I will return

I'm going to begin this project properly soon. Annual Autumn Charmed rewatch. 

I've Got You Under My Skin (1x2)

Phoebe mentions that Prue and Piper agreed not to use their powers, as to not draw any unwanted attention from warlocks, but Phoebe said she never agreed to that. She wants to embrace her powers. Piper saw on the television that evil beings aren't able to enter churches without being struck down by lightning. Piper worries that she's an evil being and cannot enter a church, but she eventually faces her fears and realises she isn't an evil being. (Later episodes show this isn't true at all anyway as demons, warlocks, and other evil beings are seen to enter churches etc without an issue.) Piper talks to a priest which reveals more about how witches are viewed in the bible, particularly in the Old Testament, which isn't good -- Exodus proclaims we put them to death because they are evil. 

The running theme of personal gain is introduced in this episode. The Book of Shadows tells the sisters to not use their powers for personal gain and Phoebe tests the boundaries of this. She gives an elderly couple the winning lottery numbers and writes them down for herself too as she and her sisters need money. During an argument about this, Phoebe says she was trying to get money and Prue says, "So get a job like everyone else," but Phoebe says she was using her mind instead. This demonstrates Phoebe and Prue's different values. 

Piper tells Phoebe she envies how she is never afraid of anything, but Phoebe jokes that she shouldn't be envious because it gets her into trouble sometimes. Piper expresses her concerns that their powers are from evil, but Phoebe believes they are good witches. She just wants them to be normal again, but Phoebe tells her: "You are the most caring, sweetest person I've ever met. [...] You're always there to help anybody. Even strangers. You've been doing it your whole life. So there's no way you'd have been given this gift if it wasn't to do good with it." 

Some key info:

• Prue says she hadn't seen Andy for 7 years
• Piper says she has never had sex on a first date, but it's implied that Phoebe has
• The sisters learn that good witches don't freeze
• The running theme of personal gain is introduced
• Rex Buckland and Hannah Webster are introduced which are the series' first recurring villains

Something Wicca This Way Comes (1x1)

Watching Charmed premiere on October 7th in 1998 must have been a magical feeling. The first episode opens with a witch being murdered as we're introduced to our first villain, as well as the Halliwell sisters, Prue, Piper, and Phoebe reuniting in the grand Victorian house of their childhood now that their grandmother has passed away. Prue and Piper have been there for a few months, but Phoebe joins them in this episode and, through exploring their grandmother's old stuff, she plays with the Ouija board which spells out "attic." Prue and Piper haven't been able to get the door open, but it opens for Phoebe now that all three sisters are together. Phoebe finds an old book, The Book of Shadows, with an incantation she reads aloud which activates their powers, making them now vulnerable prey to evil forces. They soon discover their powers, that they are the most powerful witches known as the "Charmed Ones," and that warlocks will be hunting them -- their first, the villain from the beginning, is Piper's new boyfriend Jeremy Burns, who had been waiting for their grandmother to die so he could kill the Halliwell sisters after they got their magic. They vanquished him by repeating "The Power of Three will set us free!" from the Book of Shadows.

"Here now the words of the witches.

The secrets we hid in the night.

The oldest of Gods are invoked here,

The great work of magic is sought,

In this night and in this hour,

We call upon the Ancient Power.

Bring your powers to we sisters three!

We want the power!

Give us the power!"

Prue is the oldest and had to help raise Piper and Phoebe when their mum died and their dad left. She sacrificed her own childhood to this which made her grow up more quickly, developing traits of responsibility, determination, and cautiousness to others. Prue can be seen as a maternal figure and she is slow to trust people. She is in conflict with Phoebe who left San Francisco to move to New York to track down their dead. Prue holds a massive grudge against their dad and views him as dead. Prue also sees Phoebe as irresponsible. The two can be seen as opposites and Piper, the middle child, often has to meditate between them. Prue is the type to speak her mind and not let people walk all over her. She is confident, cares about her work, and things being done right. Prue got the power of telekinesis which allows her to move objects with her mind. This power is well suited to Prue who can use it to continue her role as the dominant protector. 

Piper is the middle child and, despite Prue being seen as a maternal figure, Piper is perhaps the most maternal of the sisters as she is the kindest and most caring in traditional ways. While more shy, she is sarcastic and quick-witted and holds the family together. Piper got the power of molecular immobilisation which allows her to freeze time/people. In this episode, Piper returned home from work and apologised for being late. Prue replies "what's new?" which suggests Piper has trouble keeping time. This foreshadows Piper getting the power to freeze time.

Phoebe is the youngest sister and is more a free-spirited, opened-minded, and rebellious type. She was the first sister to cast a spell, invoking their powers, and she is the most excited about their destiny as Charmed Ones. Phoebe is confident and possesses what some would call street smarts. She got the power of premonition which allows her to see things before they happen. They give her helpful information which can sometimes be used to prevent the premonition from coming true. In the episode, Piper tells Prue she is too hard on Phoebe and Prue says Phoebe has no vision, no sense of future, which foreshadows Phoebe getting the power of premonition. It's also ironic.