Episode Report Card Demian: B+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Black as the Bitter, Bitter Heart Of Brad Kern
By Demian | Season 4 | Episode 8 | Aired on 11.14.2001
Down in the kitchen, Piper has Raige dump a pig's foot into the steaming broth on the stove. "Poor little piggy," Raige commiserates. "They're sensitive creatures, you know," she PSAs. "Smart, too." "Yeah, not that one," Piper offhandedly notes. Flames leap from the broth once the foot has been added. Piper, remembering what happened the last time they did this, instructs Raige to add the Garthalike bacon. Piper backs herself far away from the simmering pot as Raige uses a spatula to flip the bacon from the china plate into the stew. The broth, of course, explodes in her face, dumping her onto her ass on the floor. Why they didn't recite the spell beforehand is beyond me. "You did that on purpose, didn't you?" Raige grits from the floor. Piper chuckles as she helps Raige to her feet, admitting that the same thing happened to her and claiming that there's "no substitute for experience." Raige grins gamely and gives Piper a playful shove as Cole, having heard the explosion, enters to check on their well-being. Cole explains where Phoebe has gone, eliciting a derisive snort from Raige. Cole coolly tells her to cram it with the guilt. He's got enough of his own, thank you very much, so butt out. Raige isn't giving up so easily. Piper warns, "[Raige], don't." Raige wheels on her. "'Don't' what, Piper? He killed a man. Are you condoning that?" Piper none-too-gently slams a pair of potholders down. "It's just not that simple," Piper flatly states. "He can't change the past, and you've seen how much good he's helped us do. That's who he is now, and we accept that." Raige flicks a "whatever" shoulder and rolls her eyes as if to say, "Yeah, and Richard Speck grew titties down in Joliet while he was snorting coke off his boyfriend's ass." Cole steps toward Piper, thanking her. He asks if he can be of any assistance in tracking down the Garthalike. Piper's fine with that. What does Cole propose? Cole reasons that if the Garthalike is still "emulating" him, he'll focus on the Charmed Ones themselves next. First, though, he'd need to regroup. Piper guesses that the regrouping would take place at the Mausoleum's mausoleum. Right you are, says Cole, but the Garthalike would likely set a trap there for Cole and any other person who might be along for the ride. Not to worry, though -- Cole can sense any such trap. Piper grabs a bottle of the freshly brewed Garthalike vanquish, and the three make to leave.
Just then, the Dolt enters from the dining room, cradling the scorched bionic brat in his arms. Piper's all clutching her pearls and "Honey! What happened?" as if she hadn't hoped the brat had long since been sent to Hell. "Sykes," is the Dolt's pitiable, monosyllabic reply. Aw. The Dolt is so sad. "I guess you were right," he glums further. If he had a lower lip, it would be trembling right about now. Piper claims that she didn't want to be right, and strokes his arm. Raige rightfully rages, "Who's gonna pay for this?" Piper shoots her a look, then turns back to the Dolt. The three are on a Garthalike hunt, so the Dolt had better make himself scarce and take Calf-Length Kathy with him. She kisses him on the cheek and exits, a sullen Raige and nonchalant Cole following closely behind. Left alone, the Dolt holds up the scorched brat, and its left leg drops off to the floor. It would have been amusing were it not for the accompanying Belching Oboe Of Baby Care Gone Horribly Awry.