Post by codebox on Nov 6, 2019 19:35:28 GMT -5
Normally something as simple as an opening can seem so minor, and what I like about Charmed's openers is how different each season changes theirs so you know what season you're watching. Upon doing so rewatches I decided it would be nice if we all had a discussion about our favorite (or least favorite) segments or overall opening themes. With me I'll go over each season
Post your thoughts and discussions below as well.
Season 1-3 (Prue Seasons)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yaPJhCTwQM
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaQcDBopns8
www.youtube.com/watch?v=u27b52Z0bcU
What I loved about the Prue season openings is how it told you everything about the show. I loved everything about the opening, the shot of the girls coming down the stairs, how the camera pans from above showing the girl's below doing witchcraft, the beginning shot of Prue telekinetically throwing a pipe at a grimmlock, the ending shot of the girls walking up stairs together.
But what I loved the most was how it showed each shot of the girls using their powers, then right after showcase the actresses names. Prue moving things with telekinsis, Piper freezing bullets from gunfire or freezing jeremy and Phoebe gaining premonitions followed by using her tuition to dodge energy ball. It was a small, but subtle thing that gave the openings charm.
Out of all of these openings, I loved Season 3's the most. Thoughts guys?
Seasons 4-8 (Paige Seasons)
Season 4's opening is a strange one, I don't dislike this one, but its missing a lot of what made the first three good. I just find how each sister is billed to be forced and strange. Seasons 1-3 made sure to structure them from Oldest to Youngest, yet here it seems Alyssa was billed first simply by virtue of favoritism.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XP0MA_Dr9I
Season 5's opener however shows the tonal shift completely. Look at the way Phoebe poses in the opening, they emphasize her "good looks" by having the screenshot of Alyssa pan up with her "worried" expression, followed by her laying beside a towel in her mermaid attire with a simile and the borders around her close up faces, they obviously emphasized Phoebe as "The Star" and this opening shows it clear as day. Strangely I do like Paige's red headed pose..
www.youtube.com/watch?v=79nXL4a0Iq4
Now with Season 6, it's easily the worst opening by far (fitting as its the worst season imo) firstly I don't like Pixie Cut Phoebe doesn't look good standing next to the other two, and Paige's overuse of make up (I also think the pose Rose makes when it shows her name is kind of ugly) and Piper's is lazily reused from Season 5.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=89H-cy_LB54
With Season 7 its probably my second least favorite. Firstly the emphasize Phoebe as "the star" once again by close ups and ending with a pose of her doing a body pose turn with emphasizes on her looks, only now this season magnifies all of their "beautiful looks" doing the same with Paige and with Piper she gets a head turn followed with long earrings.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=p43vdvOVtAM
With Season 8 its the same as Season 7 with the girl's looks being the main focus of each shot, only this time the shot of the sisters with the actresses names have a Sex and the City-Esque style of framing. It no longer feels like a show about witches.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrSQ3Ofxqc8
What is the commonality between the Paige seasons though? One thing I noticed after viewing all the Charmed season intros with both this and the OG theme song is how the opening sorta signals the show's downfall in the later seasons. Notice how, from season 5 onwards, the structure of the opening changes. From season 1 to 3 it went like this:
Each sister uses their powers followed by screenshot of the character with the actresse's names on them. But from season 5 to 8, the "power usage clip" is gone. It may sound like a silly detail but, to me, it really symbolizes the huge tonal shift of the show in the later seasons. By the end, "Charmed" was more about the girls wanting more "me" time and complaining about their witchy duties, to the point where they sometimes became unbearable (especially in season 8)!
I always liked the clip of Prue throwing a pipe at the grimlock or showing Piper running to freeze the bullets from gunfire or Phoebe touching the door to get a premonition, you don't get that in any later season openings. This showcased how it was less about witches with powers and more about three women but sometimes magic is there. They also made sure to focus more on scandalous poses.
In Seasons 7 and 8 their looks are also emphasized more and Phoebe's opening obviously wanted you to believe she was "the star".. What do you guys think about each opening theme? Discuss.
Post your thoughts and discussions below as well.
Season 1-3 (Prue Seasons)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yaPJhCTwQM
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaQcDBopns8
www.youtube.com/watch?v=u27b52Z0bcU
What I loved about the Prue season openings is how it told you everything about the show. I loved everything about the opening, the shot of the girls coming down the stairs, how the camera pans from above showing the girl's below doing witchcraft, the beginning shot of Prue telekinetically throwing a pipe at a grimmlock, the ending shot of the girls walking up stairs together.
But what I loved the most was how it showed each shot of the girls using their powers, then right after showcase the actresses names. Prue moving things with telekinsis, Piper freezing bullets from gunfire or freezing jeremy and Phoebe gaining premonitions followed by using her tuition to dodge energy ball. It was a small, but subtle thing that gave the openings charm.
Out of all of these openings, I loved Season 3's the most. Thoughts guys?
Seasons 4-8 (Paige Seasons)
Season 4's opening is a strange one, I don't dislike this one, but its missing a lot of what made the first three good. I just find how each sister is billed to be forced and strange. Seasons 1-3 made sure to structure them from Oldest to Youngest, yet here it seems Alyssa was billed first simply by virtue of favoritism.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XP0MA_Dr9I
Season 5's opener however shows the tonal shift completely. Look at the way Phoebe poses in the opening, they emphasize her "good looks" by having the screenshot of Alyssa pan up with her "worried" expression, followed by her laying beside a towel in her mermaid attire with a simile and the borders around her close up faces, they obviously emphasized Phoebe as "The Star" and this opening shows it clear as day. Strangely I do like Paige's red headed pose..
www.youtube.com/watch?v=79nXL4a0Iq4
Now with Season 6, it's easily the worst opening by far (fitting as its the worst season imo) firstly I don't like Pixie Cut Phoebe doesn't look good standing next to the other two, and Paige's overuse of make up (I also think the pose Rose makes when it shows her name is kind of ugly) and Piper's is lazily reused from Season 5.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=89H-cy_LB54
With Season 7 its probably my second least favorite. Firstly the emphasize Phoebe as "the star" once again by close ups and ending with a pose of her doing a body pose turn with emphasizes on her looks, only now this season magnifies all of their "beautiful looks" doing the same with Paige and with Piper she gets a head turn followed with long earrings.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=p43vdvOVtAM
With Season 8 its the same as Season 7 with the girl's looks being the main focus of each shot, only this time the shot of the sisters with the actresses names have a Sex and the City-Esque style of framing. It no longer feels like a show about witches.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrSQ3Ofxqc8
What is the commonality between the Paige seasons though? One thing I noticed after viewing all the Charmed season intros with both this and the OG theme song is how the opening sorta signals the show's downfall in the later seasons. Notice how, from season 5 onwards, the structure of the opening changes. From season 1 to 3 it went like this:
Each sister uses their powers followed by screenshot of the character with the actresse's names on them. But from season 5 to 8, the "power usage clip" is gone. It may sound like a silly detail but, to me, it really symbolizes the huge tonal shift of the show in the later seasons. By the end, "Charmed" was more about the girls wanting more "me" time and complaining about their witchy duties, to the point where they sometimes became unbearable (especially in season 8)!
I always liked the clip of Prue throwing a pipe at the grimlock or showing Piper running to freeze the bullets from gunfire or Phoebe touching the door to get a premonition, you don't get that in any later season openings. This showcased how it was less about witches with powers and more about three women but sometimes magic is there. They also made sure to focus more on scandalous poses.
In Seasons 7 and 8 their looks are also emphasized more and Phoebe's opening obviously wanted you to believe she was "the star".. What do you guys think about each opening theme? Discuss.
