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Post by vandergraafk on Nov 20, 2006 4:17:26 GMT -5
The beginning of yet another four story mini-arc that rivals the previous story arc beginning with Charmed and Dangerous. This arc, however, explores the dark side of Phoebe and the choices that must be made if she is to remain loyal to Cole. In this episode, an evil wizard dupes the Charmed Ones into helping him abscond with the Grimoire, the evil Book of Shadows, into order to deny the new Source (Cole) the tome necessary to receive his powers. Phoebe vanquishes the wizard and in so doing destroys the last hope that Cole had of ridding himself of demonic possession (by the former Source). Phoebe has embraced evil, but is not entirely mindful of the consequences.
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Post by laiste on Feb 21, 2007 0:13:54 GMT -5
This is the episode that I have the most problem with. Aside from the idiocy of Phoebe vanquishing Cole's last hope, something she did knowing it was his last chance- it is never clear to me whether Phoebe was under the Seer's spell. I was under the impression that she wasn't. If she wasn't under a spell then her actions in this episode are completly out of character. If she was under a spell then this is never explained or gone into. Its weak, and in my mind the series lowest point.
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Post by vandergraafk on Feb 23, 2007 18:40:38 GMT -5
Well, it was demonstrated earlier in the episode that Phoebe had a strong tendency to leap to conclusions. Remember her flying leap at the wizard which ended the illusion and saw her sliding across the kitchen table? So, was it to strong a leap of faith to believe that Phoebe would leap to similar hasty conclusions with respect to the wizard and Cole? I don't. I never saw this as a problem. It is a tragedy, given that she damned both herself and Cole.
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Post by laiste on Feb 23, 2007 19:09:25 GMT -5
I don't think she jumped to any conclusions. Phoebe vanquished the wizard knowing full well that by doing so she would "save" Cole as the source. The Seer does her best to convince Phoebe that it is the only way but its still rather out of character for a charmed one to believe anything a demon tells them.
Maybe its just because i find this episode so uncomfortable.
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Post by vandergraafk on Feb 23, 2007 19:16:39 GMT -5
I guess I am going to have to revisit this episode again. And, I have to see it in context. By that I mean, I need to pinpoint exactly when Phoebe began taking the brew that the Seer concocted. I know it's in Long Live the Queen. But, do we learn of this earlier? We know Phoebe's already pregnant. Is it possible that the Seer was already influencing Phoebe by concoction even before it's officially revealed?
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Post by vandergraafk on Jul 13, 2007 15:04:38 GMT -5
Another problem with this episode is the dramatic shift in Cole's persona in this episode. By now, the Source has come to dominate Cole so much that Cole's voice has virtually been stilled. The longer the Source possessed Cole, the smaller Cole's voice became. At one point, as I view the Source cum Cole, I am hearing only the Source. Cole's presence can only be sensed with respect to the love he feels for Phoebe.
Of course, having said this, the Charmed writers turned this upside down when the Source learned he was to be a father. Now, he went gaga and became Cole again. Yeeks! It may have made for some funny sight gags; but, with respect to the general direction Charmed was heading, it made absolutely no sense. A better foundation should have been laid before allowing Cole - what was left of Cole - to burst forth and dominate for a brief moment.
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