Avatars

Avatars are an ancient group of magical beings who can bend the very fabric of time. Their power is often described as the ability to manipulate time and space. Unlike witches, warlocks, demons, Whitelighters, Elders, and other forms of magical beings, their power is said to be unlimited. Avatars are not categorized as good or evil; they are neutral. The desire is to shape the world to their own design making it a perfect world and will do anything in order to keep Utopia safe and without violence.[1] Avatars exist outside of time and space.

At one point in time, Avatars ruled over the entire world, but eventually the magical community started to revolt and created a very powerful potion with which to destroy them. Unlike most magical creatures in the Charmed universe, Avatars are magically connected to each other. If one member of the collective dies, it affects all Avatars, making them weaker and less powerful both individually and as a group as demonstrated when the Avatar Beta was killed by Kyle Brody with a potion.[2] This had similarly been applied to the Charmed Ones[3] and later to the Triad.[4]

In Charmed, the Avatars are depicted as a peaceful, yet powerful collective whose sole purpose is to create their version of Utopia, by putting all humans to sleep temporarily and ridding the earth of all demons/evil beings during the slumber. The Avatars promise that upon awakening, the war between good and evil will be over and the sisters can lead normal lives. However, the promise of Utopia comes with a very high price: if any person creates 'conflict', that person will be removed from existence by the Avatars.[1]

The Avatars made their first appearance in Season 5, when they came to Cole Turner and asked him to join their ranks.[5] Cole at first rejected their offer. Even as powerful as Cole was, his energy ball had absolutely no effect on them.

In a later episode, Cole realized the unlimited powers being an Avatar would provide him. He agreed to the opportunity and became an Avatar, and used his new power to change the past for personal gain.[6] He altered reality in desire that Phoebe would love him and they could be together forever. Unfortunately, he wasn't invincible in the altered world that resulted, as he was returned to his past form, that of the powerful demon known as Belthazor. The Avatars warned him, and asked him to stop. Cole ignored them, which led to his ultimate downfall.[6]

During Season 7, Leo became an Avatar in desperation, wishing to use the powers to bring Piper & Phoebe back from the dead. But not long after, Leo began raising high faith for the Avatars, seeking to create a better world. Before that, Avatars had sought help from the Halliwell sisters. Having long desired a normal life, the sisters agreed to go along with the Avatars' plans. Utopia was then created, a new world order under the watch of the Avatars.[2]

Afterwards, Leo checks with the sisters to see if Utopia has met its promises. However, Leo witnesses that the Avatars are maintaining Utopia in an unexpected manner. They are simply removing anyone who creates conflict from existence.[1] Alpha, the representative of the Avatars, explained that they had modified the way people think, so as to allow people to more easily accept Utopia. Unfortunately some people were beyond hope, and their inner demons began to surface, driving them to cause conflict. This in turn drove the Avatars to deal with the resulting chaos to protect Utopia. Leo asked if they were killing people, but as they said, they simply removed them, vanquishing the one for the sake of the many. They had the obligation to maintain the world they had created, and they wouldn't let anything threaten that.[1]

However, Zankou showed Leo the way to shock the sisters, as they can't feel pain, grief, and mourning. Leo sacrificed himself to the Avatars, creating conflict by battling demons at the party held in the manor. Phoebe realized Leo's dying warning as her power of premonition reminded her of all the losses they'd faced. And from here, she helps Piper remember her loss of Leo, and Paige's loss of Kyle.[1] The sisters meet Zankou and learn of the making of the potions. Zankou found an ancient Egyptian Tomb, with all the drawings showing their history with the Avatars. Anubis, the Egyptian god of rebirth, said "There is a price to pay for Utopia".

Phoebe stated, "But at least with good and evil, people knew what they were dying for". The Avatars then promised to rewind the world to as it was before Utopia was created, and said they would retreat until another time, where the people are ready to accept Utopia.[1]

In a season 8 episode, an Avatar made a brief appearance when Piper called her and an Elder.[7] She demanded an explanation as to why the Angel of Death wanted to take Leo away. The Avatar and Elder didn't have the authority to answer her question. But they give Piper the information of a higher power who looks over the Grand Design, the Angel of Destiny.