Post by Scott on Aug 22, 2006 11:57:49 GMT -5
After the extremely powerful exit of Cole from Charmed, viewers could easily anticipate quite a let-down. This episode does not disappoint, however. As in Charmed Again, the writers wisely give a nod to Cole, as Phoebe suspects his essence behind the manifestations in the manor which are growing more powerful and wreaking ever more havoc. Phoebe's noisy, late night attempt to rid the house of any and all poltergeists does not have its intended effect, nor does it impress a wide-awake Piper and a dazed and confused Paige. Leo's efforts to allay the sisters' concerns by suggesting that, though annoying, the poltergeists pose no real threat is severely undermined when Phoebe is hoisted high in the foyer by a manifestation. Leo clearly has underestimated the ability of evil spirits to coalesce and undertake activities potentially harmful to the Charmed Ones.
The next morning Phoebe resolves to solve the problem once and for all by consulting the Book of Shadows. Her solution: to call upon witchdoctors to drive evil spirits from the manor evokes a cautionary warning from Leo. Witchdoctors, though not evil entities themselves, cannot always be trusted. As a result, the Elders prefer not to work with them. Given Piper's distrust and dislike of the Elders, it is no wonder that she interprets Leo's words as practically an invitation to conjure a witchdoctor.
Ridding the manor of evil is a task the witchdoctor adeptly handles, although the misplaced and overturned furniture indicate that it still was quite a struggle. However, the witchdoctor grows alarmed at the sheer amount of evil essence in the house. He fears that the sisters are not equal to the threat posed by such evil. Taking personal mementoes from each of the Charmed Ones, the witchdoctor returns to his fold, shares his experience at the manor, and suggests that the sisters be tested.
Much like the Season 3 episode where the sisters repressed character traits are allowed to unfurl without inhibition, Piper's obsession with cleanliness causes her ultimately to cause the manor to vanish, Phoebe's obsession with killing the competition sees her turn a fellow advice columnist into a sexist tom turkey fit to be slaughtered, while Paige, jealous of on-again, off again Glenn's bride-to-be, sends her to the hell-mouth while she (Paige) glams in the would-be bride's place.. Belatedly, Leo recognizes that the sisters have been placed under a spell. His suspicions of the witchdoctor confirmed, Leo endeavors to shake first Paige, then Piper, from the spell by confronting each with the harmful consequences of their actions. Paige and Piper together pay a visit to the witchdoctors to set the record straight and explain that as the Charmed Ones they are a magnet for evil, an evil which they have repeatedly shown they can withstand, do battle and ultimately vanquish. The witchdoctors relent, remove the spell from Phoebe and gain, we hope, a better appreciation of the Charmed Ones.
House Call exceeds expectations and is able to provide an excellent transition to the new reality of Charmedverse, a reality where Cole will recede into further and further into memory, occasionally recalled, but no longer a factor until Season 7 when his now chastened character is revived in Seven Year Witch.
The next morning Phoebe resolves to solve the problem once and for all by consulting the Book of Shadows. Her solution: to call upon witchdoctors to drive evil spirits from the manor evokes a cautionary warning from Leo. Witchdoctors, though not evil entities themselves, cannot always be trusted. As a result, the Elders prefer not to work with them. Given Piper's distrust and dislike of the Elders, it is no wonder that she interprets Leo's words as practically an invitation to conjure a witchdoctor.
Ridding the manor of evil is a task the witchdoctor adeptly handles, although the misplaced and overturned furniture indicate that it still was quite a struggle. However, the witchdoctor grows alarmed at the sheer amount of evil essence in the house. He fears that the sisters are not equal to the threat posed by such evil. Taking personal mementoes from each of the Charmed Ones, the witchdoctor returns to his fold, shares his experience at the manor, and suggests that the sisters be tested.
Much like the Season 3 episode where the sisters repressed character traits are allowed to unfurl without inhibition, Piper's obsession with cleanliness causes her ultimately to cause the manor to vanish, Phoebe's obsession with killing the competition sees her turn a fellow advice columnist into a sexist tom turkey fit to be slaughtered, while Paige, jealous of on-again, off again Glenn's bride-to-be, sends her to the hell-mouth while she (Paige) glams in the would-be bride's place.. Belatedly, Leo recognizes that the sisters have been placed under a spell. His suspicions of the witchdoctor confirmed, Leo endeavors to shake first Paige, then Piper, from the spell by confronting each with the harmful consequences of their actions. Paige and Piper together pay a visit to the witchdoctors to set the record straight and explain that as the Charmed Ones they are a magnet for evil, an evil which they have repeatedly shown they can withstand, do battle and ultimately vanquish. The witchdoctors relent, remove the spell from Phoebe and gain, we hope, a better appreciation of the Charmed Ones.
House Call exceeds expectations and is able to provide an excellent transition to the new reality of Charmedverse, a reality where Cole will recede into further and further into memory, occasionally recalled, but no longer a factor until Season 7 when his now chastened character is revived in Seven Year Witch.