Episode Report Card Demian: C | 11 USERS: C+ YOU GRADE IT Charmed Again, Part The First
By Demian | Season 4 | Episode 1 | Aired on 2001.10.04
Piper wipes away a stray tear as Phoebe calls her name from downstairs. For a moment Piper foolishly believes Prue has returned and rises up a bit, then slumps back into her seat, defeated. Phoebe enters the attic and crosses to her with concern. "What are you doing?" she asks gently. "It's four o'clock in the morning." To the credit of both Holly Marie Combs and the make-up artist, Piper looks realistically haggard. Her eyes are swollen and red, and her skin's a bit blotchy. Phoebe notes the cut on Piper's finger and moves to wrap it in a white cloth. Piper distractedly mutters something about not understanding why magic can't help the gals out in the current situation. "It's not like we haven't cheated death before," she snuffles. By way of explaining why Piper survived the season-ending attack by Fruma-Shax on herself and Prue, Phoebe replies coolly, "Leo can't heal the dead." So, apparently, we are to believe that the Dolt was not able to return from Hell in time to apply the special Whitelighter tingly touch to both affected sisters. Whatever. Alyssa had Shannen fired. That's all you really need to know. Piper carries on about mysterious "other magic" that should be working, but isn't. Rising a bit unsteadily to her feet while slamming the BoS shut, she babbles, "It's like the Book deserted us and deserted Prue and I don't. Understand. Why!" This last word is delivered as a near-howl of frustrated anguish, and I would have gotten a bit moist had not near-howls of frustrated anguish become so distressingly commonplace in recent days. Phoebe chokes up a bit and splutters, "We lost our sister. How can we ever understand that?" Piper dissolves into sobs and collapses into Phoebe's embrace. Over Piper's shoulder, Phoebe continues, "I just thank God I didn't lose you, too." Phoebe kisses Piper's forehead as she pulls out of the hug. "We have to get some rest," she urges. "Prue would never forgive us if we looked bad at her funeral." Piper allows a brief smirk of wry-yet-damp assent at that statement, and the two shuffle out of the attic. The camera pans down past their retreating forms to the BoS.