Season Seven: Your views, before and now

[Ruth Marie]

Mar 13, 2018 3:25:03 GMT -5 Esmeralda said:

Feb 23, 2018 6:21:22 GMT -5 Ruth Marie said:

Season 7 is a mixed bag.

If they merged Season 7's Zankou Arc (second half of S7) with Season 5 (cutting out the first half Cole arc) you can have yourself 5 seasons of Charmed. I know people like to do this in a re-watch, watch Season 5's second half and Season 7's second half, skipping Season 5 first half, Season 6 and Season 7 first half.

Agreed totally. Although it just hit me, that probably not for a lot of fans, but for me, if there was a way of combining the first half of S4 with the last half of S7 (with the Oded Fehr playing the Source and Julian McMahon playing Drake and skipping out any mention of kids, especially Phoebe's baby-daddy search) you'd probably have what for me would be the best ending of Charmed.

Hmmm...I think I have the start of a new fanfic...gonna have to think on that one. If anyone wants to join with me in writing this one (I always do best writing with someone since I'm very good at coming up with ideas and editing, but not with the actual writing), let me know.

OMG Es!!! Great idea for a fanfic here. Never heard a combination like that before. Oded Fehr playing the Source would be much better than Half Faced. 

[Esmeralda]

I'm glad you like that idea, Ruth Marie.

On a slightly-different topic, I was re-reading my season reviews (written shortly after the series ended) and was surprised to find out that my reactions towards this season *has* changed - so I changed it from "Still Like it" to "Disliked it, now like it". Here it is:

SEASON SEVEN: What should've been the last season

What tells you the most about my feelings towards S7 is the fact that my favorite characters are the demons!! I LOVE KYRA, DRAKE & ZANKOU!

The whole bit with the Avatars was dumb. Enough said. Kyle could've been so perfect if it wasn't for the fact that he was so obsessed, just like Cole was. That Kyle was turned into a whitelighter and Leo punished when Leo did more to save the world than Kyle ever did was totally disgusting!

None of the actors did a good job except when everyone saw all the deaths, with the kids doing the best job. But the fact that THAT--family deaths and not what it was doing to the rest of the world, taking away their free will--was what convinced the sisters that Utopia isn't a good thing, was disgusting. So was the fact that Kern and Shannen still hadn't been reconciled so Shannen didn't let Prue be part of that montage.

Except for that one scene, all the characters became a parody of themselves, so cardboard was the showing of their feelings. And except for Sandra, who I liked a lot, the Elders continue to be more demonic than angelic while except for Kyra, Drake and Zankou, the demons were simply comedic.

The worst moment of the entire season was when Phoebe wanted to use the power-switching spell just so that Piper could see her vision of the future. If that wasn't personal gain, I'm not sure what was! Originally Piper did it to save Leo's life, but this? *shudder*

Leo's fall was also disgusting, setting him up for Vayo con Leos and so Piper could have her mortal errand boy and live sappily ever after. If he was going to be mortal, he should've gone back to his own time--he was useless in this one. And if Piper truly loved him (which I don't think she ever did), she would've let him go--or better, bind her own powers, bind her sons' powers and go back to the 30's with Leo and them, where she could just be a mother and have the normal life she wanted so badly, see if she fit in his world better than he fit in hers.. THAT's how Charmed *should've* ended!

Also fat ugly Baby Chris! Why couldn't they have found a cuter set of twins, like the ones who play Wyatt? What makes it hilarious is that Baby Chris was played by set of fugly GIRL twins! No wonder so many fans thought that Chris was gay, despite his relationship with Bianca, who was more of a mother figure than a girlfriend.

THE WAY THE SHOW WAS SET UP, PRUE'S POWER OF ASTRAL PROJECTION IS A PART OF HER ABILITY TO MOVE THINGS WITH HER MIND, HER POWER AS PART OF THE POWER OF THREE!! IT WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE TAUGHT!! Maybe Paige could've done it, since her power is also to move things with her mind, including herself, but not Piper or Phoebe--those two, at least, should've died in the finale!! Had that been the finale--had they truly died saving the world, fully expecting to die and not cheat, it would've been great, just like Prue (and almost Piper) dying in "All Hell Breaks Loose". But as is, it stunk. Nothing was more disgusting than seeing them just walk away from their destiny, as if the Elders (or demons) couldn't see through those disguises!

The best moment of the season was Drake! Although I rolled my eyes at the whole Robin Hood thing, I totally loved Show Ghouls! DRAKE TAUGHT THE CHARMED ONES HOW TO CARE FOR INNOCENTS! The first time in *how* long? He also showed them how to be happy and how to live. I hated seeing him go, because as soon as he did, the sisters went back to their self-centered ways, taught to them by Chris in S6.

I also *love* Kyra!! I wish she was the one who learned to help the sisters in S8, not Billie! A spin-off about a demon who wants to be human would've been fantastic. Killing her off was a horrible mistake,

I was also hoping Kyle would end up being a relative of Cole's--the names are similar and they look similar in certain poses. "Charmed Noir" is one of my favorite episodes. The guy who played Kyle could also act better than all of Phoebe's other slampieces through the series.

Oh, speaking of, did I forget to mention Leslie?

All-and-all, the bad guys truly saved the season, because the sisters and Leo sure didn't!


D+/3 out of 10 stars/Bad, but not terrible

And that seems to reflect what a lot of us are saying now - that because it's so much better than S6 and S8, S7 seems better than it was.

[summerreading]

I said this in my Anniversary Rewatch thread. It gets a bad reputation for being lumped in between arguably the worst two seasons.

I think it is very underrated. Wasn't it refreshing to not see a plot around kidnapping or killing Wyatt. No magical created mates or the sisters doing very out of character things.

It isn't perfect. But I think its a good season after Season 6. But nowhere the golden years of the early days of Charmed.

[prudencehalliwell]

I think the last part is great. The first part not so much. Lots of great supporting characters like Zankou, Drake and Kyra.

[gzv969]

I loved the seven year witch with Coles return and his efforts to use Drake to help phoebe find love. Though I feel Coles entire effort ended up being for nothing. Phoebe was no different after that episode and the entire issue of her being hardened to love had to still be dealt with again in season 8 with the elders sending Coop. Sorry Cole 😊

[forbuss]

I am FLABBERGHASTED that people like it less now than before. I think it's so fabulous - a return. Although I will always save a special place in hell for the worst season premiere EVER "A Call To Arms" - there is some hate for other season premieres but this one is just ghastly and terrible. WHAT were they thinking?!

[Too Much Coffee]

Sept 13, 2020 0:27:02 GMT -5 forbuss said:

I am FLABBERGHASTED that people like it less now than before. I think it's so fabulous - a return. Although I will always save a special place in hell for the worst season premiere EVER "A Call To Arms" - there is some hate for other season premieres but this one is just ghastly and terrible. WHAT were they thinking?!

Yes, as we both discussed before on this forum, I share you hate for that opener. 

Not sure, I guess even though it had some great moments and episodes this season, people still didn't like it It is a big step up from S6, which was a horrible season, but I guess something in this season still bugs people, I can't say I liked all the episodes myself, still a handful I don't like, but I still like it way more than S6.

I'm a huge fan of the Drake arc this season, and love him and Phoebe, I so wished he was her true love not Coop, and they kept him around through S8, even if he still died in the end as per canon, and gave Phoebe her child in the end.

[forbuss]

Sept 13, 2020 4:24:58 GMT -5 Too Much Coffee said:

Sept 13, 2020 0:27:02 GMT -5 forbuss said:

I am FLABBERGHASTED that people like it less now than before. I think it's so fabulous - a return. Although I will always save a special place in hell for the worst season premiere EVER "A Call To Arms" - there is some hate for other season premieres but this one is just ghastly and terrible. WHAT were they thinking?!

Yes, as we both discussed before on this forum, I share you hate for that opener. 

Not sure, I guess even though it had some great moments and episodes this season, people still didn't like it It is a big step up from S6, which was a horrible season, but I guess something in this season still bugs people, I can't say I liked all the episodes myself, still a handful I don't like, but I still like it way more than S6.

I'm a huge fan of the Drake arc this season, and love him and Phoebe, I so wished he was her true love not Coop, and they kept him around through S8, even if he still died in the end as per canon, and gave Phoebe her child in the end.

I think you are right - someone further up said S7 get's a bad rap because it's sandwiched in between what are usually thought of as the worst seasons (I agree 6/8 are the worst) and I think that has something to do with it as well.

I AGREEEEE about Drake. If Phoebe didn't end up with him, I wish that she had of found out that Cole was involved with Drake coming into her life... Maybe this is something Coop could have told her?

[Julian]

Sept 13, 2020 9:36:43 GMT -5 forbuss said:

Sept 13, 2020 4:24:58 GMT -5 Too Much Coffee said:

Yes, as we both discussed before on this forum, I share you hate for that opener. 

Not sure, I guess even though it had some great moments and episodes this season, people still didn't like it It is a big step up from S6, which was a horrible season, but I guess something in this season still bugs people, I can't say I liked all the episodes myself, still a handful I don't like, but I still like it way more than S6.

I'm a huge fan of the Drake arc this season, and love him and Phoebe, I so wished he was her true love not Coop, and they kept him around through S8, even if he still died in the end as per canon, and gave Phoebe her child in the end.

I think you are right - someone further up said S7 get's a bad rap because it's sandwiched in between what are usually thought of as the worst seasons (I agree 6/8 are the worst) and I think that has something to do with it as well.

I AGREEEEE about Drake. If Phoebe didn't end up with him, I wish that she had of found out that Cole was involved with Drake coming into her life... Maybe this is something Coop could have told her?

I LOVE Drake in Season 7, and also Kyra too.

Season 7 has a bad reputation because it is placed between two bad seasons (both ones I don't like). I also think Season 5 has a bad rap, because of Cole's arc, the fairytale episodes and Paige quitting her job and Phoebe getting with Jason. But, it isn't as bad as people make it out to be. If you look past Cole's arc, the rest of the season is okay, now, take out the what 3-4 fairytale episodes, and is it really as bad as people make it out to be.

And, I might be bias because I love Phoebe, and she's my favorite, I see what people hate about her in S3-S8, and I too share some of those opinions, but I try to look at the parts of her in S5 that she's so great, she's a fantastic aunt, and all her scenes where she's playing aunt is when she is so much fun. It's just the Cole arc, and getting with Jason that brings her down, if you look past those two parts of her S5 story, she has her good moments. I always try to look for the positive moments, even the smaller ones in most episodes from S5-S8.

If Phoebe couldn't be with Drake, and I wished her arc with Drake continued into S8, and he had a year left when he meets her, not one month. Then, he could be gone, and then Phoebe learns she is pregnant with his child, so she'll be a single mother when the series ends raising it. But, I too wished Phoebe found out about Cole, as she never knew he was involved with Drake coming into her life.

[Esmeralda]

Oct 14, 2020 21:14:21 GMT -5 Julian said:

Sept 13, 2020 9:36:43 GMT -5 forbuss said:

I think you are right - someone further up said S7 get's a bad rap because it's sandwiched in between what are usually thought of as the worst seasons (I agree 6/8 are the worst) and I think that has something to do with it as well.

I AGREEEEE about Drake. If Phoebe didn't end up with him, I wish that she had of found out that Cole was involved with Drake coming into her life... Maybe this is something Coop could have told her?

I LOVE Drake in Season 7, and also Kyra too.

Season 7 has a bad reputation because it is placed between two bad seasons (both ones I don't like). I also think Season 5 has a bad rap, because of Cole's arc, the fairytale episodes and Paige quitting her job and Phoebe getting with Jason. But, it isn't as bad as people make it out to be. If you look past Cole's arc, the rest of the season is okay, now, take out the what 3-4 fairytale episodes, and is it really as bad as people make it out to be.

And, I might be bias because I love Phoebe, and she's my favorite, I see what people hate about her in S3-S8, and I too share some of those opinions, but I try to look at the parts of her in S5 that she's so great, she's a fantastic aunt, and all her scenes where she's playing aunt is when she is so much fun. It's just the Cole arc, and getting with Jason that brings her down, if you look past those two parts of her S5 story, she has her good moments. I always try to look for the positive moments, even the smaller ones in most episodes from S5-S8.

If Phoebe couldn't be with Drake, and I wished her arc with Drake continued into S8, and he had a year left when he meets her, not one month. Then, he could be gone, and then Phoebe learns she is pregnant with his child, so she'll be a single mother when the series ends raising it. But, I too wished Phoebe found out about Cole, as she never knew he was involved with Drake coming into her life.

Welcome to the Cafe, Julian!

I agree with you totally, except for your reaction towards Phoebe, since I HATE her between 'Sleuthing with the Enemy' when she lies to her sisters about vanquishing Cole - I think the Charmed Ones should've been and 'Show Ghouls' when Drake shows her how to help innocents again. During that time period, I call her PhoeME, not Phoebs, who is my favorite sister. I REALLY wish that Cole only had one episode while Drake had three seasons with her. I sincerely believe that had that happened, she would've remained my Phoebs.

You're absolutely right that I like PhoeME the best when she's playing with her nephews. Her playing with Wyatt in 'Vaya Con Leos' is the only time I like her in SS8.

But I'm glad that you could look past PhoeME and still see Phoebs. I SO wish I could!

[Julian]

Oct 14, 2020 23:33:21 GMT -5 Esmeralda said:

Oct 14, 2020 21:14:21 GMT -5 Julian said:

I LOVE Drake in Season 7, and also Kyra too.

Season 7 has a bad reputation because it is placed between two bad seasons (both ones I don't like). I also think Season 5 has a bad rap, because of Cole's arc, the fairytale episodes and Paige quitting her job and Phoebe getting with Jason. But, it isn't as bad as people make it out to be. If you look past Cole's arc, the rest of the season is okay, now, take out the what 3-4 fairytale episodes, and is it really as bad as people make it out to be.

And, I might be bias because I love Phoebe, and she's my favorite, I see what people hate about her in S3-S8, and I too share some of those opinions, but I try to look at the parts of her in S5 that she's so great, she's a fantastic aunt, and all her scenes where she's playing aunt is when she is so much fun. It's just the Cole arc, and getting with Jason that brings her down, if you look past those two parts of her S5 story, she has her good moments. I always try to look for the positive moments, even the smaller ones in most episodes from S5-S8.

If Phoebe couldn't be with Drake, and I wished her arc with Drake continued into S8, and he had a year left when he meets her, not one month. Then, he could be gone, and then Phoebe learns she is pregnant with his child, so she'll be a single mother when the series ends raising it. But, I too wished Phoebe found out about Cole, as she never knew he was involved with Drake coming into her life.

Welcome to the Cafe, Julian!

I agree with you totally, except for your reaction towards Phoebe, since I HATE her between 'Sleuthing with the Enemy' when she lies to her sisters about vanquishing Cole - I think the Charmed Ones should've been and 'Show Ghouls' when Drake shows her how to help innocents again. During that time period, I call her PhoeME, not Phoebs, who is my favorite sister. I REALLY wish that Cole only had one episode while Drake had three seasons with her. I sincerely believe that had that happened, she would've remained my Phoebs.

You're absolutely right that I like PhoeME the best when she's playing with her nephews. Her playing with Wyatt in 'Vaya Con Leos' is the only time I like her in SS8.

But I'm glad that you could look past PhoeME and still see Phoebs. I SO wish I could!

Thank you Esmeralda for the welcome.

I see why fans like yourself do not like Phoebe for all the reason you mentioned, and as I said in my reply above I share some of those opinions (didn't like her being given so many love interests in S5-S8, didn't like the vision quest to find her baby daddy, didn't like her in S6 when she took advantage of Darryl, created a man and set up a man for murder), but like I said, I really try to look for the good parts of her in all the seasons. 

Yeah, the Cole arc ran its course by the time of the middle of S4, I didn't like Cole once he became the Source at all. Really hated him in S5 so much more. Maybe they should have changed things around, so Cole is vanquished when Phoebe learns he is a demon, and kept Drake for a bigger arc later on for 2 and a half seasons. I'd have loved that.

Sorry to hear you can't look past PhoeME, but I totally get how hard it is to look past from between 'Sleuthing with the Enemy'  and 'Show Ghouls' for not finding a single moment or episode you like her. 

She was really so much fun when she was with her nephews. I'm happy you could find a moment that you liked her in S8.

I guess I might be one of the few here who can look past the bad, and find some good. So I hope I can offer a different perspective by pointing out the good parts of Phoebe in those seasons. 

[Esmeralda]

Oct 15, 2020 17:22:11 GMT -5 Julian said:

Oct 14, 2020 23:33:21 GMT -5 Esmeralda said:

Welcome to the Cafe, Julian!

I agree with you totally, except for your reaction towards Phoebe, since I HATE her between 'Sleuthing with the Enemy' when she lies to her sisters about vanquishing Cole - I think the Charmed Ones should've ended at that moment and never come back - and 'Show Ghouls' when Drake shows her how to help innocents again. During that time period, I call her PhoeME, not Phoebs, who is my favorite sister. I REALLY wish that Cole only had one episode while Drake had three seasons with her. I sincerely believe that had that happened, she would've remained my Phoebs.

You're absolutely right that I like PhoeME the best when she's playing with her nephews. Her playing with Wyatt in 'Vaya Con Leos' is the only time I like her in S8.

But I'm glad that you could look past PhoeME and still see Phoebs. I SO wish I could!

Thank you Esmeralda for the welcome.

I see why fans like yourself do not like Phoebe for all the reason you mentioned, and as I said in my reply above I share some of those opinions (didn't like her being given so many love interests in S5-S8, didn't like the vision quest to find her baby daddy, didn't like her in S6 when she took advantage of Darryl, created a man and set up a man for murder), but like I said, I really try to look for the good parts of her in all the seasons. 

Yeah, the Cole arc ran its course by the time of the middle of S4, I didn't like Cole once he became the Source at all. Really hated him in S5 so much more. Maybe they should have changed things around, so Cole is vanquished when Phoebe learns he is a demon, and kept Drake for a bigger arc later on for 2 and a half seasons. I'd have loved that.

Sorry to hear you can't look past PhoeME, but I totally get how hard it is to look past from between 'Sleuthing with the Enemy'  and 'Show Ghouls' for not finding a single moment or episode you like her. 

She was really so much fun when she was with her nephews. I'm happy you could find a moment that you liked her in S8.

I guess I might be one of the few here who can look past the bad, and find some good. So I hope I can offer a different perspective by pointing out the good parts of Phoebe in those seasons. 

That would be fantastic!  I admit I haven't re-watched S4-8 all that much (I've only watched S8 once - when it was first aired) so if there are moments when our Phoebs shone through besides those two episodes - 'Show Ghoul' and 'Vaya Con Leos' (and not her with Baby Wyatt, please - for me, that was sickeningly stupid - even ditzier than Ditzy Valley Girl Paige who got ditzier the blonder she got - I always say the peroxide went straight to her brain!), I'd LOVE to be reminded of them.  

[Julian]

Oct 15, 2020 20:44:06 GMT -5 Esmeralda said:

Oct 15, 2020 17:22:11 GMT -5 Julian said:

Thank you Esmeralda for the welcome.

I see why fans like yourself do not like Phoebe for all the reason you mentioned, and as I said in my reply above I share some of those opinions (didn't like her being given so many love interests in S5-S8, didn't like the vision quest to find her baby daddy, didn't like her in S6 when she took advantage of Darryl, created a man and set up a man for murder), but like I said, I really try to look for the good parts of her in all the seasons. 

Yeah, the Cole arc ran its course by the time of the middle of S4, I didn't like Cole once he became the Source at all. Really hated him in S5 so much more. Maybe they should have changed things around, so Cole is vanquished when Phoebe learns he is a demon, and kept Drake for a bigger arc later on for 2 and a half seasons. I'd have loved that.

Sorry to hear you can't look past PhoeME, but I totally get how hard it is to look past from between 'Sleuthing with the Enemy'  and 'Show Ghouls' for not finding a single moment or episode you like her. 

She was really so much fun when she was with her nephews. I'm happy you could find a moment that you liked her in S8.

I guess I might be one of the few here who can look past the bad, and find some good. So I hope I can offer a different perspective by pointing out the good parts of Phoebe in those seasons. 

That would be fantastic!  I admit I haven't re-watched S4-8 all that much (I've only watched S8 once - when it was first aired) so if there are moments when our Phoebs shone through besides those two episodes - 'Show Ghoul' and 'Vaya Con Leos' (and not her with Baby Wyatt, please - for me, that was sickeningly stupid - even ditzier than Ditzy Valley Girl Paige who got ditzier the blonder she got - I always say the peroxide went straight to her brain!), I'd LOVE to be reminded of them.  

I get what you mean Esmeralda. I hope I can remind you and others of them, maybe when this re-watch I see happening here at the Cafe, and it's time for those seasons to be watched, you can see the moments I do. 

[Esmeralda]

Oct 16, 2020 19:53:33 GMT -5 Julian said:

Oct 15, 2020 20:44:06 GMT -5 Esmeralda said:

That would be fantastic!  I admit I haven't re-watched S4-8 all that much (I've only watched S8 once - when it was first aired) so if there are moments when our Phoebs shone through besides those two episodes - 'Show Ghoul' and 'Vaya Con Leos' (and not her with Baby Wyatt, please - for me, that was sickeningly stupid - even ditzier than Ditzy Valley Girl Paige who got ditzier the blonder she got - I always say the peroxide went straight to her brain!), I'd LOVE to be reminded of them.  

I get what you mean Esmeralda. I hope I can remind you and others of them, maybe when this re-watch I see happening here at the Cafe, and it's time for those seasons to be watched, you can see the moments I do. 

Fantastic. Although we're doing a season a year so it will take a while before we reach those seasons, unless you can find moments after 'Sleuthing with the Enemy', since that's when I count my Phoebs dying and PhoeME born.

First to admit that I did like her in 'The Good, The Bad and The Cursed' and 'Just Harried' but that was it.

[Julian]

Oct 16, 2020 20:04:53 GMT -5 Esmeralda said:

Oct 16, 2020 19:53:33 GMT -5 Julian said:

I get what you mean Esmeralda. I hope I can remind you and others of them, maybe when this re-watch I see happening here at the Cafe, and it's time for those seasons to be watched, you can see the moments I do. 

Fantastic. Although we're doing a season a year so it will take a while before we reach those seasons, unless you can find moments after 'Sleuthing with the Enemy', since that's when I count my Phoebs dying and PhoeME born.

First to admit that I did like her in 'The Good, The Bad and The Cursed' and 'Just Harried' but that was it.

That's alright, I can wait. I might join in too, when I can for the season 3 one currently.

Nice, I hope you can find more as you re-watch too. We'll have to wait and see. 

[prettyinpink94]

There was a sense of renewed energy at the beginning of the season but that quickly declined. Frankly by S7 i couldn't even be bothered with the show anymore. If you compare this seasons to the Prue years or S4, its just plain bad.

[BewitchingBeauties87]

I have only just started season 7, just finished the first four episodes, so I know the season is still a work in progress....

......but, Charmed season 7 has so far done NOTHING to get me excited about the show again. Every character continues to be unlikable (except for Paige), Phoebe is just...ugh...I can't even talk about her anymore, I will just say I was hoping losing her powers at the end of season 6 would mark a new beginning for Phoebe, perhaps she would actually re-commit herself to being an awesome witch, but no, it was just an excuse for the writers to introduce another attractive guest star that she could repeatedly fondle...

Piper seems to have checked out mentally now, more or less going through the motions with very little passion for anything related to being a witch, Leo just killed an elder (which i don't really understand? Aren't elders already dead?) and now seems to only use magic to hurt people, doesn't matter if they are good or bad, who could potentially endanger his family. Yes, I understand he's naturally more prone to violence now, since he was betrayed by his mentor and all, but this just seems so out of character for Leo. He was always portrayed as a good-natured goofy character, and now he's evolved into something completely different because of his obsession with keeping his kids safe.

And speaking of his kids, I can't emphasize enough how much Charmed painted themselves into a corner when they moved the focus away from the sisters and towards one sister's kids, it really hurt the show in so many ways. First (and bear in mind i'm no expert on Charmed), i thought the Charmed ones were legendary because THEY were the most powerful witches of all time? Where was the prophesy about one of their children surpassing them and becoming the most awesome power on Earth? Did i miss that? Secondly, as has been established many times, TODDLERS CANNOT ACT, they can barely emote (although that didn't stop Charmed from casting Drew Fuller lol), they can't speak, and they are mostly just there to be helpless and something to protect for the adult characters...

Except, we have already established this kid is completely overpowered, has a protective bubble, and has even killed people, so does he really need protection? At this point i would be terrified of getting anywhere near him (and that goes for family too, given that he just orbed his infant brother into danger because of some sibling rivalry).

As others have mentioned, I feel Charmed has become a parody of the show it once was. It's not even trying anymore, except for the odd episode like the season 6 finale which was actually pretty decent, and relies so much on stupid gimmick episodes. "Come see Phoebe riding naked on a horse!", "Come see Piper as an Indian Goddess with many arms", "Come see the sisters act like moronic 10 year olds because they are under a spell".....just on and on....

[Elle Em]

Jul 17, 2021 22:08:37 GMT -5 BewitchingBeauties87 said:

And speaking of his kids, I can't emphasize enough how much Charmed painted themselves into a corner when they moved the focus away from the sisters and towards one sister's kids, it really hurt the show in so many ways. First (and bear in mind i'm no expert on Charmed), i thought the Charmed ones were legendary because THEY were the most powerful witches of all time? Where was the prophesy about one of their children surpassing them and becoming the most awesome power on Earth? Did i miss that? 

Thank you. If it were always going to be about the kids, it would have been that way from the start, wouldn't it? Phoebe would have read in the Book of Shadows in the first episode that three sisters would come along and one of them was the person destined to give birth to the world's most powerful person ever. The very foundation of the show was that these three sisters are the most powerful force of good the world has ever known. If one of their kids was going to be more powerful, the prophecy should have been about them. And sure, things can change along the way, but if the most basic premise of the show can change, then continuity means nothing. 

Having Wyatt so powerful and the focus shift to the next generation when the sisters were still in their prime reduced them to nothing more than vessels to give birth to other characters. A lot of seasons 5-8 feels like flashbacks of a show that stars Wyatt and Chris, like the sisters didn't once have their own lives and stories but were merely there to aid in the real story about the boys. 

They really, really should have ended Charmed after season 4 and at least renamed it to continue on, because the very concept of being The Charmed Ones and even sisterhood had next to no meaning once their kids started to come along. 

[BewitchingBeauties87]

Jul 18, 2021 13:29:45 GMT -5 Elle Em said:

Jul 17, 2021 22:08:37 GMT -5 BewitchingBeauties87 said:

And speaking of his kids, I can't emphasize enough how much Charmed painted themselves into a corner when they moved the focus away from the sisters and towards one sister's kids, it really hurt the show in so many ways. First (and bear in mind i'm no expert on Charmed), i thought the Charmed ones were legendary because THEY were the most powerful witches of all time? Where was the prophesy about one of their children surpassing them and becoming the most awesome power on Earth? Did i miss that? 

Thank you. If it were always going to be about the kids, it would have been that way from the start, wouldn't it? Phoebe would have read in the Book of Shadows in the first episode that three sisters would come along and one of them was the person destined to give birth to the world's most powerful person ever. The very foundation of the show was that these three sisters are the most powerful force of good the world has ever known. If one of their kids was going to be more powerful, the prophecy should have been about them. And sure, things can change along the way, but if the most basic premise of the show can change, then continuity means nothing. 

Having Wyatt so powerful and the focus shift to the next generation when the sisters were still in their prime reduced them to nothing more than vessels to give birth to other characters. A lot of seasons 5-8 feels like flashbacks of a show that stars Wyatt and Chris, like the sisters didn't once have their own lives and stories but were merely there to aid in the real story about the boys. 

They really, really should have ended Charmed after season 4 and at least renamed it to continue on, because the very concept of being The Charmed Ones and even sisterhood had next to no meaning once their kids started to come along. 

I hate to say this without proof, but I'm wondering if the actresses had some say in this very important change?  For example, I understand that a show like Charmed needs plenty of "Man Candy", but it seems like that became Phoebe's exclusive focus in the latter seasons at the expense of the witchcraft stuff.  And bear in mind, around this time shows like Sex and the City and Friends were extremely popular, so perhaps Alyssa Milano, already thinking about the next stage in her career, was behind the scenes encouraging the writers to give her as many romantic subplots as possible at the expense of the more witch related focus from the early seasons?  She might have thought she was proving herself a viable actress in the romantic/comedy genre with her season long love affairs with Jason and Leslie, as, unlike her relationship with Cole, neither of those two love affairs had any connection whatsoever with the magical aspect of the show. 

And to draw a contrast, going back to season 1, in the "Feats of Clay" episode, we have Phoebe involved in a one episode romantic subplot with a hunky guy who is being hunted by the guardian of Egyptian urn.  He has no magical powers at all, but he becomes Phoebe's innocent for that one episode which allows the show to supplement some romantic stuff with the more important witch aspect of the show.  And that's how it should have been done IMO.  I like romance too, but it can't be the major focus on a show like Charmed, having a character like Nick Lachey around just so Phoebe can constantly fall under a spell and repeatedly fondle him does nothing for me, if i wanted to see that kind of stuff i would just watch the Young and the Restless.  

[BewitchingBeauties87]

Just when I was ready to give up on Charmed, they surprise me with some solid episodes. Season 7 started out awful (and offensive with the Indian Goddess debacle), but things seem to be improving. Yes, Blue Moon was horrible, but if you remove that one episode I say Charmed is actually showing some momentum for the first time in ages (like, the end of season 4).

P.S. Even in a mostly positive post I still have to gripe about something that is bothering me, and in this case (surprise, surprise) it's Phoebe. Has anyone noticed that she is always coming down hard on Paige's boyfriends? Is this payback for her not liking Cole? Because first Phoebe didn't like Richard and now she's giving Agent Brody the cold shoulder. If i'm Paige i would read Phoebe the riot act by telling her to stop treating me like her daughter, because i'm a grown woman who is smart enough to make my own relationship decisions. It almost comes across as jealousy, especially when neither Richard nor Brody have done anything to warrant the same suspicion that Cole rightfully received from Paige and even Prue.