"CHARMED" RETROSPECT: (6.10) "Chris-Crossed"
"CHARMED" RETROSPECT: (6.10) "Chris-Crossed"
For many years, I have never hesitated to express my scorn toward Seasons Five to Eight of "CHARMED". Granted, I would never consider the series’ first four seasons as examples of television excellence. Yet, in compared to the previous four seasons, Seasons One to Four might as well be considered masterpieces. However, "CHARMED" did managed to air a few noteworthy episodes during its latter seasons. And one of those episodes happened to be Season Six’s (6.10) "Chris-Crossed".
Penned by Cameron Litvack and directed by Joel J. Feigenbaum, ”Chris-Crossed” features a story in which the Charmed Ones’ new whitelighter, Chris Perry aka Chris Halliwell faces a love from the future who is determined to jeopardize his current mission - namely to prevent his older brother Wyatt from embarking upon a path of evil- in order to save his life. Chris’ mission nearly unravels when his fiancée from the future, a Phoenix witch/assassin named Bianca appears in order to bring Chris back to the future by whatever means necessary.
”Chris-Crossed” marked another example of how the series in its latter years managed to derive its energy from memorable supporting characters or guest stars. This episode bridled with energy, thanks to the on-screen dynamics between Drew Fuller and Marisa Nichols as Chris and Biana. Wes Ramsey made an impressive villain as the future, evil Wyatt Halliwell. And I have to say the same for Rebecca McFarland, who portrayed Bianca’s 2003 mother, Lynn. In fact, I have to give kudos to both Nichols and McFarland for portraying Bianca and Lynn as a complex and fascinating mother/daughter pair. The regular cast gave solid performances, as well. But I certainly did not find their performances as impressive as Fuller or the episode’s guest stars.
Litvack’s script did have its flaws. One, I could not conceive future Wyatt using his family’s home to be used as a museum in honor of his mother and aunts. Especially since Chris had made it clear that Wyatt murdered Phoebe, following Piper and Paige’s deaths. Two, the idea that Chris’ reason for traveling to the past seemed to contradict his original concerns from the Season Five finale, (5.22 & 5.23) "Oh My Goddesses!" - namely to prevent the Titans from destroying the Whitelighter Realm and killing Paige.
My final complaint centers around Wyatt’s Halliwell museum again. How on earth did Piper’s oldest son got hold of the mermaid fins that Phoebe wore in (5.01 & 5.02) "A Witch’s Tail"? And how did he get his hands on the super heroine costumes that the Halliwell sisters wore in (5.05) "Witches in Tights"? The mermaid fins should have disappeared completely once Phoebe changed back to a mortal. And the super heroine costumes worn by the sisters had been a figment in the imagination of a young witch named Kevin, who possessed the ability of though projection. I also had problems with Piper and Paige’s visit to the home of Bianca’s mother, Lynn. How did they plan to deal with her, when they surreptitiously (if you can call it that) let it known to Lynn that they knew she was a Phoenix witch? What were they planning to do? Kill her and leave five-year-old Bianca as an orphan, after getting some information? Kill the five-year-old Bianca, as well?
Thankfully, the episodes’ virtues outweighed the flaws. Litvack penned a first-rate script that gave the Halliwells the opportunity to discover that Chris might be more than what he seemed. He also provided a poignant romance between Chris and his loving witch/assassin Bianca. Viewers were even able to witness an interesting confrontation between Bianca and the Charmed Ones. Bianca proved in that scene that she could be just as formidable (or perhaps a little more) as the Power of Three, using her brains and skills. Most importantly, ”Chris-Crossed” gave viewers a detailed peek into one possible future for Piper’s two sons. A future filled with violence, chaos, secrecy, love and loss. A future that Chris is determined to alter via the fate of his older and more powerful brother.
As I had stated earlier, I have an extremely low opinion of Seasons Five to Eight of "CHARMED". Yet, due to some miracle, producer Brad Kern and one of his writers - Cameron Litvack - managed to create a "diamond in the rough", namely "Chris-Crossed". Not only did the episode proved to be a rare gem in an otherwise dismal period in the series’ history, I believe that it might be considered - on my part - as one of the best episodes of "CHARMED".