Charmed (TV Series) Cheaper by the Coven (2004) User Reviews

"It's great but..."

[gracie_ham · 8/10 · 23 December 2006]

Well, it's great but I have no idea why it's called, "Cheaper by the Coven". Making the Charmed Ones teenagers again was really funny, but it kinda made the show somewhat babyish and unrealistic, even to the "Charmed" standards of magic.

The storyline: Grams is summoned to perform Chris' Wiccaning. Some demon (later known to be Leo, so to speak...) kidnaps Wyatt in order to make him feel less guilty of breaking up his magical parents. Then, the "End Rivalry (is that how you spell it?)" spell goes awry and wrong, making the Charmed Ones babyish.

If I was the writer, I would make it less intense and more to the lines of fighting demons. Afterall, isn't that how the was? The Good vs. Evil theme? I really like this TV Show and hope it goes on and on. Forever Charmed.

The One Where They Act Like Children...

[taylorkingston · 8/10 · 17 October 2014]

I really like this episode. I like that we get to see Patty and Grams again.

In this episode, Wyatt and Chris have lots of sibling rivalry, so Grams comes and casts a spell to get rid of it. But it went into the nearest set of siblings, the sisters. And they become like children, but with all their adult memories and their powers. This isn't a good thing, when a demon who looks like Leo is on the loose. It turns out that the demon was created by Wyatt, because he feels guilty for his father being hell bent on destroy the demon world.

Overall, I give this episode an 8 out of 10.

Familiar faces

[owlaurence · 6/10 · 15 July 2008]

Another Wiccaning in sight, so you know there's going to be trouble. There are a lot of good scenes and insightful character developments, but... none of them concerns the sisters. Ironic, isn't it ? I am very tired of seeing them regress, especially since this time they sound like they're 5 year-old brats with the mood swings of 15 year-old teenagers. Phoebe's speech scene really made me wince more than once. As for Paige, I still haven't decided whether getting her out of the house was a clever move or not : clearly she never shared that period of her life with Piper and Phoebe, but on the other hand, wouldn't this have been an opportunity to catch up ?

Fortunately, there are the others, who also have their problems. Grams and Victor in particular are great as opponents, especially since they both have good arguments, and Patty's arrival makes the pleasure complete. I just love that moment when Victor fondly watches his "teenager" daughters bicker : it manages to express a lot without saying a word. Leo's continued instability also has its moments. It is significant that he now turns to the demon Seer for help, and even though there is another explanation, he really is his own nemesis at the moment. Oh, and I am SOOO tired of the endless series of short-lived Seers... but just this once I will make an exception, because this one is Charisma Carpenter so, yay !

Finally, thumbs up for the main character of the episode : Wyatt. The show could have made him just another prop for Piper to manipulate, especially now that he won't become the ultimate evil. But the baby remains a real person, and even though his attitude seems somewhat mature for a 18 month-old child, he's powerful enough to make that credible. Both of his issues -with his baby brother and his absentee father- are consistent and realistic, and we are reminded that becoming the ultimate evil is not the only danger on his path.

Brothers

[Realrockerhalloween · 6 October 2016]

I quite like this episode as Leo has a dark alternate personality and grams castes a spell to stop civil rivery. This shows Leo finally learning that his negative attitude is leaving his family in disarray and the kids miss their father. Grams was spot on the nose saying he has become a danger to the kids, needs to deal with Geideon's double crossing and become the man he once was. Also i know the spell was to add humor but it felt forced and was the most terrible acting I've seen with only Piper's heart to heart with Grams making up for it.

Still I enjoyed Patty and Victor acting as parents after resourcing their marriage uses making us wonder what it would be like if they had a chance to raise the girls. It was bitter sweet knowing they can't change the past for second try, but got a chance to here.