Half man, half demon, and endlessly conflicted, Cole Turner (aka Balthazar) becomes one of Charmed’s most compelling figures in Season 3. In this episode, we change things up a bit as we trace Cole’s emotional and moral arc, from assassin to lover to would-be redeemer, while unpacking the ancient, biblical, and occult origins of the name “Balthazar” to reveal how myth, magic, and duality collide in his character. From forbidden romance to fallen kings and demon lore, this is a deep dive into why Cole was never just a love interest, he was a legend in disguise.

Trigger Warning: This episode touches on themes of death and grief, illness, fictional and historical violence, historical discussions of race, and emotionally complicated (including manipulation) relationship dynamics.

Learn More:

BibleTools.org. (n.d.). Daniel 5:22 (King James version). https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/21897/eVerseID/2190

Duncan, Z. (2024, April 16). Belshazzar: The fictional Babylonian king who actually lived. Medium. https://medium.com/@zduncan/who-was-belshazzar-c82d7dc23574

Givens, D. M. (2023, January 5). The blackening of Balthazar: Epiphany and race in the European middle ages. Comment. https://comment.org/the-blackening-of-balthazar/

Jones, D. N. (2024, September 23). Recognizing a master manipulator. University of Nevada, Nevada Today. https://www.unr.edu/nevada-today/news/2024/atp-recognizing-a-master-manipulator

King James Bible. (2017). King James Bible Online. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/

Narkive. (n.d.). Can someone tell me who exactly Balthazar demon is (for a book I’m writing)? Folklore Culture Forum. https://folklore.culture.narkive.com/qhDehF2f/can-someone-tell-me-who-exactly-balthazar-demon-is-for-a-book-i-m-writing

Poell, N. (2019, August 20). The original Cherokee story of two wolves. Dr. Nicole Poell, Psy.D. https://www.drnicolepoell.com/blog/2018/7/10/blog-headline-376gb-tm28t

Sonshine. (2011, January 3). Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthazar: Who? What? bible.org Blogs. https://blogs.bible.org/gaspar-melchior-and-balthazarwho-what/

Wikipedia contributors. (2025, November 6). Bael (demon). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bael_(demon)&oldid=1320768773

Yokai.com. (n.d.). Oni no Kan’nebutsu. https://yokai.com/oninokannebutsu/