Episode Report Card Demian: D | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Magic Hour
By Demian | Season 3 | Episode 2 | Aired on 10.11.2000
I can't believe I just typed that last sentence.
Cut to the attic, where Phoebe rants to herself about curses as she flips through the pages of the BoS. An unseen force flips the pages to the Handfasting listing, and Phoebe snits out, "Okay, I asked for a --" only to be interrupted by a disembodied voice. "You asked for an answer." Phoebe recognizes the voice, and Grams materializes in a swirl of glowing golf balls. It's Veronica's mom! Hi, Mrs. Sawyer. Would you like some pâté? Rocket scientist Phoebe rushes to hug Grams, but pulls herself up short when she realizes she can do no such thing with a ghost. Phoebe asks why Grams decided to drop by, Grams replies that she knows Phoebe needs some advice on a "certain sister situation," Phoebe worries that if Grams knows about it, "they" must know about it, and Grams reassures her that she's past "them" now, and the secret of the three Ps is safe with her. Phoebe admits to her misgivings about the impending turnip, and Grams tells her not to worry. She reminds Phoebe that "the charmed ones are destined for greatness," but that she also knows that fact "won't keep a girl warm on a cold winter's night." She can still remember the loneliness from her mortal life -- despite her four marriages -- and thinks Piper might have found in Leo a remedy for that loneliness. She urges Phoebe to let Piper and Leo give it a chance. Before disappearing back into the swarm of golf balls, Grams notes that when the time is right for Piper and Leo to unite in Handfasting or any other ritual, they'll feel it. "They'll know." Phoebe gets called away by Piper as Grams disappears. I liked that scene, and the reason is not my lingering good will for Jennifer Rhodes. In one scene, they cut to the heart of the plotline without the agonizing dithering and chattering, and without the pointless and irritating subplot. Can we skip to the end, now? Please?
Dammit. Well, at least this bit has a little vanquishing action. Piper runs to the staircase, calling out for Phoebe. Right on her tail is UFH II with his crossbow. As Piper raises her arms to freeze him, UFH II quickly fires off a couple of arrows that pin her sleeves to the wall. Phoebe, yodeling as she is wont to do in crisis situations, rushes downstairs, only to be stopped by an arrow that hits the wall right in front of her nose. Prue enters, TKing UFH II into an armoire. Phoebe and Prue free Piper, who says, "He could have killed me," eliciting from Prue, "The question is, why didn't he?" UFH II emerges from the ruined armoire to sneer, "Because I don't want you, I want the bird. Where is he?" Brooke wanders in to yell, "No," giving UFH II the opportunity to take aim at her. Slow motion sequence of Eye Candy the Owl flying in, an arrow released, anguished Brooke clutching her head and dropping to her knees, and, for some reason, Phoebe glancing sideways at the action to her right. Prue coolly TKs the arrow in her hand into firing position, and sends it straight into UFH II's chest. Fiery vanquishing ensues. Hooray! The Ps hustle to Brooke's side, and I madly giggle myself into a puddle on the carpet at the sight of the actress playing Brooke gingerly picking up a fake owl with a three-foot-long arrow sticking up out of its side while she weeps and croons, "Baby. Baby." The three Ps exchange Looks of Concern as we cut to commercial.