Post by vandergraafk on Oct 23, 2006 18:42:19 GMT -5
The second part of the second of two interrupted two parters -Ms. Hellfire and Give Me a Sign both featured Bane Jessup, while Awakened and Astral Monkey feature Dr. Williamson - this episode foreshadows many future themes: exposure; whitelighter interruptus; and, of course, the consequences of mortals acquiring Charmed powers. Each of these themes was explored in later episodes: All Hell Breaks Loose, Cole as the Source and Ordinary Witches. Certainly, exposure is the big issue here. Dr. Williamson's research has revealed to him that there's something special about the Halliwells. His blood tests and experimentation with monkeys tell him that it's in the blood. Injecting himself with a mixture of all three witches' blood gives him each of their powers.
Yet, Dr. Williamson proves that any mortal given these powers would surely be driven insane, as Prue nearly was during Season 3 when she acquired the power of empathy in Primrose Empath. All the good he seeks to do is tempered by the means used to acquire those results. Dr. Williamson saves his brother-in-law from a fatal heart attack. But, to save his sister and provide her with a matching kidney donor, he steals the kidney from a drug dealer. Although he did take the time to stitch up the unwilling donor, later actions ignore even this tip to humanity, as Dr. Williamson wreaks havoc on the criminal class to help the sick and injured.
This episode also features Prue dodging paparazzi as Evan Stone, movie star diverts his paparazzi from his trail to Prue's. The manor is overrun by the curious and photoseekers. A similar event will occur in All Hell Breaks Loose, but with a result far worse than anyone could have anticipated.
Phoebe, too, foreshadows a future event as she jots down in her "rules for houseguests" i.e., Leo that whitelighters should not come in unannounced after Leo surprises Phoebe peering into Piper's closet and mistakes her for Piper. Later, Cole will forbid unannounced orbing into the penthouse after Phoebe moves in with Cole who has unwittingly become the Source of all evil.
The main theme, though, of this great episode is the consequences of the acquisition of great power. Despite Dr. Williamson unquestionably noble goals, his mining of the criminal element for transplant material is beyond evil. It is savage, too. As Darryl notes, "They're criminals. But nobody deserves to die the way they died."
Yet, even though the sisters are forced to vanquish Dr. Williamson after trying to persuade him to accept the potion that will cure him of his disease by stripping him of the powers he has acquired. He refuses not once, but twice. Still, Piper, whose casual disregard of Dr. Williamson's previous requests for help in his research, has caused her pangs of guilt, nevertheless cautions us that Dr. Williamson was a human, too. "His name was Curtis." He was a brilliant doctor who accidentally got caught up in Charmed power.
It is tempting to compare how the sisters discuss Dr. Williamson and what to do about him, especially as Darryl cautions that he may have no choice but to take down Dr. Williamson, with Phoebe and Paige's seeming lack of concern for the vanquish of Rick, a three-strikes criminal, by the scabbard demons after his face is altered to make him appear to be Chris whom the scabbard demons are hotly pursuing. Though I don't believe the two are quite the same, especially since Rick was pleased by the makeover, there is a legitimate basis for questioning the Charmed Ones action in that season 6 episode: Hyde School Reunion.
All in all: a great episode, one of the best from Season 2.
Yet, Dr. Williamson proves that any mortal given these powers would surely be driven insane, as Prue nearly was during Season 3 when she acquired the power of empathy in Primrose Empath. All the good he seeks to do is tempered by the means used to acquire those results. Dr. Williamson saves his brother-in-law from a fatal heart attack. But, to save his sister and provide her with a matching kidney donor, he steals the kidney from a drug dealer. Although he did take the time to stitch up the unwilling donor, later actions ignore even this tip to humanity, as Dr. Williamson wreaks havoc on the criminal class to help the sick and injured.
This episode also features Prue dodging paparazzi as Evan Stone, movie star diverts his paparazzi from his trail to Prue's. The manor is overrun by the curious and photoseekers. A similar event will occur in All Hell Breaks Loose, but with a result far worse than anyone could have anticipated.
Phoebe, too, foreshadows a future event as she jots down in her "rules for houseguests" i.e., Leo that whitelighters should not come in unannounced after Leo surprises Phoebe peering into Piper's closet and mistakes her for Piper. Later, Cole will forbid unannounced orbing into the penthouse after Phoebe moves in with Cole who has unwittingly become the Source of all evil.
The main theme, though, of this great episode is the consequences of the acquisition of great power. Despite Dr. Williamson unquestionably noble goals, his mining of the criminal element for transplant material is beyond evil. It is savage, too. As Darryl notes, "They're criminals. But nobody deserves to die the way they died."
Yet, even though the sisters are forced to vanquish Dr. Williamson after trying to persuade him to accept the potion that will cure him of his disease by stripping him of the powers he has acquired. He refuses not once, but twice. Still, Piper, whose casual disregard of Dr. Williamson's previous requests for help in his research, has caused her pangs of guilt, nevertheless cautions us that Dr. Williamson was a human, too. "His name was Curtis." He was a brilliant doctor who accidentally got caught up in Charmed power.
It is tempting to compare how the sisters discuss Dr. Williamson and what to do about him, especially as Darryl cautions that he may have no choice but to take down Dr. Williamson, with Phoebe and Paige's seeming lack of concern for the vanquish of Rick, a three-strikes criminal, by the scabbard demons after his face is altered to make him appear to be Chris whom the scabbard demons are hotly pursuing. Though I don't believe the two are quite the same, especially since Rick was pleased by the makeover, there is a legitimate basis for questioning the Charmed Ones action in that season 6 episode: Hyde School Reunion.
All in all: a great episode, one of the best from Season 2.