"Charmed" The Last Temptation of Christy (2006)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

John T. Kretchmer

Writers:

Rick Muirragui (story)
Liz Sagal (writer)

TV Series:

"Charmed" (1998)

Original Air Date:

19 February 2006 (Season 8, Episode 15)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Mystery | Romance

Plot:

Billie and the Charmed Ones deal with Christy's return, while a surprise suitor appears to ask for Paige's hand in marriage. Meanwhile, Piper runs into an old flame, and demons plot to recapture Christy. |

Plot Keywords:

Pyrokinesis | Wiccan | Demon | Witchcraft | Power Of Three

Cast

Alyssa Milano	...	Phoebe Halliwell
Rose McGowan	...	Paige Matthews
Holly Marie Combs	...	Piper Halliwell
Kaley Cuoco	...	Billie Jenkins
Brian Krause	...	Leo Wyatt (credit only)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Leland Crooke	...	Candor
Warren Derosa	...	Simon Marks
Joshua Feinman	...	Scather Guard (as Josh Feinman)
Allan Louis	...	Dreylock
Jason Manuel Olazabal	...	Java
Søren Oliver	...	Asmodeus
Steven J. Oliver	...	Asmodeus
Marnette Patterson	...	Christy Jenkins
Ivan Sergei	...	Henry Mitchell
Jason Shaw	...	Greg
Jason Simmons	...	Wyatt Halliwell
Kristopher Simmons	...	Wyatt Halliwell

Runtime:

42 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Certification:

Mexico:B | USA:TV-PG

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

The title is a parody of the movie The Last Temptation of Christ (1988).

Quotes:

Henry Mitchell: I mean, I faced demons and fireballs, magical suitors, orbing... I mean, I think I passed the test, right?
Paige Matthews: What test?
Henry Mitchell: You love me, don't you?
Paige Matthews: Yes, love I you.
Henry Mitchell: Cause... Paige, will you marry me?
Paige Matthews: Yes.
[accepts ring and giggles]

Movie Connections:

References The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)

Hell is paved with good intentions

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

I am getting really annoyed with season 8 so far, and this episode caps it all. The pity is that it could have been so much better.

Now, I actually think it was a clever idea to skip Billie and Christy's long-awaited reunion, and to start right afterward. And obviously, growing up in the Underworld has to have left leave some marks on poor Christy, so we're all interested in what could happen. Especially if she's connected with the imminent Ultimate Battle. Moreover, having Piper and Paige defend their couples against potential other loves, was also an interesting idea since Piper is practically a widow and Paige is at a turning point of her love life, with the obvious quandaries that go with Henry's lack of magic.

But I'm afraid these are all the positive things I can find to say here. Seriously. Billie is a nice girl, but her résumé already remind me a bit too much of the OTHER perky, blonde, teenage demon-slayer. And now we learn that her newfound sister is "the Key" ?! Does anyone have a vampire to lend the show please ? .... Well, no vampire... but the annoying British guy is there all right. Or a very crude caricature of him. Really, he's just there so Henry can prove his manliness and affection before proposing to Paige -which is a nice scene, by the way, but one that is almost spoiled by the sheer stupidity of what comes before. Piper is a little better off, but who believed for one instant that Greg had a chance ? I couldn't even remember who he was ! Why not use Dan, who had been such a rival to Leo years ago ? As for Phoebe, she barely has a cameo in this episode, which just isn't right.

This leaves us with Billie and Christy. Nice opportunity here, and the fact that most of the key events occur off screen could have been an interesting choice ; except that, since the big crisis is solved in 30s, the "interesting choice" feels more like a very, very tight budget. Now, after watching the next episodes, I realise there is a logic there, but this doesn't really make up for what is missing.