isolation, grief, loss, lack of identity, sacrifice and ultimately giving into evil. While the demonic rituals and underworld politics become a bit tedious toward the end of the year, it was exciting for the most part seeing the villains' side of the fight, especially when Phoebe is Queen and there's a twisted domestic approach to that arc.

Speaking of villains, while there aren't that many standouts to chose from like last season, this is the first season to have a season-long antagonist in the Source of All Evil. While his attacks against the sisters aren't the best at first, like manipulating Paige to the dark side, the rest of the season sees some great plots centered on the Source's agenda to kill the Charmed Ones with the best being his asylum illusion in Piper's mind ("Brain Drain") and the introduction of the Hollow ("Charmed and Dangerous"). Once Cole takes over as Source#2, he becomes more menacing and creepy. The Seer as his partner in crime made for one of the strongest female villains the writers ever created and Debbi Morgan is simply memorizing as the character. Though her twist in the story comes to a disappointing end in "Womb Raider" which has some bad acting from Alyssa, jarring humor and useless plot devices (The Tall Man=ZZZZZ)

As for the rest of the Season 4's rogues gallery: Sykes was a cool looking Belthazor doppelganger, Gamel was freakin' played by Freddy Krueger himself , The Wizard was freakin' played by Snyder, The Rat demons were lame though, so were Ludlow, Leo's ghost friends, the vampires, and Yenlow. Devlin was serviceable, Karzon was a wannabe Source, Shax comes back for a cool vanquish, The Oracle was clearly played by a playboy bunny, Coolie was thankfully mostly silent as the Lazarus demon, Rose makes for a decent Evil Echantress and Bruce Campbell...Mr. Evil Dead himself....a witch hunter...color me intrigued despite the predictability!

So just to wrap things up:

PROS:
1. The final season to emphasize the sisterhood and the Power of Three.
2. The well-executed introduction of Paige.
3. The season-long Source arc and his rebirth in Cole.
4. Some remarkable acting from the cast, especially from Holly Marie Combs and Julian McMahon
5. The character evolution of Piper and especially Phoebe.
6. More series classics in the form of "Brain Drain", "Charmed and Dangerous", "The Fifth Halliwell" and "Long Live The Queen".
7. Phoebe's Queen of the Underworld mini-arc ("We're Off To See The Wizard" and "Long Live The Queen").
8. Debbi Morgan/The Seer.


CONS:
1. The cliffhangers at the end of "All Hell Breaks Loose" being clumsily resolved.
2. The noticeable loss of Shannen Doherty/Prue.
3. A disappointing end to the Source arc ("Womb Raider").
4. Cole remaining post-"Love Live The Queen".
5. Inconsistency with awesome arc episodes and weak standalones.


Season 4 Episode Grades:

Charmed Again (1)=A-
Charmed Again (2)=B-
Hell Hath No Fury=B
Enter the Demon=D-
Size Matters=B-
A Knight to Remember=C
Brain Drain=A+
Black As Cole=A
Muse to My Ears=B-
A Paige from the Past=C
Trial By Magic=D-
Lost and Bound=D+
Charmed and Dangerous=A+
The Three Faces of Phoebe=B+
Marry-Go-Round=B+
The Fifth Halliwell=A
Saving Private Leo=C-
Bite Me=C+
We're Off to See the Wizard=B+
Long Live the Queen=A+
Womb Raider=C
Witch Way Now?=C+

Final Score= B+

Overall a great season! Sure, it's a step down from Season 3 in terms of inconsistency in episodes and Shannen/Prue's loss really affected the dynamic of the series, but the wonderfully done intro for Paige, the continuation of strong sister characterization, the significant character growth for Piper and Phoebe and the darkest, most riveting storytelling really does make it one of the finest seasons of the series.

And now here's his review for Season Five:

Sigh. Finished my Season 5 re-watch and all I can is....well...let’s get to it.

Without further ado.........Season 5

Here begins the infamous half of the series (Season 5-8) and where most of the complaints, even hatred of Charmed lies and starting with Season 5, it's hard to defend the series with such a drastic change of writing, direction etc. By this point in the series, Constance Burge was completely gone from the series (serving as creative consultant for Season 3 and 4), Alyssa and Holly were made executive producers and certain things like continuity/common sense started exiting the series.

Anyway, if Season 2 had a jarring tone with a mix of dark, gritty plots and comedic situations, Season 5 takes that to another level to where the show is barely worthy of the title "guilty pleasure". While the show gets a huge budget increase right from the two-part series premiere "A Witch's Tail", with some visual flourish, vibrant colors and a polished look to the series, it seems to be at the expense of what made the series what it is: that clever mix of sisterhood and witchcraft.

It's almost like we entered an alternate reality where the only thing that makes sense is that Piper is pregnant. Everything else just seems off in terms of continuity. Suddenly Cole's back and everyone hates him, Phoebe is some kind of celebrity, Paige gets the promotion she's been waiting for....only to quit her job, Leo comes off as kind of a jerk by instilling some maternal fears in Piper, Cole is back to annoyingly pinning for and stalking Phoebe, and Piper....well....at least she's still somewhat recognizable.

The show quickly moves away from the dark, serialized storytelling of late due to the WB's meddling and Kern caving in to their demands because apparently he can't run a series himself. Now the show embraces an even more flawed episodic structure and becomes too fantasy driven. Sure, we've had being like Cupids and Muses on the show, but this is when the series goes overboard and starts pulling creatures from other mythologies that seriously ham the hell out of the series. Mermaids, mummies, superheroes, fairy tales, sandmen, gods, titans........ leprechauns, nymphs, even those dreaded fairies return!

The problem is some of these could have worked by the writers giving them a clever spin, but nope, some of them are about as cliched as you'd expect producing some of the worst episodes of the series ("Lucky Charmed" and "Nymphs Just Wanna Have Fun").

As far as the sisters go, Piper is not only the sister that has the most substantial material this season but probably the only character. Piper's pregnancy was a huge revelation that left a lot of hope at the end of Season 4. Though, the pregnancy is used mostly for silly subplots (Piper and Leo's power swap in "Siren Song") or convenient plot devices (self-healing/invincibility), it is an interesting storyline nonetheless that sees Piper having some maternal fears along the way, starting with "A Witch's Tail" when she fears to confront any demon thinking she might die, leaving her child without a mother like what happened with her mother. It's a believable development for Piper and while the fearless spell reeks of personal gain, it was just plain awesome seeing Piper being a full-on badass.

Then you have her continued concerns of having a natural birth instead of a medical one ("The Eyes Have It"), wanting to still be romantic despite becoming a mother ("Sand Francisco Dreamin'), to her detesting any maternity wear ("Y Tu Mummy Tambien"), which is understandable, if not blatant sitcomy material. Luckily Holly Marie Combs works wonders with such standard material and while the pregnancy has its up and downs in terms of storyline, the mystery surrounding the baby and what it means to the Charmed Ones' line as well as the magical community is intriguing nonetheless.

Piper's pregnancy culminates in "The Day Magic Died", a flawed if not fairly touching episode which we discover Piper's baby is a boy and is named Wyatt Matthew Haliwell in the following episodes.

It's good to see Piper's maternal instincts at play during the latter half of the season, although this is officially when the series became less about the sisters and more about protecting Wyatt. From there, Piper and Leo suddenly have marital issues....wait, what!? and see a marriage counselor. While "Cat House" is a decent trip down memory lane for the series, Piper and Leo's issues were never built upon prior to the episode and just feels forced. Their problems culminate in "Oh My Goddess!", an outlandish, over-the-top finale that sees the sisters in Xena-lite costumes and Leo ascending to Elderland with the only decent development being Piper's reaction to losing her husband. Holly makes the best out of a silly situation (especially that costume) and makes Piper and Leo's shoehorned split seem pretty legit.

Between her anticipation of motherhood, saving her sisters multiple times, battling an invincible Cole all her own, raising Wyatt and then losing Leo, these storylines weren't always perfect but Piper was still remained pretty consistent this year and Holly truly becomes the miracle worker of some dire scripts.

Onto Phoebe....sigh....I seriously started missing the old Phoebs here. Here is when the character becomes shrill, self-absorbed with a wardrobe consisting of outfits only Hugh Hefner could love.

The first half of the season sees Phoebe dealing with her animosity towards Cole and while it's understandable she would be upset given her fallout with him as the Source last season, her attitude for the most part is uncalled for and written inconsistently. She's mad when Cole's around; she's mad when Cole's not around; she's mad when he does something good; she's mad when he does something evil; she's mad when he tries to kill himself; she's mad when she can't kill him and on and on and on....WHAT!?

The only times Phoebe's issues with Cole are handled with maturity or should I say like a married couple are in "Siren Song" or when the writers cut the crap and put them at odds with each other ("Sam I Am"). This story arc between the characters seriously drags to no end this season and when Phoebe finally is able to vanquish Cole in the 100th episode, "Centennial Charmed", it's by an alternate Phoebe and while a cool-looking vanquish, hardly competes with the emotional punch of "Long Live The Queen".

Post-Cole, there isn't much going on for Phoebe. Oh, I'm sorry, she's suddenly a mini-celeb in San Francisco because of her column (ummm...yeah...whatever ) She's overworked, constantly having to balance a booming career and her wicca duties now, but it's hardly interesting. Then you have her sadly-obvious rebound in Myles and her relationship with Jason Dean. While Eric Dane makes a good first impression in the role, the relationship is pretty rushed (like ALL Phoebe's relationships during this half of the series) They met, they barely go on one date, they bone and now Jason wants her to move across the world with him....okay...

The fact Phoebe makes a decision to move without discussing it with her sisters and then decides not to for some vague reason that makes it seem like the writers forgot they can't write Phoebe out of the series is just poor characterization. The only time I could tolerate Phoebe this season was in "The Eyes Have It" where the writers put her Cole baggage/career BS aside and focus on what fans use to love about Phoebe: her concern over her powers and her family. It's the only real genuine character development for Phoebe all season yet it feels all for nothing, especially the advancement of her premonitions which becomes literally non-existent. Sigh. There really isn't that much else to say....

Then you have Paige. After such a promising debut in Season 4, she already shows signs of a complete lack of direction this season. In the season premiere, like I said, she gets that damn promotion she wanted so bad last season, only to quit her job and pursue a mission of being a full time witch. Which is fine...I guess...only there's absolutely no payoff to this storyline. None. Nada. Zeep! Unlike Prue's witch kick in Season 3, Paige's is empty, hollow and a complete waste of time!! She makes no progress as a witch and at the end of the season, she then decides she wants a life separate from magic....excuse me...huh!? All Paige does throughout the season is complain about having no job, whines about having no life and uses magic for personal gain because she has no money!

Don't get me wrong, Paige has some decent episodes this season. She finally gets to meet Sam, her blood father, in "Sam I Am" and finds some closure and when Cole alters the world in the 100th episode, it's up to Paige to save her family again.

Of course, Paige does make someattempts to explore more powerful spells/potions, but these moments are so few and far in between with no build-up that the end result equals up to a big fat: "What was the point?" ZZZZZZZ Between that, getting hit on by horny Leprechauns and being turned into a nymph? Riveting, I tell you!

Cole.....poor Cole....or poor Julian I should say. He certainly wasn't the reason why the character took a huge nose dive this season. Calling the writing for Cole "schizophrenic" would be a serious understatement! Cole returns and wants Phoebe back, then he wants to show her he can be good, then he goes insane, then he's suddenly evil again and poof he's gone! All in one 12 episode arc that becomes tired back in Season 4 before it even began.

You gotta feel awful for Cole through all this. Everyone, especially Phoebe, gives him a hard time every episode about being evil and when actually does some good it's undermined simply for the fact that the writers don't know what to do with Cole anymore! Like I said, thank God for Julian, he puts in some solid work regardless of how poorly written the character quickly becomes and while Cole's demise comes as more of a blessing because of such a tiresome character arc, he will be missed!

Wish I could say more about Cole but like with Phoebe and Paige, these arcs are so irrelevant and sloppily handled, I have no choice to write so little about them.

Leo doesn't fare much better. He starts out the season putting fears into Piper's head about being a witch and a mother. The heck, Leo?! Spends the majority of the season forced into silly sub-plots with Piper surrounding the pregnancy, with any significance from him personally is that he wants to be close to the baby like Piper ("Sand Francisco Dreamin'") Then you have his martial problems with Piper and suddenly he has a problem with Paige and Phoebe being around for Piper to confide in...say what!? In the finale, Leo becomes an Elder thanks to Chris' manipulation and leaves Piper wanting her to move on.

Oh and speaking of Chris....I'll save my character analysis/rant for my Season 6 review. All you need to know here that Drew Fuller in just 2 episodes redefines the phrase "dead air" and simply does something sinister to Leo! *Gasp*

Darryl gets a promotion thanks to Leo helping him with a case and....man, I'm just realizing the male characters on this show get such a short end of the sick they are barely worth talking about anymore.

I mean Season 5 isn't all bad - the first half has a section of some good episodes, namely "The Eyes Have It", "Sympathy For The Demon", "Sam I Am" and especially "A Witch In Time", the only real series standout in a season full of mediocrity! "Sense and Sense Ability" is the finest comedy episode of the latter years, "Centennial Charmed" is a good, but not great) milestone episode and "Cat House" in all it's Prue-less imagery/continuity issues is still entertaining for what it is.

The show visually looks vibrant and flourish, not to mention the special effects during some episodes is exquisite. But the season just falls apart post-Cole's exit and the tone becomes so light, it's borderline Sesame Street. No joke. The costumes gets more corny and cheap-looking, but nothing compares to Phoebe's outfits.

All I can say is, Brad Kern must have lost his mind starting this season. He calls this a "family show" by throwing in episodes about fairies, nymphs, etc. yet has an episode like "The Importance of Being Phoebe" where Alyssa plays a demonic stripper pretending to be Phoebe who dry humps Cole in a strip club!? What kinda family were you raised by, Kern!?

As for Season 5's rogues gallery, this is where the majority of villains become so one-dimensional they all could pretty much be the same character. The ones I remember and liked: The Siren was fun played with a seductive charm by Melinda Clarke, The Crone was creepy, intriguing.....then vanquished too quickly, Orin was excellently played by Jigsaw himself, the Evil Witch was had a fun cliche to her if that makes sense, Barbas is useful only here and Bacara is first (and most impressive) warlock in a while to actually pose a threat to the Charmed Ones. Everyone else is a snore: a shame Zachary Quinto makes an appearence as one of the most forgettable warlocks on the series, The Sea Hag and Necrom look good, especially their powers but are worthless, Rnon is a bore considering he's played by Crowley himself, Jeric is played by Mr. Highlander himself but is second rate and killed so easily, the Witch Doctor was badly reinvented and the rest are like I said, one-dimensional and not worth talking about.

Just to wrap things up:

PROS:
1. A budget boost. Visually, the show looks stunning as well as the special effects.
2. A mini-run of solid episodes ("The Eyes Have It"-"Sam I Am").
3. The mystery surrounding Piper's pregnancy and the eventual birth.
4. A series classic in "A Witch In Time".


CONS:
1. The complete character assassination of Cole.
2. The poor characterization of Phoebe and Paige.
3. Leprechauns, Nymphs and Fairies! OH WHY!?
4. From childish storylines to overt sexuality, the show starts to feel absurd.
5. The beginning of horribly designed/tacky costumes, especially on Phoebe.
6. Piper and Leo's abrupt martial issues.
7. The introduction of Chris *shudder*

Season 5 Episode Grades

A Witch's Tail Part 1=C-
A Witch's Tail Part 2=D+
Happily Ever After=B-
Siren Song=B
Witches in Tights=C
The Eyes Have It=A-
Sympathy for the Demon=B+
A Witch in Time=A
Sam I Am=B-
Y Tu Mummy También=C-
The Importance of Being Phoebe=F
Centennial Charmed=B
House Call=D
Sand Francisco Dreamin'=C
The Day the Magic Died=C+
Baby's First Demon=C-
Lucky Charmed=F
Cat House=B-
Nymphs Just Wanna Have Fun=F
Sense and Sense Ability=B+
Necromancing the Stone=C-
Oh My Goddess Part 1=D
Oh My Goddess Part 2=D+

Final Score= C-

Overall a mediocre mess of a season yet only the beginning of much worse. You'll notice this review is shorter than my other reviews and that because, like I said, there just can't be much to be said about something pretty bad. The show looks nicer, more polished, there are a handful of good episodes and memorable moments, but this was truly a downhill year where the series starts replacing what they've previously established as entertaining TV with something pretty trite and trashy.

Unfortunately four days ago he posted this:

Serious delay on my series re-watch. Been watching the second half online and the site has become unreliable. Times like this I wish I had Netflix!

Me, too, since I really wanted to see what he'd say about Season Six, since it sounds like he went in liking Chris just about as much as I do, and I'm curious to see whether that changed during his re-watch.

Once he *does* post it, I'll be sure to copy it here.

[Esmeralda]

Well, that person finally posted, so here's his review of Season Six:

Well, I finally got to finish my Season 6 re-watch and found a reliable website to continue my re-watch of the series. (Hopefully it stays that way )

So let's get down to it......Season 6

I have to say, I must commend the writers. This season is special. And when I mean special, I mean the amount of suck that fills this season is something to behold. Now here is when this reviews become not so much an analysis but more of a rant. No matter how many times I re-watch the later years, it amazes me how a series like this could have lasted so long. If Season 5 was the downward spiral, Season 6 is where it hit rock bottom.

It's like all the worst aspects of the series are magnified to the point of annoyance. Those lovable sisters/independent women/badass witches we've come to adore over the years are now so dysfunctional and neurotic, I literally rolled my eyes many times watching this season.

This season is a complete anti-thesis of what the series was about. Gone are the days of "three sisters who happen to be witches"; now it's been replaced with "three overbearing women who happen to live with each other and do magic". Basically if your name is Constance M. Burge and you're checking up on how your former series is doing at this point, you should be gagging...repeatedly.

Season 6 is just so uninspired, lacks energy and begins to follow a trend of storylines that are beginning to get tired where it's a sister getting possessed ("Used Karma"), the sisters under some spell gone wrong ("Hyde School Reunion", "Prince Charmed") and don't get me started on the endless run of episodes centered on some demon after Wyatt!!

The sisters themselves are pretty much secondary to the major events of the season. Not to mention, their relationship as sisters begins to feel artificial like they only come together to vanquish demons and don't have any interest in each others' lives anymore. Doesn't help the first couple episodes finds the sisters on their own and as the season progresses, they decide to go their separate ways ("Chris Crossed"). Exploring the sisters growing apart could have been something intriguing maybe even possibly developing them a bit, but the way it's done, it's completely pointless in the end.

The sisters individually are at their most grating and unnerving, starting with Piper. I actually enjoyed Piper for the most part in an otherwise weak 5th season, but here, it's like the character can't stop complaining. In the season premiere, "Valhalley of The Dolls", she's all chipper and happy thanks to Leo not being able to reverse some spell he put on after being sent off to Valhalla. She gets amnesia, becomes a Valkyrie and decides she doesn't want Leo around because she needs some space. I get Piper here - she technically lost her husband but it seems the writers forced this sudden rift between Piper and Leo down our throats. It doesn't help that Piper suddenly wants to date again and wants a divorce so soon. While Holly once again does her best with the material, it just doesn't sit well with the character.

When Piper isn't dealing with Leo, she's complaining about wanting a normal life....again....only this time, it's beyond excessive. We get it, Piper, being a witch sucks: "magic bad, normal life good!" Tell it to someone who cares!

Not to mention, she doesn't seem to know what kinda of life she wants for Wyatt. In "Prince Charmed", when Chris tells her to bind Wyatt's powers she's all. " have a powerful child with a important destiny and must nurture him" but then in "The Legend of Sleepy Halliwell", she whines about wanting Wyatt to have as much of a normal life of possible. Make up your mind, woman!

The only really major development for Piper this season is her second pregnancy but considering that had more to do with Holly's actual pregnancy during the filming of the season, it's horrendously done. Her brief reconcile with Leo in "The Courtship of Wyatt's Father" leads to Chris' (YEAH! Let's just go buck wild in an alley!) conception and for the remainder of the season, Piper is given minimal screen time deu to the crew giving Holly some time off during the duration of her pregnancy, resting the second half of the season in the incapable hands of the Dense Duo aka Phoebe and Paige.

Phoebe...my God, the character couldn't be more devoid of any substance or class at this point. Her wardrobe reaches even more slutty proportions and her relationship with Jason literally goes no where.

Oh, I'm sorry, Phoebe does get a power boost this season: Empathy. A power we've seen on this series before and an interesting, even promising power for Phoebe. Not only can she channel emotions but other beings' powers through their emotions. Talk about a powerful upgrade.....so what's the problem? The problem is the power gets old...fast! If it isn't the crappy jingle cue, it's Phoebe snapping at people when she feels their emotions like some crazy woman, taking away any emotional resonance from any drama on the show.

The power is rarely used effectively. I would have liked to have seen more episodes of Phoebe using that power to help save innocents like "The Legend of Sleepy Halliwell" and less of her channeling Jason's urge to bone her in "Valhalley of the Dolls". A grown woman having sex with her boss...in front of her co-workers....was that suppose to be funny? How exactly did Phoebe getting possessed by a French hooker ....help her in the depth department? Surprised my computer didn't get a virus from the hackneyed writing and character regression? I sure am!

To make matters worse, after a dreamquest she has in "The Legend of Sleepy Halliwell", Phoebe begins her one-woman mission to meet Mr. Right, so she can conceive her future daughter. Yes, this once independent, strong young woman is now a desperate, vapid trainwreck tracking down her baby daddy all over San Francisco. Go get him Phoebs!

Let's see, what else? Turning in her former grudge reject self and purposely letting a human being die by demons ("Hyde School Reunion"), getting her powers stripped for misusing them....even though her premonitions and levitation have become pretty non-existent by this point in the series ("Crimes and Witch Demeanors"), conjuring up Latin sex toys for Piper's birthday ("Prince Charmed") and I haven't even mentioned the infamous haircut!

Even Alyssa's performances begin to annoy as she becomes too over the top with Phoebe's mannerisms and her shrieking is unbearable. All this and I haven't even gotten to....

Paige. This season....she's useless. Half the fault goes to writers completely having no clue what to do with her anymore and the other half is Rose pretty much exiting stage left acting-wise by the latter half of the season. Last season, Paige was on a magic kick to become a stronger, better witch. This season, she wants the opposite and decides to pursue a life separate from magic through random temp jobs. These jobs include: getting humped by dogs, running into gremlins, being an assistant to a magician at a retirement home, knocking out a man committing sexual assault on her co-worker, and running into a male witch who gives new meaning to the term flat. Like the previous season, this arc with Paige is a waste of time, not to mention the character grows more moronic with each episode.

It seems the whole personal gain rule went out the door as Paige just does all these selfish spells like conjuring up multiple Mr. Rights. Seriously, how did Phoebe’s powers get taken away and not Paige’s?

Anyway, Paige at this point feels so stilted in terms of a character and her relationship with Richard just doesn’t help matters. Sure she makes some strides to help him with his so-called magic addiction but there’s not enough depth in the story and Balthazar Getty’s “watching paint dry” delivery solidifies how bad the storyline turned out to be. The end of their relationship comes as no surprise and the repercussions of it or any growth just don’t apply. Kinda like how when Jason finds out Phoebe’s a witch and the only thing to show for it is Phoebe once again has to be in hideous a ensemble for an entire hour.

Then when the sisters discover Magic School, Paige becomes Michelle Pfeiffer and has to control a bunch of delinquent magical students. Pretty much a precursor to her head mistress role at Magic School next season.

As far as Rose herself, this is where her infamous “mugging” began and it’s obvious her dedication to the show has become half-a$$ed. Case in point, when Phoebe gets shot in “A Bad, Bad, Bad, Bad World”, she delivers Paige’s reaction with as much concern and fear of a bee sting. Your sister just got shot, you bimbo!! The heck!?

Onto the newest character on the block: Chris Perry played by the eternal black hole of charisma known as Drew Fuller. It’s not just the fact that you could replace Chris with a doorknob in nearly all his scenes, it's the fact his arc made absolutely no sense. Last season, he appears to help the sisters stop the Titans and got rid of Leo - now it turns out he sent him to Valhalla.....for some reason, to get him out of the way. He’s there to protect Wyatt from some demon that turns him evil....yet the majority of the suspects in question aren't even close to being what turned him evil. He has a fiancée in the future....yet sleeps with the first blonde girl that he comes across...he starts out as some kinda anti-villain with mysterious origins and then suddenly, he turns out to be Piper and Leo's second son.

It's obvious the writers had no idea how to handle Chris as a character, especially the storyline surrounding since the big twist reveal which seems a bit forced. Using Holly' real-life pregnancy to tie up loose ends with Chris' arc wasn't the smartest move, even the writers kinda reference the nonsense of the whole thing when Phoebe pretty much yells at Chris for the idiocy of his whole plan ("I Dream of Phoebe")

While Chris does eventually feel like a part of the family towards the end of the season, still, his sudden lineage, not to mention parental issues feel too jarring. Now Chris is avoiding Piper? Now he can't stand Leo because he was never there as a father? It's just the more we learned about Chris, the less his whole mission and purpose made little sense.

The only episode that makes his arc even mildly entertaining is "Chris Crossed". A pretty epic-looking episode that depicts a future where Wyatt grows up to be the ruler of Evil and only Chris seems to be the one who can save the day. But this whole dark future ahead isn't really fully realized and all the repetitive demons going after Wyatt lead no where...so what was the point?

It's truly a shame. The thing is Chris' story had potential: there was a lot of morally grey material here that could have been explored. "Chris-Crossed" was actually promising, with a grim, dark look at a future ruled by evil and Wyatt as that ruler. But once again, the writers set up something solid and demolish it it just as quickly. Also, it doesn't help that Drew Fuller's acting could make a bear stop in its tracks. Not the best actor to put a major storyline in the hands of...

Although I must admit, I liked Chris' death in "It's Bad, Bad, Bad, Bad World"- and not because I wanted to see the character die a slow, painful death - just like how watching this whole storyline was just as slow and painful! No. There was actually some depth in his death and the season actually ended on somewhat of a solid note despite its many shortcomings.

Leo's ascension as an Elder is another storyline that is riddled with so much inconsistency. He is suppose to leave Piper yet sticks around every episode and is always around. Although, he seems to be the only one who notices how shady Chris' behavior is. Unfortunately, we don't get any followthrough with that and instead get moments with Leo constant getting watery eyes every time he hears about Piper moving on. What feels like the writers being afraid of actually making Leo absent for the majority of the season really makes their whole separation seem nothing more than melodramatic.

Leo's only really big moment comes at the end of the season finale when he's forced to kill Gideon. It's a dark turn for the character and while Brain Krause emoting complete and utter despair can be pretty cringe-worthy, it puts in some groundwork for a pretty Leo-heavy year next season.

Darryl probably gets the most development here so far in the series. Deciding to not be the sisters' personal cover-up cop anymore, Darryl comes to a revelation after the events of "Crimes and Witch Demeanors":" I'm done which your sh!t, Charmed Ones!" Okay, well, he didn't say it like that, but it's nice to see Darryl finally grow and stand up for himself. Not to mention, considering what the sisters put him through that season alone (stealing his soul and leaving his body in an alley!?) Yeah....no words!

Season 6 just feels so asinine, like the writers had no idea how to write these characters anymore or execute a decent storyline. Each episode could be summed up by "Demon after Wyatt, end teaser, Phoebe wears something slutty, Paige acts brain-dead, Piper whines, Chris becomes either a brat or a pest, Leo drops in for no reason, off to Magic School, quick scene of lame demons in the underworld, Piper blows sh!t up, sisters make potion, demons are vanquished, yadda, yadda, wash, rinse, repeat!"

Then you add in the occasional sister kidnapping and an appearance from some awful magical creature and that's pretty much the whole season!

As far as Season 6's rogues gallery: Valkyries were Xena rejects, The Cleaners were intriguing if not a big old plothole - where were they when Prue needed them??, The Stillman Sisters= , The Manicores looked cool, I suppose, Olivia was a decent threat, The Phoenix Coven/Assassin witches were pretty inventive....the fact that they come off as just any other demon, isn't! Gideon had his moments...just not enough, Mata Hari, Bosk, Phantasms, The Order....once again, the villains are one-note and there isn't much to say about them. It almost feels like the demons are there out of necessity at this point simply to give Piper something to blow up over and over and over again... The Power of Three? Who needs it when Piper has the Power of One?

So just to wrap things up:

PROS:
1. The show’s continuing increase in budget. Some episodes have some great visually flare and an ambitious scope.
2. Darryl finally growing a pair and turning his back on the sisters! Now if only Leo had...
3. The two-part finale ("It's A Bad, Bad, Bad, Bad World")

CONS:
1. Drew Fuller's acting, the subpar writing for Chris and his whole arc.
2. Some of the worst episodes of the series ("The Power of Three Blondes", "Prince Charmed", "Used Karma" and don't get me started on the continuity nightmare that is "Witchstock")
3. The sisters beginning to play secondary characters to other characters (Wyatt and Chris).
4. The poor characterization of all 3 sisters now.
5. The pointless nature of Leo being an Elder.
6. The introduction of Magic School....Harry Potter knock-off? Needless new set? You pick an answer while I roll my eyes.
7. No series classics to speak of.

Season 6 Episode Grades:

Valhalley of the Dolls Part 1-D+
Valhalley of the Dolls Part 2-D+
Forget Me... Not-B-
The Power of Three Blondes-F
Love's a Witch-C+
My Three Witches-D
Soul Survivor-C-
Sword and the City-D+
Little Monsters-C+
Chris-Crossed-B-
Witchstock-F
Prince Charmed-F
Used Karma-F
The Legend of Sleepy Halliwell-D
I Dream of Phoebe-C+
The Courtship of Wyatt's Father-C
Hyde School Reunion-D-
Spin City-D-
Crimes and Witch Demeanors-F
A Wrong Day's Journey Into Right-D+
Witch Wars-C-
It's a Bad, Bad, Bad, Bad World Part 1-B-
It's a Bad, Bad, Bad, Bad World Part 2-B

Final Score = D

Overall It's a Bad, Bad, Bad, Bad season! From the hollow storylines, the blundering antics of the sisters as well as their now shallow personalities, Chris' awful storyline, Drew Fuller's eyesore screen presence, more dreadful cameos from those magical creatures, some truly God-awful episodes....need I say more? One of the worst of the season! Will Season 7 and 8 top it!? Or will this re-watch show me that Charmed managed to bounce back to the series we all know and love... We'll see....

[Primrose_Empath]

Oh. My. Goodness. Words cannot possibly express how much I enjoyed that person's summary of Season 6. Tears of laughter were streaming down my face while I was reading this.

Big hugs to you, Es, for posting it here.

From the overall season summary to the analysis of how the characters were that season (got a kick of Phoebe and Paige being nicknamed "The Dense Duo"), it's almost like they took the words right out of a lot of our brains -- and that's a good thing.

Season 6 just feels so asinine, like the writers had no idea how to write these characters anymore or execute a decent storyline. Each episode could be summed up by "Demon after Wyatt, end teaser, Phoebe wears something slutty, Paige acts brain-dead, Piper whines, Chris becomes either a brat or a pest, Leo drops in for no reason, off to Magic School, quick scene of lame demons in the underworld, Piper blows sh!t up, sisters make potion, demons are vanquished, yadda, yadda, wash, rinse, repeat!"

This is sheer perfection and I love it.

'Tis nice to know that there are other folks out there who also loathe this season. It really is one of those polarizing seasons, in my opinion. Either you love it or you hate it -- there really is no gray area in the middle.

[Deleted]

Hi Es,

Thanks so much for posting the Season 6 Review. His reviews are so reflective of how I feel about each season. I am glad someone is doing a rewatch.

Season 6 was definately my least favourite season. He is right - the actors, the writters, the network didn't know what it was doing anymore.

I really think this season needed a D- as in my eyes Season 7 is a D+ and Season 8 was a D.

Agreeing with Season ratings so far
Season 1 - B
Season 2 - B-
Season 3 - A- (The Best Season)
Season 4 - B+ (My Favourite Season)
Season 5 - C+
Season 6 - D (My least Favourite)

I hope he will agree that Season 7 and 8 are both fails as well!

Love these reviews, thank you Es!

[Esmeralda]

Glad you guys agree with these reviews, because as you know, I do, too. I'll be sure to pass your comments onto him.

Whether he agrees with you regarding S7 and S8, we will see...

When he posts those, I'll be sure to copy them over here as well.

ETA: Primrose, it's good to see you here - it's been a while! You'll have to check out his other reviews, and you'll also have to give us your own.

[Chrisaholic]

True, there could have done more with S6 but I mostly blame the writers. There was potential but they wasted it!

[Esmeralda]

That guy over at the other site has posted his Season 7 review, and he was right - I was surprised - although remembering his reactions towards Season 4, I probably shouldn't have been...

Here it is:

So I finally got through my Season 7 re-watch and I think a lot of you will be surprised by what I’m about to write, but please bear with me.

So........Season 7

Hmmmm, could it be that....possibly...just maybe....during the summer hiatus between Season 6 and Season 7 like Brad Kern actually took his head out of his a$$ and realized that maybe this show could use a decent storyline or two for the majority of a season? After all, there wasn’t much going on for Charmed at that point, any sort of energy or interest the show had left was completely drained after Season 6. So there was pretty much nowhere to go but up, right?

There is certainly a resurgence of energy this season and I’m actually a bit shocked! Sure. the sisters are still as vain and as bratty as ever, complaining about their love lives, jobs and their destiny but at least in the midst of all that, this time, there is a strong arc that unravels. Sure, it’s Leo who is anchoring this storyline and not the sisters, but unlike last season’s insane dysfunction where Chris was the anchor, this one's actually not so bad and it’s actually interesting watching Leo...be....well.....interesting for once outside his relationship with Piper.

The Avatars are without a doubt the most morally ambiguous villains we’ve ever seen on the series, especially since Cole was vanquished. Briefly introduce in Season 5, it was a smart move by the writers to fully explore these beings this season.

The Avatars are anti-villains: beings so powerful that they see themselves beyond the universal standard of good and evil. They are out to create a world that is simply neutral where all people can leave in peace without conflict. Through Leo’s deepest fears and the Charmed Ones’ ultimate desires, The Avatars manipulate them to achieve this primary goal, leaving the underworld’s demons and the Elders in fear of their own existence. Can you believe I’m talking about Charmed right now???

With Drew Fuller’s Chris vanquished to an abyss of Season 6 re-runs (with one minor appearance in the one of the worst episodes of the season), all those magical creatures making little to no appearances and minimal emphasis on Wyatt, there is a refreshing change, even renewed focus that the show desperately needed Sure, things are far from perfect but not since re-watching Season 4 have there been more moments where I was more intrigued than annoyed watching this show.

As far as the sisters go, this is probably the season during the later years where I hated them the least. So I guess that says something, right?

Piper really isn’t given much to do this season outside of the Avatars. She pretty much plays Leo’s support system after the fact he kills Gideon and then another Elder but not before getting possessed by Hindu Gods.....ummm...yeah. (“A Call to Arms”) From there a lot of tension builds between Piper and Leo. Sure, she starts out having his back and keeping his recent activities a secret, even from her sisters. But as Leo’s behavior becomes more mysterious and vague, she begins sensing there’s something seriously off. Sure, it can be said it’s just Piper over-reacting and whining again but unlike their rift last season, this dilemma for the most part is well played. This tension culminates in “There’s Something About Leo”, a solid episode that moves the Avatars arc as well as has Piper and Leo finally dealing with their issues.

Post-Avatars, Piper’s biggest spotlight probably comes in the 150th episode, “The Seven Year Witch, a disappointing and boring milestone episode centered around Piper and Leo’s long-standing romance, but it’s written so melodramatically I was left kinda numb after watching it. Holly, of course, does fine and it doesn’t hurt that Julian McMahon returns as Cole, but it kinda falls flat, totally wasting Cole's return while still leaving him and Phoebe as much in flux as ever, since no one has ever admitted that being possessed by the Source back in Season Four was not Cole's fault.

After Piper gets what she's always wanted and Leo becomes human, she becomes a bit overprotective and in “Scry Hard”, she and Leo are shrunk and trapped in dollhouse replica of the Manor. In “Imaginary Fiends”, she casts a spell that brings Future Wyatt to the present. We get more of Piper worrying over his her son’s fate of being evil, yadda yadda, especially when future Wyatt is so sweet it could make your teeth ache. His return is a little bit better than Chris' return or Cole's return, but not by much.

In terms of Piper as a character, she’s pretty stilted. Then there’s the final few episodes of the season with the sisters’ final battle with Zankou and that’s pretty much it for her. Nothing terrible or out of the usual for Piper at this point but nothing memorable or progressive (which can be said for most if not all of the later years). She really hasn't changed much since "Hell Hath No Fury".

Phoebe starts out the season in a brief, embarrassing romance with Leslie St. Claire, played by boy-band hasbeen Nick Lachey. Seriously, isn't acting required for these special guest stars, especially any boyfriend since Cole in Season Five? Nick can’t act and only knows two emotions: smiling like some jackass or frowning like he just missed the bus going to school. Even Drew Fuller can do better than that and that's saying something. Nick and Alyssa Milano have no chemistry and the fact that when they first meet Phoebe throws herself on him by making out with him in front of her boss was absolutely appalling. In all honesty, celebrity or not, how does a woman working for a well-known newpaper keep a career like that with that kind of behavior!? Huh. writers!?

Anyway, the meet, makeout, bang in the office, have no date and break up without even having an actual relationship...all in 6 episodes!! You're one classy broad, Phoebe Halliwell!

Between that and Phoebe riding around naked on a horse trying to make some kind of feminist statement (“The Bare Witch Project”), I was preparing myself for another season of “The Little B!tch Who Could” but actually, Phoebe was pretty decent this season. The writers manage to keep her busy outside of work and love life (two storylines that have become beyond tired of this point!) She gets her power of premonition back and even risks her life to save an innocent in “Styx Feet Under”, finds a kindred spirit in Kyra the Seer in “Witchness Protection” and even manages to outsmart a demon through some clever planning in “Little Box of Horrors”.

She also plays a pivotal role in the Avatars arc when she gets a vision of Utopia. Although I do find it a bit annoying that Phoebe’s vision ultimately pushes her down that desperate road again of finding a man and getting knocked up, at least here, her vision serves a purpose.

Another story arc with Phoebe involves another brief romance of sorts, this time, Drake is actually a fun character, played with such a lively charm by Billy Zane. Drake really brings an energy to the show that hasn’t been seen in years and makes his often sappy-beyond-words dialogue pretty legit.....now that’s talent, folks!

Drake not only has chemistry with Phoebe but with the all the sisters, something no male actor has been able to do since Cole. Speaking of, in “The Seven Year Witch”, we learn Drake was sent by Cole to make sure Phoebe wouldn’t give up on love....yeah....ummm, right!

It’s just a shame we couldn’t have gotten more Drake; I actually wouldn’t have minded him ending up with Phoebe, honestly. Sure, she’s a vacuous tramp, but he brought out the best in Phoebs, and I would have liked to have seen more of that.

Also another missed opportunity is that Cole doesn’t even interact with Phoebe when he returns. Considering their relationship pretty much ended with no resolution since Cole was vanquished by an alternate Phoebe, it just sucks that all we got was Phoebe staring in Cole’s direction for a few seconds and that’s it. But since it is Charmed, I’m sure if they did interact it would have been the first half of Season Five all over again so maybe it was a blessing for us that they didn’t interact.

Lastly, we have Phoebe suddenly struck with guilt when she loses an innocent to a demon right in front of her ("Death Becomes Them"). It's a side of Phoebe we don't see too often and it actually has clothes on! *Gasp* No, I'm just kidding, the side I mean is a selfless one. Sure, at this point, the Phoebs we used to love and adore is dead and buried, but this was a more tolerable approach to the character with a bit of substance this year. Too bad it couldn't continue into next season...

Paige was honestly the deal-breaker of this season. The writers continue to write her into corners and whenever a solid storyline comes her way, it's immediately abandoned not too long after. Paige starts out as Headmistress of Magic School which is surprising considering the combination of the horrid writing for the character and Rose McGowan's overly-frantic acting gives the impression that Paige has the IQ of the average Playboy bunny. Just saying!

Speaking of Rose, my God, if I could put my hands through the screen and choke a b!tch I would! I'm sorry, but between her ditsy delivery and her inability to control her face, she's terrible to the point where she almost ruins some pretty strong episodes ("Styx Feet Under" and "Charmageddon").

Luckily, for the most part this season, the writers team up Paige with a good character and a solid actor in Kerr Smith's Agent Brody. Finally, two actors who actually have chemistry and Rose definitely tones it down when working across someone who doesn't chew up the scenery like she does! They have a fun adventure together in the undeniably entertaining "Charmed Noir", a tribute to all things 30s and black-and-white. She sides with Brody when the Avatars reveal themselves but ultimately helps him to overcome his need for revenge in a nice little sub-plot in "Ordinary Witches".

The character not only works on his own but by bringing out that independent side of Paige that was so fascinating about her ever since her arrival in Season 4, Paige being so antagonistic about the Avatars makes sense and for once, you can't blame her for being stubborn about the idea of Utopia with her sisters.

Post-Avatars, Paige quickly decides to give up being Headmistress in favor of the sisters giving Leo the job when he becomes officially as useless as a non-magical mortal as Cole was. Just saying.

Instead, Paige is given the opportunity to become a full time whitelighter and shows some potential, even strong character development in "Little Box of Horrors". Paige's arc as a whitelighter has been touched upon before in previous season but it was nice to see it used to its full potential....well....at least what could be counted as full potential in Charmed's latter seasons. I did enjoy her storyline with Mitch in "Freaky Phoebe". Although the fact that she ran a car into a pole and damaged a nearby sidewalk is typical Paige idiocy, it's nice to see her actually doing something for others for a change and committing to it. Of course it won't last, but at least it lasted until the end of the season. Baby steps, kids.

She does lose a charge in "Death Becomes Them" and we get to see Rose's pathetic moping acting. What!? Come on! Watch "Charmageddon" when the sisters force Paige to feel the pain of Brody's death. It's like watching an acid shower! Okay, I'm gonna lay off Rose/Paige now. At least until next season...

Like I said before, Leo gets some strong characterization this season. Once again, it's at the expense of the sisters and their relationship as sisters, but the writers sure as hell don’t care about that at this point in the series so why should we? So, after killing Gideon, Leo goes on a one-man mission of killing Barbas.....hey....I like this storyline already! He mistakenly kills another Elder and is pretty much forced into hiding. It’s about time the writers make Leo a bit more two-dimensional and for once, a story centered around Leo is interesting, even exciting. The Avatars’ manipulation of him is fascinating, creepy floating heads and all! His descent into complete isolation and morally-grey territory is pretty refreshing. Sure, Brain Krause isn’t the most versatile actor and whenever he does his cry-face routine, rabid monkeys are reduced to silence but he does well enough with the material. You really so feel sympathy for Leo and the position he’s been put in, so the fact that he becomes an Avatar under such circumstances is believable (“Someone To Witch Over Me”) Of course, once Leo discovers the sisters’ being forced under the spell of Utopia and the consequences of a world without Good and Evil, he sacrifices himself just so the sisters can save the world.

The next major Leo development comes in “The Seven Year Witch”, when the Elders put Leo through a test that will determine his path: higher power or mortal. Overly-preachy scenes about love later, Leo becomes a human and....yeah....what now? Oh, he becomes the newest Headmaster at Magic School cause Paige likes being lazy.

Overall, I liked what the writers did with Leo this year; it was definitely the most interesting Leo has and would ever be on this show. But that scene where he confronts evil Wyatt in “Imaginary Fiends”...yeah, could have done without that.

This season marks the last for Darryl. Why, writers!? Well, Darryl once again is at odds with sisters for the most part, which is completely understandable, I mean they stole his soul and left his body in an alley, remember!?

But, of course, on Charmed, you can’t stay mad at the sisters for to long and he comes around toward the end of the season. Unfortunately not before being teamed up with another Inspector after the sisters...again! Man, these storylines are god-awful at this point. Inspector Sheridan is a waste and her only highlight was getting killed off screen. Just saying!

Anyway, Darryl makes his last stand and decides to go against his wife’s wishes by helping the sisters one last time in the finale (“Something Wicca This Way Goes?”). It's the last time we'll see him and I, for one, will miss him.

It’s not only the Avatars arc that makes Season 7 worth watching at times, there are some great standalones like the Angel of Death reprise in “Styx Feet Under”, the film noir tribute “Charmed Noir”, the awesome shape-shifting hijinks of “Little Box of Horrors” and Charisma Carpenter show-stealing performance in “Witchness Protection”. She among other memorable guest appearences contribute some needed energy onto the series that the regulars just haven’t been bringing recently.

Agent Brody and Drake are well-written and acted by their respected actors, with backstories that played out nicely.

As far as Season 7's rogues gallery goes, we have some standouts to chose from, thank God: The Avatars, of course, are well executed and perhaps the series’ most successful attempt at anti-villains, Sirk is cool with a solid M.O., Katya is just fun and pretty hot, Amara is actually hilarious; she’s just stuck in a bad episode and then you have Zankou, the first main demonic villain the sisters have faced since the Source. He’s a good villain, if not slightly underused in the second half of the season. It's just a shame he spends most of his time after the Nexus (snore!) And isn't that supposed to be the the nexus of five wicca elements rather than a place that can be taken?

His strongest moments are without a doubt in the Avatars arc and the last two (“Death Becomes Them” and “Something Wicca This Way Goes?”) A pretty climatic conclusion to not only the season, but kinda the series in general. It’s actually a pretty tightly-written two-part ender....once again, by Charmed standards!

We have a powerful demon after the Charmed Ones and using their human weaknesses to destroy them...wow, that’s new! Sure, there are some serious missed opportunities and plotholes along the way as usual, but the way the season ends is seriously where the series could have and perhaps should have ended. The sisters destroying the Nexus and Zankou with it, faking their deaths and walking away to a potentially brighter future! Vague but certainly a better ending than what we really got. The series could have ended on a somewhat decent note considering the year the sisters just had.

But alas, it seems the network and Kern had much more evil plans than Zankou ever did....brace yourself, folks......the worst was certainly left for last!

Just to wrap things up:

PROS:
1. The Avatars arc and a solid first half of the season.
2. The show getting morally ambiguous again! Who would have thunk it?
3. The dark, even fascinating deconstruction of Leo.
4. Series classics again in the form of “Witchness Protection” and “Charmed Noir”.
5. Some strong characters/guest stars this season (Kerr Smith as Agent Brody, Charisma Carpenter as Kyra the Seer, Billy Zane as Drake and Oded Fehr as Zankou)

CONS:
1. The post-Avatars slump of the second half of the season.
2. Rose McGowan’s painful performances and more horrible characterizations of Paige!
3. Nick Lachey and the Leslie/Phoebe relationship. Another brief and pointless love interest.
4. Inspector Sheridan and that tediously boring "exposure" story-line.
5. The wasted opportunity in the return of Cole
6. The return of future Chris and future Wyatt

Season 7 Episode Grades:

A Call to Arms-C
The Bare Witch Project-D-
Cheaper by the Coven-C+
Charrrmed-B-
Styx Feet Under-B+
Once in a Blue Moon-C+
Someone to Witch Over Me-F+
Charmed Noir-A
There's Something About Leo-B-
Witchness Protection-A
Ordinary Witches-C
Extreme Makeover: World Edition-A-
Charmageddon-B
Carpe Demon-D
Show Ghouls-C
The Seven Year Witch-D+
Scry Hard-D
Little Box of Horrors-B+
Freaky Phoebe-D
Imaginary Fiends-D-
Death Becomes Them-C+
Something Wicca This Way Goes?-B-

Final Score= C+

Overall, a decent season of Charmed. Yeah, the show’s focus and characterizations of its leads are still sad and the sisterhood is long dead but the morally ambiguity here is something to behold. The second half returns back to form unfortunately but not to the horrid depths of Season 5 and especially Season 6. For the most part, heavily flawed but tolerable and pretty entertaining.

[Deleted]

Wow! I am surprised! On par with Season 5! A C+?

Season 7 still lacked with the 'sisterly aspect', it had anti-climax's, Phoebe and Paige were still secondary characters. Yes I liked the guest stars apart from Leslie. Zankou Kira and Drake were great!

There are way too many D episodes for this to be a C+ season and I disagree with Charmed Noir, Witchness Protection and Extreme Makeover being on par with Charmed Again, A Witch In Time, Love Hurts and Wicca Ency as "A" Grade episodes.

Yes Season 7 and Season 5 do come very close but even though its Fairytale jam packed and sloppy, Cole's contribution, Piper's Pregnancy, Jason Dean and Paige's search for her own ID separate from Piper's and Phoebe's along with Leo actually being sane gives Season 5 a C+ and Season 7 a C in my opinion. The episodes were also better written.

But I thank this Charmed fan that posted this review because it did remind me of some of the good moments on Season 7 that was trying the bring the good moments back.

So the reviewer's rating of the show are as follow so far:
Season 1 - B
Season 2 - B-
Season 3 - A-
Season 4 - B+
Season 5 - C+
Season 6 - D
Season 7 - C+

I've slightly changed mine
Season 1 B+
Season 2 B
Season 3 A
Season 4 A-
Season 5 C+
Season 6 D
Season 7 C
Season 8 ? TBA.

Can't wait for his last review. Thanks again Es!

[Esmeralda]

FINALLY!! Here's that reviewer's Season 8 Review.

But first he gave us a treat!! Enjoy - I sure did!

[PREWITCHED DELETED SCENE]

*Piper puts her arms around Phoebe as Prue, Piper and Phoebe find comfort in their unbreakable bond as sisters.

Prue: I mean I know we can't live together forever.

Piper: At least forever isn't today.

*Suddenly, Phoebe gets a horrific premonition of the future. Prue and Piper quickly put their arms around her to calm her down.*

Piper: Phoebe. Are you okay?

Prue; What did you see?

*Phoebe's face is filled with disbelief as she begins to tell her sisters what she saw.....*

MOMENTS LATER

*Prue and Piper's eyes are teary eyed as they continue to laugh in hysterics for what seems like a lengthy period of time*

Phoebe: I can't believe this. I have the scariest premonition of my life and you both are laughing at me?

Piper: I'm sorry I don't know what you were expecting but...hahahaha.

Prue: Seriously, Phoebs I think you're getting your premonitions confused with a little too much time watching Lifetime.

Phoebe: How can you say that? Hello Last time I had a premonition of us in the future I burnt into stake and you two got front row seats.

Piper: But that future was real. With real consequences. I mean.... Magic School? Demonic Nannies? Evil teen-aged witches ? Cole first becoming mortal, then getting possssed by the Source and then you actually turning your back on us to have his evil kid and then him stalking you? C'mon, Phoebs! You know there's no way that would happen! Not to mention, me....surly?

Prue: Yeah, I die and get replaced by some long-lost half-sister with facial turrets? I mean you have to admit, that's ridiculous.

Phoebe: Well.....yeah...it does. But it felt so real and I clearly wasn't imagining that sperm bank. I mean God, I think I'd rather be burnt at the stake! *Begins to make gagging gesture*

*Prue holds Phoebe as she lies her head into her shoulder and Prue wipes her tears away*

Prue: Listen, I think what we've seen and done in the last 3 years proves there are more serious, scary threats out there than....

Piper: Sabrina and her evil twin! Dun! Dun! Dun!

*Phoebe quickly reaches over to hit Piper on the shoulder as she laughs and jumps off the couch*

Phoebe: Continue to mock my premonitions all you want. They've never been wrong before you have to admit that.

Prue: But why a premonition like that and why now? If anything the last few days have proven is that our powers, not to mention our bond couldn't be stronger and considering the Source of All Evil is after us, prepubescent witches ....doesn’t exactly strike terror in any sense.

Phoebe: That's true.

Prue: Look, if this premonition starts coming true, we'll have Leo check with the Elders later.

Phoebe: No....maybe you and Piper are right. Maybe it's just my imagination getting ahead of me and we do have bigger threats to be concerned about.

*Piper walks in with a big box and puts it on the table in the middle of the room*

Piper: That's the spirit. Now if you guys don't mind, I'd actually like to move back in with my sisters.

*Prue and Phoebe cheer in their own ways before looking into Piper's box*

Prue: Hey, I had no idea you still had this.

*Prue takes out an old booklet*

Phoebe: Is that your old diary from high school? The one you said you lost?

Piper: Yes. Now give it back!

Phoebe: Okay fine....*signals to Prue*...but not after a quick game of "Piper in the Middle ”

*Phoebe throws the diary to Prue*

Prue: Let’s see...Page 1....

Piper: “Oh, come on! You know I hate this game!

*Prue and Phoebe continue to tease Piper and throw the diary to each other as she chases them throughout the house*

MEANWHILE IN THE REAL WORLD

*A hooded man in a creepy basement lights a bunch of candles on an altar. He takes off his hood....*

Brad Kern: I’ll give that b!tch Doherty what she has coming to her. Charmed will be mine.

*He begins to chanting.*

Brad Kern: The Power of Crap, Will Set The Trap. The Power of Crap, Will Set The Trap. The Power of Crap, Will Set The Trap.....

*Suddenly someone knocks on his door, interrupting him.*

Mother Kern: Goddammit, Bradley, what have I told you about those candles? Don’t make me start charging you rent!

Brad Kern: Mother, shut up!

4 YEARS LATER.......... Season 8

Hope you enjoyed that little prelude, but here we are, folks! The colossal flop, the abysmal abomination, the unbearably formulaic, the final failure known as the last season of Charmed......Season 8!

I’m serious, this crap is so bad FOX would be afraid to cancel it. So this televised plague of esoteric thinking caps off the series in classic Charmed style: horrible guest stars, horrendous acting, shameless recycling of old plots, dropping beloved characters in favor of Disney channel-looking rejects, etc., etc. etc.

Basically, the horse was already beaten to death by Season 6 and Season 8 sees that horse being incinerated. Sorry, folks, can’t cut corners with this one! I’m picking apart this train wreck like Rose McGowan is still picking up her career since Charmed ended.

So what went wrong? Pretty much everything!

Six years later and the shame is still there but that’s besides the point. The problem is like many have said: this season shouldn’t have existed. Its existence actually has caused a paradox of suck that scientists still haven’t figured out yet.

But until they find that inevitable answer, we can only hang our heads in shame and admit that it did happen. Coming from the same man who wrote “All Hell Breaks Loose” and “Charmed Again”, it’s hard to believe he could pretty much lose all credibility and royally sh!t on this series, but Kern was obviously invested in this show for all the wrong reasons and the last season proves this without a doubt.

If you were to watch Season 1 and Season 8 back-to-back, you’d be pretty disgusted. Not because 6 seasons inbetween matter, because they honestly don’t. The continuity and mythology of Charmed really is whatever the writers want it to be when they want to tell a new story or bring up some plot development. Logic be d@mned is what I got from this season! That’s such an insult to the intelligence and integrity of die-hard fans.

I really hope the next show Kern runs is some D-List reality show on Bravo!

After a fairly decent Season 7, we open up Season 8 with the sisters faking their deaths and complaining about it. (“Still Charmed and Kicking”) Starting with Piper, the sister who's been wanting a normal life for all these years is still complaining! Why, you say? Because along the way Piper seems to have develop a third power. Who needs freezing and exploding powers when nagging to death has become Piper’s specialty? Especially in “Malice In Wonderland”, that whole scene of Leo having to give her a pep talk is spoiled because it seems that the writers are reusing the same old character trait that made my ears bleed during Season 6.

In “Run, Piper, Piper”, Piper’s magical guise turns out to be of a model framed for murder. A model who seems to know martial arts and has a crazy old suga daddy who has to be the most metrosexual middle-aged man I’ve ever seen. Anyway, I’ll skip over Piper being stuck in a remarkably bad re-do of a Desperate Housewives episode (“Desperate Housewitches”) and a pointless body switch with Leo (“The Lost Picture Show”), because like I said, the writers obviously don’t care, so why should I care?

Anyway, the bulk of Piper’s final arc of the series begins in “Vaya Con Leos”, a decent break from this unfortunate non-abortion and one of the only episodes that has any emotional weight to it. Stupid Leo duplicates and truth potion aside, there is some depth here, mostly thanks to Holly Marie Combs, the only lead on the series who remembers she’s still getting paid at this point! Piper’s desperation and determination is nice to see, confronting multiple higher beings we’ve come across the last few years. She and her sisters find out that they are on the verge of the biggest battle they will ever face......Excuse me......www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCL-rxnjS6o.

Anywho, Leo becomes frozen in a scene right out of The Empire Strkes Back, except there's no Chewy to hug Piper, and Piper is now on a mission to track down this upcoming threat just so she can save her husband. She is pretty much the only sister shown to have any concern for Leo’s well-being (when the writers want her to be, of course, which isn't often) and the huge threat on the way. She bumps into her former one-night stand, Greg (“The Last Temptation of Christy) and we are reminded that Piper’s dating storyline in Season 6 sucked among other things. Luckily Piper tells him to put his hose down and put out some other girl's fire. Good for you, Piper, that’s what Phoebe wouldn't do!

When it’s finally revealed who is the threat that the sisters have to face, Piper once again is the only one who gives a damn as Phoebe and Paige slowly come around aka Piper had to dumb it down and make them diagrams. Paige’s, of course, were made with crayola crayons, because only pretty colors seem to get her attention nowadays.

Basically, even though Piper is heart-broken over losing her husband all season, she seems to have her sh!t together better than her little sisters. Sure, her last storyline is wrapped around getting Leo back, but at least she’s tolerable for the most part. It’s also nice that the final episode (‘Forever Charmed”) is mostly focused on her. At least when the series ends, Piper ends up getting that restaurant she always wanted and that she should've gotten in Season 2! Wow, last minute continuity! Kern, you sly devil, waiting until the last minute to show us some, making us think you were incapable of it after all the piles of feces you've left disguised as episodes and characters.

Onto the terrible twosome starting with....

Phoebe. Boy, the writers really know how to write a character into the ground!! Any decency Phoebe ever had is now vacant and Alyssa Milano is clearly on autopilot the majority of the season. Seriously, how did this season’s renewal go down? Alyssa’s heart isn’t in it anymore and that kills me more than any Phoebe storyline this season. I swear, during one scene in “Hulkus Pocus” where a pissed Phoebe is in the kitchen, you can almost hear her thinking “Dammit, Shannen, you got the better end of the deal, didn’t you?”

Anywho, trying to analyze Phoebe’s arcs and characterization at this point would be redundant. The writers have completely turned this once fun-loving, charismatic 20-something into an approaching-30-something whose personality is as hollow as her lovelife.

Speaking of, her lovelife is all the writers seem to care about, because who wants to see Phoebs evolve into someone interesting again all on her lonesome? Who needs sisters when you have love interests like Dex Lawson? Forget the non-existent personality, and let’s focus on Jason Lewis! Does this guy have a pulse? Was he still traumatized after the multiple sex scenes with Kim Cattrall? You know you’re in trouble when Nick Lachey seems like the better deal! Two words, kiddies: DEAD. AIR.

So Phoebs falls for Mr. Rigamortis because of a premonition she has (I didn’t know she still had those either!) of them getting married. (“Still Charmed And Kicking”) Is the innocent she's supposed to be saving Mr. Rigamortis who should've gone running as quickly as he could?

The next five episodes sees her disregarding her sisters and throwing out what’s left of her self-respect in favor of getting to know to this guy. In “Rewitched”, thanks to a spell gone wrong by She Who Shall Not Be Named until I tear her a new one, Phoebe marries Dex and decides to stay married to him because.....hey ...who needs love when you can have self-pity and desperation? A marriage only Britney Spears could love!

Once the sisters are over the whole “fake deaths/new identities” thing, Dex finds out the truth and Phoebe loses another big hunk of wet paint. What’s next for our dearest Phoebs? Sperm Bank party of one! (“The Lost Picture Show”)...................www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JsUb7c-Dqo

If that wasn’t bad enough, right after Leo is taken away, Phoebe decides to move out the Manor...huh? Where’s the build-up? Where’s the character’s journey to this decision? Where is the emotional resonance? Phoebe gives some advice to two siblings who sound eerily like Angelina Jolie and her brother, and all of sudden se wants to move out?! Who cares if your sister is now a single mother raising two boys and hopelessly trying to get her husband back! And why does she decide to abandon her older sister in her hour of need? Has 8 seasons of Piper's nagging finally gotten to her as much as it has us?

Next on the list of the writers’ "Guide To Phoebe Demolition" is Coop the Cupid (Ew, any reminder of “Heartbreak City” automatically made me hate this storyline) He’s played by another “pretty boy, pretty bad” actor and Phoebe’s final arc of the series is about him helping her to find love because now even the Elders realize Phoebe hasn’t had any lately and needs to get going again or there will be many young men in San Francisco who will never have the "pleasure".

Coop is simply another crappy plot device, has no chemistry with Phoebe and all the sub-plots centered around them suck. Like I really needed an episode where Coop and Phoebe time travel to all the different men she’s boned throughout the series. And my God, were there many! NEXT!

She ends up marrying Coop after what...the last 3 or 4 episodes?! And why? Beause Phoebs ain’t got time for love; her eggs must be nourished by fresh manseed as soon as possible!

She and Coop have some kids, who are looked after by Hannah Montacky and all is well bcause now that Phoebe is filled with so much love, her advice is immaculate!

What a journey for this character!

And then there's Paige. Listen, Ms. McGowan, I've been told that every year the show got picked up you cried but did you ever think maybe we were crying from having to see another season of you trying to get your face to stop moving? Another year of half-assed delivery, too! Also, the first couple episodes you looked exhausted as hell. Girl, were you trying to OD on sleeping pills? I know times were rough during those days, Rose, but your make-up artist failed to cover up your inner turmoil whatever it was!

Paige, like Phoebe, doesn’t resemble who she originally was for all the wrong reasons. She starts out the season glamouring into Janice Dickson......because at the time Janice was using her 15 minutes of a comeback well? (“Still Charmed and Kicking”) She tries to be a cop and then decides not to in “Malice In Wonderland”. She runs into her father again in “The Lost Picture Show” and treats him like “Sam I Am” never happened.

The only decent thing about Paige really isn’t even Paige, it has more to do with the introduction of Ivan Sergei’s Henry Mitchell. Clearly his agent screwed him over but he does make the best of it and is the only enjoyable recurring character of the season.

Rose and Ivan have nice chemistry. Sure, that chemistry is spoiled by hilariously-rushed plot developments (dating, engagement, marriage and a honeymoon all in a handful of episodes ) I mean seriously, I find it funny how Paige could do what Phoebe had been so desperate to do for the last three seasons...it’s priceless.....www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Rav9ijyyZk Oh and Paige finally gets the power to Heal........www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvg6gUn94FA&feature=fvst...really.

Anyway, Paige has some marital issues with Henry, and Coop traps her in his body. (“The Torn Identity”) and fails to save a charge (on purpose *cough* ) in “The Jung and the Restless”. In the end, Paige becomes a full-time whitelighter and the mother of twins and Henry Jr....

I. Just. Don’t. Buy. That!

Considering Paige’s flakiness throughout the later years, I thought that marriage would have lasted a week...tops! This is a girl who can’t even remember she was there when her damn sisters vanquished the Source...THREE TIMES?? (“Desperate Housewitches”) Not the best genes to multiply. Just saying...

Leo, as most of you know, gets dumped after 10 episodes, while lucky Darryl has been completely written off the show! Why, you ask? I'll get to that in a second.

But considering how useless Leo is this season, it's not really much of a loss. Sure, he's a beloved character and has been on the series since the beginning but seriously, after the Avatars arc when he lost his powers, Leo's purpose on this series ended. Being reduced to Piper's errand boy, more random martial problems, getting hit on by the neighborhood tramp and switching bodies with Piper, Leo being written out actually made sense actually.

Don't get me wrong, Brian Krause manages to do some great impressions of Piper ("The Lost Picture Show") and Henry ("Vaya Con Leos), not to mention, he looked very handsome and fit that year!

But the reason for his abrupt departure in terms of the show's direction and the story being told both sucked! He returns in the finale two episodes but once again, he's underused and pretty much not needed anymore except to try to make us feel sorry for Piper. Which we don't.

All of that and we haven't even gotten to She-Devil: Billie Jenkins. Kaley Cucoco owes her agent BIG TIME for actually having a career after her role on this show. Obviously comedy is her calling as the success of "The Big Bang Theory" shows, but here, my God! What was the network and Kern thinking? The fact that Billie was the insurance that this season was going to be made is even more sickening.

The character is the physical embodiment of the nail in the coffin, the proverbial bottom of the barrel. She's Sabrina without the cheesy charm; She's Jenny Gordon on a cast member payroll...DIE, BILLIE, DIE! .......*breathes.....exhales.......continues*.....I'm okay!

So this appalling little brat is introduced in the season premiere in possibly the tackiest get-up I've ever seen (she makes Phoebe look like a fashion model and that takes some serious doing) with some Matrix moves to make her look like some kind of badass. Oh and her one-liners as she fights demons would even make Buffy roll her eyes.

Anywho!

When the tacky one is revealed, it turns out that Paige's ear-ringing is coming from a tumor aka her new charge named Billie. The sisters take her under their wing and she learns the Craft. Mind you, she spends more time playing with nunchunks and going on wild goose chases after demons before trying to learn anything. Her attention span makes Paige's seem first rate, and anybody else pissed off that the sound effect used when she uses her power sounds an awful lot like how Prue's did!?

So.....between casting spells on Phoebe, turning into a sexless, arrogant superhero and flipping around aimlessly to no one who cares, 6 or so episodes in, her existence so far could be the harbinger of mandatory cancellation...and yet....the show continues! *sigh*

By "Kill Billie, Vol. 1", we learn her sister was kidnapped when she was little and while I secretly murmured to myself, "Why not Billie instead?", the writers think this story is interesting enough to keep the series going.

Throughout her search for her sister, Billie goes around barking at people who won't help her, almost gets herself killed...oh ,and soon discovers she has this new power: Projection aka I can say and do anything I want power thingy!

Yup, Billie officially becomes the Queen of Deus Ex Machina as the character becomes the most powerful being on the show. She can time travel, turn her parents into assassins and make plants die at will (well, actually, the last part was kinda already a gift she had before the power boost). Who cares if the Charmed Ones are suppose to be the most powerful witches of all time or that Wyatt is Twice Blessed or the Avatars can freakin' change the world if they want?

Anyway, when Billie does finally find her sister, Christy, this storyline actually picks up a bit, thanks to Marnette Patterson. This girl is a nut job and I could believe that this chick could go bad but Billie's part in this just ruins this whole storyline. Not to mention the whole Key/Ultimate Power discovery! All of a sudden the sisters' recent sidekick is the biggest threat they ever faced!? Yeah..okay!

The only time this story arc has any depth to is in "The Jung and the Restless", the only episode this season that resembles competent writing. The idea of the Jenkins sisters being orchestrated by one of evil's strongest demon clans (The Triad) to ultimately take out the Charmed Ones actually seemed like a credible plot point. Surely, it goes back to the idea of sisterhood making witches stronger, but sadly, after that, the plot falls apart.

"Kill Billie, Vol. 2" does revive this mess in a spectacular battle sequence where both sets of sisters summon the Hollow to them and the Manor is blown to shreds.

Also, how awesome is that moment Piper jumps on Billie and beats the crap out of her!!

The Jenkins sisters as the final threat as well as the Triad clumsily being brought back to life are two of many terrible villains in Season 8's rouges gallery. I mean, the Source returns! Well, all righty, only for 2 seconds and gets vanquished by plotholes, but at least he showed up, right? There are some Noxon demons who are low-level but unvanquishable?? Noxious would've fit them better. Then you have a demon nanny? The Heck!? (Didn't you just want to heckle it?) Dumain...ew, no comment! God, let me just cut to the chase and say they were all toilet material!

Man, let me wrap this crap up:

PROS
1. "The Jung and the Restless"
2. The show's finally over!!!!

CONS:
1. Everything else!

Season 8 Episode Grades:

Still Charmed and Kicking-D+
Malice in Wonderland-F
Run Piper Run-D-
Desperate Housewitches-F
Rewitched-C-
Kill Billie Vol. 1-D
The Lost Picture Show-D-
Battle of the Hexes-F
Hulkus Pocus-C
Vaya Con Leos-C+
Mr. & Mrs. Witch-F
Payback's a Witch-F
Repo Manor-C-
12 Angry Zen-D+
The Last Temptation of Christy-D
Engaged and Confused-C-
Generation Hex-D+
The Torn Identity-D+
The Jung and the Restless-B+
Gone with the Witches-D
Kill Billie Vol. 2-C+
Forever Charmed-D+

Season Grade = F

Overall if any one of you has a Season 8 DVD, I advise you to burn it now and make sure any evidence of i's existence isn't traceable. No wonder The WB ended the same way the show did. After Season 8, network suicide was the only option!

Thanks for reading my reviews guys. Stay tuned for my Series "Overeview"!

And I can't wait to read that!

[Esmeralda]

The same guy who posted these great season episodes has been posting his Charmed’s Best Twenty-Five Episodes. Although I don’t agree with all of his choices or the order that he lists them in, just like his season episodes, I love his analysis, so I decided to copy them over here: Again, keep in mind these are *his* choices…not mine!

Howdy fellow Charmed fans! ;D So I decided to hold off on my Series Overview and instead want to focus beforehand on the episodes that I think are the best of the series, especially what I consider the Top Twenty-Five. We all have our own personal favorites but here are the episodes that I think raised the bar for the series in general. Some choices might not sit well with some of you but I still love them anyway!

First, the ones that didn't make it, but round off the top 30.

Honorable Mentions

#30. "Which Prue Is It Anyway?"-A strong character study of Prue which sees not one, but two new sides of her. Shannen really convinces as all three Prues and there's also a good dose of humor throughout that really entertains. The demon of the week plot is also decent with the Lord War having a cool M.O. despite the Highlanderish vibe he brings.

#29. "The Eyes Have It"-Always adored this episode! The gypsy mythology blended so well with the show's witchcraft mythology. With great guest stars/characters (Ava and Aunt Lyda) and solid villains (Cree and Orion), not to mention some quality character development from Phoebe, this was a dark, refreshing hour from Season Five's overly childish and silly material.

#28. "Charmed Again, Part 1"-Sure, it's only one part of a full two part premiere, but the raw emotion of the first half easily eclipses its solid but weaker second half. Holly really turned things up a notch and gave a depth to the series that was seriously needed after Shannen's abrupt departure. In general, the aftermath of Prue's death and the fractured nature of the Power of Three is played out so realistically, it's almost surreal. Fascinating, even captivating at times.

#27. "Extreme Makeover: World Edition"-After much anticipated build-up in previous episodes, the Avatars finally succeed in manipulating the Charmed Ones into creating Utopia. Between the bizarre yet surprisingly hilarious paranoia spell the sisters are put under, Zankou and Kyle's fun alliance, Kyle's shocking death and Leo's discovery of an unsettling twist in the Avatars' plan, this was superb stuff, especially during the worst years of the series.

#26. "Pardon My Past"-A delightfully fun episode that’s always enjoyable to watch. It's uncanny how legit the set designs and costumes are during the 1920s flashbacks and the writers effectively bring the sisters back to that time...or more so, their past lives. Alyssa certainly had fun as evil Phoebe while showing more signs of Phoebe's dark side.

#25

"A Witch In Time"
Airdate: November 10, 2002
Season 5, Episode 7

Baccarra: And then there were none.

Other Memorable Quotes
Bacarra: I'm Bacarra, I've come here from the future.
Cole: ... Well, I can't say I've heard that before.

Piper: What is this?! A brothel?

Piper: Too many spells and potions to remember, let alone defend against.
Phoebe: We're dead.
Piper: Again.
Paige: And again.

Phoebe: Okay, something really freaky happened last night when I was with Myles.
Piper: You guys are already getting freaky?

Phoebe: How long have you guys been standing there?
Paige: Long enough to know you've got some serious 80's dance moves!

Piper: Well...let's just say i had a little premonition of my own!


Analysis
It's easy to forget that while Season Five began the downfall of the series, there were some moments, even full episodes, that still had that exciting television we watched Charmed for. Before the likes of "Lucky Charmed" and "Nymphs Just Wanna Have Fun" stunk the hell out of TV screens nationwide, we got this little gem here.

"A Witch In Time" has always been one of my favorites from this season, but after my recent re-watch, it's a complete standout from the series, period. What starts out as a somewhat desperate story that sees Phoebe trying to save her recent boyfriend, Myles, from getting shot to death after a premonition turns into a wonderfully crafted chain of events involving possibly the deadliest warlock the sisters ever faced.

Bacarra is definitely a memorable villain from the series, played with a breezy cool and sleazy charm by Jason Brooks. He evens manages to play his equally sleazy yet almost inadequate past self convincingly. It was just great to have a strong villain for the sisters to face, especially with his inventive warlock dialect that could counter the sisters' powers and spell.

Cole's involvement was also well played, considering at the point the character was written poorly and overstayed his welcome. The mention of the Angel of Death was also a welcomed one, Piper even remembering that the sisters are helping once he's involved. It all leads to one of the most shocking and darkest moments from the series when Piper witnesses her sisters literally reduced to dust by both Bacarras.

It's truly an excellent plot development that switches the storyline from Phoebe's narrative to Piper's, with her having to go back in time to undo the present. The whole sequence is both utterly hilarious with the witty banter between the two Pipers and heartbreaking when Piper sadly makes the right choice to ultimately save her sisters by letting Myles die.

While I never cared for Phoebe's love interests post-Cole, watching her cry over Myles' dead body is genuinely heartbreaking. I also loved how during the sisters' talk at the end of the episode acknowledges that Myles was simply an innocent to her and didn't think of him as anything more. It's a side of Phoebe I liked - one who was honest and selfless, not to mention it was nice to see her realizing she was rushing into a relationship that wasn't there. Color me shocked!

Overall, "A Witch In Time" is a terrific blend of humorous moments, a superb villain and a healthy dose of twists and turns that still excite to this day.

A

#24

"Black As Cole"
Airdate: November 15, 2001
Season 4, Episode 8

Paige Matthews: You were a demon and a lawyer? Insert joke here.

Other Memorable Quotes
Paige: Hey I think I got something. [Reading from the Book of Shadows] Upper-level demon who likes to kill witches using an athame, sometimes energy balls. His name is Belthazor.
Leo: [shaking his head] I don't think so.
Paige: Why not?
Leo: Well because that's Cole in his demonic form.
Piper: You knew he was half-demon.
Paige: Yeah, but I didn't know he could turn into that.

[Leo and Piper kiss]
Paige: Aw. That's sweet. You two should get married. Unlike Phoebe and Cole.
Leo: You don't think they should?
Paige: I don't know. I guess it's not my business. Probably just reeling from the fact that Cole killed people.
Piper: Yeah, but that wasn't Cole; it was Belthazor.
Paige: Splitting hairs, if you ask me.
Leo: It's not though. His human half had absolutely nothing to do with any of that. It was totally subjugated. Phoebe's right - he's an innocent.

Paige: A demon who likes to kill witches. Well, that narrows it down to about every page in the Book.
Piper: We have one clue. We know he likes to use an athame.
Paige: How does that help?
Piper: Well, it means he has hands. Keep flipping.

Phoebe: We have to stop meeting like this.
Cole: Marry me.
Phoebe: What?

Analysis
Cole Turner is without a doubt the best idea Kern ever conceived for Charmed. Sure, Constance M. Burge disagreed with the nature of the character and what he would do to the series (and technically she was right, considering what becomes of Cole in Season Five, something that would not have happened had he been pure demon as Burge wanted), but in Seasons Three and Four, Cole was the best male character of the series. It's no surprise that I love morally-grey material and episodes like this that explore that, not to mention the fascinating character depth in Cole, easily sold me.

Actually I think I love this episode more as at the top of season, Cole returns into Phoebe's life with everyone seemingly not concerned that he's back and seem to forget what happened between him and Phoebe at the end of Season Three. Of course, that could be due to Prue's death and the sisters desperately needing a powerful ally but there was somewhat an unsatisfying tone with Cole just happening to be on their side again with no repercussions.

"Black As Cole" superbly answers this question with a demon impostor named Sykes who has been killing witches in ways that eerily resemble Cole/Belthazor's old ways. Once again, Cole's allegiances are called into question and it doesn't help that a vengeful widow discovers that Belthazor was the demon that killed her husband. Throughout the episode, we get a handful of profoundly grey dialogue when characters discuss Cole and the complex nature of his human half as well as the evil that resides in him.

I think one of my favorite moments/scenes of the entire series is Paige lashing out at Cole in the kitchen. It's the episode that first plants the seeds of her suspicions and distrust of him, which you can't blame her since she was still very new to witchcraft and demons. Piper admirably comes to his defense. But essentially both sisters have a point: Belthazor was a monster who had over 100+ years of evil deeds and innocent lives he's claimed....yet Cole is the side that is very real and very good, who has shown recently that he can be trusted and even helped the sisters' against the Source, even wounding him. Does a couple of recent good deeds outweigh a century of evil?

Another great scene is when Phoebe and Cole talk about Belthazor and how far Cole has come to this point in his life. He has done terrible things, but that was before he met Phoebe and discovered he could be a good man.

The character of Emma also brings some nice depth and conflicts to Cole's inner struggle. Well-played by Heather Dawn, her scene when she and Phoebe are near a park, talking about Cole has some excellent dialogue with Phoebe trying to bring reason to Emma's pain and Emma reminding Phoebe she, too, has lost more than one loved one to evil, justifying her actions.

Sykes himself is a solid villain. I love his demon design, being the opposite of Belthazor in color schemes, yet being almost equally as frightening visually. I also like the fact that the writers brought back Cole's demonic shadow, the scorch marks and using a District Attorney cover for Sykes, who comes off as some kind of twisted fanboy under that evil facade. Aaron Brumfield does a fine job in the role and I love the fight sequences between the two demonic juggernauts throughout the episode, especially that awesome shot of their energy balls causing tremors throughout the manor. Pretty epic!

Lastly, that conclusion where Belthazor is seemly vanquished for good but Cole remaining was a shocking twist as well as an fantastic visual. While it was sad to see such a powerful ally go, it opened up a new chapter for the character and promised a then-unknown yet intriguing future for Cole and Phoebe.

Speaking of Cole and Phoebe, their relationship, too, is put in an interesting dilemma when the episode starts with a shocking proposal from Cole to Phoebe. One thing I really enjoyed about that aspect as well was that we get some wonderful character development from Phoebe that feels exactly like how the character would react to a question like that. Even in Season Four, we are reminded that Phoebe has never been anything but together and has always been a screw-up, so the idea of marriage and being a wife is so foreign to her, and I loved how she expressed her confusion and bewilderment to Piper about it. It's nice little sisterly moment and I'm glad Phoebe doesn't answer Cole's question right away but the writers let that plot point last a couple of lessons, giving Phoebe a maturing angle on the subject.

Overall, "Black As Cole" is a superb chapter in the Cole saga that sees the writers exploring his dark side in great ways and bringing in characters as well as villains that make his journey to redemption quite remarkable. One of the most underrated episodes of the series that always seems to get better when re-watching the series.

A

#23

"Charmed Noir"
Airdate: November 14, 2004
Season 7, Episode 8

Eddy Mullen: Of all the books... in all the libraries... in all of the world... you gotta get sucked into this one.

Other Memorable Quotes
Piper: Who would shoot a gnome? And why is the G silent?

Kyle: It may be a fictional world, but those bullets seemed pretty damn real to me.

Inspector Davis: You're a little heartbreaker, aren't you? A regular femme fatale.
Paige: Maybe I am. Maybe I'm not. Maybe I'm just crazy, crazy for cops, tough cops. The kind of cops that'll arrest your heart, make you long for a life sentence with 'em. You know any cops like that?

Phoebe: I am trying my hand at being a novelist. See if I can write in a little twist to help Paige out. Then suddenly... they got a flat tire.

Paige: They're dicks.
Kyle: (giggles) Dicks?
Paige: No, like private eyes, detectives.

Leo: (to Phoebe) Try and block her path.
[Inside the book: Paige and Kyle are walking down the alley. A piano falls in front of them.]
Kyle: You were saying?
Paige: Thanks, guys, could you be any less subtle?
Kyle: Looks like your sisters agree with me.
Paige: Don't gloat.

Analysis
One thing I expressed in my Season Seven review was that there was a resurgence of energy in the series. Sure, there were still some glaring flaws and the second half has a good number of typical Charmed misfires (The Rood Hood episode... ) But during the first half there was a fine balance of strong arc episodes and fantastic standalones, like this one.

It's no surprise that "Charmed Noir" is Rose McGowan's favorite episode, considering she's a known fangirl of the 1930s/40s era. Now there are many clichés among the supernatural/sci-fi genre - one of them includes the episode that does a tribute to film noirs. Series like Supernatural and Smallville had them as well as others, and while some get it right, most get it wrong.

Luckily for us, Charmed becomes one of the few that gets it right! There is both a style and substance to "Charmed Noir" that rivals the early, fresher years of the series. Sure, it starts off with a pretty embarrassing set up: a gnome (Good. GOD. And I thought those fairies were bad…) getting shot at Magic School, but fortunately, once Paige and Kyle get sucked into the book, the episode picks up...A LOT!

The episode plays out like a classic film noir such as "Double Indemnity" and "Mildred Pierce". The direction in particular is also inventive and true to that era. I love certain shots and angles that were used, especially during one sequence when Eddy witnesses his brother's murder during a seamless visual where a flashback fades in behind him.

The acting is also strong, Rose manages to keep her facial convulsions to a minimum and turns in a lively performance due to her enjoyment of the script. Kerr Smith is great and almost every episode that paired Paige and Kyle together equaled success for the most part. Both actors had chemistry and with a solid script like this one it really showed. The guest stars are all good, from Bug Hall's Eddy to Al Sapienza's hilarious 40s slang-spitting gangster Johnny the Gent to even smaller roles in the form of Eddy's mother played by Beverly Sanders.

I even enjoyed the non-noir scenes in the real world with Piper, Phoebe and Leo. The dialogue in those scenes seemed to have a spark to it and I loved the banter with Phoebe not wanting to call Agent Brody "Kyle". I also loved the idea of them being able to write something in the book in terms of plot twists but unable to write Paige and Kyle out of the book.

I loved the scoring which drips with longing saxophone and piano cues as well as the black-and-white scenery. Sure, the ending kiss between Paige and Kyle is pretty cheesy, but it's all in good fun and in spirit with the film noir genre.

I loved every bit of this one and it's sad we didn't get more episodes like this one during the later years. "Charmed Noir" saw the writers looking for inspiration and in this case, struck some gold. It's a successfully adventurous episode that sees the cast and the writers having fun by bringing some classic cinema into the series. Hard to believe I was originally bored with this episode, funny how one's tone changes over time.

A

#22

"Murphy's Luck"
Airdate: March 30, 2000
Season 2, Episode 16

Prue Halliwell: Alright, here goes:
From this moment on your pain is erased
Your bad luck as well
Enjoy your good luck, Maggie
You're free from this hell.

Other Memorable Quotes
Leo: Piper, are you mad at me?
Piper: No, don't be ridiculous. Why would I be mad at you?
Leo: I don't know, that's why I'm asking. What is it?
Piper: It's just, um, Dan.
Leo: Oh. Never mind, sorry I asked.
Piper: Um, he's-he's going to be... He's going to be very upset when he finds out... you're the one that I really love.
Leo: Yeah?
Piper: Yeah.
[They kiss]

Phoebe: Stop trying to predict the future; that's my job.

Maggie: Who are you?
Prue: My name is Prue. This is my sister, Phoebe.
Phoebe: Hi, Maggie.
Maggie: Two angels.
Phoebe: Oh, no. I'm just a student.

Piper: What would I do without you?
Phoebe: Oh, suffer endlessly, no doubt.
Piper: Thank you.

[Prue turns to see the Darklighter]
Prue: It's true. You bastard, how dare you hurt people this way! [She throws the Darklighter]

Analysis
"Murphy's Luck" is one of those episodes that never really gets talked about. It's among the Charmed episodes that could be considered to be easily forgotten. Outside of a guest spot from a then relatively-unknown Amy Adams, I guess fans don't have much to talk about when it comes to this one. I’ve always had a fondness for this episode, considering how dark and disturbing the material is at times. Depression, suicide, the feeling of inadequacy, the loss of success, the lack of empathy from media outlets like magazines, etc. It's all played well here and the fact that the majority of the script is in the hands of Shannen Doherty help matters a lot.

Maybe it's just me but I always found this episode kind of morbid and profoundly sad at times, especially the performance Shannen gives. We're used to seeing Prue as the oldest and the strongest, as well as the one who is able to get herself and her sisters out of situations. Episodes like this that showed such a vulnerable side to her were pretty hard to watch, and once she gets cursed by the Darklighter, it's not a pretty sight.

Speaking of the Darklighter, what a great casting choice from then well-known "Mummy" star Arnold Vosloo. We've seen Darklighters prior to this one but something about this version of them that's just creepy, often sickening. I might be giving the writers too much credit and overanalyzing this but he always plays as a metaphorical type villain. There is just something terrifying about someone stalking you and putting ideas in your head about how worthless you are, even telling you that you’re the cause of all the problems in everyone's life.

It's a subject matter that’s very real and is the very cause of depression. A pain that burns you out and all you’re left with is feeling empty....that maybe taking your life is the only way to feel something other than the emptiness. Okay....got a little too deep there, didn't it? Sorry, folks! ;D

It's an usually twisted story for Charmed, a far cry from the lighter and intolerable trash of the later years. I loved every bit of it. Although I know some fans have an issue with the sudden discovery of Prue having depression when she was younger, I think it was very believable, since we all know how much Prue sacrificed to raise her sisters with Grams - who wouldn't eventually collapse from all that pressure? Having to give up you dream for your family is never an easy task but it shows just how much Prue is protective of her sisters, even at the expense of her happiness. Once again, truly sad.

I want to go back to Amy Adams again, who really turned in a great performance. You really felt bad for Maggie and the constant "accidents" that happened around her. One scene in particular where she confesses to Prue and Phoebe about how her ordeal started to when it ended was a strong bit of acting.

Meanwhile, in subplot news, we have Piper finally cutting out her flakiness with Dan and telling Leo she loved it. It was a LONG time coming! God, was that triangle tedious! It's a nice romantic moment when Piper confesses she wants to be with Leo, even if it's predictable. Though the moment when she talks to Dan over the phone did make me feel a bit sorry for her but considering what she put Dan through all season…not by much. I felt sorrier for Dan and much sorrier for us to have had to put up with it for so long.

Another major development is Leo finally getting his wings back. It's one of the few Leo moments where you’re rooting for the character in terms of his own path, and we get a cool shot of him orbing in to tackle the Darklighter. Although I wished his mortal storyline was explored a little bit more during this season, but then again, once Leo became human late Season Seven onward, he was a serious bore for the most part so maybe him with powers wasn't so bad after all! ;D

Anyway, "Murphy's Luck" is like Charmed's own sleeper hit. There's actually a lot of depth and deep material here. I might be alone in this but between the dark, sadistic nature of the villain and Maggie/Prue's downhill spiral to suicide, this episode is quite sad and painfully relatable.

A

#21

"We All Scream For Ice Cream"
Airdate: January 18, 2001
Season 3, Episode 10

Phoebe Halliwell: Why couldn't you get a boy-band song stuck in your head like everyone else?

Other Memorable Quotes
Prue: Alright, well, nothing usually means something, and something usually means a boy, so...

Piper: Prue, it's me leaving you another message after leaving Phoebe another message. I tried you at work, but they said you never checked in after your shoot, so where are you guys? [Piper sees the same guy as before standing at the other end of the bar]. Uh, look, so call me, or better yet, just show up and save me from having to perform an impending awkward rejection all by myself.

Caleb: You've got sisters, rrreally? Well, maybe we could all, uh, get together sometime? [Piper turns away, clearly exasperated] Uh, does your fiancé like to hang out with your sisters too?
Piper: Okay, uhh, you know what? I don't know what kind of kinky stuff you're into, but there's a club, down the street, you might be more comfortable in. They've got, uh, cages and rubber floors, and a three-for-two special on Fridays.

Phoebe: We thought that the good guys were bad guys, in trying to vanquish them we helped the real bad guys, which were dead ringers for the good guys
Leo: Was that English?

Victor: Head for the slide. Up at the top, that's our way out.
Prue: Aah! Daddy!
Victor: Hold on, Prue!
Prue: Daddy, I need you.
Victor: I've got you. I'm not leaving without you.
Prue: Dad!
Victor: I've got you. Oh, God.

Piper: So your interest in me?
Ice Cream Man: Uh, huh. Strictly professional. I was lost. But until I was sure who you were I couldn't just come out and say, “Hey are you a Charmed One?” 'coz I need you to take me to my demon-catching truck.

Piper: No, don't say that. We're not surrounded until they're all around of us.

Piper: Whenever I decide to have kids, remind me of this day.


Analysis
Here's one thing you can really say about early Charmed: "originality". Let's face it! Upon Charmed’s debut, it was dubbed a Buffy knock-off as well as becoming infamous for simply being "Charlie's Angels with broomsticks". The writing was decent, the leads were attractive, the effects were tolerable, etc., etc. Nothing about Charmed really never seemed "groundbreaking" and "innovative" to critics and for the most part, it really wasn't!

But there's something about this episode that is quite creative and dare I say pretty original. "We All Scream For Ice Scream" is one of those rare Charmed episodes where a storyline like this could have gone terribly wrong, could have potentially been the one of the worst of the series but it's not. It's the complete opposite.

The concept of a mysterious Ice Cream Truck sucking up children is creepy enough but when you add the even creeper playground, you have a pretty impressive episode. Once again, Prue is the instigator of this plot when she has a recurring jingle stuck in her head and she tries to track it down, leading her and Phoebe to the truck where they must save a group of children. Once again, this plot and the way it's played is superb, such fresh material from the series. Everything from the set up with the children's abduction to the visually stunning snow-ridden playground works.

The twist with the children actually being the demons and the Ice Cream Man being a force for good was also a shock and an excellent turn of events.

The guest stars are also spot on in the acting department, which is surprising considering child actors are never the best to deal with. But the main three: Bobby Edner, Erica Mer and Soren Fulton are better than expected, especially once they are revealed to be evil and go on their killing spree. Bob Clendenin as the Ice Cream Man is pretty great, in both creepiness when you think he's evil and completely sympathetic when he's revealed to be good. Shame he was killed by the Nothing.

Speaking of the Nothing, it's another cool plot aspect and when it actually takes one of the children in the truck, that is actually a pretty dark moment since anything that has to do with a child in harm's way is serious stuff!

The subplot of the episode with Piper trying to nicely reject a guy name Caleb is a humorous one. The dialogue is hilarious and I love how vague it is as Piper and Caleb completely misinterpret what the other is saying at P3. Piper's line about him going to the club down the street with the three for two special kills me every time! Holly always did well with awkward humor!

I also loved how both storyline converged at the end, with Caleb turning out to be the next Ice Cream Man, making the subplot both funny and necessary - who knew the writers could pull that off!

The other major storyline of the episode, of course, is the return of Victor, the sisters' father. Thankfully revamped and re-casted, the writers successfully incorporate him back in the sisters' lives. James Read is SO much more believable in the role. He's hell of a lot less douchy-looking and more of a convincing actor. He feels like the sisters' father and has instant chemistry with the leads. The interplay between Victor and Prue is especially great to watch, with the daughter that has the most animosity towards him having to ask for his help. Shannen and James give solid performances, making the mending rift between them seem realistic. I love the moment where Prue is getting taken by the Nothing but Victor desperately holds on to her to save her life. It's great father/daughter moment that is only topped by Prue returning the favor by saving Victor from Ari.

The final confrontation is one of the most entertaining sequences from the series. I love the staging of the whole thing from Piper being knocked unconscious to Phoebe being surrounded by all the children to Prue sending those kids flying all over the place. It's such an unusual sight seeing the Charmed Ones fight kids but it's equally parts silly and suspenseful.

In the later years, the sisters become so powerful that you barely have moments where you actually fear the danger that the sisters are facing or feel that their lives might actually be at stake. Yet here, it's convincing despite the childish antagonists they are facing.

The episode ends with a new chapter in the girls' lives as Victor officially wins back his family and the sisters get their father back. It's a great family moment and ends the episode on a hopeful note.

Overall, "We All Scream For Ice Cream" is possibly the most underrated episode of Charmed. It's a stellar episode with a wonderfully realized demonic plot that breaks some new ground in the supernatural drama genre. Mix in some genuine family moments and some hilarious scenes and you got yourself a big winner here!


A

So?? What do you guys think and would you like to read more? Again, keep in mind that these aren't my choices, but his. For me, I could just list my Top 20 in airing order. Besides "Morality Bites" as my all-time favorite, I simply can't choose. Here's my list, the ones I’d rate “A+” (He lists his last twelve favorite episodes as A+):

1. Something Wicca This Way Comes
2. That Seventies Episode
3. Which Prue is It, Anyway?
4. Love Hurts
5. Morality Bites
6. P3 H20
7. Awakened
8. Give Me a Sign
9. Murphy's Luck
10. Chick Flick
11. Astral Monkey
12. All Halliwell's Eve
13. The Good, The Bad and The Cursed
14. Sin Francisco
15. Charmed Again, Part One
16. Brain Drain
17. Sense and Sense-Ability
18. Charmed Noir
19. Show Ghouls
20. Something Wicca This Way Goes?

So? What is yours? If you can list them in order, go for it. If you can't, just do airing order like I did.

Although this guy refused to do a Worst Twenty-Five list (he said he couldn’t choose between all of the episodes in Seasons 6 and 8 along with “Magic Hour”, “Heartbreak City” and “Once Upon a Time” and refused to put himself through the torture of watching them again), here’s my list. These are all of my F-’s. Again, not in worst-order, just in airing order:


1. The Importance of Being Phoebe
2. Nymphs Just Wanna Have Fun
3. Oh My Goddess Part 2
4. Valhalley of the Dolls Part 1
5. Valhalley of the Dolls Part 2
6. Witchstock
7. Prince Charmed
8. The Courtship of Wyatt's Father
9. Hyde School Reunion
10. A Wrong Day's Journey Into Right
11. Witch Wars
12. It's a Bad, Bad, Bad, Bad World Part 1
13. It's a Bad, Bad, Bad, Bad World Part 2
14. The Bare Witch Project
15. Extreme Makeover: World Edition
16. Charmageddon
17. Imaginary Fiends
18. Still Charmed and Kicking
19. Run Piper Run
20. Desperate Housewitches
21. Battle of the Hexes
22. Hulkus Pocus
23. Vaya Con Leos
24. Mr. & Mrs. Witch
25. Repo Manor
26. 12 Angry Zen
27. The Torn Identity
28. Gone with the Witches
29. Kill Billie Vol. 2
30. Forever Charmed

What about you? And would you like to read more?

[Deleted]

Let's see

SEASON ONE- OMG we're witches and it's all Phoebe's fault!!!
Great start to the series. It does get a couple more stars from me in the last few years due to pure nostalgia value, but it really does have what I consider to be classics. Maybe a little slower than the later seasons, but boy were there some good episodes? Plus the actresses' relationship was new and nicely translating into the episodes. High points- Is There a Woogy, 70s Episode, The Witch is Back, Dead Man Dating. Low Points- Wedding from Hell.

SEASON TWO- Embracing the magic
I like season 2 the majority of the time, because I think there were some really great episodes. However, I'm glad they went with a more story-arched structure after this, because I'm not convinced it would've lasted long. Piper is my favourite character, but the Piper-Dan-Leo triangle only served to make me sick of all three of them. High Points- Morality Bites, P3 H20, Chick Flick, Pardon My Past. Low Points- That Old Black Magic "My wand waaaah!!", The Devil's Music. Thank God they came to their senses and made Jenny disappear.

SEASON THREE- Please stay Shannen. Please?
This is where I think they really got it right (and then right on cue the morons fire Shannen). Season Three is definitely one of my favs. It balanced the darker stories with the comedy perfectly, the acting was at its best and I do love the Phoebe-Cole arch at the beginning, too bad they squeezed it till it bled later on. High Points- All Hell Breaks Loose (that was just awesome), Sin Francisco, Look Who's Barking. Low Points- Once Upon a Time (simply because I believe this is where Alyssa got the impression that her stupid freakin baby voice was funny).

SEASON FOUR- A new witch/whitelighter/social worker/recovering alcoholic/seamstress/delinquent etc.
I actually really like season 4. Sure there were some crappy episodes, but overall I think it went really well. It took me a while to warm to Paige, but I think that's mainly because the writers didn't seem to know what they were actually going to do with her. Having Piper in the spotlight more is a great thing for me and Holly does some great acting as always. Cole's Source story and Queen Phoebe was pretty cool, although I always thought it should have lasted a bit longer than it did. The Seer is one of my favourite big bads: manipulative and power hungry, plus very different to previous and future demons. High Points- Long Live the Queen, Charmed Again, Hell Hath No Fury. Low Points- Enter the Demon (like I said, baby voice!)

SEASON FIVE- Keeping Julian, destroying Cole
This was my least favourite season before season eight happened. It went from being very dark towards the end of season 4 to being ridiculously light all of a sudden in season 5. Mermaids, super heroes, nymphs, leprechauns, fairy tales aaaaaahhh!!! But what always infuriates me much more is the Cole story and how they pretty much went against everything that was said in season 4 just so they "justify" keeping Julian in until he left for Nip Tuck. Truly awful, they should have left him in LLTQ. This is also the point where I really start to hate Phoebe, it was bubbling in season 4, but boy did I loathe her in this season...and not just for the assy mermaid episode. Oh and not to mention making her the Goddess of "Love" in the finale! I put love in quotes because Kern seems unable to differentiate between love and getting felt up by several complete strangers! High Points- Sense and Sense Ability. Low Points- Pretty much covered those.

SEASON SIX- Back to the future...and the continuity bashing 60s
Well first off, I have no strong feelings towards Chris one way or the other...but I didn't like the heavy time travel, future, alternate reality thing they had going on this season. There were good episodes and bad ones, I personally thought it was a bit better than season 5, but there were still some major stinkers. Season Six has always kind of been the season I could take or leave to be honest. I also never really cared about magic school...meh. I hated Gideon, but pretty sure we were meant to. High Points- I Dream of Phoebe (it was fun, I'll admit it), Sword and the City (I like all things Arthurian, even this). Low Points- Witch Stock (we all know why), Used Karma (Freebie's dance in the Mummy episode was more than enough).

SEASON SEVEN- Let's change the world
This is where I thought the show was back on form. Many disagree, but I think this should have been the last season. Not that there weren't bad episodes, but the archs were good in my opinion. I loved the Avatars and Zankou, because I thought both archs were intense and on a larger scale than previously. It had a better balance of light and dark stuff. Plus in SWTWG we have various exploding magical creatures... FUN But yes, the power thing in the finale did make my blood boil, what can I say? Kern was still show runner. High points- Extreme Makeover, Charmageddon, anything with a lot of Zankou, Billy Zane. Low Points- Phoebe in general (but especially the horse riding), Nick Lachey "acting", Everyone can astral project because Prue decided to teach Leo how to do it... um, sure, ok.

SEASON EIGHT- Slap in the face, kick in the teeth, punch in the nose
Awful, truly awful. Billie was awful, the writing was awful (even by Charmed standards), The Ultimate Power? Really!? Okay, that's it, that's all I can say about this one, it's too much. All I remember is the hatred, because I've sure as hell never watched it again after it aired.

[Esmeralda]

Thanks for the reviews! I totally loved them, especially your chapter titles!

And welcome to the Cafe!

[Deleted]

Thank you very much I'm long overdue on some Charmed chat

[Astral Vision]

Hey Es. Do you have the link to the rest of that guy's top 25? Or did he never finish doing them? Thanks for posting that and his season one to eight reviews, by the way. They were a great read!

[Esmeralda]

Aug 6, 2013 16:02:03 GMT -5 Astral Vision said:

Hey Es. Do you have the link to the rest of that guy's top 25? Or did he never finish doing them? Thanks for posting that and his season one to eight reviews, by the way. They were a great read!

So glad to hear that you enjoyed them - and a bit embarrassed to realized that I never finished posting them.

I'm at work right now, so I don't have time to post all of them, but for now, here's the link to his thread:

www.imdb.com/title/tt0158552/board/thread/207982337?p=1

[Astral Vision]

Aug 7, 2013 9:53:55 GMT -5 Esmeralda said:

Aug 6, 2013 16:02:03 GMT -5 Astral Vision said:

Hey Es. Do you have the link to the rest of that guy's top 25? Or did he never finish doing them? Thanks for posting that and his season one to eight reviews, by the way. They were a great read!

So glad to hear that you enjoyed them - and a bit embarrassed to realized that I never finished posting them.

I'm at work right now, so I don't have time to post all of them, but for now, here's the link to his thread:

www.imdb.com/title/tt0158552/board/thread/207982337?p=1

That's alright. Thanks for the link.