Dark Charmed vs. Light Charmed

[cyma]

Which do you prefer? The darker more serious tone of the show before season 5 or the lighter one after season 4?

[Chrisaholic]

Though I love S6 more but the first four seasons had something which lacked later on.

[Esmeralda]

Definitely like the first two seasons the best, which had the best of both the dark and the light. That's when Charmed was at its best. S3-4 were too dark; S5-8 were too light.

[ljones]

I would probably prefer the darker tones of Season 3 and 4. It's a shame that Season 4 ended on a badly written note.

[cyma]

Nov 3, 2013 8:16:58 GMT -5 Chrisaholic said:

Though I love S6 more but the first four seasons had something which lacked later on.

Just compare That 70s episode of S1 with Witchstock of S6. Or the S3 finale with the double episodes of S6 finale. Compare the sisters meeting the Mom they lost when they were young to the episode of Paige meeting flower-child Grams  Compare Prue's reaction to Piper getting shot and all that transpires afterward to Paige's reaction to Phoebe getting shot, then getting healed and then both of them coming under a spell and acting like complete happy idiots   You'll know what the show lacked later seasons.

If the Chris storyline actually had possessed the seriousness and writing quality of S1-S4, it probably would've been the best storyline of Charmed yet. But making sure the episode is ridiculous and humorous is more important than anything else apparently.



 

[Esmeralda]

How can you call "That 70's Episode" dark? What was dark about it compared with anything in the latter seasons? The major difference - like the ones you mentioned - is the earlier seasons took itself seriously while the latter seasons laughed at itself. The first two seasons had great humor, but we laughed with the sisters; we didn't laugh at them (or more likely, roll our eyes at them) as S5-S8. But I wouldn't use the word "dark" to describe any season except S3 and S4, which are most fans' favorites, even if it's not mine.

So the better comparison between Dark Charmed and Light Charmed is S3 & S4. the darkest seasons, vs S5 & S6, the lightest seasons. I wouldn't consider the other seasons either dark or light.

That's why I didn't vote at all, because you didn't divide the seasons up properly.

And I wouldn't want the reboot to be too dark like S3 & S4 or too light like S5 & S6. I'd want it to be like S1 & S2 when it was just right - just different storyline, especially not the Dan-Piper-Leo triangle unless Piper chooses the right guy - Dan - which would get rid of most of the problems in S5-8. Or better, if when Leo goes away in "Love Hurts", he stays away.

*sigh*

Unfortunately, looking at all the supernatural shows going around nowaday (and undoubtedly CBS would want to be a copycat and be like them), the reboot will probably be much more like S3 and S4 than S1 and S2...and I won't watch after a few episodes, even if it could become very popular since that's what's "in" right now.

[forbuss]

I liked seasons 3-4 the best, because they were dark. It really was channeling the same vibe as Buffy in those seasons - dark but the characters were still light hearted and sarcastic within the darkness, so it made for a really cool dynamic.

I LOVE Charmed!

[Esmeralda]

Thank you, Forbuss, I just realized why I *don't* like S3 & S4 - the characters *aren't* light in those seasons. S1 & S2 has that balance perfectly; the rest don't.

Hmmm...maybe I should give Buffy another chance...

[summers]

Seasons 1-3 were my favorite. Season 4 was too dark.

[iamthesun]

I liked both really but if pushed I'd prefer the more darker aspects. It still managed to be lighthearted though.. I don't know if it was as dark by today's standards.

[ljones]

I don't agree that Seasons 1 and 2 had the "perfect" balance. Aside from a few episodes like "Déjà Vu All Over Again" and "Morality Bites", I don't really regard the series' first two seasons as dark or "balanced". And honestly, I don't have a high opinion of Season 2.


Also, I don't mind if a series' episodes are dark. As long as they are basically well written, I just don't care.

[esperanzaa]

Honestly, I wouldn't divide the seasons in 1-4 & 5-8

I'd do it this way:

Season 1 & Season 2 (learning about their power, everything was new, demon of the week..) - semi dark (really great seasons)

Season 3 & Season 4 & Season 7 (story-arcs....) dark (though Seasoon 7 is NOT EVEN CLOSE to S3 or S4
I think Season 7 is by far the best of 5-8, I like the Avaterstory, Brody was a little bit obsessed, but that didn't annoy me that much, and I also like Zankou

Season 5 - Fariytale Disney season - extremely light

Season 6 - AAH! in my opinion neither dark nor light, just bad, really bad

Season 8 - light but not as light as S5, I actually like S8.

[Astral Echo]

The discussion should really be, do you like Charmed when it was well written (Seasons 1-4) or when it was badly written (Seasons 5-8)?!

[iamthesun]

Hahaa. There were some good episodes in the later seasons. Charmed Noir was one of them imo.

[Astral Echo]

Mar 3, 2014 7:27:55 GMT -5 iamthesun said:

Hahaa. There were some good episodes in the later seasons. Charmed Noir was one of them imo.

True but unfortunately the odd episode doesn't make a good show.

[Assassin Witch]

Feb 28, 2014 16:18:17 GMT -5 Astral Echo said:

The discussion should really be, do you like Charmed when it was well written (Seasons 1-4) or when it was badly written (Seasons 5-8)?!

LMAO! Sounds like a good distinction.

And it's not a catch-all. Not every episode in S1-4 was well-written, and not every episode in S5-8 was poorly-written. But the overall episodes and tone is the distinction.




I love the idea of Chris, but if you look at the individual episodes of S6, they're horrid! I love the potential of Chris, but it was so poorly written.

[Chrisaholic]

Mar 22, 2014 19:49:38 GMT -5 Assassin Witch said:

I love the idea of Chris, but if you look at the individual episodes of S6, they're horrid! I love the potential of Chris, but it was so poorly written.

I totally agree here. The potential in S6 was there but executed poorly. Especially when it came to "Chris Crossed" - big potential but not used in the end. That is what annoys me most.

[Esmeralda]

Personally I'm glad they didn't use that potential - think of all the fanfics we never would've read if they'd actually told us what had happened in the Unchanged Future. I can't see Drew Fuller ever playing Chris as well as Chris does in my imagination when reading those fics. And no way can I see the Season 6 creative team coming up with anything as wonderful as some of our fanfic writers.

[Chrisaholic]

True, and actors won't like to be only known for ONE role in their life. I accept this fully, still in Germany there is not much known from him - only Chris mainly. We had two movies of his but the rest nothing! Same goes for Wes Ramsey but he played in "CSI:Miami" which ran here as well. I keep up to date with those two via their web- as well as fansite. That's how I downloaded many other movies too.

[Deleted]

I usually go for the 1-4/5-8 split to decide what was coherent and what was inconsistent, between when the characters were protecting innocents and when they were protecting themselves. However, it's too hard because there's shades of light and dark in all seasons. I think S1-2 would good 'teething years' to get us used to the show then they obviously darkened it tremendously in S3-4, which I appreciated. However, I would've liked the lighter touch in S5 if it hadn't included the horrible introduction of Disney characters. I suddenly became embarrassed to be watching the show. That being said, if we take away the Mermaids, fairytales, superheros, nymphs, leprechauns and Titans, Season 5 is actually moderately dark, especially 'The Eyes Have It' and 'A Witch in Time'. I think I like that the family dynamic was stronger, so the humour was 'lighter'.

Season 6 was a very poor season but I don't know about 'light'. I just thought it was bad. Probably episodes like Sword and the Stone and the finale (the worst episode of Charmed) make it seem 'lighter'. Season 7 and 8 had added darkness, which I liked again, but not as much as 3/4.

I thought each season was either 'light-leaning' or 'dark-leaning' and they remind me of certain movies and TV show:

Season One: The Craft.
Season Two: Practical Magic, Joan of Arcadia.
Season Three and Four: Buffy (obviously)
Season Five: Bewitched, The Witches of Eastwick.
Season Six: Sabrina
Season Seven and Eight: The Secret Circle (but not as dark) with a touch of Bewitched.

If we do get a reboot I don't want it to become as dark as The Secret Circle, because that was almost no fun at all to watch.