I don't know if I agree with most of you. Sure, it did take a drastic change in mood, going from the quite dark S4 to a very light, frothy S5 for the most part. It also became a season full of standalone episodes, which I blame the network for. After S4 they told Brad that they wanted the show to become more standalone so any new viewers wouldn't be confused. So that did have some affect on it. However, I'm not sure it took that great of a dip in quality. I was trying to think if I truly like this season, but I couldn't really decide. So I decided I would go over each episode and say what I thought, then decide what I thought overall afterwards.
I actually started to do this a few months ago and have yet to finish I've gotten all the way up to "Cat House" so I'm close. But I thought I would post some of what I have now, then post more later, because I did write quite a bit. Writing these actually did make me remember all the good that was in S5 and caused me to go into a S5 watching frenzy at that time. One thing I did notice for this season is that individually the magical community episodes were good and interesting, but it was just an overload of it for the entire season. I think that if they had spread these ideas out, instead of packing them all into this season, it would have gone over better with fans.
Anyway, I'll post my thoughts here on "A Witch's Tail" through "A Witch In Time" for now, then post more later after we get some discussion going on these episodes.
A Witch's Tail (Part 1 & 2): I love this episode. Not too long ago I had been watching a lot of later episodes, then watched this one and was surprised at how good it was. I couldn't believe I had forgotten. The story was really good, even if it was borrowed. But whatever, I love mermaids, so I didn't mind. The acting for basically everyone was also top notch. They all still had a lot of energy, something that became pretty sporadic later. This episode really had everything; action, humor, drama, etc. Even the lighting of this episode is great. Especially the scenes in the manor, where it was just bathed in this wonderful warm glow. We see more of this through the season, since it's a lighter season, and I like it. I do love dark, but... in early seasons the manor sometimes seemed so... flat, dull, and devoid of color. In this season there is a nice glow to the manor that gives it warmth. It's the same with the lighting in S8. Anyway, back to this episode... I love it. Sure, they started to take Cole and Phoebe down that bad path, but at least there was still love between them at that point.
Happily Ever After: The first time I saw this episode I hated it. But after a few more times watching it, I really started to like it. And now I love it. Not sure why. Maybe it's because I love fairy tales. But again there was everything in this one, plus Grams. "Aren't you supposed to be dead?" "Oh, I'm over that."
The only thing I hate from this episode is that dress Phoebe wore. Alyssa is a beautiful person and they had the chance to put her in something amazing and they chose that? It looked like they pulled it out of a dumpster and it didn't go with her figure at all, and they had her hair in a mangled mess. *sigh* But that's one small thing in a good episode.
Siren Song: Another one I love. Interesting demon with an interesting power. Great plot between Piper and Leo, letting us see more into Leo's life as a Whitelighter with the voices and seeing what he deals with with some of his other charges. Plus the switching of their powers was fun. It was a much better plot than the rehashed one in S8, which had very little effort put into it and with no real resolution. Anyway, this episode had lots of magical fun, while still staying true to the show's roots of protecting innocents. I also love the scene in the attic with the darklighter. Especially the line, "I guess my half-whitelighter baby thought fireworks would be prettier than demon guts." And one of my favorite lines: "Did you get my flowers?" "Yeah... 'Sorry I tried to strangle you'? Probably not a card the florist gets to write everyday." Great episode. I really can't think of anything I don't like about it.
Witches In Tights/Magic Wears A Mask: Hmm. I like this one, I do. I have watched it quite a few times. I'm not sure I like the initial idea that well ("Hey, let's put the girls in spandex!"), but I think they pulled it off well. They didn't turn themselves into superheroes, it was the kid. Which makes sense. He's a kid that is very into comic books. His heroes are from comic books who wear spandex and have masks. Who better to fight the villain, in his mind? Plus, I think it's always fun to see them with different sorts of abilities than usual. It was fun to see them speed around, have super strength, and be able to catch bullets in their hands. I think it would have been more interesting to see them take it to a higher level. With them thinking they were better as these superheroes and neglecting their true gifts, and by staying as the heroes they would start to lose their humanity. By continuing to wear the masks they would forget their true identity. Hmm... that could still be a good story. I call dibs!
Anyway, the thing I don't like about this episode is Paige's subplot. It's just... ew. And, yeah, it's a real thing, but... still. I always skip those parts of the episode. However, Paige does win my favorite quote from the episode: *Paige takes off her mask and frowns.* "I don't like it, I'm putting it back on."
The Eyes Have It: Another one I really like. This one is especially good because they delve into a different type of magic, which I really love. It's also another episode that includes everything. It has lots of comedic moments, but a lot of action and heart wrenching moments, too. I also quite enjoyed Phoebe's subplot of her being so out of balance, which also affected her powers. It didn't really last, though, with her barely using her powers throughout this season and the rest, and she continued to be a work-aholic, but... whatever.
Sympathy For The Demon: The third appearance by Barbas, but not the last. I myself was not sick of him at this point. Not sure I ever really was, since it makes sense that you can never truly vanquish fear. However, his appearance here was very well done. Good story and good plan. He took his time and orchestrated the whole thing so he could get Cole's powers. It was also cool to see what Cole's fears were and to see the sisters' fears. We really only got Prue's fears before, with a little of Phoebe's fear. It was also nice to see how their fears had evolved. After all Phoebe had been through, she started to think that there was a darkness inside her. That she attracted evil and she was evil. Which also went nicely with her fear of losing a sister by almost killing Paige. A fear like that never goes away. I wish we had seen a bit more of Paige's fears, though. We really only got the claustrophobic thing, which we never really saw again. It would have been awesome if they had remembered that for S7 when she was trapped in that elevator, but oh well. But I would have liked to have seen something with her sisters truly excluding her, or with her being completely alone. Something deeper for her character. This was certainly one of the darkest episodes of the season and I thought they pulled it off well. Trapping them in the manor was fun. I loved seeing them try to get out. It would have been interesting to see Cole not get his powers back. How would that have affected his relationship with Phoebe and the others? But they were already on the path to Julian leaving, so that wasn't possible. Although it might have been better if it had ended there. No powers anymore, he could have left to go find a life for himself without magic. Might have been a better ending, and he could have come back a few times.
A Witch In Time: If there is anyone that doesn't like this episode, I can't see how. I believe this to be one of their best, at least for the later years. This one
really has everything. It also makes me think... Phoebe saw that guy die in her mind over and over. I wonder what kind of psychological affect that could have on someone. Or even just her seeing death for years... that would have been a cool story for the writers to do. Or for me to do... Dibs again!
Anyway, this episode is huge. Time travel, the Book being stolen, losing their powers, two of the sisters dying. There is also a good amount of power usage from all the sisters. Starting with S5 it basically became a lot of orbing and blowing things up and not much else. But Piper used her freezing power twice in this episode, Phoebe got a lot of premonitions, and Paige teleorbed an athame. Love it, love it.
I do think it would have been better for Paige to side with Phoebe, though. She hadn't gone up against the Angel of Death before and I think she wouldn't think it was right to just let someone die. But all in all, I love this episode.
Discuss away!
The only thing I hate from this episode is that dress Phoebe wore. Alyssa is a beautiful person and they had the chance to put her in something amazing and they chose that? It looked like they pulled it out of a dumpster and it didn't go with her figure at all, and they had her hair in a mangled mess. *sigh* But that's one small thing in a good episode.
Anyway, this episode is huge. Time travel, the Book being stolen, losing their powers, two of the sisters dying. There is also a good amount of power usage from all the sisters. Starting with S5 it basically became a lot of orbing and blowing things up and not much else. But Piper used her freezing power twice in this episode, Phoebe got a lot of premonitions, and Paige teleorbed an athame. Love it, love it. 