Charmed: House Call (5.13)

You can understand why the writers wanted to do a bunch of comedy episodes after a run of heavy storytelling (for Charmed, anyway) with Cole's machinations and his eventual demise, but this is the point of the series where 'comedic' gets unfortunately confused with 'dumb'. House Call is a pretty terrible episode, the sisters acting insufferably annoying, the special effects worse than ever, and the guest stars perfecting the art of scenery-chewing. Kill me now.

Let's start with Phoebe's cries of wanting modesty. Hah! This is a lady who probably uses a crotch shot for her driving license picture. And why does she believe Cole is responsible for the demon-residue hauntings when he got vanquished in another damn reality?? Then there's the gratuitous Phoebe nudity again, followed by her anvil-a-licious proclaiming that Spencer Ricks is a 'turkey'. Ricks himself is the most ridiculous caricature of a misogynist in the world. Meanwhile, Paige's jealousy of Glenn's new fiancée is stupid even before she gets possessed; while Piper's obsessive cleaning comes completely out of left-field. Gah.

Don't get me wrong, there are some amusing moments here: the plaster falling on Piper's head is straight out of an Acme cartoon, Rose McGowan gives her lines some neat delivery, and Erinn Bartlett completely nails Rose's distinctive body language and vocal pattern. But... that's pretty much it. House Call is a routinely annoying Charmed filler episode. D+

Credits
Guest stars Wolfgang Bodison (Witch Doctor); Rebecca Balding (Elise Rothman); Jesse Woodrow (Glen Belland); Erinn Bartlett (Jessica); Richard Gant (Head Witch Doctor); Googy Gress (Spencer Ricks); Todd Sherry (Photographer)
Writer Henry Alonso Myers Director Jon Paré