Charmed – S1E17 – That 70s Episode
I love this episode. There are some really sweet moments of the girls getting to see their mother and grams, and we get to learn more about the sisters’ past.
So, in earlier episodes it has been addressed that Phoebe has issues with the fact that she doesn’t have any memories of her mother due to being so young when her mother died. This episode offers her the opportunity of a lifetime – the chance to go back in time and see what her mother was like. Obviously there is a lot of emotional weight to this episode, not just for Phoebe, but for all three siblings. Not only do they see their mother, but also their recently deceased grandmother as well. You can’t help but feel bad for Phoebe, who, despite being the one most desperate to connect with their mother, volunteers to wait outside the diner while her sisters go talk to her. I thought it was perfect that she was, essentially, rewarded for her sacrifice by having that sweet solo encounter with Patty as she is leaving work.
One of the biggest revelations for this episode is the girls learning that they had powers when they were kids. There are some unanswered questions of what specifically led to Grams binding their powers, and why they don’t remember having them. They discuss how much control and “juice” their younger selves had, so it seems strange that there is no real explanation for why they lost them. As far as the not remembering, I would be inclined to believe that Grams used memory dust on them after binding their powers. Along with these pieces of their magical past, it was also fun to learn little things like the fact that they have known Andy since they were kids, and that Phoebe used the vents in the kitchen to listen in on Prue and Andy in high school. These bits, while not necessarily significant to the overall story just add to the believability of the sisters’ history, and their relationships with one another. Patty and Grams had such a great relationship, and it was nice to be able to see what they were like. Finola Hughes is fantastic as Patty. It also gives viewers an idea of what it was like for the girls to live with Grams.
Aside from the more dramatic elements of the episode, there are several priceless moments of comedy as well. Particularly the encounters with the adorable little Prue and little Piper. Adult Prue and Piper continuing the argument started by their younger selves over the doll was classic sibling stuff. I also appreciated the running gag of Prue not being able to figure out which tense to use.
The biggest issue I have with this episode is that the rules for time travel are not well defined. This is something that becomes apparent in later episodes as well, as the methods and rules for time travel are generally convenient for whatever the episode needs to progress the plot of the episode. I still don’t get why Prue and Piper couldn’t tell their mother who they were in the diner, as it would not in any way alter their current existence.
Overall, like I said, I love this episode. The information about the girls’ past, and the opportunity for viewers to see Patty and Phoebe together make it one of my favorite episodes from the first season, and one I love to revisit.
Best Moment(s):
-Phoebe gets to talk to Patty outside the diner
-Grams grills the sisters
Best Sibling Moment(s):
-Talks about the photographs
-Prue and Piper with their younger selves
Best Quote(s):
Piper: What? I'm supposed to throw out perfectly good flowers 'cause they came from a creep? If that was the rule then we'd never have flowers in this house.
Penny: Fine, if you must go, go; I can't stop you. But I also can't promise I won't teach the girls a new spell while you're gone.
Patty: Can't you just bake cookies with them like all the other grandmothers?
Penny: The recipes they learn from me don't come from Betty Crocker, dear.
Grams: You're going to be a handful, aren't you?
Phoebe: Oh, you'll learn to love me.
Phoebe: Every time I've made a wish, I've wished for time with Mom. And I believed in my heart that some day, some how, that wish would come true.
Grams: Well, look at you. All three of you. Oh, Patty, I always knew I'd deliver the Charmed Ones. (Patty and the girls give her a look) Once removed of course.
I love this episode. There are some really sweet moments of the girls getting to see their mother and grams, and we get to learn more about the sisters’ past.
So, in earlier episodes it has been addressed that Phoebe has issues with the fact that she doesn’t have any memories of her mother due to being so young when her mother died. This episode offers her the opportunity of a lifetime – the chance to go back in time and see what her mother was like. Obviously there is a lot of emotional weight to this episode, not just for Phoebe, but for all three siblings. Not only do they see their mother, but also their recently deceased grandmother as well. You can’t help but feel bad for Phoebe, who, despite being the one most desperate to connect with their mother, volunteers to wait outside the diner while her sisters go talk to her. I thought it was perfect that she was, essentially, rewarded for her sacrifice by having that sweet solo encounter with Patty as she is leaving work.
One of the biggest revelations for this episode is the girls learning that they had powers when they were kids. There are some unanswered questions of what specifically led to Grams binding their powers, and why they don’t remember having them. They discuss how much control and “juice” their younger selves had, so it seems strange that there is no real explanation for why they lost them. As far as the not remembering, I would be inclined to believe that Grams used memory dust on them after binding their powers. Along with these pieces of their magical past, it was also fun to learn little things like the fact that they have known Andy since they were kids, and that Phoebe used the vents in the kitchen to listen in on Prue and Andy in high school. These bits, while not necessarily significant to the overall story just add to the believability of the sisters’ history, and their relationships with one another. Patty and Grams had such a great relationship, and it was nice to be able to see what they were like. Finola Hughes is fantastic as Patty. It also gives viewers an idea of what it was like for the girls to live with Grams.
Aside from the more dramatic elements of the episode, there are several priceless moments of comedy as well. Particularly the encounters with the adorable little Prue and little Piper. Adult Prue and Piper continuing the argument started by their younger selves over the doll was classic sibling stuff. I also appreciated the running gag of Prue not being able to figure out which tense to use.
The biggest issue I have with this episode is that the rules for time travel are not well defined. This is something that becomes apparent in later episodes as well, as the methods and rules for time travel are generally convenient for whatever the episode needs to progress the plot of the episode. I still don’t get why Prue and Piper couldn’t tell their mother who they were in the diner, as it would not in any way alter their current existence.
Overall, like I said, I love this episode. The information about the girls’ past, and the opportunity for viewers to see Patty and Phoebe together make it one of my favorite episodes from the first season, and one I love to revisit.
Best Moment(s):
-Phoebe gets to talk to Patty outside the diner
-Grams grills the sisters
Best Sibling Moment(s):
-Talks about the photographs
-Prue and Piper with their younger selves
Best Quote(s):
Piper: What? I'm supposed to throw out perfectly good flowers 'cause they came from a creep? If that was the rule then we'd never have flowers in this house.
Penny: Fine, if you must go, go; I can't stop you. But I also can't promise I won't teach the girls a new spell while you're gone.
Patty: Can't you just bake cookies with them like all the other grandmothers?
Penny: The recipes they learn from me don't come from Betty Crocker, dear.
Grams: You're going to be a handful, aren't you?
Phoebe: Oh, you'll learn to love me.
Phoebe: Every time I've made a wish, I've wished for time with Mom. And I believed in my heart that some day, some how, that wish would come true.
Grams: Well, look at you. All three of you. Oh, Patty, I always knew I'd deliver the Charmed Ones. (Patty and the girls give her a look) Once removed of course.