I mentioned it last review, but I'm not enjoying Phoebe's characterization of late. It feels like ever since she got her job at the paper, she's been almost entirely insufferable. She continues to be awful here, too, sniping at Paige for inadvertently summoning Barbas, and then whining that Barbas' arrival had interrupted her date with Ken Marino. She's truly becoming the most hateful hag around. What is her problem? There used to be something so sympathetic about Phoebe, somebody still trying to find their place in the world, but she's become colder and more obnoxious as the years have passed. It's really horrible to watch unfold.What isn't horrible to watch is the rest of this episode. Billy Drago is insanely awful as always, but the fears of the sisters are far greater realized than in any of Barbas' other appearances. The fears ranged from the everyday (spiders) to the character-driven (Piper's fear of raising her child in a demonic environment), and the scenes where the terror infected the characters were all well staged. And I admit that the final scene of the story, in which Phoebe overcomes her fear and the bricks encasing the Manor fall away piece-by-piece, was sort of moving.
I'm also enjoying the Cole work, too. I always remembered disliking his season five appearances, but when he isn't pining over Phoebe there are some interesting elements to his breakdown. And Julian McMahon plays everything so well that you can excuse some of the weaker plotholes.
Sympathy for the Demon is a strong episode with a ton of great imagery (the doves, Phoebe beating Paige senseless), and a story that manages to stay true to the characters we've watched for the last four and a bit years. B+
Credits
Guest stars Billy Drago (Barbas); Jennifer Rhodes (Penny 'Grams' Halliwell); James Read (Victor Bennet); Ken Marino (Miles); Troy Blendell (Stimple)
Writer Henry Alonso Myers Director Stuart Gillard
Also, when Julian McMahon drinks that concotion and makes a sound, that piece of acting was fabulous. Many other actors who tries to do such motions fail to make it realistic.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember that specifically, but you've made me to want to see it again, heh. Thanks for reading, ud.
ReplyDeleteSeason 3 prue was right along about cole he is evil will always have and always will for eternity.
ReplyDeleteBarbas demon of fear reveal cole fear being evil.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous -- Yeah, in fact Cole depest fear is to be evil again and to hurt others. So much that he prefers to be powerless against the demons who will attack him. He doesn't even really care for his own sanity, he is scared to hurt someone. SUCH EVILNESS!!
ReplyDeleteThis episode proves without doubts how much a good man Cole is. With or without demonic powers.
It proves that he doesn't care only for Phoebe, but for anyone who can be hurt if he loses control. Even strangers.
It proves that he never wanted to be the source. He could take the throne anyway and he didn't and he doesn't want.
It proves that he doesn't care for power. Expecially if they endangers others.
It proves that he is the only one who can have enourmous demonic powers and not turned into a puppet for evil at least for a while. And maybe never without a lot of mind manipulation from the sisters snd Barbas.
And it proves that once again he is ready to sacrifice himself for others. Both: given up his powers, and then, taking them again even if he doesn't want.
Really, the only one who was ever able to fight the evil within.