Charmed: Could Be Better?

[prydain]

Let me start off by saying this post is CONSTRUCTIVE criticism on my part and I mean no offense to anyone by this, since I know nearly everyone here is a Charmed fan. It's not my purpose to upset anyone, so don't get mad.

I know a lot of people are going to disagree with me here, but I thought I would post my opinions on Charmed. I think it's a disappointing show, personally, and I tried very hard to get into it last year. I watched about six months of reruns on TNT. This was before this season started and there was an extreme lack of genre on television. Anyway, I'm a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, and I've heard people say Charmed was better and stuff. I disagree. Here's what I think Charmed needs to be better:

- First of all, it's extremely corny, to me. Buffy/Angel was corny but in a less obvious way, and usually on purpose. I don't get the idea that Charmed is trying to be corny in the way the other WB stuff is.
-Second, does the way the actors portray their characters not annoy everyone else? They're all good actors, but their characters don't act natural. They're facial expressions. They way overexxagerate emotions. Subtlety is much more effective.
-I like the witchcraft angle but think it could be shown better. And in some seasons the show is more focused on their sexual conquest of the week rather than their powers and them fighting villains.
-My key pet peeve in Charmed is the vanquishings. They're very anticlimatic. The buildup is usually rather nice, and it seems like they're near invincible, and then at the end they throw something and bam, they're gone. It could be much more dramatic and interesting.
-The demons are so obviously men in makeup it's not even funny. I mean...the way the makeup and face paint reflects the light is kind of ... I don't even know the word. I really wish they used either CGI or Buffy-type suits more often.
-I tried watching the last season but noticed how the storylines were so greatly repeated. How many time loop-related stuff have they done, exactly?
-I think it was a huge mistake trying to rip off Harry Potter with the school, and this almost contradicts earlier seasons in which the witchcraft is more based in reality, with implying people learn it on their own, not get mass taught it at a school.
-The fairy tale episode's ending was very quite painful for me, so bad I was embarrased for the actress who played the wicked witch. Why, oh why did they make her scream "I'm melting?"

There are some more problems I have but I figured that's enough. I really wish I could get into Charmed, I just think it should be more dramatic, try to be more suspenseful, and I'm VERY disappointed with how now it's like the sisters try to outslut each other. Little preteens love this show, these actresses are role models...why are they dressing in such a degrading way?

Also, I just think it could be more realistic, even when it's doing the extreme fantasy situations. Maybe the purpose of the way they're doing it is so little kids will be more prone to watch it, but I just think if it was more adult it could be getting much better ratings right now. I wish they'd bring on some writers from like...Buffy, The X-Files, etc. and change it, as I think this would be an instance in which a rehaul could be more helpful than harmful, in at least getting more people to watch.

OK, I'm done now. Feel free to disagree, which I know all of you will. Like I said, I wasn't trying to bring anyone down. I still occasionally watch the show when there's nothing else on because this kind of genre show is better than NO genre show, right? And I do like the untapped potential I see. And there ARE some episodes that I did enjoy. Especially from the earlier years. But I don't like when people compare this and Supernatural. They're so completely different there IS no comparison...but anyway.

[Black Eye Guy]

I think you totally have a point, I love Charmed but you are right.

-Some of the storylines can be very corny, but allot of them are very good, and you can relate to them.
-Rose (Paige) really does annoy me with how she over reacts her character, Alyssa (Phoebe) does it a little, but I don’t think Holly (Piper) does it at all.
-I think they do the witchcraft thing in the perfect amount, if they did too much, it would not be as good.
-I think the major bad guys vanquishing have always been done very well, but yes the weekly vanquishing can get a bit tedious in how the bad guy is always the baldest but they still manage to destroy them.
-I'm ok with the men in makeup. Disagree with you there :)
-Totally agree with you, I think it was one of the biggest mistakes of the shows history, and it should not have been done.
-I though that was funny, because it was a Fairytale line, in a fairytale ep.

I can totally see where you are coming from and in your last paragraph you say there is allot of untapped potential, I could not agree with you more, If only they would create bigger story arks, and stop repeating storylines it could be so much better, but having said that I do enjoy the show and I do watch it, bit there is so much they could expand on but for no apparent reason at all they just don't.

[prydain]

I know that was a fairy tale line, but still, it just made me cringe.

Oh, I forgot to mention how one of my favorite parts of the show is the opening theme song, both the music and style of the credits. Although, Point Pleasant has my favorite title sequence EVER, and Miracles second. Charmed is like third or fourth.

But anyway.

[Oblivion]

I completely agree with you.

I was a huge fan of Charmed in the earlier seasons [More precisely, when Shannon Doherty was on board], and I even continued to watch it up into some of the later seasons...but have refused to watch any of the show this season, in my opinion -- when Shannon left, Charmed lost its magic.

Like you said -- the episodes and storylines can be very corny, something that I don't think happened in the earlier episodes. Not only have they begun to pull ideas out of fairytale books and Harry Potter [To address the "Magic School" issue, which I think was just laughable]. But in my opinion at least, the writers have 'down played' the show a lot since Prue was killed, they took a few steps back and allowed the storylines to become much more childish, to please their younger viewers. But when Shannon was on the show, I feel it was much more real -- with more powerful demons and intricate storylines that tested the sisters will, power, and morals each and every week.

Now I'm not saying the show was without its flaws then, but I think that Charmed definitely started going downhill when Shannon left, no matter what happened behind the scenes - she was a key part of the show. Another thing I'm not too fond of, is the way everything seemed to revolve around Phoebe all of last season...it was "Cole" all over again. Playing on Alyssa's sex appeal and focusing the show on her and her relationships instead of on the actual "Power of Three". It seems to me the only reason Alyssa's kept on the show is because of her sex appeal; her acting is horrendous in a lot of the episodes [At least in my opinion -- not trying to offend anyone here!]. And it seems her body gets strapped into more and more tigther outfits every episode.

So I can completely relate to you, the show has the potential to be incredible, if the writers would just care a bit more...and try to push the actresses/crew to their limits. I can see how all the nice glittery effects and the fairytale like atmosphere can grab the attention of the younger audience, but personally; it takes a lot more than that to get me intrested ;). And I'm very dissapointed with the way the show has been going since the earlier seasons.

Once again, hope I didn't offend anyone ^_^. I was a huge fan of the show back in the day...until it started to roll down the hill, I have to say my intrested stopped then. I just wish the writers could think of something new and intresting to make the show better, add a bit more drama in it like the earlier seasons. Bring it BACK to the way things used to go in the earlier seasons, bring the show back to its roots. Then, I'm pretty sure I'd be satisfied :).

[Allycat]

I've never watched Charmed, but I've seen my fair share of tidbits from episodes. I remember most vividly one episode where they were in Western times, in a small village and they were trying to help a Native American or something, anyway... the ending was so incredibly corny. It reminded me of the A-team. While I loved the A-team as a child and still do to some degree, it's not show with quality content, but rather a fun way to spend forty-five minutes... I guess Charmed is the same... just it's maybe a bit more pretentious. That's my two cents.

[Summers Blood]

I agree. I was a huge Charmed fan but personally seasons 4 - 7 have been pretty disappointing.

I really did love Seasons 1-3, but mainly because Shannen, Holly and Alyssa interact better with each other. I just find Rose sooo awkward.

I also found the storylines slightly better. I mean not brilliant but better. I prefer it when they have a demon that they fight over a season or two like the source.

[darkness]

I have to side with Oblivion. Since Shannen's departure the show has tumbled downhill to an extent where I don't even care or bother to watch it. For one the Storylines I agree are "corny" now, they were much more constructive and well written throughout the period Shannen was a main cast member. She brought reality to the show, at the same time the magical vibe you receive from most supernatural series airing today. She was the only reason I loved Charmed as much as I do now, without her it wouldn't have lasted through its first season.

Alyssa's inability to last through an episode without referring to something "sexual" is a perturbation I cannot stand. It was clearly evident during the subsequent episode after All Hell Breaks Loose that she had no affection towards her departed co-star and it shined through her character. As for the Episode referrences, get a better writer. :cool:

[CrazyforRose]

Yeah, All Hell Breaks loose was totally corny. The girls acted like they cared about as much as an ant dying. I hated that episode. Charmed can be better, atleast this year.

[Vilandra]

Though I completely agree that Charmed was much better in the first three seasons, I take issue with some of the criticisms because it's not supposed to be like the X-Files or Buffy. It's not supposed to be a serious show.

[JollyApe]

I don't really like the show, but if you do like that sorta thing I think it might be quite good. Ah, perhaps some explaining.

Charmed is like Melrose Place or Sunset Beach (which to be honest I did like, just because it was corny, but fun) only with the Occult and it's never really tried to be anything else (well perhaps a wee bit in the begining). It is focused on the characters emotional life eg their love life and relationships and then you just throw in some occult elements to spice it up.

[darkness]

Though I completely agree that Charmed was much better in the first three seasons, I take issue with some of the criticisms because it's not supposed to be like the X-Files or Buffy. It's not supposed to be a serious show.

Charmed is classified as a Drama series, now it's become more and more of a comedy.

[Vilandra]

It always was that way though.

[darkness]

I don't recall many comedy episodes in the first seasons they really began in season five.

[Vilandra]

Are you kidding? The Good, the Bad and the Cursed, Pre-Witched, the one where Prue goes back to being a teenager...but what I really meant was that there was comedy in all the episodes.

[darkness]

I'm not saying there wasn't any, but not as much as there is now. And yeah there were a few here and there.

[Velvet Sky]

There has always been a highly funny aspect in Charmed, which I like. But I think it's become just too 'dumb'. Mind you I'm still watching, though I can't say I always pay much attention to it anymore. Sometimes it gets to be too much to bear these days and I have to flip my TV back over to the Sunday Night Football game on ESPN.

It's become very the same thing every week, for the past couple seasons, and WAY too much whineing by everyone. And Piper is the worst of the whine. Although I agree with whoever mentioned Phoebe and Paige's like, over emoting every little thing.

also, this whole story with the new witch, doesn't seem to make any coherent sense with ANYTHING we've seen before on witches and how they develope.

Which consistancy with storyline, continuity over the whole show is a BIG problem with Charmed. All shows have some. And even at the start Charmed was bad about it, but they just continue to get worse with it. It's highly annoying.

I just bought season 3 on DVD today. The first 3 seasons rocked pretty good. They were really fun, with great interaction between the sisters, and it was about more than "Oh poor us, we just want a normal life". I mean that was always something they worried over. But before, even to like season 4 or so, it was a few times a season. But now it's seriously the same whiney line EVERY Episode. I've already decided that season 5 will be my last season that I will purchase on DVD. Six and Seven aren't worth it, they aren't good enough. And season 5 was shakey at best, but I will go for it simply because of Cole, and his massive wonderfulness. *L* (Incase you didn't get it, I LOVED Cole in a Major way.) :)

When Charmed got picked up for another season, and Angel didn't, I was shocked. I can't believe that Charmed was getting better ratings and that WB would choose to keep it and not Angel. Which it's not really fair to compare the two storywise in terms of how things were done (demons, magic, and such)... but I think you can judge general quality of entertainment with any shows, and Angel just was of such higher quality than Charmed, especially at that time in the lives of the shows.

[Vilandra]

Charmed appeals to a broader audience than Angel, which is probably why :)

[prydain]

That's true about Angel, but have you noticed how ANY really good show doesn't have mass appeal? Especially sci-fi/horror shows. The WB was always wary about Angel because it was so dark sometimes. Why someone chooses not-so-logical fluff compared to innovative dark stories, I'll never know.

[Velvet Sky]

Yeah, I don't get that either. And it wasn't like Angel was all doom an gloom either. I mean watch any single episode, just pick one at random, and there is plenty of humor. But perhaps it's a subtler darker humor that the masses just don't get.

So they go for the more ovbious lightness Charmed and other carry. And I guess if I were a pervy guy I'd or a little kid, I'd be more into Charmed than Angel (although Angel's always had at least one knock out babe in the midst. but then I guess Charmed always has 3, so...) *L*

[prydain]

Yeah, but you have to admit, even most of the humor in Angel is dark, subtle, and black. Buffy's humor was more light and playful than Angel's. That is personally why I prefer Angel, but that's just me.

For example, Angelus in season 4 was always funny even when he was pure evil. A lot funner to watch than the reguar old Angel.

But the masses always seem to hate dark shows, when they're dealing with the supernatural. So why do they flock to the movies and make horror films the #1 show in the opening weekend so often?

Baffling.