Charmed (season 8)

Charmed (season 8)
DVD cover
Starring
No. of episodes 22
Release
Original network The WB
Original release September 25, 2005 (2005-09-25) – May 21, 2006 (2006-05-21)
Season chronology

The eighth and final season of Charmed, an American supernatural drama television series created by Constance M. Burge, began airing on The WB in the United States on September 25, 2005. Airing on Sundays at 8:00 pm, the season consisted of 22 episodes and concluded its airing on May 21, 2006, only four months before The WB shut down to merge with UPN to form The CW.

Paramount Home Entertainment released the complete final season in a six-disc box set on September 11, 2007.

Cast and characters

Main

Episodes

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code		US viewers
(millions)
1571"Still Charmed & Kicking"James L. ConwayBrad KernSeptember 25, 2005 (2005-09-25)62015-08-1574.2[1]
The final season premieres after being presumed dead by the outside world, the sisters cast a spell so that their appearance is altered to the outside world, but not to those closest to them. Though Phoebe and Piper begin to adapt to a magic-free life, Paige cannot escape her Whitelighter half, which continues to tell her that there is a new charge in the world that needs her. There are also those who do not believe the Halliwells to be dead, and seek to prove it. Paige has trouble locating her charge, and when she finally catches up with the young witch, she finds that Billie has embarked on a solo vigilante career to do good and combat demons, but soon finds she has gotten in over her head. Paige takes up a career as a police recruit, hoping fighting evil that way will fulfil her needs, but has to leave training to rescue Billie.
1582"Malice in Wonderland"Mel DamskiBrad KernOctober 2, 2005 (2005-10-02)62015-08-1583.8[2]
Hoping to lure the Charmed ones out of hiding, Haas, a young demon suspecting they've survived and wanting to take over the rule of the Underworld by taking their powers, uses the Alice's Adventures in Wonderland fairy tale to prey on victims. Paige's new charge in her whitelighter career, a young attractive blonde college co-ed with enviable martial arts skills, Billie Jenkins embarks on a career as a white witch vigilante fighting demons in leather and mask, and soon stumbles onto the wonderland victims, and eventually ends up in over her head after spurring help and contact from Paige. Consequently, Paige takes training as a police recruit, hoping to satisfy her continuing need to fight evil while Phoebe and Piper masquerade as cousins of themselves and humorously end up in positions with the paper and at the P3 club doing pretty much what they had done before faking their deaths. Paige gets the hots for one of her instructors and is happy to have to leave training to rescue Billie and begin not just one, but two new relationships, both of a much more satisfactory nature, though still wonders what to do for work.
1593"Run, Piper, Run"Derek JohansenCameron LitvackOctober 9, 2005 (2005-10-09)62015-08-1594.1[3]
Looking for a new career path, Piper goes on an interview with a corporate recruiter, but is soon arrested when a background check reveals that the physical appearance she adopted was that of a model wanted for murder. In fact, the model was innocent, framed by her obsessive and evil ex-boyfriend who is a crooked assistant District Attorney on the take reacting to being abandoned and set her up least she give evidence against her. The Charmed Ones, with Bille's help, must come up with a plan to save her once they switch her into Pipers' jail cell and discover the truth. Consequently, they intervene first to prevent her murder and then taking inspiration from none other than the Demon of Fear, Barbas—conceive a plot to have the District Attorney implicate himself on tape in the murder, freeing his ex-lover from the threat of retribution.
1604"Desperate Housewitches"Jon ParéJeannine RenshawOctober 16, 2005 (2005-10-16)62015-08-1604.2[4]
Wyatt's school play Cinderella brings out the competitive nature in Piper when her hand-sewn costume and parenting abilities are criticized by another mother. Things go from bad to worse when it is revealed that this Stepford-wife-like "Oh-so-perfect" mother is in fact possessed by a demoness focused on kidnapping Piper's son Wyatt and using him in a plot with other demons to resurrect the Source of All Evil at Magic School; which the demons have forcibly taken possession of after the (believed and faked) deaths of the three Charmed Ones. Meanwhile, Paige sees Dex with another woman, who turns out to be his ex-girlfriend who is a compulsive liar, and despite Phoebe's objections, interferes by masquerading as the woman and expecting evidence Dex is two-timing Phoebe. Dex apologizes to Phoebe after Paige commits her interfering faux pas and her masquerade crashes, saying he probably shouldn't have stayed in touch with and should have made a more complete break with his old girl earning points for earnestness and honesty. Meanwhile, Billie and Leo sniff out the plot at magic school and research a spell to return Billie to our world for power-of-three reinforcements while Leo stays nearby with Wyatt who has accompanied the possessed mother there. With Wyatts powerful help, the demoness has conjured the source who appears to be fully resurrected and ready to take command again in the Underworld. Billie's timely return with Paige, Phoebe and Piper enables the three to intervene in the demon's festivities. Piper vanquishes both threats by dealing with the demoness—who has linked the two by her conjuration of the source which consequently was not as powerful and troublesome as the original incarnation of source because the magical link to the demoness gave it a new vulnerability.
1615"Rewitched"John KretchmerRob WrightOctober 23, 2005 (2005-10-23)62015-08-1614.2[5]
Unaware that she is being watched, Billie jeopardizes the Charmed Ones' new lives when Agent Murphy of Homeland Security, who has suspected all along that she and the "cousins" are involved in supernatural activities and that the Halliwell sisters are not dead, spots her using her powers to save an innocent. Meanwhile, Phoebe's planned overnight trip with Dex starts with an unexpected assist from Billie and comes to a surprising conclusion when Billie casts a spell from the book of shadows intending to help and to make her happy, with unexpected consequences. Both Paige and Phoebe, having repeatedly questioned the manner the three are living conclude that the situation is untenable as they are constantly living a lie with those they would trust, and innocents are suffering as well. As that happens, Agent Murphy having already approached Billie, confronts Piper and makes plain that he feels the world needs their continued ministrations. Billie sets a trap for the Demons and vanquishes the imp-master while the power of the three vanquish its master from ambush. At the end of the episode, the three agree that the masquerade should be canceled and uncast the magic which had disguised them. Approaching Agent Murphy, the three cut a deal to have him cover for them explaining away the inconvenience of their faked deaths as being due to national security concerns which allows them to resume life as themselves.
1626"Kill Billie Vol. 1"Michael GrossmanElizabeth HunterOctober 30, 2005 (2005-10-30)62015-08-1624.3[6]
While the Charmed ones are dealing with paparazzi and Halloween, armed and ready to vanquish, Billie inexplicably freezes and is flooded with childhood flashbacks when she sees her latest demon target, the Dogan. Billie casts a spell to erase her fears and goes after the demon, and realizes that her sister was kidnapped by demons when she was only a child.
1637"The Lost Picture Show"Jonathan WestDoug E. Jones & Andy ReaserNovember 6, 2005 (2005-11-06)62015-08-1633.8[7]
Wanting to return to her old career as a social worker, Paige's plans get put on hold, when her Whitelighter father, Sam, returns asking for her help with his charge. Meanwhile, Piper and Leo go to see a magical marriage counselor who thinks the best therapy is for them to walk a mile in each others' shoes – literally.
1648"Battle of the Hexes"LeVar BurtonJeannine RenshawNovember 13, 2005 (2005-11-13)62015-08-1644.3[8]
Agent Murphy gives the sisters their first Homeland Security case – searching through cold case files, where Phoebe and Billie discover a belt that gives Billie superpowers. Meanwhile, Piper and Leo are on the hunt for a band to play at P3; and Paige meets a handsome man, who happens to be her new charge's parole officer.
1659"Hulkus Pocus"Joel F. FeigenbaumLiz SagalNovember 20, 2005 (2005-11-20)62015-08-1654.2[9]
Phoebe has decided to take a hiatus from men. Piper seems to think Agent Murphy and the government is hiding something from the sisters. She and Paige discover that an experiment with a captured demon created a deadly virus that is infecting the magical community, including Billie.
16610"Vaya Con Leos"Janice Cooke LeonardCameron LitvackNovember 27, 2005 (2005-11-27)62015-08-1664.3[10]
The Angel of Death returns to visit the Charmed Ones but they're shocked to learn that he's there for Leo. To try to stop him from taking Leo, Piper casts a spell that backfires, making every man a Leo lookalike, forcing Piper to take drastic measures and ask the Elders and the Avatars for help. Meanwhile, Billie continues her search for the truth behind her sister's disappearance.
16711"Mr. & Mrs. Witch"James L. ConwayRob WrightJanuary 8, 2006 (2006-01-08)62015-08-1673.3[11]
When her parents come for a visit, Billie accidentally transforms them into assassins and also manages to contact a demon who is posing as a human. Meanwhile, Piper attempts to continue her life without Leo; Paige tries to make a connection with Henry; Phoebe tries to find a way to have her own life.
16812"Payback's a Witch"Mel DamskiBrad KernJanuary 15, 2006 (2006-01-15)62015-08-1683.4[12]
With the intention of helping his parolee get a loan, Henry, along with Paige, go to a bank but instead the parolee decides to take everyone at the bank hostage. Meanwhile, Phoebe and Piper have their hands full when, during Wyatt's third birthday party, Wyatt uses his projection power to turn three of his toys into real people. Unfortunately the situation at the bank degenerates when Henry is accidentally shot and a possessor demon, wanting to expose the Charmed Ones, possesses the parole and tries to force Paige to orb Henry to a hospital and expose herself. Unexpectedly she develops the Whitelighter healing power and heals Henry's wound before switching places with Billie using her glamouring power. Paige is taken hostage by the demon who takes her to Magic School, but Paige orbs them to the manor attic where Piper and Phoebe dispossesses the parolee and Billie vanquishes the demon.
16913"Repo Manor"Derek JohansenDoug E. JonesJanuary 22, 2006 (2006-01-22)62015-08-1683.6[13]
Phoebe, in an attempt to move on with her own life, signs a lease for a new apartment, much to the worry of Piper, while Paige considers telling Henry she's a witch. Demons attempt to steal the Power of Three by taking the form and place of each sister, one by one, as each sister is shrunk and placed into a dollhouse replica of the manor.
17014"12 Angry Zen"Jon ParéCameron LitvackFebruary 12, 2006 (2006-02-12)62015-08-1703.2[14]
During Chinese New Year, a demon attempts to steal a mystical wooden staff, that's protected by the Zodiacs and they enlist the aid of Piper. Meanwhile, Phoebe enjoys her new place by throwing a housewarming party that gets out of control; a monk teaches Billie how to use her power of projection to find her sister; Paige tries to get through to Henry about her magical abilities.
17115"The Last Temptation of Christy"John KretchmerLiz Sagal & Rick MuirraguiFebruary 19, 2006 (2006-02-19)62015-08-1713.8[15]
Paige learns the difficulties of dating a mortal when Henry becomes too involved in the magical world and is torn when another suitor arrives hoping to convince her to marry him so they can become the ultimate magical couple. Meanwhile, Billie finally finds her missing sister, Christy; Piper faces a romantic decision when she runs into an old flame and Piper must explain that Leo is coming back despite it looking like he abandoned his family.
17216"Engaged and Confused"Stuart GillardJeannine RenshawFebruary 26, 2006 (2006-02-26)62015-08-1724.0[16]
Piper organizes an engagement party for Paige and Henry, but the wedding is put in jeopardy when the couple begins to get cold feet. Phoebe notices a strange man following her, and soon discovers that he is a Cupid. Meanwhile, a demon kidnaps Christy in order to lure the Charmed Ones into attacking the Triad, thus preventing them from taking over the Underworld. In a battle with the Triad at Magic School, Paige and Piper vanquish one by orbing him in front of a fireball and Piper blows up the second. The third runs, but unlike how they expected, Leo is not returned, showing that the Triad is not the big threat that they have to face to get him back.
17317"Generation Hex"Michael GrossmanRob WrightApril 16, 2006 (2006-04-16)62015-08-1732.9[17]
Two former students of Leo's from Magic School turn up at the manor to inform the Charmed Ones that demons that Leo had imprisoned in the Magic School dungeons have escaped and are seeking revenge. Christy tries to get Billie away from the sisters, and Billie wants Christy to reunite with her parents. Paige goes on her honeymoon, and Coop continues to follow Phoebe. One of the demons is eventually vanquished by Piper and the students sending him to the Astral Plane in a perpetual vanquish, but beforehand, the two demons kill Billie and Christy's parents under orders from Candor, the last remaining member of the Triad. In retaliation, Christy vanquishes him, but he claims that by doing so she passed her final test.
17418"The Torn Identity"LeVar BurtonAndy ReaserApril 23, 2006 (2006-04-23)62015-08-1743.3[18]
Coop comes to the conclusion that he has fallen for Phoebe. Piper is on the hunt for the remaining Noxin demon in order to interrogate him about who he's working for, but Christy just wants to kill him as soon as possible. Paige finds it hard balancing life as a Charmed One with that of a married woman.
17519"The Jung and the Restless"Derek JohansenCameron LitvackApril 30, 2006 (2006-04-30)62015-08-1753.1[19]
Christy continues to try to corrupt Billie. Meanwhile, Paige gains a new charge in trouble with a Darklighter. The two conspire to throw the sisters into a dream world so Billie can determine their true desires. Billie is forced to make an important decision.
17620"Gone with the Witches"Jonathan WestJeannine RenshawMay 7, 2006 (2006-05-07)62015-08-1763.3[20]
Christy has now managed to convince Billie that the Charmed ones are too self obsessed to help the 'greater good' so when Paige, Phoebe and Piper attempt to involve the rest of the magical community, Christy and Billie turn all the leprechauns and other creatures against the girls. Christy and Billie then directly attack the Charmed ones who attempt to escape to magic school but find that it has been blocked from them and so are sent to the underworld...
17721"Kill Billie Vol. 2"Jon ParéBrad KernMay 14, 2006 (2006-05-14)62015-08-1773.7[21]
In part one of the two-part series finale, Billie and Christy have managed to turn everything around: while the two of them are now at the Manor and demons are at Magic School, the Charmed Ones are forced to hide in the Underworld. The Jenkins and the Halliwells absorb the Hollow and attack each other in the Manor, not knowing the deadly consequences of their actions — Phoebe, Paige, and Christy are killed and the Manor is destroyed in a massive explosion caused by the biggest fight in Halliwell history.
17822"Forever Charmed"James L. ConwayBrad KernMay 21, 2006 (2006-05-21)62015-08-1784.5[22]
Reeling from the death of her sisters, Piper along with Leo, using the help of Coop's ring, must travel back in time to change the events that lead to the deaths of Phoebe and Paige, encountering Grams and Pattie, who come back from different times to help recreate the Power Of Three. Grown up Chris and Wyatt are also transported to help save Wyatt's power, which was stolen by Billie and Christy. While in the past, Piper and Leo meet their old selves, indicating that the future looks bright for them. Meanwhile, Billie also tries to go back in time, and finally realizes the truth in what her sister has become. Billie comes back seeking the help of the sisters to change her sister but when Christy launches a fire ball at the sisters, Billie deflects it and accidentally kills Christy. At the end, the sisters write down a reflection of what has happened in the years and it shows the future where the next generation. In conclusion, Phoebe marries Coop and they have three daughters, in which Billie looks after the first two when Phoebe goes into labour for a third time. Paige and Henry have twin girls and then Henry Jr. Leo becomes the headmaster of Magic School, Paige continues to juggle being a Whitelighter and a family woman, and Piper and Leo are seen to have had a daughter and their granddaughter whose name is Prudence (after her deceased sister) closes the door with telekinesis just like Prue Halliwell. The final scene shows the manor's front door closing while the triquetra appears on the screen.

Reception

Ratings

The season premiere, which aired on September 25, 2005, garnered 4.2 million viewers; an increase from the 3.4 million viewers who watched the seventh-season finale. The season and series finale, "Forever Charmed", was watched by 4.5 million viewers, making it the highest rated episode of the season. The eighth season averaged 3.5 million viewers for all 22 episodes. Out of all regular primetime programming that aired during the 2005–2006 American television season, Charmed ranked 132nd out of 156, according to the Nielsen ratings system.

Critical response

In 2016, Gavin Hetherington of SpoilerTV ran a series of Charmed articles in the run-up to the 10th anniversary of the series finale. The eighth was a complete season review of season eight, posted on the day of the 10th anniversary of the series finale. Gavin comments that the season suffers from its budget cut, saying "I blame budget more than anything else for the reason season 8 felt less magical than most of the previous seasons".[23] He highlighted 'Forever Charmed' as the best episode of the season, while also saying he respected the writers since they "still managed to deliver 22 episodes of hit-and-misses, but for me, a lot of it was good".

Accolades

The eighth season of Charmed was nominated for various awards.

DVD release

Charmed: The Eighth and Final Season
Set details Special features
  • 22 episodes
  • Six-disc set
  • English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)
  • The Making of Charmed
  • The Store of Charmed: A 2-part Documentary
  • The Final 22 Episodes
  • To the Manor Born: Behind-the-Scenes look at the Halliwell manor
  • Forever Charmed: A Profile of Charmed Fans
DVD release dates
Region 1 Region 2 Region 4
September 11, 2007 (2007-09-11)[24] April 30, 2007 (2007-04-30)[25] April 11, 2011 (2011-04-11)[26]

Notes

  1. ↑ Only credited for the episodes he appears in.

References

  1. ↑ "Tuesday, September 27, 2005". Disney–ABC Television Group. 27 September 2005. Archived from the original on 1 June 2009. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  2. ↑ "ABC Medianet". ABC Medianet. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  3. ↑ "ABC Medianet". ABC Medianet. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  4. ↑ "ABC Medianet". ABC Medianet. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  5. ↑ "ABC Medianet". ABC Medianet. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  6. ↑ "ABC Medianet". ABC Medianet. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  7. ↑ "ABC Medianet". ABC Medianet. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  8. ↑ "ABC Medianet". ABC Medianet. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  9. ↑ "ABC Medianet". ABC Medianet. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  10. ↑ "ABC Medianet". ABC Medianet. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  11. ↑ "Tv Ratings: Sunday January 8, 2006". TvTango.
  12. ↑ "ABC Medianet". ABC Medianet. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  13. ↑ "ABC Medianet". ABC Medianet. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  14. ↑ "ABC Medianet". ABC Medianet. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  15. ↑ "ABC Medianet". ABC Medianet. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  16. ↑ "ABC Medianet". ABC Medianet. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  17. ↑ "ABC Medianet". ABC Medianet. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  18. ↑ "ABC Medianet". ABC Medianet. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  19. ↑ "ABC Medianet". ABC Medianet. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  20. ↑ "ABC Medianet". ABC Medianet. Archived from the original on 2010-08-15. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  21. ↑ "ABC Medianet". ABC Medianet. Archived from the original on 2010-05-28. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  22. ↑ "ABC Medianet". ABC Medianet. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  23. ↑ Hetherington, Gavin (May 21, 2016). "Charmed – 10th Anniversary Special – Season 8 Review: "That's Why the Show Will Always Be Charmed"". SpoilerTV. Archived from the original on June 13, 2016. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
  24. ↑ "Charmed: The Final Season". Amazon. Archived from the original on 28 October 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  25. ↑ "Charmed - Season 8 [DVD]". Amazon UK. Archived from the original on 18 July 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  26. ↑ "Charmed - Season 8". JB Hi-Fi. Archived from the original on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
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