S1-5 DREAM SORCERER

[vandergraafk]

Prue gets spooked and nearly plunges to her death after nearly drowning in her own bath tub. In a pre-cursor to the Demon of FEAR, the dream sorcerer leads women to their doom by inserting himself via dream leaping into their dream states. Andy and Darryl investigate a strange series of deaths that cannot be explained by natural phenomena, as several young women exhibit completely crushed and broken internal organs and bones suggesting a fatal falls from prodigious heights. But the circumstances of their deaths completely defy the explanation that medical science suggests. Each of the women was safely ensconced in a ground-level or lower story secure apartment that revealed no evidence of outside disturbance. How indeed did these women die, and will Prue be the next victim?

[avallach]

This episode stands out for me because (as far as I can tell), the "dream sorcerer" who kills his victims by invading their dreams is not magical but actually mortal, a mad-scientist type who uses a machine to commit his crimes. I don't think any other episode in the entire series explored this concept (I'm not talking about common criminal thugs that the sisters have occasionly entangled with; this is someone whose "powers" are based on something other than the supernatural such that the Book of Shadows is of no help).

Though a machine that can enable one to enter others' dreams sounds as far fetch to me as the existance of demons and warlocks, because it is based on technology, it seems more plausible to Andy and Darryl (who at this point are ignorant of the true nature of the sisters) to accept this during their investigation of the cases where women were being crushed in their sleep. This once Andy knew what was going on while Prue was in the dark. Perhaps vandergraafk can comment whether a dream machine is plausible in "real life".

The episode is also notable in Prue's growth as a character. Though she did object to Piper and Phoebe casting the "lust" spell, she did not stand in their way. I think Prue realizes her sisters have to learn from their mistakes. Another turning point was when she was seemlingly helpless in the grasp of the scientist, Prue was able to find the connection to summon her power to reverse her fate on him. I think both instances helped her realize her potential of being the strongest and the leader of the original Charmed Ones and served her well when confronting real demonic forces.

As for the subplot of the pre-Leo Piper and the pre-Cole Pheobe using magic to attract men, I think yes, it was a selfish thing for them to do that. But I think they did learn their lesson when the spell backfired and they were overwhelmed. It was certainly an learning experience that they tried to share with Paige later. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, Paige never seem to learn the "personal gain" lesson.

[vandergraafk]

You've prompted me to revisit this episode again. When I wrote my brief summary, I was truly puzzled: warlock, demon or what. Now, I know why. I do believe that this episode laid the foundation for the entrance of one of Charmed's truly great demons: fear. Manipulating dreams/nightmares/fears is all pretty much the same. It's playing on a victim's subconscious hopes and desires, fears and nightmares. Whether a machine can be constructed to do so is something I can't begin to fathom. Certainly, some individuals are able to easily manipulate other people. Think of Charles Manson or any other historic figure possessing intense charisma. The followers of these charismatic individuals could easily be manipulated into doing whatever the leader commanded. Imagine how Jim Jones got all of his followers to drink tea laced with poison in Jonestown.

Obviously, manipulating a dream state and creating an alternative reality is something else entirely. The Source accomplished this in Brain Drain, a Season 4 episode that many fans don't fully appreciate. Amazingly, the writers were willing to concoct an episode that credibly challenged the very idea that the sisters were anything special. It's scary how nearly convincing the Source was able to make this alternative reality.

[vandergraafk]

In Charmed magazine, Holly Marie Combs is quoted as indicating that she would like to do an episode of Charmed demon free. In Season 8's Run Piper Run, her wish was fulfilled. However, Season 1's Dream Sorcerer had already accomplished this feat. How soon we forget!

Whitaker Berman (the Dream Sorcerer) is neither warlock nor demon. He is however a scientist possessed by a very intense desire to exact his revenge for a crippling car accident that left him a quadriplegic. That his injuries were brought about by his research colleague, a woman he had been dating, exacerbated his anger. Not only does Berman destroy his colleague under unusual circumstances - every bone in her body has been crushed and broken as if she had been thrown 20 stories to her death, despite the fact that all evidence pointed against just such a conclusion - but he continues to exact his revenge on women who reject his advances.

As a paraplegic, Berman ostensibly possesses an iron-clad alibi. Exactly why Andy is highly suspicious of Berman is unclear. Perhaps Andy suspects something unusual at work. To the skeptical Darryl Morris, Andy opines that someone, perhaps Whitaker Berman, has succeeded in dream leaping. That Berman's research involves dreams points strongly in his direction. If true, Andy argues, his disability becomes no impediment to his commission of the crime.

A still cautious Darryl goes along with yet another of Trudeau's crazy hunches. Both he and Trudeau arrive in time to witness Berman's death, as Prue, the latest object of his destructive obsession, finally succeeds in turning the tables and sends Berman to his own demise.

[vandergraafk]

Why should we conclude that Berman was neither warlock nor demon? First, there is absolutely no evidence in favor of the conclusion. Rex, whom we know has some knowledge of demons and warlocks, is simpled startled when he discovers the bloody paper opener and larges patches of blood on a still stirring Prue when he enters her office late at night. Rex certainly knows nothing of the dream sorcerer. Perhaps, as someone in the service of the Source, Rex would have a clue. Second, nothing in Berman's behavior indicates that he is at all familiar with demons, warlocks or witches. He simply is a deranged scientist quite capable of putting his experimental research to dastardly ends. Third, Berman hasn't any idea that Prue is a witch, let alone a Charmed One. For Berman, Prue is just another pretty woman who has rebuffed his advances. Death awaits her, not because she is a witch or has powers worth taking. Rather, she is doomed to die because she is a woman. Ultimately, it is Berman's failure to grasp who Prue is that leads to his demise. Stirred by her sisters' plaintive call, Prue turns the tables on Berman and uses her power of telekinesis to send Berman to his deadly descent in Prue's dream state.

Now that we've established that Berman is neither warlock nor demon, we should perhaps note that Connie Burge was the principal writer of this episode. Since this episode is demon free and devotes a large chunk of time to the hopes and desires of the sisters, including the casting of a Lust Spell by Phoebe and Piper in order to attract suitable mates, perhaps this episode really does match quite closely to the vision of Charmed put forth by Burge. Sisters first, witchcraft second. Even the backfire that accompanies the use of witchcraft for personal gain doesn't address the sisters as witches. Rather, Piper and Phoebe are overwhelmed by the sheer number of suitors and their singular focus on the sisters, warts and all. They react as sisters and reverse the spell because of the obsessive behavior their suitors exhibit.

[avallach]

Also, there's no mention of a "dream sorcerer" in the Book of Shadows, which is further evidence of the non-demonic nature of the adversary in this episode (though certainly one with truly evil intentions).

I still find it interesting that Andy and Darryl were able to accept the conclusion that Berman and his dream leap machine were responsible for the murders of the women. If the Sandman from the "Sand Francisco Dreamin" episode was behind the murderous dreams, I think they probably would have (at this juncture in the series) great difficulty dealing with it.

This episode also have me wondering how possible a dream leap machine is, given all the research in sleep and dreams. This episode vaguely refers to Berman's machine inducing REM sleep, which is the sleep state where dreams are possible. Somehow (and I haven't a clue how this can be done), Berman is able to enter the dream of his victim during she enters REM state in her sleep. Perhaps Berman can induce other states by affecting the brain wave patterns of the victims. This might allow him to induce a deep hypnotic trance in the victim and have her truly believe she is falling off a building, producing a psychosomantic response in that the bones are crushed.

And yes, I love how the early seasons focus are on the sisters and their relationship to each other. Defintely missed that when the series went in different directions.

[vandergraafk]

Well, I've spent a few days and nights wrestling with your query about the dream machine. The few points you have raised point in the direction I am leaning: the dream machine, as depicted in the Dream Sorcerer, is preposterous on its face. It requires a tremendous and very, very improbable leap of faith to imagine that an outsider, one in a dream state himself, can not only know when another person is in a dream state, use this information to gain access to that other person's dream state, but also take actions in another person's dream state that will lead to the destruction of the other. At best, one might imagine how two persons, connected mechanically to one another and placed simultaneously in REM sleep, might interact with one another in a dream state. Yet, I find even this scenario unlikely to lead to a situation where one of the actors can can mental control of another person's dream state in order to effectuate a desire to destroy that person.

Brain Drain, on the other hand, seems to get it right. Here, the Source takes physical custody of Piper and uses potions, powers or both to manipulate reality for Piper. Semi-comatose or perhaps Piper is in only REM state, Piper lives the alternate reality that the Source wishes her to experience. With skill and patience, the Source might even succeed in getting Piper to renounce her claim to be a witch or even better to destroy herself in attempting to prove that she has the ability to "freeze" the motion of an oncoming car.

[vandergraafk]

Another thought emerges with respect to this episode. To avoid destruction at the hands of Berman, Prue ultimately uses her telekinesis to send Berman to his demise. In a sense, we see the power that Prue will ultimately develop, namely, the power to astral project. In REM state, people who dream usually find the dream states quite real. Assuming their ability to recall details, most people would admit that in such states, they can see themselves moving about, undertaking actions, etc. Is astral projection really far removed from this? Prue projects herself into another place and is able to use her powers to take on demons. I must confess that I hadn't thought of this before.