This isn't the greatest of episodes, though it does at least explore Paige's history, made into typical TV movie hoodoo via an ugly car wreck that killed her adoptive parents. Rose McGowan does fine with the material here, in particular in her attempts to depict that sense of trying to tell your parents how much you love them, even when they don't want to hear it. Paige was a huge pain-in-the-butt as a teen, a whiny brat who skipped class and smoked cigarettes. It's not great characterization (very Angsty Teen 101), but Rose makes the story work.I also liked the implication that fate is always going to work out, whether you like it or not. Regardless of how Paige tried to reschedule the day's events and avoid the car wreck that killed her parents, her parents were still fated to die, and Paige was always destined to grow up without her parents around. The story completely falls apart, however, during that horrible closer with Leo bringing back the ghosts of Mr. and Mrs. Matthews. It's another annoying representation of Charmed's eagerness to ignore the conventions of 'death', while at the same time insisting that Prue can't come back and visit her sisters because 'it isn't the right time'. Snore.
The subplot involving Frankie and Lulu isn't great, and easily could have been removed from the script. But I guess they had to give the rest of the cast something to do. I did like Piper taking charge by herself, though. A Paige from the Past is a fine, if heavily flawed, episode that probably could have been a lot better. But, for what it is, it mostly works. C+
Credits
Guest stars Sherman Howard (Clyde); M. Scott Wilkinson (Mr. Matthews); Lisa Darr (Mrs. Matthews); Larry Brandenburg (Mr. Martin); Alex Breckenridge (Michelle Miglis)
Writer Daniel Cerone Director James L. Conway
Great review, but we seem to have different opinions on a few things!
ReplyDeletePaige meeting her parents isn't one of the 'cheapening death' moments for me. I actually thought it as the first good thing for her to get back from magic, since it had taken over her life so quickly, and it was a lovely moment. Now, Gram's 1001 appearances fit into this category nicely...
The ghost stuff was a little filler, but I personally enjoyed it , mostly.
My issue with the death thing is that it just opens up a huge can of worms. How could Leo actually bring back these two people? Why were they never able to do that with Prue? If it's so easy to see dead folk after they've died, why mourn somebody passing? When you know for sure that when you die you're immediately sent to some 'other realm' with all of your other deceased relations and loved ones, why is death something to be avoided? Why be so affected by Prue's death when you know she's in such a beautiful place with Grams and Patty, and you know you can still get messages from her and hopefully see her every once in a while?
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At the same time, I can understand the way you see it. I guess it is kind of sweet and allows Paige to see what magic is capable of, but I still have issues with the whole thing.
Sorry if that was like I was ranting at you. Heh. Thanks so much for reading, anyway.
Can't disagree with you in that if they get to see Grams/Patty so often, then why be sad their dead at all. I guess they could be sad about Prue's death since she was taken from their lives, maybe? It's a strange aspect to the series, I try not to think about it too much!
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