Cheaper by the Coven

Season 7, Episode 3, Aired

Episode Summary

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8.4
out of 10
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When Paige and Phoebe summon Grams for Chris' Wiccaning, Grams puts a spell on the children to try to end their sibling rivalry, but instead it reverts the sisters back to bickering teenagers. Meanwhile Phoebe, still acting like a teenager, attends an award ceremony with Les, and Leo consults a demonic seer to find out who is behind the attack on Wyatt.moreless
  • Cheaper by the Coven

    9.5
    "Superb"
    Cheaper by the Coven was a superbly entertaining episode of Charmed and I really enjoyed watching because there was a lot of character and plot development. It was awesome to see Grams, Victor and Patty come to help the sisters. Leslie made some bold moves and in the end he impressed Phoebe. Wyatt blamed himself for his parents disconnect but in the end they try to make it right. It was funny watching the sisters revert to teenager behavior after Grams cast a spell. I liked how every thing played out. there was a lot happening and it was all very interesting. I certainly look forward to watching what happens next!!!!!!!!!moreless
  • Bratty Witches

    6.5
    "Fair"
    Cheaper By The Coven-When Paige and Phoebe summon Grams for Chris' Wiccaning, Grams puts a spell on the children to try to end their sibling rivalry, but instead it reverts the sisters back to bickering teenagers. Meanwhile Phoebe, still acting like a teenager, attends an award ceremony with Les, and Leo consults a demonic seer to find out who is behind the attack on Wyatt.
    Poor Holly, Rose and Alyssa. When you personally cringe when an actor is forced to work with literally chilish material, you know a series is in serious trouble. I can't name how many times we've seen the sisters have been put under spell, posessed or made to act silly for an episode. At this point, I've seen more mature episodes of Rugrats, which pretty what this episode is! An episode of Rugrats with the sisters acting like a bunch a bratty kids for an hour. The writers try to tie that part of the plot with the sister's childhoods and what's going on with Wyatt, but it just doesn't work. The sibling rivalry spell is just failed to make any sense besides some of thosecheap laughs the writer love to add inlike Phoebe's embarassing behavior at the Reader's Choice Awards. Oh look, little bitty Phoebe likes Lesley! *rolls eyes*
    But have to say everything else about the episode was range from pretty good to borderline awesomeness! It's good to see Victor,Grams and Patty all in one episode again. Last time we saw the sisters' mother was in "Charmed Again" Part 2 and I'd rather forget about Grams' appearence in the horrid "Witchstock". All 3 characters definately make up for the weak plot, especially watching Victor and Grams bicker. I also loved the "family" moments between all the characters like Victor and Patty talking about how they wish they were there for the girls growing up and how Grams has been with the girls every step of the way. I even liked the scene of Piper nearly breaking down about all the tragedy that has happened to the sisters over the years like losing Pure and Leo's current issues. Even as a child, Holly manages to make the best of story and gave a decent performance there. It's nice to know the writers haven't completely forgotten about the sisters' past. The demon plot was also intriguing, leading to a shocking twist that Leo is demon! It was chilling reveal and the reason behind it was actually some pretty complex stuff for Charmed. You feel bad for Wyatt especially knowing he created a demon out of guilt over his father's absence in his life.
    Lastly, I can't forget to mention of Kira, the Seer, who is played played by the always charming Charisma Carpenter. A veteran of Buffy and Angel, this was a great casting choice for the writers as Charisma effortlessly steals her scenes in this episode. You just gotta love the Cordelia-eqse way she is written and how she toys with Leo's emotions. Luckily, this is the end of her Charmed appearences and she leaves a lot to look forward to in upcoming episodes! All and All, "Cheaper By The Coven" may haveliterally chilish plot, but thanks to some great guest stars and some intense reveals, it's decent.moreless
  • The irritating Charmed teenagers

    5.7
    "Mediocre"
    'Cheaper By The Coven' is so far the worst episode I've reviewed so far. It had it's very few moments but in overall it was really painful to watch and I think my brain got damaged.

    The episode could have been completely removed and nothing would have been missed except for two or three scenes, everything else wasn't worth it.

    May I begin with the note about the /terrible/ acting?
    All the actors looked extremely bored while filming the episode, can't say that I blame them. It also seemed so forced and it made the episode hard to watch. Even the beautiful Charisma wasn't at her best, but then again. How can you when you have a terrible script?

    The episode was about Wyatt feeling rejected because his dad isn't around and all the attention is going towards little baby Chris. Also there is a demon after Wyatt that turns out to look exactly like Leo*snore*. He made the demon because he blames himself that Leo is never around and that Leo killed Gideo *snore* and this was actually the good part of the episode.

    Oh, and we have the amazing Charisma scenes, well. They weren't amazing, Charisma was. With her beautiful smile that makes the average man loose their minds over. Charisma was a big part of the reason why the episode isn't complete garbage, her first scene was pretty bad but she did good in her second scene.

    Oh, and then over to the three annoying sisters, they are once again acting like a teenager (does that sound familiar?)

    Holly did a good job in her 'sad' scene but other than that it was just as annoying as the other two. Though I have to admit, Alyssa wasn't all that bad. She had her funny moments and her cute facial expressions, but that irritating Nick McLay or whatever almost ruined the scenes with his stupid face and horrible acting.

    Oh, and what do we have more? Peggy, Penny and Viktor are back. Yay? No, not really. That old hat is as irritating as it can get, the woman who plays for the Charmed ones mom is a very bad actress and her performance made tiny till no impression at all. Viktor was the good character this time, he stayed interesting and un-irritating through the whole thing. Though his acting wasn't that great either.

    All in all, 'Cheaper By The Coven' is an extremely irritating and badly written episode, completely unnecessary and forgettable.
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  • SIBLING RIVALRY

    9.0
    "Superb"
    Sibling Rivalry

    I like these big family episodes, especially when Patty is involved. The banter is knife-sharp and it's great fun listening to Penny and Victor scoring points off each other. The occasion this time is Chris's wiccaning, despite the little mite being about as magical as a loaf of bread.

    For all the family members, however, this is very much a Wyatt based episode. The main plot sees him getting sulky over the attention heaped on Chris. To stop them quarrelling, Penny casts a spell which (shock!) backfires and shifts their rivalry onto the sisters. At the same time, Wyatt also has to contend with a mysterious masked demon, which leads his father to consult a demonic seer.

    Having the Charmed Ones turn into bickering teenagers is an interesting idea but ends up being rather annoying, despite some good acting. I'm so glad they decided to reverse the spell. I also don't get why Penny thinks Leo is evil. Surely killing someone who is trying to murder your son would make you a hero? She has killed countless demons to protect the sisters so what's the difference?

    The guest actress playing the seer is very good and adds a real sparkle to the role. Hope she sticks around.

    Having the 'demon' turn out to be Leo is a good twist and all the more so because Wyatt has conjured him. I think it's a bit much that a two year old is blaming himself over his parents splitting up but there you go.

    Overall, it's a decent hour with some good one liners and some interesting twists. I just wish they'd skipped all that squabbling. Score: 8.8moreless
  • Leo is evil?

    9.0
    "Superb"
    Paige and Phoebe summon Grams in order to help them for Chris's wiccaning. But Wyatt is unhappy, and he is being stalked and haunted by a demon, whose identity remains unknown. Leo is the first one to know the demon, but he is shocked because he is actually himself. Grams panics and afraids of Leo doing something harmful to Chris. Good episode, especially after the very disappointing episode "A Call to Arms", "Centennial Charmed"...Not the best episode in this series, also not the worst episode in this series. I like this episode, but just not too much about Leo. I don't like the story about Leo too much.moreless
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  • TRIVIA (17)

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    • Wyatt was able to sense that the Leo demon was behind, which is why he was able to protect himself. He also showed that he could sense danger or someone being in danger from the womb and in Sense and Sensibility when Leo was in danger.

    • After Wyatt's and Chris' rivalry went into the sisters, Grams said she needed a reversal spell to take it back out. However, if she had just used the same spell that she used on Wyatt and Chris, the rivalry would've been pulled out of the sisters and would've gone back into Wyatt and Chris. No other spell was needed.

    • When Wyatt is taken by Leo/Demon, Piper and the real Leo fight in a cave to take him back. Before the fight starts, Leo/Demon goes away from Wyatt to the right side of the cave, but after the fight is over, he emerges from the left side.

    • When Grams is casting the spell, Wyatt changes positions between shots. In one shot he is near his brother looking at him and in the other he is away from his brother.

    • Paige and Piper panic when Wyatt orbs his little brother to some unknown destination. Why didn't Paige just call for Chris, like she did with Wyatt when he was a baby?

    • During a scene in the attic with Victor and Penny, as they speak they change positions. After Grams throws the crystal in the chair, they are next to the wall. Yet in the next shot they are far away from the wall. Then the shot changes again and they are back near the wall.

    • When the girls summon Grams, she acts like she had no idea that Piper had a new child. Technically, Grams has said many times that she knows about the things that happen in the sisters' lives (for example in the season 5 episode about fairy tales). So how it is possible that Grams didn't know about Chris?

    • When Piper and Grams are at the table looking for a spell to reverse the magic, Grams says "Remember when I sat you and your sisters and we had 'the talk'?". Grams says that they had a talk about magic. Technically, the girls didn't know anything about magic at that age and the wiccan world was hidden for them. So why did Grams tell them about magic if they didn't know about their powers or their destiny at that age?

    • When Grams looks over at baby Chris in the bassinet, he doesn't have a pacifier, but when she picks him up he does. The same thing happens again later on. When baby Chris is in magic school he doesn't have a pacifier but after Wyatt has orbed him and he lands in Victor's arms, he does.

    • TRIVIA: This is the first appearance by Charisma Carpenter as the Seer Kyra. She appeared in a total of 3 episodes.

    • TRIVIA: It's likely Holly Marie Combs was ill during filming of this episode, since she seems to be losing her voice through out it. At times it seems strong and clear, and other times it's high-pitched and gravelly.

    • TRIVIA: At the end of the episode, baby Chris is finally Wiccaned.

    • TRIVIA: This is the first time that Grams, Patty, Victor, Paige, Piper, Phoebe, Wyatt and Chris have all been together at one time.

    • When Piper and Grams enter the attic, Piper walks to the Book of Shadows and opens it, yet when the camera goes behind her it shows her opening the book again.

    • When Wyatt orbs out after taking Chris' pacifier, shouldn't Paige be a little more worried than she was? Even if he did "probably" orb to his room, you would think that she would at least check.

    • The sign at the award ceremony says, "San Francisco Bay Area Reader's Choice Awards." Unless there was only one reader, it should correctly say, "...Readers' Choice Awards."

    • When summoning Grams, Paige recites the spell as follows: Hear me now, hear my cry, spirit from the other side, cross now the great divide. However, in previous episodes, the full spell was always used: Hear these words, hear my cry, spirit from the other side, come to me, I summon thee, cross now the great divide.

  • QUOTES (29)

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    • Grams: Victor, what are you doing here? Victor: And a big hello to you too, Penny. I was invited for a wiccaning. Grams: Oh, sorry. Wiccanings are only for magical family members. Victor: That's not what Paige says. Grams: Well, Paige doesn't know all the rules. Piper: Okay, I can see this is going to go really well.

    • (Piper is on the phone with Paige, who called to say that Wyatt orbed Chris out of Magic School. The doorbell rings, and Piper opens the front door to find Victor on the porch holding a baby.) Victor: I hope this is yours, because it sure isn't mine.

    • (As he watches Phoebe through his office glass window as she walks across the bullpen to leave) Leslie (to himself): If she turns around, that means she likes me. Come on, Phoebe, don't let me down. You can do it. Turn around. (Phoebe stops at the door, then turns around to look at him, before she walks away) That-a-girl.

    • Patty (reciting a spell): Reverse the spell from the book, and please restore what was...took. (Victor gives her a look) Patty: I made it up when I was nine.

    • Victor: We're talking about my daughter here. So I get a say in this. Grams: No, with birthdays and holidays, you get a say. With magic and demons, what I say goes.

    • Phoebe: Well, well, I-I hugged you because I was just...you know...grateful for what you did. Leslie: I don't know. You squeezed me pretty tight. Phoebe (exasperated): Yeah, I was pretty grateful!

    • (After Patty asked the girls, who are acting very immature, due to a spell, to stand up) Piper: She said now, Phoebe. Phoebe: I heard her, Piper! Piper: Today Phoebe! Phoebe: Geez you're so bossy.

    • Piper: Way to go Grams. Grams: Piper don't be rude.

    • Piper (to Phoebe about Leslie): Why don't you just marry him already? Phoebe: Well, why don't you just marry Leo! Piper: Because I already did!

    • Grams: Piper, far be it for me to meddle but... Piper: Then don't.

    • Phoebe: Something happened after we summoned Grams. Piper: What!? Why? Why did you summon Grams?

    • Phoebe (about Wyatt): He's just having a hard time right now. His dad is never around, his baby brother is getting all the attention, he's constantly being chased by the Underworld...you know. Grams Well, I'm afraid he's just going to have to get used to it. Phoebe: He's two.

    • Paige: Hear me now, hear my cry, spirit from the other side, cross now the great divide. Grams appears with her back turned in a swirl of bright lights. Apparently she was in the middle of a conversation. Grams: You mean she is still lying about her age? Um... wh... (she turns to face the girls.) Not a good time, girls. I'm busy. Paige: You're dead. Grams: Well, it doesn't mean I can't have a life.

    • Piper (to Grams and Victor): You know, I don't understand why you guys have to be so mean to Leo, you know. In case you haven't heard, he's kind of going through a hard time right about now. I mean, geez!

    • Grams: Do you remember the first time you were this age, when I sat you and your sisters down and we had the talk? Piper: Grams, I already know all about sex, and no offence but I don't want to talk about it with you because that's really gross. Grams: No, not the sex talk, silly. The witch talk. Piper: So what did you tell us? Grams: That my being a witch was such an important part of my life and what it meant to me, and what it might mean to you someday. Piper: Did you tell us that Prue and mom were gonna die? That Leo was gonna lose his marbles? Or that demons were gonna be chasing after us all the time everywhere?

    • Grams: Oh hi sweetie how are you? Piper: Don't you sweetie me, where are the boys?!

    • Victor: Don't want me looking up the old boyfriends huh? Grams: They were in a much bigger book, thank you.

    • Wyatt orbs Chris' blanket to himself. Paige: I saw that Wyatt, now you give that back to your little brother while I find out who's trying to kill you.

    • Seer: See I have a problem, you kinda have a temper, and if I don't tell you, well you'll probably choke me to death, and if I do tell you and you don't like the answer, well, then, you'll probably choke me to death.

    • Leo: It's not your fault Wyatt. None of this is. I'm the reason things are so messed up. You and Chris and Mommy mean the world to me. You're what keeps me going.

    • Phoebe: Mommy! I met this boy and he's really, really cute! Patty: We'll talk about the boy later.

    • Victor (about Grams): She always was a bad loser.

    • Paige (to Ben): I'll dream about you.

    • Victor: Are you okay? Patty: Yeah, it's just leaving is always the hardest part. Victor: Well, maybe I shouldn't have.. Patty: No, no, I'm glad you did. I wanted to be here for this, for them. It's just hard, you know? Price I pay for being dead, I guess. We missed a lot, not being able to raise them together. Victor: I know, but we made up for it a little bit today, didn't we? Patty: Yeah. Piper: Alright already, break it up. Kids entering. Paige: Grams, are you coming down? Phoebe: Ugh, she's being a martyr. Paige: Grams, please. Piper: Last call, woman. Grams: Oh, very well. (Grams appears) Just so we're clear, my way would've worked too. Nevertheless you're all forgiven, except Leo. Leo: Why not me? Grams: Because I owe you the apology. I'm sorry I thought you were evil, not that you could blame me. Leo: That's an apology? Victor: I'd take it if I were you.

    • Piper: Phoebe and Leslie, sittin in a tree. K-i-s-s-i-n-g.

    • Victor: Why is my daughter a statue? Grams: She'll be fine. She'll thaw out in a minute.

    • Piper: How's about that damn spell? How's that sound?

    • Paige: Wyatt, where did you orb your little brother?

    • Ben (about Wyatt & baby Chris): Well, whoever it is, they can't get them here - these guys are protected. Paige: Yes, Wyatt is, but his little brother is not so protected...from him.

  • NOTES (3)

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  • ALLUSIONS (1)

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    • Title: Cheaper By The Coven
      This is a reference to the film "Cheaper By the Dozen" about a married couple with a large family; it's also a common saying.

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