Charmed

Season 1 Episode 12

The Wendigo

3
Aired Sunday 8:00 PM Feb 03, 1999 on The WB
9.2
out of 10
User Rating
567 votes
26

EPISODE REVIEWS
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Episode Summary

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The Wendigo
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When Piper is attacked by a vicious beast, Andy goes on a stakeout with an FBI agent who is hunting the creature. Meanwhile, Prue hires Phoebe to work at the auction house, but Phoebe's vision of a terrible car crash immediately sends her off on a mission to find a long-lost child.moreless
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Fan Episode Reviews (26)

SUBMIT REVIEW

  • The Wendig

    10
    By TrueTvWatcher, Mar 27, 2012
    The Wendigo was a perfect and fun episode of Charmed which had a great story full of intrigue, suspense and humor. It was funny to watch Piper transform into a Wendigo after being attacked. I also liked how the mysterious F.B.I. agent was on the trail of the creature but had more secrets than answers. Andy finds himself tied up in the investigation along with the Halliwell sisters yet again. I look forward to watching the next episode!!!!!!!!!moreless

  • Piper gets into a hairy mess...

    7.0
    By iltarion, Jun 11, 2011
    Charmed would feature horror elements throughout its run, and this is the kind of dark material here we haven't seen since the premier. I do not hold this episode in as high regard as most reviewers. The plot involves an oft-repeated storyline: a sister gets attacked by a creature and wounded. The sister then ignores her deteriorating condition until she turns into said creature. I do give this episode credit in that it is the first of its kind. The main issue I have with the episode is the utterly predictable nature of it all. Since Billy and Agent Fallon are the only newly introduced characters, it is obvious that Agent Fallon is the Wendigo. It is also obvious from the get go that Piper is going to become a Wendigo herself. Though there is only a brief attempt at it, there is no chemistry between Billy and Piper, and the show could have used a more emotive actor for Billy, whose quick demise is perhaps the one surprise of the show. The strong part of this episode is the comedy milked from Piper's slow transformation to the Wendigo. As usual, Holly is sensational whenever comedy is in the script for her. Especially great is Piper's sudden onset of evil and the resulting outbursts. Great deadpan threat at the end as well. Good stuff.moreless

  • Piper makes a strange transformation when she is attacked by a werewolf like creature

    10
    By GCT89, Apr 17, 2011
    The first episode to feature one of the sisters transforming into something. The Wendigo is definatley a seriesclassic featuring shocking twists, creepy scenes and convincing performances from all of the cast especially Holly who clearly shows Piper's didtressed emotions as her situation gets worse. The special effects were also quite sophisticated for 1999 and the vanquish of the original wendigo looked very unique and real



    The subplot involving Phoebe working with Prue at Bucklands contains a lot of interacting between the two characters Alyssa and Shannen obviously work well together (shame it didn't last)Thanks to a premonition Phoebe recieved from a bracelet she was able to reunite a mother with her missing now teenaged daughter. Very warm and effective scene, which shows that Phoebe's power can be both very useful and rewarding



    Overall a rather dark and chilling episode featuring shocking scenes and a consistant storymoreless

  • Piper gets attacked by a Wendigo after a flat tire finds her alone in the dark but there is a lot more to it than that, as the sisters soon find out.moreless

    8.5
    By Lady_Lancaster, Apr 17, 2011
    As the seasons of 'Charmed' wore on, particularly after the departure of Shannen Doherty, I found Piper's character to be extremely dull and boring at times but in these earlier episodes, she was far more interesting and at times, very humourous.



    In this episode, we see her as very vulnerable in the sense that she has a flat tire whilst driving alone late at night and ends up being attacked by a vicious beast which leaves her with a nasty wound.



    Inspector Andy, with the assistance of a female FBI agent are on the job of tracking the beast but there are more things than that to worry about for Piper as she herself begins to turn into one! As if that isn't enough, the FBI agent isn't exactly what she appears to be either.



    This was a very good episode with some great acting by Holly Marie Combs and some excellent makeup as well. There were a couple of points during which the outcome was predictable but not enough to detract from the overall plot which was very well executed.moreless

  • Am I Suddenly Watching Touched By An Angel?

    7.5
    By maxpower03, Jan 09, 2011
    A neat spin on the werewolf story, this episode is the first in many which features a sister being turned into some sort of monster.



    The episode starts very exciting, with Piper alone in the woods with a flat tire. She is attacked by some wolf-like beast, who is then chased off by a young man. Piper is scratched by the beast, later discovered to be a "Wendigo", and soon begins to morph into one.



    It's an extremely exciting storyline and the finale, where we discover that FBI Agent Fallon is in fact the original Wendigo, and Prue and Phoebe have to kill the right Wendigo to save Piper, is edge-of-your-seat stuff.



    The subplot is slightly dull. Phoebe gets a job at Bucklands and helps a mother find her missing daughter, who was injured in a car crash. I found this really boring and the resolution is a bit too 7th Heaven for my liking. The only thing of interest is that the daughter is played by Christina Milian, who went on to have a successful signing career and appeared in the movies Be Cool and Love Don't Cost a Thing. She's hardly in the episode but it was kinda funny seeing her.



    The Wendigo is a decent episode with a brilliant performance by Holly and some good scares (the dream of Piper killing Andy). Worth seeing.



    Rating: B+moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

Shannen Doherty

Shannen Doherty

Prudence 'Prue' Halliwell
Holly Marie Combs

Holly Marie Combs

Piper Halliwell
Alyssa Milano

Alyssa Milano

Phoebe Halliwell
Ted King

Ted King

Inspector Andy Trudeau
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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

Jocelyn Seagrave

Jocelyn Seagrave

Agent Ashley Fallon/The Wendigo

Guest Star

Billy Jayne

Billy Jayne

Billy Waters

Guest Star

J. Karen Thomas

J. Karen Thomas

Harriett Lane

Guest Star

Cristine Rose

Cristine Rose

Claire Pryce

Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • TRIVIA (23)

    • In the scene the morning after the attack on Piper, why did Prue use her power to turn off the stove if she was just going to walk there in anyways? Also, isn't she the one that tells her sisters not to use unnecessary magic?

    • After Agent Fallon kills Billy, he is clearly seen blinking as the scene fades out.

    • When the wound on Andy's chest is healing (after the Wendigo attacks him) his chest hair is gone while it is healing, but when fully healed his chest hair has magically grown back.

    • When the auctioneer at Bucklands describes the bracelet, he neglects to say that the initials T.L are on it. Wouldn't it be neccasary that he include that so not to mislead the buyers?

    • TRIVIA: During the bidding for the bracelet at the auction house, actor Yancey Arias is there as on one of the bidders. He will go on to appear in the season 4 episodes "Charmed Again (1)" and "Charmed Again (2)", as Detective Cortez.

    • How did Prue and Phoebe get Terri Lane away from her father, who had kidnapped her when she was younger? Wouldn't he be overprotective of her? And aren't they worried that he'll come after her again? And if she wasn't living with her father, why did she never try to contact her mother in the ten years that had passed?

    • TRIVIA: Featured music in this episode -
      -Down So Long by Jewel

    • Piper couldn't use her freezing power because she was trapped inside the phone box, and apparently, at this point, she can only use it when she's in the same space as those she freezes. But when the Wendigo knocks over the booth, the glass shatters, so she should have been able to use her power then as they were both in the same space.

    • TRIVIA: In this episode, the word "vanquish" is said for the first time. This is the term they use for killing demons, and is said many times during the series.

    • TRIVIA: The pipes that Piper are handcuffed to are not normally in the attic and are never seen again.

    • When Agent Fallon kills Billy, he falls forward. Yet when they show him falling, he is falling on his back.

    • When Agent Fallon kills Billy, her purse is on her shoulder. When the camera shows Billy on the ground, Agent Fallon is holding her purse in her hand, but when she walks away it is on her shoulder again.

    • TRIVIA: This is the third  time someone has been in the hospital. In "Something Wicca This Way Comes" Phoebe was in the hospital, and in "Dream Sorceror" Prue was, and now this time it's Piper.

    • When Piper broke the wooden spoon in the car jack, it was jagged, but when she notices the phone booth, it is perfectly broken with no point on the end.

    • A Wendigo is a malevolent spirit being from Native American mythology, but in this episode it resembles more of a werewolf due to its full moon ties.

    • TRIVIA: It's stated in this episode that Piper and Andy have the same blood type - AB negative.

    • In this episode when Piper is turned into the Wendigo, she still has her freezing power. But in later episodes, when the sisters are turned into demons, they don't have their witch powers anymore.

    • If Andy has known all three sisters since he was a kid, how come he doesn't know which sister is which when he introduces them to Agent Fallon?

    • In one scene Andy's shirt is ripped by the Wendigo, but in the very next shot, the shirt has no rip in it.

    • When Piper turns into the Wendigo in the attic her clothes are shown ripping off, but, in the next shot they are nowhere to be seen.

    • TRIVIA: This is the first time that one of the sisters is transformed into another being - in this episode Piper is turned into a Wendigo.

    • When Agent Fallon kills Billy, she breaks his neck then twists it to the left and falls, but when he hits the ground his neck is turned to the right.

    • Agent Fallon's hands are empty when she kills Billy, but in the next shot, her hands are down at her sides and she's holding a purse.

  • QUOTES (17)

    • Piper: On the house, for saving my hide.
      Phoebe: Literally, you Wendigo, you. (Piper sits down.)
       Prue: Are you okay to work?
      Piper: Yeah, I'm fine. It's like nothing ever happened. Except for Billy.
      Prue: No, well, there was no way that you could've known about Agent Fallon.
      Piper: I know. It's just I'm not used to losing an innocent we're supposed to protect.
      Phoebe: He wanted to help stop her so she couldn't hurt anybody else and that's exactly what he did.
      Prue: I'm just grateful that you're safe.
      Piper: And Andy. By the way, what did you tell him about why we were all there?
      Prue: I told him the truth.
      Phoebe: Get out.
      Prue: I did. I said what he saw happened was true, that Agent Fallon really was the Wendigo and that had we not vanquished her, that both he and Piper would've been killed. I couldn't think of anything else to say.
      Piper: Well, what did he say?
      Prue: Not much. He was either too stunned to speak or he actually believed me on some level. It was the closest that we've ever come to having an honest conversation.
      Phoebe: So maybe Andy's more open to you being a witch than you think.
      Prue: Hmm. All right, back to work.
      Phoebe: Actually, I need to talk to you about something and please don't be mad but I quit.
      Prue: What?
      Phoebe: It's not that I don't appreciate the opportunity, because I do. It's just that every time I touch something at Bucklands I risk having a premonition and it's just too emotional for me. Besides that's your world. I need to find one of my own.
      Prue: You will.
      Piper: Just stay out of my world or I'll kill you. (Prue and Phoebe look worried and confused. Piper gets up and starts to walk away. She turns around.) Kidding! It's just a joke (She walks away.)
      Prue: Ooh!

    • Piper: Of course I know what a jack is, Phoebe. I just don't know how to use it. It's not like I've ever got a flat tire before. I mean, this doesn't happen to me everyday.
      Phoebe: Piper, relax. I used to date a mechanic. I will walk you through it. Okay, you put the jack under the jeep and then you put the handle in the base and ratchet it up and down. Okay, it's very easy.
      Piper: Handle... I don't think I've got a handle. Wait, there's a long wooden spoon in the back.

    • Prue: But we might have to confine you until we get back. So tie you down, I guess.
      Piper: No! Go to hell!
      Prue: Do we have any chains?
      Phoebe: I actually think I have something.
      (Phoebe walks in with handcuffs)
      Prue: Where did you get the--? Never mind.

    • Piper: Nothing. This is just the same crap I've already seen.
      Prue: I tried Andy's cell phone, no answer.
      Phoebe: We can't find anything about revearsing the Wendigo thing.
      Prue: Well, there's got to be something. Oh, didn't you check this at the bottom of the page? "c.f. Desiderata."
      Phoebe: Yeah, like we're supposed to know what that means.
      Prue: Well, it means "conferred desiderata." It's Latin for "look up things that are yearned for."
      Piper: Yeah, yeah, yeah. You're so very smart.
      Prue: Piper.
      Piper: Don't Piper me. Just shut up!

    • Billy: So, what, it, like--takes love away from others, is that it? Or...So why did it go after you? Are you...in love?
      Piper: No. Unfortunatly. No. It must be attracted to something else.
      Billy: Like...maybe beauty?

    • Piper: Oh, my God, that's a lot of blood.
      Prue: Hey, sweetie.
      Phoebe: Oh, my God! Are you okay?
      Piper: Yeah, I'm fine. If I pass out and I need a transfusion, I'm AB negative. It's very rare. It could be a problem.
      Andy: Try not to look at it. And just so you know, I'm AB negative too. Plus, I love good food. Perfect donor.

    • Prue: You really wanna work at Bucklands with me?
      Phoebe: When opportunity knocks, I answer the door.
      Prue: The job is very demanding. Auctions can be stressful.
      Phoebe: I love a challenge.
      Prue: We work pretty long hours.
      Phoebe: Overtime is my friend. Plus, I just thought of something else. With my premonitions, I might just be able to get you the straight dope. Without a trip to the office water cooler.
      Prue: Don't push it.
      Phoebe: Right. So, what do you think?
      Prue: Can you start tomorrow?
      Phoebe: Yes. Hey, can you give me a ride?

    • Phoebe (talking on the phone with Piper): Piper, you're stranded and you're all alone, and the only thing you have to protect yourself with is a wooden spoon that's broken.

    • Piper (under the influence of the Wendigo): Back off. What? Do you think I can't walk now?
      Phoebe: Honey, we're just trying to help you.
      Piper (under the influence of the Wendigo): Help me. You can't even hold a job.
      Prue: Okay. Now wait a minute, Piper.
      Piper (under the influence of the Wendigo): Oh, save it. Do you always have to be in charge? (Prue and Phoebe look at each other, confused)
      Piper (normal): I'm so sorry. What's happening to me?

    • Phoebe: There's a reason my resume is only three sentences long.

    • Piper: Big, scary, strong. Kind of like a cross between a werewolf and Charles Manson.

    • Phoebe: Listen, while we're at work...head rush...while we're at work.

    • (After The Wendigo's death, Piper changes back, discovers she's naked and hides behind a tree)
      Prue: Are you alright?
      Piper: I think so. I'm naked and freezing.

    • Piper (to Prue, while under the influence of the Wendigo): Screw you, bitch!

    • Agent Fallon: You believe them... that it's not human.
      Andy: Let's just say recent experiences have taught me to keep an open mind.

    • Piper: No problem. For I bear the power of...one.

    • Prue (to Phoebe): I don't think that my wardrobe can take the assault of your daily needs.

  • NOTES (2)

  • ALLUSIONS (3)

    • Prue turns to Phoebe with a frustrated look and puts two fingers together, just inches apart and Phoebe puts four fingers together and makes a motion of breaking.

      An action that is used in order to break a jinx or a curse of bad luck.

    • Piper: Big, scary, strong. Kind of like a cross between a werewolf and Charles Manson.

      Charles Manson became the leader of a group known as "The Family" and masterminded several brutal murders. Manson's name and image have been integrated into American pop culture generally as a symbol of ultimate evil.

    • Title: The Wendigo

      A wendigo is a malevolent being from Native American mythology, and is the monster Piper was attacked by and turned into in this episode.

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