Recap / Charmed S7E8 Charmed Noir

Charmed Noir

Paige enlists Kyle's help when a teacher is shot at the Magic School. They discover a book written by brothers in the same situation and are sucked into a Film Noir set in the 1930s. Piper is suspicious of Leo after his mood significantly changes once he becomes an Avatar.

At the Magic School Library, Paige is listening to an argument between the librarian, Miss Donovan and the literature professor, Mr. Monkeyshines. The argument stems from Mr. Monkeyshines finding a selection of the books to be policitcally incorrect which Miss Donovan disagrees with. Paige takes the side of Miss Donovan and being in favour of the 1930s era detective novels. Leo calls Paige away and a now curious Mr. Monkeyshines looks into one of the detective novels, being sucked into it physically. Meanwhile, Leo asks Paige to watch over Wyatt and Chris so he can spend some time with Piper. When Paige returns to the library, she discovers Mr. Monkeyshines has been shot dead. The librarian states that a student had been shot dead in the exact same way twenty years earlier by his own brother.

At P3, Piper is busy cleaning up and is wiping a glass down. Suddenly, the glass turns into a rose with several more appearing all over the bar. Leo walks in, smiling and is wanting to reconnect with Piper however she is having none of it. After she leaves the room, two Avatars appear, encouraging Leo to embrace his new powers. Leo states that he only wants Piper.

Paige decides to seek help from Kyle and he comes with her to the Magic School. They discuss what happened with Miss Donovan and she gives the name, Eddie Mullen as the student who shot his brother. Kyle and Paige happen upon one of the detective novels and Paige notes the name on the front as The Mullen Brothers. Kyle opens the book and they are both sucked into the story.

They find themselves in a black and white world, complete with 1930s cars. They're immediately threatened by men holding tommy guns, who suspect them of being involved with 'The Falcon'. After escaping, the pair attempt to fit in by stealing clothes more appropriate to the time and Paige adopts the name, Lana. Paige realises that Eddie was most likely still active in this story and that the brother had been shot in the book.

Meanwhile in the present day, Phoebe has located the book Paige and Kyle are in at the Magic School library. As she holds the book, she receives a vision, seeing what had happened to them. She takes the book back the Manor where Piper calls for Leo.

Inside the book, Paige and Kyle go to the Mullen Brothers Detective Agency and meet with Eddie Mullen and Johnny the Gent. They explain that everyone is after the 'Burmese Falcon' whilst Paige states they are from Eddie's school and need his help to get back. They speak to him in private where they explain Eddie's brother, Dan was killed by corrupt cops. Eddie receives a call from Johnny who says he's got an anonymous tip regarding the Falcon. The group leave.

In present day, Leo opens the novel which tries to suck him in. Two Avatars appear behind Phoebe and Piper however only Leo can see them. They gesture that the book is safe to read and it stops trying to draw Leo inside. Phoebe notices that the book is seemingly writing itself - Eddie is driving Paige and Kyle into a trap however Phoebe decides she should begin writing the ending to the book. She writes that Eddie's car tire goes flat. Her intervention comes too late when the crooked cops appear in the story. Eddie tells Paige and Kyle that the story can never end. Phoebe keeps trying to write but no pen seems to work now.

Two cops arrest Kyle and Paige, interrogating them about the Falcon but they don't know anything, having been from the present day. Phoebe hints to Paige who in turn, flirts with the interrogator before robbing his gun and escaping with Kyle.

Leo and Piper have gone to meet with Eddie's mother in order to see what they can do. She explains that Dan only wanted his brother to be confident and feel like a hero so he encouraged Eddie to write the story.

Meanwhile, Kyle tries to convince Paige that is was Johnny who had shot Dan, not the cops as thought previously. Paige still believes they should be going after the gangsters however in the present time, Leo, Piper and Phoebe know she needs to find Eddie. Phoebe writes in a falling piano in order to change Paige's mind. When Kyle and Paige reach Eddie's office, they find Johnny there. He immediately shoots Kyle but spares Paige after calling her a 'knockout'. Eddie comes in, seeing Johnny with the gun. Johnny goes to shoot Paige anyway but his gun seems to be empty.

Phoebe is writing in a flashback where Eddie sees how Dan really died - Johnny had mistakenly thought that Dan had the Falcon and demanded to know its location. When Dan refused, Johnny shot him. Police sirens wail as they get closer. Johnny know has Paige and is threatening to break her neck. Eddie opens a safe hidden behind a picture frame, takes out the Falcon and smashes it on the floor, thus ending the story.

Paige, Kyle and Eddie find themselves in the Halliwell Manor. Leo is able to heal Kyle's gunshot wound. The novel now credits authorship to The Mullen Brothers and the Halliwell Sisters.

Tropes:

• Asshole Victim: The gnome at the start. When interviewing potential suspects, it's noted that there are a lot who would have liked to kill him.
• Both Sides Have a Point: Kyle is openly suspicious of Eddie's behavior, but Paige insists he's grieving. It turns out they're both right: Eddie backstabs them because, in his grief, he doesn't want the story to end.
• Brought Down to Normal: Paige and any other magical being that enters the story.
• Comically Missing the Point: Courtesy of Piper - "Who would shoot a gnome? And why is the 'g' silent?"
• Continuity Nod: Mr. Monkeyshines cites the "Godiva Incident" as a reason to purge Magic School's library.
• Deliberately Monochrome: The events of Crossed, Double Crossed are presented in black and white.
• Doting Parent: Despite him going missing for 20 years after his brother died, Mrs. Mullen says she and her husband never once doubted Eddie's innocence. They're absolutely right.
• Everyone Calls Him "Barkeep": In the book, Kyle is only referred to as 'The Fed' in the narration.
• Femme Fatale: Invoked by Paige, as she tries to act like one.
• Film Noir: The world of Crossed, Double-Crossed fits this aesthetic.
• Foreshadowing: Back in his old state of mind, Leo tries to resume romancing Piper, but she wants time to breathe after months of angst and trauma. Leo's frustration over this is just a small moment here, but it drives the next episode.
• Genre Savvy: Kyle and Paige guess how the story is going to go, based off their own knowledge of film noir.
• The Great Depression: The story of Crossed, Double Crossed takes place in the thirties.
• Heh Heh, You Said "X": When they reach the Mullen Brothers' fictional office Paige describes them as "dicks". Kyle chuckles before Paige clarifies she meant "private eyes".
• It's All My Fault: Eddie didn't kill his brother, but he blames himself for his death and resigned himself to staying in the story forever.
• Loophole Abuse: Phoebe can't write Paige and Brody out of going the wrong way - so she compromises by writing in a plot twist to warn them. A piano dropping in front of them.
  Kyle: Guess your sisters agree with me.
• "Not So Different" Remark:
  • During Piper and Leo's meeting with Mrs. Mullen.
    Mrs. Mullen: Do you have any children?
    Leo: Yeah. We have two boys, too.
    Mrs. Mullen: Oh. Well, you treasure every moment together.
  • After Eddie's betrayal, Paige has no tolerance for him and insists he's a villain. Kyle is much more forgiving, saying he knows what it's like to fall in with a bad crowd after suffering a horrible tragedy.
    Paige; I felt that way, too, but I didn't try to hurt anybody.
    Kyle: I did. Relatives, social workers, cops — I'd do anything to push them away, all because I didn't think I was worthy of being helped.
• Only the Author Can Save Them Now: Averted in-universe. Phoebe and Piper try to write Paige and Kyle out of a dangerous situation, but none of the pens work on the book. Piper surmises that writing in a plot twist is one thing, but that it's a firm rule people have to save themselves.
• Outliving One's Offspring: Mr. and Mrs. Mullen already lost one son in Dan. The latter says they cling to the hope that Eddie will return one day, as otherwise they would succumb to the Despair Event Horizon.
• Reality-Writing Book: Played with. The story seems to exist on its own, but Phoebe is able to influence the plot by writing in the book.
• Red Herring: Paige thinks the featured cops killed Dan, but Kyle disagrees and is certain it's Johnny. Kyle lampshades how this is a standard noir trope.
• Serenade Your Lover: Feeling like his old self again, Leo begins the romantic gestures towards Piper. However, she's not ready for that—saying she can't just act like she didn't spend months trying to keep him from falling into a psychotic abyss.
• She Cleans Up Nicely: Paige puts on a 1940s style gown and gets this reaction from Kyle.
• Variations on a Theme Song: The end credits play to a jazzy 1930s tune instead of either of the show's usual end credits themes.
• Shout-Out: While arguing on what books should stay or be banned, Miss Donovan references The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Mr. Monkeyshines shoots them all down.
• Story-Breaker Power: Literally. Avatar power is able to override the book's spell, allowing Piper and Phoebe to look at it without getting sucked in.
• Troperiffic: In-universe. The story Crossed, Double Crossed is full of classic noir tropes.
• Wipe That Smile Off Your Face: Mr. Monkeyshines briefly removes Miss Donovan's mouth while arguing.
• Year Outside, Hour Inside: Eddie Mullen is surprised to learn that 20 years have passed in the real world since his brother died. To him, it was just yesterday.
• You Are Better Than You Think You Are: According to Mrs. Mullen, Dan believed Eddie could be more confident and heroic with encouragement. He worked on the story in part to prove that to his brother.