Charmed: Unpopular Opinions

[Esmeralda]

Saw this at another site:

What are some unpopular opinions of "Charmed" that you have? For me, I always enjoyed the fifth season a lot more than I enjoyed the 7th season (which seems to be a fan favorite)

I also liked the first half of season 8 before Christy joined the show.

Remember, this is NOT things you didn't like about the show. It's things that you *did* like that you think most fans didn't.

And keep in mind that we all have our own opinions....

Here's mine:

1. Couldn't stand Piper and Leo together, except in Season One - think she'd be much better with Mark the Ghost or Henry, and Leo would be much better with either Phoebe or Paige.

2. Couldn't stand Phoebe and Cole together - think he'd be a lot better with Prue or Paige, and she'd be a lot better with Leo or Kyra!

3. Think that Chris is the reincarnation of Prue - all of the parts of him that I can't stand I love in her.

3. Think the series should've ended when Shax said "The end" and that Season 4-8 is the alternate universe spin-off, "The Perils of Poor, Poor Pitiful Piper" - where the only thing similar between that and "Charmed" (S1-3) are the names of some of the characters.

4. Think the series would've been much, much, MUCH better if Phoebe had died rather than Prue and even BETTER if Piper had stayed dead during "Awakened" and that's when we met Paige! ESPECIALLY if she was played by Jennifer Love Hewitt rather than Rose McGowan

5. Think that there should've never been such a thing as witchlighters - hate the idea of dead men being able to have children

6. Think the idea of a good half-demon who was raised by his demonic mother and had been a mercenary demon for more than 70 years is the stupidest idea the show came up with. Had he been raised by his father and was truly in his '30's, I'd feel totally differently.

7. Liked Billie a lot more once Christy showed up and wished that they had won the final battle rather than the Charmed Ones - although *really* think that Zankou should've won the battle in "Something Wicca This Way Goes" and would've if the writers hadn't cheated.

8. Think that Leo should've stayed away after "Love Hurts" and Prue and Andy should've been the couple who was together (but never got married and never had kids) during all 4 seasons (Had it been those two, I don't think Charmed would've lasted more than 4 years, which would've been just fine with me)

9. Think that the worst episode was "Sleuthing with the Enemy" - the death of my favorite character, Phoebs, and the birth of my least-favorite character, PhoeME/Freebie

How 'bout you?

[forbuss]

Here are some of mine:

1. I find season 5 and 6 really, really funny. The storyline isn't the strongest it's ever been, but I enjoy all the one liners, especially from Phoebe.

2. I like the first/last episode of season 8.

This is all I can think of currently! I will realize some more, I'm sure though (knowing Charmed.. )

[Chrisaholic]

Some ideas of mine:

1. Like Piper and Leo together but Leo should have become a mortal earlier. (S2)

2. Don't like Billie but like definitely the last episode of S8.

3. Like S6 completely (with some exceptions) but don't like what followed after it.

There can be more but that's all I can think of at the moment!

[CharmedBOSthanh]

I generally didn't have a problem with Charmed I enjoyed the way the show went. I just so wish there was a Christmas show that to me would of made Charmed more epic than it already was.

[Deleted]

Here's a few of mine:

1. Seasons 1 and 2 were more enjoyable than Seasons 3 and 4.
2. Cole was a better match for Prue than Phoebe.
3. Leo became boring and insufferable after he married Piper.
4. Piper became a selfish, horrible person after Prue died.
5. Meeting Cole was the worst thing that ever happened to Phoebe's character.
6. Zankou was a better Big Bad than the Source.
7. Billie wasn't the worst thing about Season 8.
8. The series finale was one of the show's very worst episodes.
9. The reboot was a good idea, and it's disappointing that it won't happen.
10. A continuation movie or spinoff is a terrible idea.

[thepowerofnicki]

1.) I think season one is the best.
2.) I don't like the Cole and Prue pairing. I always thought Prue felt herself above that whole drama.
3.) I like the idea of Paige and Cole together especially if it happened around season five with her attempting to help him.
4.) I always felt Phoebe acted unnaturally during her relationship with Cole, which maybe the point. But season one Pheebs definitely would not be that annoying about her relationship with him. Although I guess that is expressed by many fans.
5.) I find all the the seasons from season five onwards to be absolutely hilarious. He storyline and characterizations were weak but it became like a comedy or parody of supernatural dramas.
6.) I like Billie at least in the beginning.
7.) I liked Prue working at Buckland's. I hated how they later claimed that Prue only worked at the museum and Buckland's for the money not because you know she actually had an interest and passion in history and antiques. Apparently liking photography means that you have to disown all your other hobbies because you are only allowed one st a time.

[ljones]

Think the idea of a good half-demon who was raised by his demonic mother and had been a mercenary demon for more than 70 years is the stupidest idea the show came up with. Had he been raised by his father and was truly in his '30's, I'd feel totally differently.

Uh . . . confused.

Think that there should've never been such a thing as witchlighters - hate the idea of dead men being able to have children

I heartily agree.

Like Piper and Leo together but Leo should have become a mortal earlier.

Why did Leo have to become a mortal in the first place? He could have remained magical without becoming an Elder. If he had to become a mortal, then Piper should have rid herself of her powers.

I liked Prue working at Buckland's. I hated how they later claimed that Prue only worked at the museum and Buckland's for the money not because you know she actually had an interest and passion in history and antiques. Apparently liking photography means that you have to disown all your other hobbies because you are only allowed one st a time.

I heartily agree.

[priscillahalliwell]

I actually liked Dan, I think he was a great guy for Piper.
I think baby Wyatt is adorable, but I don't like the amount of powers he has.
I never really liked future Chris. I could tolerate him at some point, but they could have done better with his character.
I don't like people comparing Chris to Prue.
I whished they would have made some storylines longer than a couple of episodes (like Phoebe becoming the Queen of the underworld, Piper and Leo are in my opion married way too quickly, Leo being human)
I hate season 7. I don't like Kyle Brody and I hate the avatars.
I never really could see Coop and Phoebe together for the rest of their lives, probably because the lack of time they had gotten. All to rushed.

[Deleted]

I seem to be the founder and only member of the Rex and Hannah Fan Club

After all, I've been writing about them for seven years now.

[Deleted]

Hmm, let's see:

1.  I prefer Seasons 1 and 2 to Seasons 3 and 4.  A lot of people prefer Seasons 3 and 4 for their story arcs, but to me, those arcs are mostly what drag those seasons down.  Charmed's writers were just never that skilled at writing story arcs.  Most of them ended up being boring and dragging, while often trashing continuity and botching characterization.  On the other hand, many of the standalones from Seasons 1 and 2 are infinitely rewatchable for me.  Plus, looking back, Seasons 3 and 4 were when the show started to shift away from being about protecting the innocent to being about hunting demons, albeit not as much as in the later seasons.  And, Season 1-2 Phoebe beats Season 3-4 Phoebe (or I should say, PhoeME), hands down.

2.  "All Hell Breaks Loose" wasn't the show's best episode.  To be honest, I think a lot people love this one just because it was Prue's last episode.  Otherwise, it had A LOT of storytelling issues (Why did the Source want Dr. Griffiths dead?) and the sisters all acted SO stupid, whether it be Prue and Piper thinking they were invincible and chasing after Shax in broad daylight or Phoebe abandoning her sisters (and their innocent) to go be with Cole.  I think "Deja Vu All Over Again," "Witch Way Now," and "Something Wicca This Way Goes" were all better finales.

3.  Chris was the best thing to happen to the show in a long time.  While I know Chris had a lot of fans back then, most of them seem to have moved on, so that's why I'm putting it here.   His character was very intriguing and his storyline had a ton of potential that was sadly squandered away by sloppy writing.

4.  Billie and Christy weren't that bad.  Yup, I said it.  Looking back, I think the idea behind their characters had merit.  Billie was a young, inexperienced witch who wanted to save her sister, who had been kidnapped and brainwashed by demons.  In other words, they were innocents.  However, the timing of the storyline was bad (would've been better for, say, Season 5 instead of the last season), and the writing was absolutely atrocious, especially towards the end.

[Deleted]

What are some unpopular opinions of "Charmed" that you have? For me, I always enjoyed the fifth season a lot more than I enjoyed the 7th season (which seems to be a fan favorite)

I also liked the first half of season 8 before Christy joined the show.

Really? I thought I was a rare case in liking (compared to 5, 6 and 8 anyway) season 7. I always thought most fans hated it. Certainly never heard it called a fan favourite before.

I'm the opposite with season 8 though. I mean it's my least favourite season either way, but I thought the second half generally picked up a little.


Anyway, will post a few of mine later...will have to think of some.

[Esmeralda]

Let's say I think a lot of fans think that of the last four seasons, S7 is the best - that it felt more like S1-4 than the other seasons did. It *could've* been one of my favorites if we'd seen the sisters we saw in S1-3 (with Prue playing Paige's role).

[Deleted]

Jul 9, 2015 16:20:49 GMT -5 Esmeralda said:

Let's say I think a lot of fans think that of the last four seasons, S7 is the best - that it felt more like S1-4 than the other seasons did. It *could've* been one of my favorites if we'd seen the sisters we saw in S1-3 (with Prue playing Paige's role).

Yeah that's pretty much exactly how I felt about season 7.


EDIT-

So, some of mine... let's see.

* I actually kinda liked Christy and don't believe for a second that she was beyond saving like Kern did.
* As I already said, I like season 7. Not as much as 1-4, but more than 5,6 and 8.
* There are some trashy/brainless episodes that I can watch over and over... "The Power of Three Blondes" is one example.
* I like what is done with Leo at the end of s6 and into s7.

And one negative unpopular opinion-
* Never seen the appeal of Charmed Noir. Can't stand it.

[Deleted]

Season 7 can almost be split in half: pre-Drake and post-Drake.

The pre-Drake part of the season was terrible.  It had that boring, dragging Avatar story (that was clearly nothing more than a recycling of an old storyline they had originally planned for Cole in Season 5) with it's horrible, horrible anticlimactic ending, as well as a slew of garbage filler like "A Call to Arms," "Bare Witch Project," "Cheaper by the Coven," "Charrrrmed," and "Once in a Blue Moon."  Plus, this was also when Nick Lachey and his acting "talents" were forced onto the show in a cheap attempt at cashing in on his then popularity with Newlyweds.

The post-Drake part of the season, on the other hand, wasn't half bad.  Drake brought some much-needed fun back into the show after the Avatar crap nearly killed it, and Cole got some much-needed closure in "Seven Year Witch."  The show had also found one of its best villains in years with Zankou, who was intelligent, planned things out, and could actually be taken seriously.  The finale was excellent and really should've been the end of the show.

[Deleted]

See... another unpopular one that I probably should have put on my list is that aside from the anticlimactic ending, I never actually minded the Avatar arc. But I get where people are coming from.
Also, I didn't like Seven Year Witch. It just pours salt into all the Cole wounds I got in season 5... and spoils Drake's story a bit for me by revealing him as Cole's errand boy.

But yeah, there were some truly abysmal episodes in the first half...although I think that's kind of standard for Charmed's later years- to pick up part way through the season. I'd personally say that was the case for season 6, 7 and 8 to some extent. But yes, I agree that the second half is generally a lot better, definitely should have ended there.

[Deleted]

Jul 9, 2015 18:00:43 GMT -5 @p3nathan said:

But yeah, there were some truly abysmal episodes in the first half...although I think that's kind of standard for Charmed's later years- to pick up part way through the season. I'd personally say that was the case for season 6, 7 and 8 to some extent. But yes, I agree that the second half is generally a lot better, definitely should have ended there.

You do have a point there, especially with Seasons 6 and 7.  I think the early parts of the seasons were when the WB forced more of their promotional mandates on the show, which usually translated into skimpy costumes and stunt casting.  This was especially the case in Season 7, where only the first half of the season had Nick Lachey and the crappy costume episodes.

Interestingly, this theory also seems to apply to Season 2.  The first half of the season had Jenny, Dishwalla, and a bunch of awful costume/filler episodes, while the latter half had far less of the gimmicky stuff.

[Deleted]

"All Hell Breaks Loose" wasn't the show's best episode. To be honest, I think a lot people love this one just because it was Prue's last episode. Otherwise, it had A LOT of storytelling issues (Why did the Source want Dr. Griffiths dead?) and the sisters all acted SO stupid, whether it be Prue and Piper thinking they were invincible and chasing after Shax in broad daylight or Phoebe abandoning her sisters (and their innocent) to go be with Cole. I think "Deja Vu All Over Again," "Witch Way Now," and "Something Wicca This Way Goes" were all better finales.

I get the feeling that, had Shannen not been fired, this episode would have been quickly forgotten.

I actually kinda liked Christy and don't believe for a second that she was beyond saving like Kern did.

Another mistake of Kern's that I had to correct.

It had that boring, dragging Avatar story (that was clearly nothing more than a recycling of an old storyline they had originally planned for Cole in Season 5)

This didn't work in S5, what made them think it would work in S7?

The show had also found one of its best villains in years with Zankou, who was intelligent, planned things out, and could actually be taken seriously.

Zankou really stood out, didn't he.  He was far better than the pathetic jokes most of the later seasons villains were. 

[Nimue]

Here are mine:

- I'm indifferent to Kyra, and think she's a bit overreated. I liked her story, but she really didn't make much of an impression on me otherwise.
- Billie and Christy aren't that bad, and certainly not the worst thing to happen on the show.
- I'm not particularly fond of Morality Bites Back. It's one of the best episodes of the series, sure, but not one of my favorites.
- Episodes from Season 2 that I really like: Chick Flick, Animal Pragmatism, The Painted World, The Devil's Music.
- I'm not really fond of Season 7, except for Zankou and Drake.
- I like Phoebe's Levitation and think it makes sense, although I wish she's got Astral Projection while Prue got Levitation (Telekinesis and Levitation go hand-in-hand).

[Deleted]

Jul 10, 2015 0:22:28 GMT -5 @tim66 said:

I get the feeling that, had Shannen not been fired, this episode would have been quickly forgotten.

I've always felt that way, too. Yeah, the cliffhanger ending was kind of shocking, but with the way death works on this show, you knew that they would've all been instantly brought back in the Season 4 premiere. It was only because of Shannen getting fired after the episode aired that the ending was given a bit more power, since now one of the sisters really was dead.

Jul 10, 2015 0:22:28 GMT -5 @tim66 said:

This didn't work in S5, what made them think it would work in S7?

From what I've read, this Avatar story was originally planned for Cole in late Season 5 and was dropped when Julian decided not to renew his contract. That's why the Avatars seemed to come out of nowhere in "Centennial Charmed" and then completely vanished from the show until Season 7. There are many Leo and Piper/Leo scenes in early Season 7 episodes that feel like they had originally been written for Cole and Phoebe/Cole.

[Deleted]

From what I've read, this Avatar story was originally planned for Cole in late Season 5 and was dropped when Julian decided not to renew his contract. That's why the Avatars seemed to come out of nowhere in "Centennial Charmed" and then completely vanished from the show until Season 7. There are many Leo and Piper/Leo scenes in early Season 7 episodes that feel like they had originally been written for Cole and Phoebe/Cole.

Yeah, that's true.  I wonder why they decided to dust off this two year old rubbish idea.