Charmed (TV Series) Wicca Envy (1999) User Reviews

Guard Angel?

[claudio_carvalho · 9/10 · 18 January 2007]

The evil warlock Rex Buckland uses astral projection to control the mind of Prue and make her steal a one million dollars tiara. Rex and Hannah frame Prue, trying to destroy the power of three and stop the charmed ones. When Prue is arrested, Phoebe and Piper look for evidences to prove the innocence of their sister and disclose the truth about Rex. However, he blackmails the three sisters forcing them to use a stripping spell from the Book of Shadows and lose their power. But a guard angel restores the Book of Shadows and the power of three.

"Wicca Envy" is a great episode of "Charmed", with revelations and conclusions. The power of the diabolic Rex and Hannah are disclosed and the greatest surprise is the power of another mysterious character, a sort of a guard angel of the Halliwell sisters. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "Cobiçando as Bruxas" ("Coveting the Witches")

An Angel to Watch Over Me

[seneuser · 9/10 · 11 October 2023]

This banger episode was supposedly the original finale for Season 1 of Charmed, and that partially explains why not only it is so good but also why there are so many huge easter eggs laid for future seasons.

This is the first time we see astral projection, the first time a recurring bad guy is vanquished, the first time the sisters lose all their powers, the first time we see Leo's powers and get some idea of what he is, and it is the first time the Source is alluded to.

Rex is also the first bad guy to attack the sisters by sabotaging their everyday lives rather than attacking them as witches. He first gets Prue set up for theft, which only ends up being the motive for murder, which lands Prue in jail. The entire set up is smartly done, and Rex's combo power of astral projection and suggestion is impressive. With all the sisters in legal trouble, Rex offers making their problems go away if they give him their powers in return.

Foolishly, they agree, in the one stupid plot point in this episode. What makes the sisters think Rex will fulfill any of his part of the bargain? Obviously, like any other warlock, he'll look to kill them once he has their powers. Fortunately for the sisters, Leo is looking out for them and restores the Book of Shadows, giving their powers back in the nick of time, soon enough to turn the tables on Rex and Hannah, who it is revealed in the final moments were sent by a higher, or lower, power.

The sisters should have never given up their powers, and Leo displays powers he doesn't even have. But this is otherwise a great episode and clearly one of the best of Season 1.

The One Where The Charmed Ones Are Blackmailed...

[taylorkingston · 10/10 · 22 April 2015]

This is one of my all-time favorite episodes from Season 1, as well as the entire series. I just love it so much. I love to see the Charmed Ones in a venerable position, as well as seeing their reactions to Rex and Hannah's big reveal.

In this episode, Prue is framed by Rex and Hannah. Rex has magically manipulated Prue, without her realizing it, to steal a priceless tiara, stolen from Buckland's Auction House. Later in the episode, Prue finds the body of the security guard, and the police believe she murdered him. Prue is taken into custody, and when Phoebe and Piper magically break her out, Rex takes a photo to blackmail them. He demands that they use a spell from the Book Of Shadows that will relinquish their powers, and then their powers will be sucked into a magically lantern, so Rex will be able to access them. The sisters realize they have no choice but to follow the demands. They reluctantly relinquish their powers and then take the lantern to Buckland's. When they do, before being killed, they somehow get their powers back and then Rex and Hannah are vanquished, by what we assume is other evil beings. It turns out that Leo, the handyman that Piper is dating, is actually some kind of magically being, and he seemed to heal the Book Of Shadows. Spoiler for upcoming episodes, Leo is a whitelighter, sent to protect the Charmed Ones.

Fun Fact: This is the first time, of many, that the Charmed Ones lose their powers.

Fun Fact: The first time Leo shows a sign of being a magical being.

Fun Fact: Last appearance of Rex and Hannah.

Fun Fact: This is the first episode to show someone orbing.

Fun Fact: The apartment where Rex invites Phoebe, is actually the same apartment Cole and Phoebe live in, in Season 4.

Overall, I give this episode a 10 out of 10, which in my ratings book is: Freaking ridonkulous.

I didn't do it

[Realrockerhalloween · 8 September 2016]

Wicca Envy has Prue being set up for robbery and murder by her two warlock bosses. Andy and Darell lead the investigation to prove the sisters are innocent for the crimes and implement the hustlers resuming the lives of the real Rex and Hannah.

While a nice episode in its own right I feel it was best served for last by having Prue deal with warlocks at work for a season and deal with horrible bosses. Season two could pick up with A demon giving them legal trouble and gives Season two A big bad to deal with instead of random stories. Hannah even shows how smart, crafty and evil she is by implementing the crime one piece at a time and leading Prue through the motions to be frame. Rex surprising gains new abilities out of nowhere, never displaying astral project before, to woe the youngest Halliwell though he looks to old for her myself. I loved seeing every lead get a part to play and each succeeded in saving the day in their own capable unique way.

It was cool and scary to first see hints of The Source behind the whole scheme setting up his character arch perfectly. A great middle finale best left for the end in my opinion.