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"How does it feel to be powerless against me?"
—Russell speaking with P. Bowen.[src]

P. Russell was a witch descended from Melinda Warren. She was initially a good magical witch and possessed the power of pyrokinesis. Later on, she became known for her talents in potion making and divination. However, Russell was seduced down a dark path by a warlock named Anton and was subsequently killed and cursed by her cousins during a misguided fight.

History

Early life

P. Russell was born in 1894. Despite being a descendant of Melinda Warren, she did not inherit one of the traditional Warren powers of telekinesis, molecular immobilization, or premonition, and instead possessed pyrokinesis. At one point in time, she moved into the Victorian manor shared by her cousins P. Baxter and P. Bowen, as well as Baxter's husband Gordon Johnson.

Working at the Speakeasy

Friend: "Well, I was wondering where you went off to."
Russell: "I had to get some herbs. I can't very well make my potions without them. Would you like me to curse anyone for you?"
— Russell speaking with a friend of hers.[src]
ProtectionAmulet

The Protection Amulet.

Baxter and Gordon ran a speakeasy at the manor, during which Bowen took portraits, and Russell would foretell the future, make potions, and even offer to curse people for a price. She used the family's Book of Shadows in her workings. Due to her talents in potion-making and divination, Russell was popular and respected among those who came to the speakeasy and even befriended a socialite.

At an unknown time, Russell met and fell in love with Anton, an immortal warlock. Because of this, she soon turned to the side of evil. She concealed her lover's true identity from her cousins, and Anton later convinced her that they had to kill them in order to take their powers and become unstoppable.

Confronting Her Cousins

Anton and Pearl

Russell kissing Anton.

Anton: "Come with me. Drink this."
Russell: "What is it?"
Anton: "A potion to triple your power. In case your cousins are ready for us. It's the only way for us to succeed. You do want that, don't you? That's my girl. Go ahead. Test it. Feels good to be bad, doesn't it?"
Russell: "Sometimes."
Anton: "Second thoughts?"
Russell: "They're my cousins, Anton."
— Russell drinking the potion and showing second thoughts.[src]

On February 17, 1924, to prepare themselves for their confrontation with her cousins, Anton gave Russell a Power Tripling Potion that transformed her power of pyrokinesis into fire-throwing, and a protection amulet that rendered her immune to her cousins' witchcraft. Though she was initially hesitant, he managed to convince her otherwise.

Pear amulet

Russell's amulet protecting her.

As part of the plan, Anton shape-shifted into Baxter's ex-boyfriend and lured her away so Russell could take Bowen upstairs and kill her. However, Baxter managed to escape, Anton and Russell and Bowen fought downstairs instead, scaring away the customers. The amulet protected Russell from Bowen's cryokinesis, but Bowen was not done yet. She flashed her camera and did a jump kick, knocking Russell onto the floor anyway. Baxter then came in from the other room and began to strangle her with a curtain rope. However, Phoebe Halliwell, Russell's future life (and P. Baxter's great-granddaughter) switched their souls, and Russell was transported into Phoebe's body in the year 2000.

In the Future and Death

Pearl in phoebes body

Russell in Phoebe's body.

"Hello, cousins. Or is it sisters, now?"
—Russell confronting the sisters.[src]

Russell awoke in Phoebe's body and, upon awaking, saw Anton with her, placing the protection amulet around her neck. She was confused, and Anton told her that she was in her future body and that her cousins were now her sisters. To get revenge, the two went to the manor.

In the manor, a brief battle ensued. However, after Russell sent a stream of fire at the sisters, Prue Halliwell (Bowen's future-life) telekinetically deflected it at Anton, vanquishing him. Russell, distracted by her true love's death, was then knocked out cold by Piper Halliwell (Baxter's future life), and the amulet was removed from her, allowing Phoebe to switch their souls back.

In 1924, in her normal body, Russell was killed and cursed by her cousins. It is unknown what happened to her body.

Powers and Abilities

Basic Powers
  • Spell Casting: The ability to cast spells and perform rituals.
  • Potion Brewing: The ability to brew potions. Russell was renowned for her potion-brewing abilities among the speakeasy's customers, with one of them commenting that her love potion "worked wonders".
  • Scrying: The ability to locate a person or object by the use of a scrying crystal and a map.
  • Mediumship: The ability to see and commune with spirits of the dead.
Active Powers
TriplepOwer

Russell testing her amplified power.

  • Pyrokinesis: The ability to generate and control fire. This was Russell's primary Wiccan power.
Other Powers
  • High Resistance: The ability to be highly resistant to otherwise-lethal powers.
  • Divination: The ability to predict the future. Given how Russell was shown to own a crystal ball, she presumably possessed some kind of divination ability. It was believed that this skill might have developed into the power of Premonitions that Russell's future incarnation (Phoebe Halliwell) possessed.
  • Immunity: The ability to be immune to the powers of witches. P. Russell gained this power through her Protection Amulet.

Notes and Trivia

  • Russell was portrayed by Alyssa Milano in "Pardon My Past". She only appeared as Phoebe because she recognized her own soul.
  • According to the family tree, Russell was born July 2, 1894. However, Phoebe (aged 24) said that she was the same age as her when she died. If she is taken literal, this date would be incorrect, meaning Russell was born in 1899. However, it is also possible Phoebe meant Russell was around the same age.
  • Her relationship with Anton can be seen as a precursor to Phoebe's later relationship with Cole Turner. The only difference is that after becoming the Source of All Evil, Cole was never able to turn Phoebe completely evil.
  • The short stories, Old Friend, Old Family Recipe and Family History, from The Warren Witches, provided a little more background on Russell's descent into evil. Apparently, she had already started on the path to evil during the holiday season of 1923, and she was fond of playing tricks on people through different hexes. She also once summoned an extremely powerful demon that wound up getting her killed. However, as with all novels, this information is not considered canon.

Appearances

P. Russell appeared in a total of 2 episode over the course of the series.

References

  1. According to the Family Tree
  2. As Phoebe Halliwell
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