Charmed – S1E7 – The Fourth Sister
This episode has some really good points, and some really bad ones. I think overall the demon storyline itself is pretty interesting, but there are some big character flaws that I just can’t quite get past. Most of the episode’s redeeming qualities come from the more “real life” events occurring in the main characters lives.
The best part of the episode? Leo!! So, basically, Piper and Phoebe have started a sibling war to see who can get the attention of Leo the handyman. Some of the jabs that they make at one another provide some comedy in the episode. Particularly when Leo thinks that Phoebe and Aviva are a couple. That leads to his extra awkward questioning of Phoebe, who, upon figuring out where he is going with his questions has her own jab to dish about Piper’s apparent mental state. Oh siblings. In my personal opinion, Leo seems more interested in Piper, but maybe that’s just me.
Our demon of the episode, Kali, feels like more of a threat to innocents than to the sisters themselves. She’s not really dangerous unless you are someone who is easily manipulated like Aviva. Speaking of Aviva, she is quite possibly the most easily manipulated person I have ever seen on television. I mean, some of the lines that Kali feeds her are so obviously lies. Dense much? Sorry, but I did not like Aviva at all. In terms of what Kali is trying to accomplish by using Aviva, I’m not sure why she thinks she will be able to replace Prue in the power of three, as that is more or less a like a blood bond and something specific to the Halliwell sisters themselves. Unless Kali is merely using this as a manipulation tactic to make Aviva think she is going to end up being included and that she will finally feel accepted. That I could buy.
So, I’m gonna be upfront and say that this review is going to be heavily Prue friendly in terms of the Aviva story. Aviva’s character honestly just annoyed me for most of the episode. To be so bold as to walk into someone’s home without being invited and then proceed to tell them what they can and can’t do, or that you’re not going to leave until they accept you, and then she wonders why Prue doesn’t like her or trust her. Seriously? Prue was 100% in the right with all of this. What is also frustrating about Aviva’s role in this episode is that suddenly Phoebe is reverted back to teenager status. She essentially ditches school with Aviva, they have a sleepover, and they get caught doing something they shouldn’t when Prue walks in on Aviva showing Phoebe Kali’s power. It’s frustrating to me that they’ve been showing Phoebe grow as a character in terms of maturity over the last few episodes, and then they turn around and revert her back to immature teenager status to suit the needs of this episode. Possibly the most annoying thing is that when Aviva flat out insults Prue to Phoebe’s face, Phoebe barely even tries to defend her. As someone who has a sibling, I don’t care how much I like you, if you talk crap about my sibling, I’m not going to be your friend. Phoebe just brushes it off and is basically like yeah, I guess you’re right. She makes more effort to defend Aviva than she does to defend Prue. I love Phoebe, so I feel like the fact that I was annoyed with her in this episode says something. It just seems like it was out of character. I mean, I know her and Prue don’t necessarily get along all that well, but you defend family. Plain and simple.
The final point of discussion for this episode lies in what has now become of Andy and Prue’s relationship. After all this time, their relationship has come full circle. Now it is Andy who seems to want out, while Prue is trying, and failing miserably to hold on. I actually felt really bad for Prue in this episode. She was trying so hard to have a nice date with Andy, and between her sisters and Aviva, it just was not happening. I mostly blame Aviva, so add that to the list of reasons why I hate her character. You really cannot blame Andy for being upset either. Everything he said was completely valid. Anyway, I’m not sure how to feel about Prue and Andy’s relationship at this point. I mean, I want them to be together, but at the same time, I don’t want to go back to the hot and cold thing they were doing in the first couple of episodes. Maybe a break would be good for them. One last thing though, why didn’t Andy say anything to Prue about Aviva’s wicca comment? That surprised me.
Overall, I realize that this review kind of sounds like I am bashing the episode quite a bit, but really, I’m mostly just bashing Aviva and Kali. I thought the other parts of the episode were really well done, especially the ones involving Leo. Do you get the idea that I like him? It’s sometimes hard for me to give too much praise to these earlier episodes just because I know how good the show can be, having seen later episodes. If you are new to the show, stick with me on this rewatch journey and you’ll see what I mean.
Best Quote(s):
Phoebe: Quite possibly the finest glutes in the city.
Piper: In the state.
Phoebe: In all the land.
Phoebe: My, Santa, you’ve changed.
Aviva: I like mirrors. They never lie to you. They always tell the truth whether you like it or not.
Best Moment:
Leo awkwardly trying to ask Phoebe if she and Aviva are a couple.
The fire place scene in the beginning with Leo, Piper and Phoebe.
Best Sibling Moment:
Phoebe and Piper declaring war over Leo.
Prue pushes both Piper and Phoebe out of the way of the fireball.
This episode has some really good points, and some really bad ones. I think overall the demon storyline itself is pretty interesting, but there are some big character flaws that I just can’t quite get past. Most of the episode’s redeeming qualities come from the more “real life” events occurring in the main characters lives.
The best part of the episode? Leo!! So, basically, Piper and Phoebe have started a sibling war to see who can get the attention of Leo the handyman. Some of the jabs that they make at one another provide some comedy in the episode. Particularly when Leo thinks that Phoebe and Aviva are a couple. That leads to his extra awkward questioning of Phoebe, who, upon figuring out where he is going with his questions has her own jab to dish about Piper’s apparent mental state. Oh siblings. In my personal opinion, Leo seems more interested in Piper, but maybe that’s just me.
Our demon of the episode, Kali, feels like more of a threat to innocents than to the sisters themselves. She’s not really dangerous unless you are someone who is easily manipulated like Aviva. Speaking of Aviva, she is quite possibly the most easily manipulated person I have ever seen on television. I mean, some of the lines that Kali feeds her are so obviously lies. Dense much? Sorry, but I did not like Aviva at all. In terms of what Kali is trying to accomplish by using Aviva, I’m not sure why she thinks she will be able to replace Prue in the power of three, as that is more or less a like a blood bond and something specific to the Halliwell sisters themselves. Unless Kali is merely using this as a manipulation tactic to make Aviva think she is going to end up being included and that she will finally feel accepted. That I could buy.
So, I’m gonna be upfront and say that this review is going to be heavily Prue friendly in terms of the Aviva story. Aviva’s character honestly just annoyed me for most of the episode. To be so bold as to walk into someone’s home without being invited and then proceed to tell them what they can and can’t do, or that you’re not going to leave until they accept you, and then she wonders why Prue doesn’t like her or trust her. Seriously? Prue was 100% in the right with all of this. What is also frustrating about Aviva’s role in this episode is that suddenly Phoebe is reverted back to teenager status. She essentially ditches school with Aviva, they have a sleepover, and they get caught doing something they shouldn’t when Prue walks in on Aviva showing Phoebe Kali’s power. It’s frustrating to me that they’ve been showing Phoebe grow as a character in terms of maturity over the last few episodes, and then they turn around and revert her back to immature teenager status to suit the needs of this episode. Possibly the most annoying thing is that when Aviva flat out insults Prue to Phoebe’s face, Phoebe barely even tries to defend her. As someone who has a sibling, I don’t care how much I like you, if you talk crap about my sibling, I’m not going to be your friend. Phoebe just brushes it off and is basically like yeah, I guess you’re right. She makes more effort to defend Aviva than she does to defend Prue. I love Phoebe, so I feel like the fact that I was annoyed with her in this episode says something. It just seems like it was out of character. I mean, I know her and Prue don’t necessarily get along all that well, but you defend family. Plain and simple.
The final point of discussion for this episode lies in what has now become of Andy and Prue’s relationship. After all this time, their relationship has come full circle. Now it is Andy who seems to want out, while Prue is trying, and failing miserably to hold on. I actually felt really bad for Prue in this episode. She was trying so hard to have a nice date with Andy, and between her sisters and Aviva, it just was not happening. I mostly blame Aviva, so add that to the list of reasons why I hate her character. You really cannot blame Andy for being upset either. Everything he said was completely valid. Anyway, I’m not sure how to feel about Prue and Andy’s relationship at this point. I mean, I want them to be together, but at the same time, I don’t want to go back to the hot and cold thing they were doing in the first couple of episodes. Maybe a break would be good for them. One last thing though, why didn’t Andy say anything to Prue about Aviva’s wicca comment? That surprised me.
Overall, I realize that this review kind of sounds like I am bashing the episode quite a bit, but really, I’m mostly just bashing Aviva and Kali. I thought the other parts of the episode were really well done, especially the ones involving Leo. Do you get the idea that I like him? It’s sometimes hard for me to give too much praise to these earlier episodes just because I know how good the show can be, having seen later episodes. If you are new to the show, stick with me on this rewatch journey and you’ll see what I mean.
Best Quote(s):
Phoebe: Quite possibly the finest glutes in the city.
Piper: In the state.
Phoebe: In all the land.
Phoebe: My, Santa, you’ve changed.
Aviva: I like mirrors. They never lie to you. They always tell the truth whether you like it or not.
Best Moment:
Leo awkwardly trying to ask Phoebe if she and Aviva are a couple.
The fire place scene in the beginning with Leo, Piper and Phoebe.
Best Sibling Moment:
Phoebe and Piper declaring war over Leo.
Prue pushes both Piper and Phoebe out of the way of the fireball.