Charmed (TV Series) Something Wicca This Way Comes (1998) User Reviews

The Power of Three Will Set Them Free

[claudio_carvalho · 8/10 · 27 December 2006]

In San Francisco, the police is investigating the murder of many women, and one detective has the theory that they were witches and the killer is a warlock. Meanwhile, Prue Halliwell (Shannen Doherty) is informed by her sister Piper (Holly Marie Combs) that their other complicated sister Phoebe (Alyssa Milano) lost her job in New York and is coming back to live with them in their grandmother's house. Along the night, Phoebe finds a book of witchcraft in the attic called Book of Shadows, and she reads an incantation, giving powers to the three Halliwell sisters. Later, she explains her sisters that in accordance with the book, there are three essentials of magic: timing, feeling and phases of the moon. One of their ancestors called Melinda Warren had three powers: she could move objects with her mind, see the future and stop time. She was burned at stake, but her power was transmitted through generations, becoming stronger and stronger. While the three sisters find their new abilities, the evil warlock chases them to kill them and steals their powers.

This first episode of "Charmed" is a delightful story of witches and witchcraft. The charming trio of lead actresses make this show attractive, worthwhile and promising. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Algo Mágico Pode Acontecer" ("Something Magic May Happen")

The Power Of Three

[callanvass · 7/10 · 20 January 2014]

Phoebe joins two of her oldest sisters to live in San Francisco after she loses her job. If that's not enough, Prue is bitter about Phoebe coming to live with them over past events, and immediate dissension commences between Prue & Phoebe. Phoebe fiddles with a Ouija board, the pointer moves, but nobody believes her. After instructions from the Ouija board to go to the attic, Phoebe finds a book of witchcraft. She recites an incantation that gives the three girls a certain power, unbeknownst to the girls. Phoebe can see visions from the future, Prue can move things with her mind, and Piper can freeze time. Meanwhile, a witch killer is on the loose, retrieving all of their powers in the process. I want to get one thing out-of-the-way now. I had never seen this show, up until this juncture. My friends all raved about it, so I finally gave in after years. I'm not as enamored with this pilot as many are, but it was an above average introduction at the very least. It is a little slow to get going, but it does a good job of building up tension and giving us a chance to get to know the characters as well. Out of the three, Phoebe is my favorite with Piper a close second. Prue is good as well, but she is rumored to have a bad attitude in real life. There was reports that Milano got so fed up from Shannon Doherty, she demanded that Doherty leave, and she did. She is terrific in the show, though. You wouldn't know of any tension between Milano & Doherty from watching this. I give credit to both for their consummate professionalism. The killer is a bit of a disappointment. It didn't take me long to figure out who the culprit was. Overall, I was engaged for the most part. I wasn't exactly blown away, but it did enough to make me watch more episodes in the future. I'm sure they will tune a couple of things as this series goes along

7.2/10

A Great Beginning.

[thomasblue-82589 · 8/10 · 26 February 2020]

The pilot to the eight-season run of three sisters who happen to be witches. The pilot episode is paced out nicely not too slow or to fast. We are introduced to the sisters as individuals and their dynamics early on. But it feels natural.

The the main leads Shannen, Holly and Alyssa chemistry with each other is on point. You could actually mistake them for being family.

The One Where They Become The Charmed Ones...

[taylorkingston · 10/10 · 3 October 2014]

I absolutely love this episode. It is such a great Series Premiere. It had everything it needed. The right information about their lives and their family. How they got their powers and why. I've seen it at least twenty times, and I watch it every year on my birthday. I'm weird.

In this episode, we meet the three Halliwell Sisters, who live in San Francisco. Prudence, called Prue, is the oldest. She works at a museum dealing with antiquities. Her boss, Roger is her former fiancé. And a big jerk. Eventually she quits because of him taking her for granted. She has history with Detective Andy Trudeau who has just moved back to town. Piper, is the middle sister. She wants to become a chef and is dating a reporter, Jeremey. Who she eventually dumps, because he was a warlock trying to steal her and her sisters powers. Phoebe is the youngest, and according to Prue, the most misguided. She has just moved back into the Halliwell Manor with her sisters, after losing her job and her money in New York City. Prue is not happy to see Phoebe again, because she thinks something happened between Phoebe and Roger. But it didn't. The sisters had recently lost their grandmother. One night, when the power went out, Phoebe realized that the attic door, which they were told had been sealed off, opened. She walks in and finds the infamous Book Of Shadows. She reads the first incantation, which gives them their powers. Prue can move things with her mind. Piper can freeze time. And Phoebe can see the future. They have to vanquish evil Jeremy before he kills them and takes their powers for himself. Phoebe is the first one to cast a spell and save an innocent, whilst Prue is the first one who uses her powers. This is such a great episode.

Overall, I give this episode a 10 out of 10.

Best series starter I have ever seen!

[tomtheoreo · 8/10 · 20 October 2013]

I stand by my summary. Series premieres are usually not this good and the fact this is as amazing as it is surprises me! It has some major problems which is why I could not bring myself to give it a 10/10, but the problems don't really do that much damage.

My first major complaint(which Ill go ahead and get out of the way) is Prue teleporting the cream into her drink. We never see this ability again with her and it would be a cool thing if we did. But for continuity that scene doesn't make sense. Why would we never see her use this awesome part of her power again? My other complaint is Jeremy. Piper is very content on killing Him. and doesn't show much remorse. His speech before he was killed made me cringe also, it is way to cliché

Now that I have those nagging problems out of the way. I guess ill start with Prue, if there is one word I can give Prue its "responsible" She is so focused on protecting her sisters, which means she is more cautious and less niave. Her reaction to the Charmed life is completely realistic and well done. I cant help but feel happy for that.

Piper, However didn't get the same treatment, She wasn't handled poorly. but it could've been better. I completely enjoyed her "cheating" to get her job! And her freezing of Jeremy. but I am bitter that her characters reaction to being a witch is sort of, well not as strong as Prue's or Phoebe's.

The best one handled though is Phoebe. She was a vital role in this episode and had to be handled with extra attention. One thing that gets me is her premonition and how she just jumps in front of the car to save the skate boarders. Before she even knew she was a charmed one she wanted to save people. even if it meant putting her life in danger. She is also the most niave as of now. Which makes her except the fact that she was a witch much more easily than her sisters. A logical person, like Prue would have a hard time believing in witchcraft. A niave phoebe would not.

That pretty much is it for the premier, I love this episode, and this show is easily my favorite.

Something Wicca This Way Comes

[pehalliwell-35 · 8/10 · 25 August 2008]

The show opens with a witch sitting at an altar and lighting candles with the tips of her fingers. She then turns around and is startled by someone who is not identified to us. She acts as if she knows him and there is nothing to fear around him but then she screams.

Phoebe Halliwell returns to the Manor of her childhood in San Francisco after living in New York for six months. The manor is where her two sisters, Piper Halliwell and Prudence Halliwell, currently live. There is some friction between Prudence and Phoebe. Prudence does not know about Phoebe moving back in until moments before she arrives. It is pouring with rain outside and the power fails. Prudecne and Piper go to fix the fuse while Phoebe ventures up to the attic sometime later after mysteriously receiving a message from the family Spirit board with the inscription on the back "The light will lead you to find the Shadows, the power of three will set you free, love mom". In the attic, she finds a huge book in a chest that the moon light streamed down onto entitled "The Book of Shadows" She reads an incantation from it, giving her and her sisters their destined powers; Phoebe with premonitions, Piper can freeze matter, and Prudence has telekinesis.

Later on, Prudence quits her job due to the fact that Roger, her boss and ex-fiancé, is giving her a very hard time. Although she is not aware of it she uses her power to tighten his tie until it chokes him around his neck, and she makes a pen explode in his pocket. Piper learns of her power when she gets frustrated and accidentally freezes the chef of the restaurant she is trying out for; although she is surprised, she quickly puts the last ingredient into her tryout recipe. Phoebe is riding her bike when she has her first premonition of two boys on skates getting hit by a car. She yells out when she sees them and skids her bike in front of them to stop them and she falls off. While Phoebe is in the hospital because of her accident, Prudence meets up an old friend, Andy, who is now a police detective. Phoebe and Prudence go out together and talk, after finishing up at the hospital, about being witches. Prudence is having difficulty swallowing the idea of being a witch, but when she keeps accidentally using her power it gets harder to ignore. Meanwhile, Piper is on a date with Jeremy, who is actually a warlock, an evil witch who steals the powers of good witches. Just before he stabs her with an athame(a ceremonial double-edged dagger), Piper freezes Jeremy and runs home. Although together the sisters cast a spell to get rid of Jeremy, he has not yet been defeated and bursts into the house, the sisters realized that they must recite an incantation 'The power of three will set us free', they repeat this until Jeremy is gone. The next day, the three sisters realize that they won't be able to get rid of their destiny, but have to embrace it.

the greatest episode ever don't miss it.

[elmorox_128 · 10/10 · 3 October 2006]

Two sisters piper and Prue live together in their house in san frasico but without warning their third sister Phoebe comes back to live with them. Pheobe goes up to the attic and finds a book of witch craft the book is called the book of shadows.Phoebe reads an incantation in the book then all the sisters receive magical powers Phoebe the power of perminison piper the power to freeze time and Prue the power to move things with her mind. later the sisters find out that their mother penny and their grams where witches. they don't want their powers at first but then realize ti is their destiny. Phoebe wants to keep her powers but Prue and piper arnt sure.

A Charming beginning

[stevenjlowe82 · 7/10 · 25 June 2022]

Forgive the bad pun but this truly does describe my feelings on the debut episode of Charmed, it was perfectly charming.

For me Charmed always had a very Hallmark/Lifetime feel to it that at the time (I was 16 when I first watched Charmed) that originally frustrated me but now I'm a tad older I really enjoy it.

I feel this would have worked better as a 2 part episode, the introduction of witchcraft and their acceptance of it (kind of) does feel a bit rushed. What sold this to me at the time and kept my interest in spite of my initial frustrations was the sisterly bond. The 3 leads really nailed this and I became very invested in them early on.

Like many episodes of Charmed this episode isn't without it's flaws but it is a good introduction to the characters and over all themes of the show... well for seasons 1-4 (my golden era of Charmed is up to after they vanquish The Source in season 4 then it starts its decline) because season 5 onwards is just painful to watch for the most part with the exception of the odd sporadic gem. Season 7 is when it really should have ended and was by far the strongest season in the latter half of the Charmed run (and honestly that's not saying by much) I chose to pretend season 8 never happened and the charmed ones went off to live anonymous magical free lives, which in the end is kind of fitting because for the last 4 seasons that's all we heard so they got what they wanted in the end.

Charmed for me began as a sisterly show about strong women who put innocents before themselves regardless of the cost. It then became Sex and The City with magic tacked on. They became very selfish and unlikeable characters unable to see past their own egos and personal needs with a warped mindset of being owed things because they have done so much good.... That wasn't the original mission statement as far as I'm concerned.

I do genuinely adore Charmed from seasons 1-4 and because they are so strong it will forever be a definitive TV classic in my eyes.

The Start of The Greatest Show On The Planet

[justinenyman · 10/10 · 31 March 2018]

The first episode of the greatest show ever created. The cast is amazing and they really show the identity of their characters. It's really interesting to watch the relationship between phoebe and prue enfold from the first episode through prues death in All Hell Breaks Loose. Such character development from this episode through Forever Charmed by Alyssa and Holly. Amazing first episode

A charming affair

[Realrockerhalloween · 7 September 2016]

Something Wicca this way goes will start an epic journey about three sisters who happened to be witches surviving for eight seasons on a dying network, low ratings, losing two major stars and running out of fresh material to keep viewers interested.

Prue: The eldest who was like a second mother to her two baby sisters and blessed with tk. Piper: The mediator who was the heart of the family, kept peace in the house hold and blessed with freezing time. Phoebe: The wild child youngest who grew into a responsible kind hearted woman and blessed with premonition. The pilot was fantastic introducing the leads, manor and an old love interest of Prue's named Andy who's investigating a case involving the murder of several women.

What makes it different from any other episode besides introductions is the old time magic involved from the poppet to torment an unwanted love to Jeremy's vanquish showing how strong the power of three can be. Jeremy was the scariest warlock to ever appear looking, sounding and having the powers of an upper level demon. I was hooked from that point on and kept with it no matter how far the quality dropped.

The lighting, special effects, music, camera shots, personalities and 90s feel make for an enchanting hour of great television. Fall under their spell.

Lori Rom - Charmed Unaired Pilot - It was aired in my area !

[harborside-1 · 10/10 · 11 May 2006]

That show was being told as not being aired.

Well I am sorry to burst your bubble just because you did not see it aired in your location does not mean it was not aired ! I saw it. I even had it on VHS for back up.

The show had Lori riding a bike down the street when She got her first premonition.

She saw those boys going to be hit by a car and then she ran into a car and tumbled to the street.

You did not see this with A.Milano version though.

Too bad the 86'd Lori Rom.

The whole show might have taken on a different air and maybe Lori might have gotten along with Shannen eventually...

The First Episode

[simplyy_charmedd · 8/10 · 18 July 2006]

The Halliwell sisters,Prudence,Piper,and Phoebe, were reunited in there Grand Victorian Home of their Childhood. They discover they are gifted Wicca Witches. Little do they know their new-found powers mean that they are now prey to evil forces. Prudence (she goes by the name Prue) has the power of telekinesis and later finds out she can Astro Project, Piper has the power to stop time and later finds out that she also has the power to blow things up, and Phoebe has the power to see into the future and past (Premonitions) and later finds out she can also levitate. Yes as you can see the Halliwells were always different, but ever since this episode they have been kicking evils butts!

trying somethin a bit diff to review, hope it works

[jtsjtssmokey-703-366973 · 9/10 · 25 January 2014]

Am a fan of this show and am thinking of doing reviews with a kinda time line theme as the episodes continue, my opinion of the way it unfolded over the 8 seasons. Other than knowing SD wanting to leave and having friction on set as she has had before on another show.

We open with Prue and Piper still living in the family home with Phoebe returning too, still tension between her and Prue, apt they have always had a hard time getting along growing up, but Prues ex was a lying slime-ball causing this tension. Piper though had kept in touch and knew that Phoebe was ready to return after trying it on her own quite far from home, although Phoebe was always more of an adventurous person, willing to try an do diff things. Piper, not so much, but has always had an inner strength that she learned to rely on as she grew up, she also overcame her shyness which shows during the 1st an a bit of the second season with it showing a few odd times in later seasons. Prue, practical and seemed to not have much of an imagination, quite bossy, always having to be right and almost too self assured (all at times were).

As their powers had been bound, and no memory of magic/witches (at least here in this time and place), it was shocking and they really didn't know what of how to deal with powers and using them safely, and what about others discovering them??

They take care of the first threat to them, Jeremy a warlock who had conned his way into Pipers life, to take an destroy her and her sisters. Some wondered why she didn't react diff, well shock as to who she just found out she was, with more shock that her boyfriend was not just a killer but a supernatural killer, that can "click" into your brain quickly enough change how you feel, esp at the moment it happens. (she could have had a good cry after that we just don't see)

So this time line has stared, diff than if they had been raised with their powers, and they are now learning and no the powers aren't that strong and control is not there which makes them well Prue and Piper say they shouldn't use them as maybe powers are what attracts evil or some such thing esp when they really don't understand their powers, or where or when to use them. Enter Phoebe, she is the 1st 1 to study an learn more about themselves.

The power of three has begun, yes, could say it was started when they were born, but we really don't get to see that time in their lives. As all knowledge and powers were wiped from their memories till they get them for what they see as the 1st time, this is where this time line starts.

Very good series opener, grabbed enough attention to want to see more, to see how these sisters are as they discover who they are. (am working on my typing/editing, never have been very good as an editor) Gave the pilot a 9

Something Wonderful This Way Begins

[seneuser · 8/10 · 3 October 2023]

The opening act of Charmed did everything you'd expect it to do. It established the time and place - San Fran in the 90's. It established the characters - Prue, eldest sister, dutiful, pragmatic and resentful; Piper, middle sister, meek, cautious, peacemaker, loving and lovable; and Phoebe, youngest sister, carefree, careless, and caring. When Gram's death and an incantation turns them into the "Charmed Ones", they must stand together against the evil that will seek to destroy them and take away their powers.

Like it will for much of the series, the relationship between the sisters is what carries most of this episode. The conflict between oldest and youngest sister with middle sister caught between might be cliche, but the actresses pull it off completely, possibly helped by the fact that Shannon and Alyssa bonafide didn't get along.

The sisters realistically don't have much control over their new-found powers, and thus are in real trouble when a warlock reveals himself about two thirds of the way into the episode.

Like other early episodes, the smaller budget means little reliance on special effects. That grounds the episode in reality. It feels like it could be real, and that is a great thing. It feels like the start of something.

The Power of Three Will Set Them Free (and Up for a Whole Lotta Trouble)

[rossmatthew-85428 · 10/10 · 31 March 2023]

Reflecting back on this episode, it definitely was tamer than the vast majority of other episodes, and the conflict didn't really take off until the last quarter of the episode. However, that's what I like about this pilot episode. The show doesn't just rush the viewer into something and expect them to immediately be able to connect the dots. Instead, this episode was meant to not only serve as a means for communicating how the three Halliwell sisters came to be the most powerful witches ever known, but as a buffer to ease the audience into the series. The writers did a fantastic job at moving along the story at a pace slow enough to enable the exposition to adequately establish various aspects of each of the three sisters and other important characters without but not so excruciatingly slow that the viewer has to constantly fight against the urge to sleep. I would also like to point out is that this episode established various aspects of the three protagonists without overwhelming the viewer with extraneous details. I believe that it is important for a series to not establish too much regarding characters, their history, significant events, past relationships, in the first episode, in order to prevent the series from feeling forced and to allow for these characteristics and details to be revealed and be built upon as the characters progress further into the overarching story.

I must commend each of the three actresses for their portrayal of their respective characters for not only elevating their characters in terms of depth, but being able to bounce off each other and match each other's energies, thus giving for a really organic sisterly feel to the episode and to the series.

One last thing I would like to address is their powers in that while each sister feels powerful, they aren't overwhelmingly powerful, which is something I don't see in very many supernatural and fantasy movies and television shows. Moreover, their powers grow as their character grows, which is something that always resonated with me as I watched this series. I bring this up because this helps to keep the series grounded and realistic, even though it is a show about three witches with supernatural powers.

Overall, for the reasons listed above, I give this episode 10/10 stars.