"Charmed" Cheaper by the Coven (2004)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Derek E. Johansen

Writers:

Constance M. Burge (creator) and
Mark Wilding (writer)

TV Series:

"Charmed" (1998)

Original Air Date:

26 September 2004 (Season 7, Episode 3)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Mystery | Romance

Plot:

When summoned for Chris' Wiccaning, Grams puts a spell on her grandchildren to stop their sibling rivalry and inadvertently reverts the sisters back to bickering teenagers. |

Plot Keywords:

Wiccan | Sisters | Witchcraft | Demon | Power Of Three

Cast

Alyssa Milano	...	Phoebe Halliwell
Rose McGowan	...	Paige Matthews
Holly Marie Combs	...	Piper Halliwell
Brian Krause	...	Leo Wyatt
Nick Lachey	...	Leslie St. Claire
James Read	...	Victor Bennett
Jennifer Rhodes	...	Penny 'Grams' Halliwell
Finola Hughes	...	Patty Halliwell
Tac Fitzgerald	...	Ben
Charisma Carpenter	...	The Seer
Peter Breitmayer	...	Emcee
Mandy Freund	...	Female Fan
Marc D. Wilson	...	Rex

Runtime:

42 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Certification:

Mexico:B | USA:TV-PG

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

When the Seer (Charisma Carpenter) encounters Leo (Brian Krause) for the first time, she calls Leo's actions un-Scooby-like. It's a reference to Charisma's previous series, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997). Buffy's group called themselves the Scoobys, a reference to the cartoon character and timid ghost fighter Scooby-Doo.

Quotes:

Penny 'Grams' Halliwell: That my being a witch was such an important part of my life and what it meant to me, and what it might mean to you someday.

Movie Connections:

References Cheaper by the Dozen (2003)

Familiar faces

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Another Wiccaning in sight, so you know there's going to be trouble. There are a lot of good scenes and insightful character developments, but... none of them concerns the sisters. Ironic, isn't it ? I am very tired of seeing them regress, especially since this time they sound like they're 5 year-old brats with the mood swings of 15 year-old teenagers. Phoebe's speech scene really made me wince more than once. As for Paige, I still haven't decided whether getting her out of the house was a clever move or not : clearly she never shared that period of her life with Piper and Phoebe, but on the other hand, wouldn't this have been an opportunity to catch up ?

Fortunately, there are the others, who also have their problems. Grams and Victor in particular are great as opponents, especially since they both have good arguments, and Patty's arrival makes the pleasure complete. I just love that moment when Victor fondly watches his "teenager" daughters bicker : it manages to express a lot without saying a word. Leo's continued instability also has its moments. It is significant that he now turns to the demon Seer for help, and even though there is another explanation, he really is his own nemesis at the moment. Oh, and I am SOOO tired of the endless series of short-lived Seers... but just this once I will make an exception, because this one is Charisma Carpenter so, yay !

Finally, thumbs up for the main character of the episode : Wyatt. The show could have made him just another prop for Piper to manipulate, especially now that he won't become the ultimate evil. But the baby remains a real person, and even though his attitude seems somewhat mature for a 18 month-old child, he's powerful enough to make that credible. Both of his issues -with his baby brother and his absentee father- are consistent and realistic, and we are reminded that becoming the ultimate evil is not the only danger on his path.