FROM FEAR TO ETERNITY

[vandergraafk]

The demon Barbas first appears in Episode 13 during Season 1. For 1300 years, Barbas has awaited his return to the earthly plane of existence if he can succeed in destroying thirteen witches on a special Friday the 13th. His quest for 13 dead witches is interrupted and defeated by the Charmed One, Prue, who overcomes her fear of drowning to banish Barbas to parts unknown.

Thwarted in his quest, Barbas becomes an implacable foe of the Charmed Ones and will now use every wile at his disposable to get another shot at destroying the Charmed Ones. In Season 2's Ms. Hellfire, his quest for revenge is laid waste by the Charmed Ones (Piper and Phoebe) who overcome a possessed Prue to turn the tide on Barbas.

But, fear never fades. Barbas will return again and again (Sympathy for the Demon; Crimes and Witch Demeanors; It's a Bad, Bad World) until his inexplicable disappearance in Season 7's A Call to Arms. Though Elder Leo seems to vanquish Barbas (with a potion, no less), Barbas should not be beyond vanquish. Fear can never be defeated. It can only be overcome!

[Reality Bites]

vandergraafk said:

Though Elder Leo seems to vanquish Barbas (with a potion, no less), Barbas should not be beyond vanquish. Fear can never be defeated. It can only be overcome!

Wasn't it Phoebe and Paige, not Elder Leo, who vanquished Barbas with a potion? The did so by using their greatest desire (hope) to conquer their greatest fear.

[vandergraafk]

Yes, it was Phoebe and Paige. And, it still doesn't make any sense. Barbas can neither be vanquished by a potion or by a greatest desire expressed perhaps through a spell. He can merely be banished. Would that the writers had remembered this when concocting the Ultimate Battle scenario. How useful would it have been to mess with Billie's head via the demon of fear? Dumain was a limp biscuit compared to Barbas!

One question remains, of course. How can we reconcile the Barbas introduced here with the Barbas we come to love and fear in later episodes? The 1,300 year cycle seems a bit contrived, especially when it's far easier to imagine him bound only by the killing of 13 witches in order to return from banishment. Twice the Charmed Ones managed to stop him. Then, it seems as if Barbas found an escape clause - his desire to avenge himself against the Charmed Ones overcame his acquiescence in his banishment.

[Reality Bites]

vandergraafk said:

How can we reconcile the Barbas introduced here with the Barbas we come to love and fear in later episodes?

Come to love and fear in later episodes?

To be honest, Barbas annoys me. Having him return time and time again robs him - for me - of his potency as an "fear" inspiring demon. From my perspective, Barbas went from a smart and crafty demon to becoming as campy as the later seasons of Charmed. I only enjoyed Barbas in two of the seven episodes he appeared in. All the rest, I felt, were overkill.

I respected him as a powerful and frightful foe in his original appearance. I remember watching the episode for the first time - at thirteen I believe - and finding him terrifying. "From Fear To Eternity" was chilling. His return in season two was a stretch as I felt he lost his edge; he barely interacted much with the sisters and had hired guns do his dirty work for him (Why would he do this? The Barbas we were introduced to enjoyed feeding off the fear of his victims; it was what empowered him. Why am I to believe he would relinquish the chance to do what he does best?). In season five "Sympathy For The Demon" was an excellent return for Barbas. The old Barbas, the "Demon of Fear", was back! He was clever, although obsessive, and actually played on all three sisters' fears!

Then comes the season 6/7 appearances of Barbas. Bore! The whole "Gideon corrupts Wyatt" was so contrived! I didn't enjoy much of season six of Charmed, Barbas' part in it included. My main objection was that Barbas ceased being the "Demon of Fear" and simply became another demon who also happened to have the power to read someone's fear. Hell even Leo could bypass Barbas' mental suggestions in the opener of season seven! Barbas' original powers and modus operandi were severely diminished! The moment Barbas became just another upper level demon is when I lost all interest in him.

[vandergraafk]

I found your commentary most unsettling. Though I believe we both agree that Barbas was at his best in From Fear to Eternity and in Sympathy for the Demon, I am troubled by the other part of your biting analysis. I am not certain that I disagree with you. Worse: in my thumbnail sketch of the Ultimate Battle, as it ought to have played out, I treat Barbas as a hired gun, a powerful upper level demon called upon by the TRIAD to ensure that their plan works. Would he, in fact, hire himself out as a powerful upper level demon?

As I indicated, your commentary was unsettling. I suppose just having Barbas back as opposed to actually examining the content of his actions was what led me to write what you quoted. Could he have been used more effectively? Was he used effectively? Was his character damaged as a result of over-use? Or, was it damaged because of the abuse of a once great character? Troubling questions indeed!

Let me suggest that in Season 7 he was not used well at all. Indeed, I get the impression that this was one of Kern's ways of tying up loose ends. He was a principal adversary at the end of Season 6. We need to finish with this at the beginning of Season 7 before the Avatars arrive. If that's the case, then Barbas simply became a plot device to push along the eventual Avatar story arc. Such an approach relied on audience familiarity with the character - and presumably its positive attitude toward Barbas, but did nothing to enhance the character as such.

I thought his use in Season 6's Crimes and Witch-Demeanors was credible and well-done. Since the sisters had twice overcome their fears when faced with Barbas, it probably would have been hard to pull off that one again. However, Barbas's orchestration of a plot to ensnare the Charmed Ones and lead them to a scenario whereby they might lose some or all of their powers, was ingenious and entirely credible. Twice thwarted, one might think that he would desire to avenge his banishment. Appearance at the star chamber hearing allowed him a glimpse into Gideon's greatest fear, an opening that could have given him another chance at revenge.

But, what was made of the alliance? Although it was interesting to ponder the Angel of Hope in contrast to the Demon of Fear, I must confess that Barbas played but a minor role in the whole climax and denouement of the Wyatt turns evil story arc. Indeed, he really is just another upper level demon along for the ride!