S7-22 SOMETHING WICCAN THAT WAY GOES

[Scott]

If Charmed were to conclude at the end of Season 7, then it would go out with a blast. Literally! The basement of the manor is subject to a nuclear blast as Zankou is vanquished while possessing the Shadow. The sisters appear to die in the blast, or so they hope Homeland Security will conclude.

Memorable moments and quotes abound. Piper, Phoebe and Paige all get in on the act. In a somber mood, after learning that Zankou has taken both Phoebe's and Piper's powers, Paige notes, "Something tells me we're not getting out of this one, girls." Or, Paige offers this glib response when Leo inquires as to where Phoebe is headed. "Probably to a mental institution."

Perhaps most touching of all, we are presented with an utterly credible and quite poignant disagreement over the stance Darryl should take with respect to the sisters. As Sheila notes, it is our family or theirs. Although Darryl notes that the growing mess that is threatening to engulf the sisters - Sheridan, Homeland Security and Zankou - is not his problem, Darryl ultimately chooses to do the right thing and warn Homeland Security not to storm the manor as a bloodbath will surely await. In many respects, this episode is Darryl's finest moment, an appropriate send-off for a true veteran of Charmed.

[vandergraafk]

But is this scenario credible? Has Zankou weakened the sisters so much that he is able to steal the Book of Shadows (in Death Becomes Them) and gain enough access to its content in order to strip the sisters of their powers one by one? Vandergraafk explores this issue in this lengthy analysis.

In another thread, where whitelightertony and I were discussing problems in Season 8, I claimed that many of the credibility problems with the writing team had their roots in Season 7. I indicated that Mr. Kern needed to address these more important issues rather than focus on - and apologize for - non-issues such as whether Phoebe's apparent lack of awareness between a tire iron and a lug bolt in Death Becomes Them contradicts her apparent expertise in Season 1's The Wendigo. Specifically, I wanted an explanation as to how Zankou managed to acquire the Book of Shadows by episode's end.

In Death Becomes Them, the criteria for acquisition of the Book of Shadows are so obvious a viewer would have to sleep through the entire episode to miss them. Indeed, the criteria are mentioned not once, but twice. And, through Zankou's repeated exposition, there can be no misunderstanding them. The question is: are the criteria laid out ever truly met?

Zankou clearly tells the Alchemist that the way to attack the sisters is not as witches, but as women. Rattle them as women, make them lose confidence in their abilities as witches to protect the people around them, is the key in making them and the Book vulnerable to attack. Dispatching a demon to slash Tim plunged Phoebe into a crisis of confidence. Awakening to Zombie Tim beside her shook her even more. Finding solace in her job as advice columnist once again reveals how much Phoebe truly questions her role as witch. In her heart of hearts, she wonders whether it is all worth it when casual acquaintances such as Tim have to suffer because of who she is and the threat she represents to the demonic underworld.

Without a doubt, Phoebe is rattled. But what about Paige and Piper? Zankou lays a trap for Paige by posing as or glamming into the boyfriend of Paige's new charge Joanna. The death of Joanna certainly upsets her; but, unlike Phoebe, who is probably heading towards a mental institution, Paige has the good sense to listen to reason (from Piper). Besides, Paige already suspects that Zankou is behind this whole attack. Is it credible to believe that Paige is truly rattled? Hardly.

Indeed, Zankou recognizes this when his second attempt to seize the Book of Shadows is repulsed. He did, however, show a marked improvement over his first attempt when he was simply flung back across the room. Now, his hands have creased the protection shield that nevertheless is still powerful enough to deny him full access.

If we are to accept as demonstrated the premise that Zankou is able to steal the Book of Shadows by making the sisters vulnerable to attack as women, then the moment when maximum vulnerability occurs must take place when the Charmed Ones are facing the legion of zombies, innocents the sisters had been unsuccessful in protecting from demonic attacks. During the time the sisters have to fend off the Alchemist and his zombie minions, Zankou steals the Book of Shadows.

During this time, the only sister we observe who is perhaps second guessing herself is Piper. She is hesitant to destroy by using her power of particle acceleration the myriad zombies attacking Phoebe, Paige and herself. Is Piper's hesitation enough to convince us that she now doubts herself as a witch? I, for one, remain unconvinced. There is no exposition from Piper, apart from a brief "God help me", to suggest any basis for concluding that she, too, is suddenly now vulnerable. So, why is Zankou able to steal the Book of Shadows?

Of course, Zankou also claimed that the doubts as to purpose, success or future would spread from sister to sister. That's why he chose Phoebe. He perceived that she was the most vulnerable, despite Charmaggedon where Phoebe showed us that she was firmly in control. Does Phoebe succeed in passing along her self-doubt to her sisters? Hardly! Both Paige and Piper recognize what Phoebe is going through. And, since Paige demonstrably listens to Piper and does not head for the looney bin a la Phoebe, we can certainly cast great doubt as to the efficacy of Zankou's gambit. He does not succeed in spreading the poison of self-doubt amongst the sisters.

Again, the question remains: how does Zankou manage to abscond with the Book of Shadows? Indeed, too many times Charmed has preferred to speed up a story arc and leave us begging for more: more clarity and greater depth. This was evident in the Avatar story arc. It should also have been evident in the season finale of Season 6. And, it is painfully obvious during the so-called Ultimate Battle of Season 8. Whether it's the writing team or the nature of network television (which usually wants to avoid depth in order to capture the largest market share by appealing to baser, more vapid dramatic devices), I cannot say. Suffice it to mean, however, that I remain unpersuaded as to the ability of Zankou to steal the Book of Shadows, given what we are presented with.

Of course, this problem pales in comparison to my next topic: why is the spell to strip a witch of her powers in the easily accessible section of the Book of Shadows? After all, Sandra proclaims that the magic contained in the Book is not completely accessible to Zankou. Piper adds that Zankou still needs the sisters' powers to gain full access. So, the question can reasonably be asked: why allow such a spell to appear in the more vulnerable and easily accessible parts of the Book of Shadows? This problem plagues Something Wiccan, as well as Season 6's The Power of Three Blondes. Food for thought! Enjoy!