It’s the End of the World and We Feel Fine

In Charmed’s “Apocalypse, Not,” (Season 2, Episode 21) Prue is pulled into a vortex with a Horseman of the Apocalypse, leaving Phoebe and Piper to choose between saving their sister or stopping the end of the world. We break down the real origins and symbolism of the Four Horsemen, how Charmed reimagines them, and how these apocalyptic figures have shaped everything from medieval history to modern pop culture. Along the way, we explore the show’s Eleven Planes of Existence and why humanity can’t stop retelling stories about the end of days.Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of religious themes, war, famine, disease, death, cannibalism, and historical antisemitism.Learn More:AmazingGraceLyrics. (2017, October 10). Johnny Cash - The Man Comes Around lyric video [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/nJhgEMKLuHI?si=SMSScbCxQ9PbHpVd Apocalypse, Not. (n.d.). Charmed Wiki. https://charmed.fandom.com/wiki/Apocalypse,_Not​ Baugh, T. (2018). The Four Horsemen in popular culture. Digital Literature Review, 5, 108–119. https://doi.org/10.33043/DLR.5.0.108-119  ​TheBigOReview. (2023). The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Reddit r/Bible. https://www.reddit.com/r/Bible/comments/177c7qs/the_four_horsemen_of_the_apocalypse/ De Jager, E. (2024, November 20). Who are the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? The Collector. https://www.thecollector.com/four-horsemen-apocalypse-revelation/ Enter_RandomNameHere. (2023). What is the origin of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? Reddit, r/mythology. https://www.reddit.com/r/mythology/comments/19finbm/what_is_the_origin_of_the_four_horsemen_of_the/ Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. (n.d.). Charmed Wiki. https://charmed.fandom.com/wiki/Four_Horsemen_of_the_Apocalypse ​Halliwell, M.L. (n.d). Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Charmed. Amino. https://aminoapps.com/c/charmed-amino/page/item/four-horsemen-of-the-apocalypse-charmed/wKe3_VpkcpIB1MVVpxMNB7KmQDqrL8oZr0PIMDb. (n.d.). “Charmed” Apocalypse, Not (TV Episode 2000). https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0539326/ IMDb. (n.d.). “Charmed” Apocalypse, Not (TV Episode 2000) – Plot summary. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0539326/plotsummary/ Luecke, P. (2025). What are the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? Life, Hope & Truth. https://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/end-times/four-horsemen-of-the-apocalypse/ ​Marquette University. (n.d.). Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. https://academic.mu.edu/meissnerd/4horses.htm ​May, S.S. (2016, March 17). Buddhist rebirth in different planes of existence. British Library Asian and African Studies Blog. https://www.bl.uk/stories/blogs/posts/buddhist-rebirth-in-different-planes-of-existence The Metropolitan Museum of Art. (n.d.). The Four Horsemen, from”The Apocalypse,” Albrecht Dürer German, 1498 (Object No. 336215). https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/336215 ​New World Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Four_Horsemen_of_the_Apocalypse ​The Public Domain Review. (n.d.). The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/the-four-horsemen-of-the-apocalypse ​Raconteur, Mythology & History. (2022, February 12). The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse explained [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0ypBL8s5v4 ​Wikipedia contributors. (2025, November 4). Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. In Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Four_Horsemen_of_the_Apocalypse&oldid=1320469220Wikipedia contributors. (2025, March 14). Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (painting). In Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Four_Horsemen_of_the_Apocalypse_(painting)&oldid=1280485870Wikipedia contributors. (2025, November 15). Plane (esotericism). In Wikipedia. Retrieved from ⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Plane_(esotericism)&oldid=1322225772⁠