Payback's A Witch

Season 8, Episode 12, Aired
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Episode Summary

With the intention of helping his parolee get a loan, Henry, along with Paige, go to a bank but instead the parolee decides to take everyone at the bank hostage. Meanwhile, Phoebe and Piper have their hands full when, during his third birthday party, Wyatt turns three of his toys into real people.moreless
8.1
out of 10
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Fan Episode Reviews (28)

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  • Wyatt makes his toys come to life during his 3rd birthday party, Piper and Phoebe do little of importance, and Billie's stupidity and ignorance fuels another episode's plot, this time one that involves Paige and Henry. The episode moves along in a bettermoreless

    8.6
    "Great"
    By Edward_Nigma, Nov 29, 2011 Report Abuse
    Not the best episode, but only due to the HUGE inconsistancies and Billie's repeated stupidity. Whitelighter appearance was relevant and moved the season's big bad plot along a bit, and it was also funny. Phoebe's approace with Wyatt was actually good, and I didn't notice anything wrong with her this episode - no wanting to get pregnant crap, no mentioning moving out (which never works we've seen the sisters try it like 10 times), and no disgusting clothes. Wyatt's reaction was feasible also. But Phoebe and Piper didn't really contribute much at all to the main plot, and their sub-plot was sort of dull. I thought Phoebe was pretty dimwitted for taking SO long to figure out Wyatt's toys were extensions of his emotions. But I LOVED how Piper was so quick to figure out that the bank robbery involved a demon.

    Wyatt's Village-People-came-to-life toys were pretty obnoxious, and there's NO way that Wyatt's friends' parents would have been okay with them, right from the beginning when one of them shot a freaking arrow into the wall. And can Wyatt please talk? Come on kid, you're 3 years old now. I'm sure they could get him to at least make some type of simple response to something Piper asked him. I mean, if Mary Kate and Ashley could do it, they surely can find some new Wyatt actor who can also do it. Get rid of the retard who just mumbles.

    Onto the bank robbery, which was a nice plot in my opinion, although it obviously hinted at the "less magic a.k.a. crap budget" theme of this season. I also liked the Agent Murphy tie-in. Nice. Paige handled herself well for the most part. The healing Henry thing though, I think someone noticed that her hands were, um, glowing, and maybe suspected something was weird when Henry almost died then felt fine. But no, that's too hard for Charmed. I'll let the switching bodies thing go though, because yes we did see it as an audience, but I'll just assume that's so we would know what was going on. Now I didn't really understand why Piper just happened to be looking at the bank's cameras when Paige was signaling something. That's a pretty big stretch there.

    On to the episode's ending...it was to be expected, with Piper talking to Wyatt, but it was done well enough. Overall I'd say this episode held itself together pretty well, but there are still inconsistancies and situations that can't occur unless some/all of the people involved are to be considered retards. Not too bad Charmed (based on recent seasons, not the show's whole run, because in that case, this episode would be much more dull and less suspenseful), now get better and start building up tension for the finale.moreless

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  • Paige and Billie are held hostage, as are we by this episode.

    6.0
    "Fair"
    By iltarion, Jan 07, 2011 Report Abuse
    Okay, straight up this has to be the worst episode of Charmed of all time. In watching it a second time, I have to admit I fast-forwarded through some parts rather than tolerate them a second time. Let me start with the easier part- the good things. Phoebe looks great this episode, love the pigtails. Secondly, Paige being able to heal is a good thing, I guess. Lastly, it is good that Leo isn't being forgotten.

    Otherwise, everything else is pretty much junk. Why didn't Billie just use her telekinesis to pull the gun out of the robber's hand? That wouldn't be exposing anything. Everyone would have just thought he dropped the dang thing. Billie makes a potion out of a bunch of crap from a purse? Come on. Paige and Henry vouche for a guy who then takes a bank hostage? Hahaha... poor choice. Besides Phoebe being cute, the scenes at the manor with the 3 action figures turned real by Wyatt are frankly somewhat painful to watch. There is some comedy there, but mostly, it is just foolishness. Paige makes one signal to the cameras and Piper just happens to be watching during that part. Preposterous, but that is pretty much this episode.moreless

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  • BORED, BORED, BORED

    7.5
    "Good"
    By Blinksterboy, Feb 27, 2009 Report Abuse
    Bored, bored, bored

    This has to be the dullest episode of the whole series. I spent the whole hour waiting for something even mildly interesting to happen but to no avail. In a yawn inducing nutshell: Phoebe and Piper hold a birthday party for Wyatt while Paige and Billie get taken hostage in a bank.

    It's been a while since we've had a Wyatt based episode. It doesn't start too badly; the opening scene between Piper and Wyatt is quite touching and I liked Phoebe's spell to get the bear to talk. However, it then goes completely down the pan and the rest of the hour comprises little more than three blokes in silly costumes running around at a kids' party (though the soldier is quite fit).

    Paige and Billie's plot is even worse. Henry tries to help an ex-con get a bank loan. When the bank says no, the ex-con whips out a gun and takes everyone hostage. Nothing happens for a very long time then Henry gets shot and Paige heals him. It's about time Paige had a new power so this is good to see. On the other hand, Billie's 'potion' is ridiculous. A bit of tobacco and the contents of someone's make-up bag? Come on!

    Both plots are also incredibly predictable. I don't whether I have been watching Charmed for too long or whether the writers are just getting lazy but I saw every twist coming a mile off. As soon as I saw the three toys being lined up I knew they were going to come to life. It was also a given that the demon was going to possess the gunman at some point and Paige glamouring into Billie was so obvious it was painful.

    It must have cost a lot to make this instalment as there are stacks of guest actors, several big scenes and even a helicopter buzzing around the set. Shame they couldn't spend a little more on the plot. And will someone please teach Wyatt to speak. No kid can possibly be that quiet.

    Score: 7.7moreless

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  • I like the idea of the hostage plot finally being taken in the series!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By stefan26sept, Jul 30, 2008 Report Abuse
    This episode was great, almost perfect!
    Finally things are going upwards for Charmed. Granted, the last episode was a little blah, but starting with Vaya con Leos, and now this, I really look forward to the next episode!

    I think Paige and Billie did great in that bank.
    Furthermore, Paige finally finds a trigger for her healing power - love, love for Henry! Isn't that sweet! I think she's closer to revealing she's a witch to him now.

    The subplot with wyatt's "friends" was also good, but kind of a reminder to the episode "Cheaper by the Coven" where he also finds himself guilty for the demise of his family.

    All in all, good job!moreless

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  • Paige is held hostage.

    7.5
    "Good"
    By Danny2312, Mar 14, 2008 Report Abuse
    Billie the troublesome woman. I hate her so much especially after the episode "Kill Billie Vol.1". Billie seems to become part of the show now. But as far as I concerned, this show is Charmed!! The Charmed Ones. What the crap is going on with Brad Kern? Paige is held hostage after Henry's friend can't get money from the bank. Why can't Piper just freeze the police outside and go in to freeze Henry's friend (I forgotten his name)? There's so many mistakes they have done that can expose themselves as witches and demon, except if the hostage are blind and dumb. Not a very good episode.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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    • TRIVIA: This is the second time that Paige glamours herself, lets her enemy kidnap her, and then attacks by surprise. This episode she does it using Billie's appearance. Previously she did this disguised as Hope in the episode Little Box of Horrors. Edit
    • TRIVIA: This episode contains many magical incidents that should surely expose the world to magic. Included are when Nick gets possessed by Rohtul, and his face changes once he is; Paige heals Henry, and her hands glow; Paige and Billie swap identities and orbs appear, but none of the hostages seemed to notice. Also what about the surveillance cameras that were rolling throughout the whole thing? Not to mention the police observing the situation through them. Edit
    • TRIVIA: Rose McGowan (Paige Matthews) sounds like she has a cold in this episode. Edit

  • Notes

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    • On it's original airing this episode got 3.47 million viewers. Edit

  • Quotes

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    • Henry: I've never seen him like this. It's like he just snapped. Billie (sarcastically): Oh, really? Is that what he did? Edit
    • Phoebe (waves her hand over Wyatt's teddy bear and says a spell): Little bear, show me how you care, tell me how you really feel, if you were real. (the bear magically comes to life) Bear: I'm so sad, I want to cry all the time. Phoebe: Oh no, Why are you sad, Bear? Bear (looks over at Wyatt): You want to tell her, or should I? (Wyatt looks over at his toy Soldier, Indian and Cowboy, blinks his eyes magcially brings them to life and 6 feet tall) Phoebe (looks up at the toys and then Wyatt): Oh my God! (Wyatt laughs) How'd you do that? Edit
    • Wyatt's birthday party has started and he's missing in action. Vivian: So, um, where's the birthday boy? Piper: That's a good question. (screams Phoebe's name) Phoebe! Phoebe: Sorry, sorry! (She & Wyatt arrive on the landing) Here's the birthday boy! (the guests clap and cheer when Wyatt comes downstairs) Vivian: Happy Birthday! Piper: Where you been? Phoebe: Oh you know, just upstairs, chatting, playing with some toys. Wow! This just seems like a huge success. (looks at her watch) Maybe we should wrap it up. Piper: What are you talking about? The party just started. Wait a minute. What happened? What's wrong? (an arrow hits the door frame and the guests scream) Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Piper: I'll go, you stay here with Wyatt and make sure he turns Pinocchio back into wood!
      This is a reference to the Disney movie "Pinocchio", about a wooden puppet who turned into a little boy by magic. Edit
    • Title: Payback's A Witch
      A reference to the common saying "payback's a bitch". Edit

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