Charmed ~ 1.05: Other Women

[luvbarryfefe]

Maggie struggles with whether to tell Lucy the truth; Mel and Harry try to protect Niko; Macy is upset about her situation with Galvin.

Original Airdate: November 11, 2018

Directed by: Amyn Kaderali

Written by: George Northy

I’m sorry, so sorry that this episode post is going up late again. I always plan to put the new one up on Tuesday morning and here we are on Thursday evening! You know what they say about the best-laid plans… Sigh.

Anyway, lettuce begin.

Full disclosure: When I saw the episode title and read the synopsis, I immediately thought, “Oh, please don’t let this episode be all about relationship drama. I stopped watching Grey’s Anatomy for a reason.” Well, fortunately for me, there was nary a “pick me, choose me, love me” scene in sight. Yes, this episode did have a relationship theme, but it truly made sense for the focus to be on the sisters and their romances as they try to juggle a personal life with being a witch. Plus, we got some beautiful, angsty moments in this episode. And, of course, shipping is a way of life for many of us. The love, angst, action, and the supernatural were well-balanced in this episode. I am enjoying the show a lot now. Let’s explore it a little more, shall we?

• The scene opens with Macy taking a soak in the bathtub. That looks so relaxing. I want a bath right now lol Opera music is playing and Macy is wearing a face mask and just surrendering to the warmth of water and bubbles. At least it is relaxing until Harry decides to channel his inner Norman Bates and lurk behind the shower curtain. Seriously, WTH was that about?

• We find out Harry is staying with the sisters while the Book of Shadows is in the Elders's hands. They are searching it over for more secret spells Marisol might have written and he is there to instruct the sisters in the meantime. That seems so strange to me but I figure it’s a plot point to get Harry living under the same roof as our ladies. I guess I’ll accept it.

• Maggie wishes there was a guilt-remover spell. She’s feeling ashamed for what she calls “the accident” with Parker. Harry teases her, asking her how one accidentally presses their lips to someone else. Okay, that was a smidgen funny.

• Mel and Niko go to visit Trip’s grave. Niko is so sad and feels blindsided. I have to say I genuinely like these two together now which of course means I’m about to be heartbroken. My ships never, ever end well. It’s like a running joke at my expense at this point. But anyway.

• Who is this handsome demon guy with dust clouds coming from his eyes? I love how it filters into the opening title card. (Side note: Do you miss TV shows having opening credits as much as I do? Our beloved OG Charmed had such an amazing opening sequence. Whenever the theme song comes on during one of my frequent rewatches, I get chills, seriously.)

• At the lab, we meet our Harbinger paint can friend from the elevator cliffhanger in Episode 4. He introduces himself to Macy as Alistair Caine. He’s kind of cute, but okay, so not the point. Alistair is a baddie. I am guessing the girl’s first truly big demon ass to kick. I hope he eventually gives up Charity as his accomplice. She needs to be taken down a peg … or five.

• Some lab tech guy tells Macy about how Galvin has been sucked into the Summer Sex Haze. Say what now? Just then Galvin rolls in with a hottie (apparently, she’s the Summer of the mentioned Sex Haze) and they’re kissing on each other. Macy isn’t impressed but I am impressed with the stubble Galvin is sporting! He is working the scruff!!

• Lucy confides in Maggie that Parker dumped her. She wants Maggie to find out who he cheated with. AWHKK-WARD. But I do love Maggie’s outfit, just saying. She has such cute clothes.

• Niko and Mel are having a somber meal. Niko tells Mel about how before he died Trip left her a weird voicemail. He said he found two other women who were killed like Marisol, and he thought the three cases were related. Mel looks appropriately horrified, especially because Niko wants to look into the case, and she’s scared for her girlfriend. They're so sweet together. It’s amazing how fast they’ve grown on me.

• Alistair tells Hunter (the demon with the dust cloud eyes) to stick close to Niko and tie up any loose ends.

• Maggie finds Macy stalking Galvin on social media though Macy insists it’s just “investigating”.

• Mel (I must say, she looks adorbs in a black tie and white shirt; I always loved that look but couldn’t seem to pull it off myself lol) and Niko are talking on the phone about going away on a fishing vacation. It reminds Niko that Trip had a cabin, and she bets she will find something there that will explain what really happened to him. Off she goes with Hunter following close behind.

• Maggie surmises that Summer is too hot to be human. Macy won’t join in the demonization of women, but Harry agrees it could be possible she’s a succubus. They need to look for any marks or strange tattoos.

• Niko arrives at the cabin and finds a wall full of photos and documents. She snaps pics on her phone and then “Trip” comes in, distracting her long enough to knock her out and set the place on fire. Mel finds her. The place is engulfed, and she is horrified she can’t freeze the flames which are Pine-sol-meets-barfy green. She rescues her special lady, and they stumble outside together.

• At the mixer, Macy and Maggie meet Galvin’s new squeeze Summer. When they’re alone, Macy and Galvin argue. Macy comments he moved on fast after their kiss and Galvin retorts after she blew him off several times, he got the message and moved on. I kind of like the angst here. When Galvin and Summer walk away, and Maggie returns, Macy says she knows something is off with Galvin.

• Mel tells Harry about the events of the cabin. He calls the green fire “hell flame”. It’s a ‘magical napalm’ some demons use. Harry thinks they’re dealing with a shapeshifter. Niko got photos of the evidence on her phone. Mel wonders how they can protect Niko. Niko wakes up and Harry makes a flimsy excuse about a women’s department emergency for why he’s there.

• Maggie runs into Parker. (I am getting some strange vibes about this guy. I totally think the run-ins are not accidental, just sayin’). He tells her he broke up with Lucy because he can’t stop thinking about Maggie and that wasn’t fair to Lucy. Maggie says they can’t be together; she won’t do that to Lucy. Parker knows that; it’s one reason he likes her so much. The dude does have some nice lines, I’ll admit that, but I feel like this romance has gone from zero to sixty in .5 seconds. Let’s slow it down a bit - or a lot - please!

• Macy sees a red mark on Galvin when she catches him making out with Summer. She tells Maggie who quips, “I knew tramp stamps were of the devil.” lol Witches say the darndest things!

• A female nurse comes into Niko’s room with a needle full of green goo. Mel quickly deduces she’s a shapeshifter and they tussle. How Niko sleeps through it all, I don’t know. Harry arrives and the needle goes into the nurse instead. They disappear into a cloud of dust through the air vents. Mel realizes the attacks won’t stop. She feels guilty that Niko came to Hilltowne because of her and tells Harry she wants to make it, so she and Niko never met. Her heart is clearly breaking and so is mine. I just learn to love a ship, and it sinks. What did I tell you about that? I am cursed!!

• Macy and Maggie show up at Galvin’s place. Summer answers the door and only Macy can see the red mark on Galvin. They decide she can’t be a succubus. Okay, but I still think something hinky is going on here.

• Mel calls her sisters to come home. She tells them about the rewriting time spell to make it so she and Niko never met. Maggie asks if this will bring back Trip or their mother, but Harry says that death is the one thing that can never be undone (sadly that seems consistent in the Charmed universe). Harry tells the girls he remembers none of his human life, only that he performed an act of bravery that made the Elders turn him into a Whitelighter. Hmm, interesting. I am curious about that backstory and if at some point his past will come a callin’.

• As Macy and Maggie do the incantation, Mel says goodbye to Niko. The sands of time run down around their memories until they disappear, and Niko is gone. It is a very affecting scene and interesting visually. I was moved by it. I may or may not have been tearing up (I will never tell! lol). Mel’s emotions were powerful. I thought the actress did a fine job of showing grief but again doing so subtly and without shredding the scenery. I like Melonie Diaz a lot and am interested to see what other productions she has been in since Charmed ended.

• Maggie and Mel run in to comfort Mel. I really hope this isn’t the last we see of Niko!!

• The next morning, Mel says she will never be sorry for being involved with Niko. (Tis better to have loved than lost, huh, Mel?) She’s glad she has the memories. She looks pointedly at Harry. Maggie tells Harry they’ll be his family, since he’s living there and all. That was a sweet moment. I like how sometimes she seems so flighty and extra but she’s a good peacemaker and person who understands emotions well. That must be why she got the telepathic power…

• Harry tells Macy to stay very close to Galvin because Summer might not be a succubus but could be something else. Hmm, I wonder what?

• Lucy freaks out (understandably) when Maggie tells her she was the one who cheated with Parker. She tells Maggie she’s finished at Kappa, and she never wants to see Maggie’s face ever again. Maggie is teary-eyed. I wonder if this is the last we’ll see of Lucy or if the drama between them is just beginning?? I'm betting on the latter.

• Mel discovers the first unintended consequence of the time spell. She slept through the job interview because Niko was never there to wake her up for it. Therefore, someone else is teaching her class now! Whoops!

• Macy goes to Galvin’s to apologize for her weird behavior. She pulls him into a hug while touching the red mark on his side, using some kind of magical paper to take an imprint of the bruise/brand/bond/whatever it is. Very clever, my dear!!

• In Alistair’s office (lair?), he is talking to Hunter the shapeshifter (who calls him “Dad” - wow!!). We learn someone else (not him) is killing off the Elders. He knows just who can help him get what they want. The camera pans to a picture of our lovely Macy. Dun dun dun.

This was a great show IMO. I enjoyed it despite the sadness of it!

You probably noticed this was an abbreviated version of my usual recap/thoughts post. It was to save time because it’s already so late in the week, but I am wondering, do you like this bullet point/shorter style recap, or do you prefer the way I did it in the first 4-episode posts that’s more in-depth? Let me know either way.

I hope you have a great weekend. Sound off with your comments below!!

Comments

[prueturner]

popping in to say, hopefully i'll watch this episode soon! who knew that hallo-week would be the busiest for me?

[luvbarryfefe]

Hi, there. I totally know how you feel. Last week was super busy for me and this week is looking to be the same! Take your time. There's no rush at all. Have a nice week ahead.