Season 3 General Discussion

[The Matriarch]

Season three of Charmed marks a number of significant changes in the lives of the "bewitched" Halliwell sisters of San Francisco, not least of which is the introduction to the series of Julian McMahon in the role of Assistant DA Cole Turner, with whom Phoebe Halliwell (Alyssa Milano) falls in love. Unfortunately, Cole is actually the demon Belthazor, whose earthly mission is to destroy Phoebe and her sisters for practicing "good" witchcraft. Ultimately, Cole also falls in love with Phoebe and balks at completing his mission, getting him into deep trouble with his demonic superiors, the Triad. Vanquishing his "bosses," Cole declares that he is purged of his evil ways...but he's just a bit premature in this declaration, as proven by later events. Meanwhile, guardian angel Leo Wyatt (Brian Krause), still in his "mortal" state, proposes to Piper Halliwell (Holly Marie Combs), and she accepts, armed with the foreknowledge that she is fated to be the mother of Leo's baby. As Piper and Leo exchange their vows, word has leaked out about the Halliwell girls' special powers, putting them in the uncomfortable position of being local celebrities. On a more tragic note, a deranged wannabe witch shoots and seriously wounds Piper. In desperation, Phoebe tells Cole (who has reverted to evil) that she will sacrifice herself and remain with him in the Underworld if only Piper's life is spared.

Discuss everything season 3 here.

[Destined One]

I think one of the many things that people remember about season three is obviously Prue Halliwell's unfortuante and maybe even destined death. I think some people have some issues about that episode as well, like the possibility of Leo saving Prue, and also that the episode felt quick. The mistakes (for example) why did Daryll seem more concerned of getting, Alice the wannabe witch than helping Piper who had been wounded seriously? But also I think season three is an entertaining season, like all others.

[Deleted]

I first posted my reviews of each season during S8 at a different site. My feelings for them haven't changed much in the last few years. Because they're a bit controversial and always get conversations going, I decided to post them here so here goes.

SEASON THREE

Although this wasn't my favorite season, it came close. The characters were more developped--the Halliwells were both witches and sisters--the closeness between the sisters was there. The idea of Phoebe falling in love with a demon, especially after us finding out that a demon, Anton, is her soulmate, made for a ton of suspense. No doubt Cole was the best male character on the show, because he truly had so many different sides, and Julian played them all so very well!

There was constant foreboding about Prue, ending up with her dying saving an innocent; to my knowledge the only one who has--saving a family member doesn't count.

And Piper & Leo and their marriage and her getting her new power (undoubtedly setting them up so that the girls still had a way to take care of demons once Prue died) was perfect, even though I wish they could've found a different one. Once a single Charmed Ones could destroy demons just by using her own power, she no longer needed her sisters, the way Prue still needed hers, since her TK didn't kill. Originally she could only push people away with it, not actually kill them. That would've been much better, because personally I think that changing Piper's power from time manipulation to molecular manipulation is the worst mistake made on the series--it set up Piper to be much too powerful and allowed her to take over the show, so the show was about her and her husband and her sons, and, oh, yes, didn't she have a couple of sisters, too, and didn't they also have powers?

I also think that everyone looked their best in this season. I loved the blonde in Phoebe's longer, fluffier hair. I loved Piper getting rid of her bangs and letting her hair grow, and I loved Prue's longer and fluffier, too. Leo looked his best (until S8!) and so did Cole and Darryl, who became a closer friend. It's why I use the wedding for my avatar when I'm not using my Writers Trial one.

For me, the first three seasons make the perfect trilogy. It has nothing to do with Prue vs Paige, who became my favorite sister of the second set of Charmed Ones, but just the way it's set up, with S1 being Prue's love story, with her guy a mortal, S2 being Piper's with her guy an angel and S3 being Phoebe's. with her guy a demon. Finding out about their destiny in S1, living it in S2, losing part of it in S3.

When Shax turns and says, "It's the End", I truly thought it was and a lot of times think it should be. It's why I stopped buying DVDs after I got S3, and don't ever plan on buying any others.

A-/8 out of 10/Very Good!

[Lexi]

Season 3 used to be my favourite season until I really watched season 2 and fell in love with it. But S3 comes very very close. The season finale is one of the best episodes of the whole of Charmed, if not *the* best. The acting was wonderfully done from both Holly and Shannen.

I like Cole in S3, he was his best here, he just annoyed me much later on in the show! But his battle between his demon half and human half were really clear and Julian portrayed everything perfectly.

Prue has always been my favourite character in Charmed, and it was just the way that once she lost her soulmate there was nobody else that could ever mean that much to her. She had the occasional fling but there was never going to be anybody else other than Andy that could reach her heart in that way and I'm so glad that they killed her off rather than having her go through relationship after relationship (which no doubt she would have done with Kernus) and have a complete character change.

When Shax turns and says, "It's the End", I truly thought it was and a lot of times think it should be.

Yes it really was "the end". I totally agree with you there, Es.