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
Cannon Theater Crime Scene. The gals plus Darryl duck beneath the yellow tape to enter the alley as Darryl warns them to keep a low profile. Piper notices the scorch mark on the brick wall, and correctly surmises that the blonde wasn't the only victim. Phoebe peers at the mark and rues her decision to leave Cole back at the house, as he might be able to identify the perpetrator from the residue on the wall. She asks Darryl whether anyone from the district attorney's office is on the scene, intending to summon Cole should the situation allow. Darryl nods and gestures toward a gentleman interviewing a woman in a hideous red bucket hat and what appears to be a rainbow-striped kaftan. She's "one of the victim's friends," he tells the Ps as he slides an evidence bag out of his jacket pocket. It contains the blonde's necklace. Raige immediately identifies the charm as a "triple crescent." "An ancient Wiccan symbol," she continues, good little student of the dark arts she has become. "A cousin to the triquatra." Piper supposes the charm could indicate that the blonde was a member of one of San Francisco's many, many covens. Once again, these women need to compile a directory of San Franciscan witches and covens. It really would make their jobs that much easier. Piper ponders the odds of Kaftan Kathy being a witch as well. Phoebe decides they're good enough to warrant a little chat. Darryl warns her again to keep a low profile as she wanders away.
Over in Kaftan Kathy's neck of the crime scene, the guy from the D.A.'s office appears to be conducting the interview on the very spot where the Garthalike dropped the corpse. How...unprofessional. The camera pans up Kaftan Kathy's bosom to linger on the triple-crescent charm dangling from her neck. Also, she's not wearing a kaftan. It's one of those terribly unflattering calf-length knit sweater-jackets I thought had been relegated to the dustbin of bad '70s fashion fads many, many years ago. Calf-Length Kathy denies that the deceased blonde had any enemies. When the shot shifts to her point of view, the guy from the D.A.'s office is revealed to be the Garthalike. How...unsurprising. He hands Calf-Length Kathy his card, giving her the old "call if you can think of anything else" speech before heading off to consult with some cops. Calf-Length Kathy hugs herself and totters towards the pay phone. Phoebe startles her by leaping out behind her and announcing, "I like your necklace!" "Do I know you?" Kathy asks. Phoebe clues her in on the whole Charmed Ones thing. I am terribly grateful when Kathy does not respond with "blessed be" or some other such crap. Phoebe correctly assumes that Kathy and the victim were in the same coven, and that said coven utilizes the triple crescent as its symbol. She touches the charm and is flung into a vision. The Garthalike, in demonic form, grabs Calf-Length Kathy in a park-like setting and runs her through with his dagger. Piper and Raige rush over for the details. When Phoebe mentions that the premonition involved some sort of amphitheater, Kathy immediately identifies the scene as the Stanley Arboretum, a park she passes through each morning on her way to work. Get ready for this: The Stanley Arboretum also really exists. Color me shocked. Which one of you mailed a map of the city to the writers' room? Anyway, Phoebe identifies the Garthalike demon as Belthazorish, though she's certain it's not Belthazor himself. Raige raises an eyebrow in disdain for Phoebe's choice in boyfriends, like, shut up, Raige. You cruise produce aisles for your slampieces, so it's not like your personal standards are so terribly high. Cow. The Garthalike spies the witchy confab and orders them to disperse. Darryl pretends he had nothing to do with the Ps invading the crime scene and escorts all four ladies out of the alley. The Garthalike glances around to ensure that no one is looking at him, then squiggles out.