Silas' review and overview of Charmed Season 1:

[Esmeralda]

New-member Silas has been watching S1 for the first time after a friend suggested he start with S4 and S5 up to 'Necromancing the Stone' and has been reviewing the episodes he watched. He's finished watching S1 and wrote a wonderful overview that I'm afraid a lot of Cafe members won't read because it's in the 'Deja Vu All Over Again' thread. Like him, for some reason, I can't add a new thread to the "20th Anniversary - Season 1 Watch and Discuss" or the "Charmed Reviews" sub-board, so I decided to post it here. It's a great way to remember S1 without having to re-watch it.

Enjoy!!

Mar 31, 2021 20:16:13 GMT -5 Silas said:

Silas' review and overview of Charmed Season 1:

I can't believe I have finally finished the first season of Charmed for the first time. I really do wish I started off with Season 1 first, and not watched S4 and S5 (up until Necromancing the Stone) first. I went into the first season with low expectations for Piper, with her being my least favorite sister during my S4 and S5 re-watch, and with what I heard about Prue. We'll boy was I surprised, as I loved all three sisters so much, yes with some exceptions.

As for Prue and Andy's love story this season, I wish that Andy had found out Prue's secret much earlier. Now knowing he dies, it angers me even more.

What can I say about Andy. I absolutely love him. My favorite male co-star. He has a pre-existing relationship with all three sisters not just Prue, having grown up with him. Earlier this season I mentioned in my reviews, he might become the male co-star I love the most, and that has been sealed - Sorry Leo and Cole (from seeing you in S4/S5).

Leo, I did like him a bit at the beginning. But having seen Piper and Leo's story in S4 and S5. Sorry, not nuts on their relationship at at all. Piper was better when she didn't know he was a whitelighter, after hating how she reacted when she found out. I also don't like Leo, for sleeping with Piper before she knew. I may have felt differently seeing 1-3 BEFORE 4 and 5. But overall, apart from a couple of episodes, and loving Piper with other men in S1 not Leo. I guess I'll simply never be a fan of them. LOL, maybe Leo should have just been a handyman and not a whitelighter, and one who got a job offer the way Josh did, and left. Then I might have liked them for their short arc.

I loved all three sisters this season, but Phoebe was the most consistent with me loving her in every episode (apart from Power of Two). Prue had a very rough patches in early S1.

Piper was perfect the entire season apart from Love Hurts. All her subplots at Quake when she wasn't not paired with Leo were just so much fun. I laughed with Piper not at her like I did in S4/S5. She might be the only sister this season who got all the best subplots.

I really loved seeing Prue as the older sister and leader. Especially how much a focus it was on the sisters and the co stars do not take over. The sisters think on their feet, its more dramatic wondering how they'll get out of situations, and researching on their own. I did like when Patty or Grams left something in the book to help them.

Also the Warlocks this season were great, and I liked them all. Well with some exceptions *cough* Rex and Hannah. I really liked that Warlocks overall were the most used villain, and I'm hoping to see this continue into Season 2. Having seen S4 & S5, I wished they paired Phoebe or a sister up with a warlock than a demon. Because the whole witches and warlocks comparisons/counterparts feels really cool. Pairing a witch with a demon, just makes this a typical fantasy drama, as having watched o many shows, falling in love with a demon is so cliche now.

So many strong episodes this season, and I especially love the balance of scary/dark episodes with some comedy moments/subplots added in.

Least Favorite Male Villain: Rex

Least Favorite Female Villain: Hannah

Least Favorite Episode: The Power Of Two 

Least Favorite episode with Prue: Power of Two & The Fourth Sister
Least Favorite episode with Piper: Love Hurt
Least Favorite episode with Phoebe: Power of Two
Worst Sisterly Moment: Prue and Phoebe fighting (The Power of Two)

Wished I had unseen it moment: Hannah and Matthew (The Witch is Back)

Favorite Innocent: Male (Mark) Female (Daisy)
Favorite Tear-Jerker Moments: Andy Dies (Deja Vu All Over Again) / Patty hugs her daughters (That 70s Episode) / Reuniting a Mother and Daughter (The Wendigo)
Favorite Warlock: Nicholas
Favorite Demon: Demon of Fear
Favorite Spell: Power of Three Spell (Something Wicca This Way Comes)
Favorite Vanquish: Jeremy
Favorite Male character: Andy
Favorite Female character (non Charmed one): (tie) Melinda & Patty
Most Wanted Back for another appearance even if they don't: Melinda
Favorite guy matched/interacting with Prue: Andy
Favorite guy matched/interacting with Piper: Mark
Favorite guy matched/interacting with Phoebe: Brent
Favorite Sisterly subplot: (Tie) The Hot Water & Majority Rules
Favorite Prue subplot/stories: Secrets and Guys (Helping Max), Saying I Love You (From Fear to Eternity)
Favorite Piper subplots/stories: Helping Doug and Shelley (Feats of Clay), Falling in love with Mark (Dead Man Dating), Dealing with Harry (Secrets and Guys), Going into the Church (I've Got You Under My Skin) {LOL, you can sure tell which sister had the best subplots this season in my eyes}
Favorite Phoebe subplot/stories: The Amazing Phoebe (Dead Man Dating), Meeting Mom (That Seventies Episode)
Favorite Sister: Phoebe
Favorite Episode: That Seventies Episode

Favorite Prue Moment: Too hard to pick one (might just repost my moments from every episode when I can)
Favorite Phoebe Moment: Too hard to pick one (might just repost my moments from every episode when I can)
Favorite Piper Moment: Too hard to pick one (might just repost my moments from every episode when I can)
Favorite Sisterly Moment: Too hard to pick one (might just repost my moments from every episode when I can)

EPISODE GRADES

1. Something Wicca This Way Comes - A-
2. I've Got You Under My Skin - C+
3. Dream Sorcerer - B-
4. Thank You For Not Morphing - A-
5. Wedding From Hell - C+
6. Dead Man Dating - A+
7. The Fourth Sister - B-
8. The Truth is Out There and It Hurts - A
9. The Witch is Back - A
10. Wicca Envy - B
11. Feats of Clay - A-
12. From Fear to Eternity - A+
13. Secrets and Guys - A
14. The Wendigo - A+
15. Is There a Woogy in the House? - A+
16. Which Prue Is It Anyway? - A+
17. That Seventies Episode - A++
18. When Bad Warlocks Turn Good - B+
19. Out of Sight - A
20. The Power of Two - C-
21. Love Hurts - C
22. Deja vu All Over Again - A+

Overall Thoughts: I REALLY loved season 1. What a great job they did with it. Good episodes, great introduction into the sisters and their lives and fun and interesting villains. The supporting and guest cast were all well done too. But, one thing going into season 2 I'll miss is Andy, Quake and the amazing music score (I hear does not come back into season 2 )

Season Overall Grade: A

[prudencehalliwell]

Thanks Es for posting this.

I'm so glad Silas you enjoyed watching S1 for the first time. Sorry you're friend suggested watching and starting at S4. I'd always recommend S1.

Loved that you did those headings for your favorite and least favorites of S1.

Yes S1 was so special wasn't it. This was so fun to remember S1 again. Even though I re-watched it only three years ago.

[Julian]

Silas really enjoyed your overview of S1. So happy to hear you loved your first watch of it.

Thanks Esmeralda for posting it here for us all.

Wasn't Piper so much fun this season. She did have great subplots.

Sorry to hear someone recommended you start at 4 than 1. Glad you are watching in order now. As I'd recommend anybody do.

I also liked all you favorite and least favorites lists.

Yes Andy, Quake and the S1 score do not return in S2. But I hope you'll love the sisters still. So many great episodes in S2 I love so much.

[Too Much Coffee]

Apr 1, 2021 6:47:12 GMT -5 Esmeralda said:

New-member Silas has been watching S1 for the first time after a friend suggested he start with S4 and S5 up to 'Necromancing the Stone' and has been reviewing the episodes he watched. He's finished watching S1 and wrote a wonderful overview that I'm afraid a lot of Cafe members won't read because it's in the 'Deja Vu All Over Again' thread. Like him, for some reason, I can't add a new thread to the "20th Anniversary - Season 1 Watch and Discuss" or the "Charmed Reviews" sub-board, so I decided to post it here. It's a great way to remember S1 without having to re-watch it.

Enjoy!!

I sure will enjoy reading this now. Thanks Es.


Silas, I'm going to read and comment along to your review. 

Mar 31, 2021 20:16:13 GMT -5 Silas said:

Silas' review and overview of Charmed Season 1:

I can't believe I have finally finished the first season of Charmed for the first time. I really do wish I started off with Season 1 first, and not watched S4 and S5 (up until Necromancing the Stone) first. I went into the first season with low expectations for Piper, with her being my least favorite sister during my S4 and S5 re-watch, and with what I heard about Prue. We'll boy was I surprised, as I loved all three sisters so much, yes with some exceptions.

TMC: SO glad Silas, you ended up coming around to Prue and the sisters.

As for Prue and Andy's love story this season, I wish that Andy had found out Prue's secret much earlier. Now knowing he dies, it angers me even more.

TMC: I wished that myself. It should have happened when Prue did the truth Spell.

What can I say about Andy. I absolutely love him. My favorite male co-star. He has a pre-existing relationship with all three sisters not just Prue, having grown up with him. Earlier this season I mentioned in my reviews, he might become the male co-star I love the most, and that has been sealed - Sorry Leo and Cole (from seeing you in S4/S5).

TMC: I've noticed you have become an Andy fan. I don't blame you with having seen Leo and Cole during those seasons first, it makes sense.

Leo, I did like him a bit at the beginning. But having seen Piper and Leo's story in S4 and S5. Sorry, not nuts on their relationship at at all. Piper was better when she didn't know he was a whitelighter, after hating how she reacted when she found out. I also don't like Leo, for sleeping with Piper before she knew. I may have felt differently seeing 1-3 BEFORE 4 and 5. But overall, apart from a couple of episodes, and loving Piper with other men in S1 not Leo. I guess I'll simply never be a fan of them. LOL, maybe Leo should have just been a handyman and not a whitelighter, and one who got a job offer the way Josh did, and left. Then I might have liked them for their short arc.

TMC: I can understand that.

I loved all three sisters this season, but Phoebe was the most consistent with me loving her in every episode (apart from Power of Two). Prue had a very rough patches in early S1.

Piper was perfect the entire season apart from Love Hurts. All her subplots at Quake when she wasn't not paired with Leo were just so much fun. I laughed with Piper not at her like I did in S4/S5. She might be the only sister this season who got all the best subplots.

TMC: Piper is a joy to watch in S1 isn't she. Couldn't agree more.

I really loved seeing Prue as the older sister and leader. Especially how much a focus it was on the sisters and the co stars do not take over. The sisters think on their feet, its more dramatic wondering how they'll get out of situations, and researching on their own. I did like when Patty or Grams left something in the book to help them.

Also the Warlocks this season were great, and I liked them all. Well with some exceptions *cough* Rex and Hannah. I really liked that Warlocks overall were the most used villain, and I'm hoping to see this continue into Season 2. Having seen S4 & S5, I wished they paired Phoebe or a sister up with a warlock than a demon. Because the whole witches and warlocks comparisons/counterparts feels really cool. Pairing a witch with a demon, just makes this a typical fantasy drama, as having watched o many shows, falling in love with a demon is so cliche now.

So many strong episodes this season, and I especially love the balance of scary/dark episodes with some comedy moments/subplots added in.

Least Favorite Male Villain: Rex

Least Favorite Female Villain: Hannah

TMC: I agree with Hannah 100%. As for male, I can't think of anybody that I hated that much. I might go with the Dream Sorcerer because he was so creepy. 

-----------------------------------

Least Favorite Episode: The Power Of Two 

Least Favorite episode with Prue: Power of Two & The Fourth Sister
Least Favorite episode with Piper: Love Hurt
Least Favorite episode with Phoebe: Power of Two
Worst Sisterly Moment: Prue and Phoebe fighting (The Power of Two)

Wished I had unseen it moment: Hannah and Matthew (The Witch is Back)


TMC:   I totally love your Wished I had unseen it moment, because I agree with that.

----------------------

Favorite Innocent: Male (Mark) Female (Daisy)
Favorite Tear-Jerker Moments: Andy Dies (Deja Vu All Over Again) / Patty hugs her daughters (That 70s Episode) / Reuniting a Mother and Daughter (The Wendigo)
Favorite Warlock: Nicholas
Favorite Demon: Demon of Fear
Favorite Spell: Power of Three Spell (Something Wicca This Way Comes)
Favorite Vanquish: Jeremy
Favorite Male character: Andy
Favorite Female character (non Charmed one): (tie) Melinda & Patty
Most Wanted Back for another appearance even if they don't: Melinda
Favorite guy matched/interacting with Prue: Andy
Favorite guy matched/interacting with Piper: Mark
Favorite guy matched/interacting with Phoebe: Brent
Favorite Sisterly subplot: (Tie) The Hot Water & Majority Rules
Favorite Prue subplot/stories: Secrets and Guys (Helping Max), Saying I Love You (From Fear to Eternity)
Favorite Piper subplots/stories: Helping Doug and Shelley (Feats of Clay), Falling in love with Mark (Dead Man Dating), Dealing with Harry (Secrets and Guys), Going into the Church (I've Got You Under My Skin) {LOL, you can sure tell which sister had the best subplots this season in my eyes}
Favorite Phoebe subplot/stories: The Amazing Phoebe (Dead Man Dating), Meeting Mom (That Seventies Episode)
Favorite Sister: Phoebe
Favorite Episode: That Seventies Episode


TMC: I love all of these. I love the way you have set up this. 

I honestly think we should do someone similar like you have here but as separate threads in the season boards, and have fun filling them out. It might be easy to do S3, as it is fresh on the minds of us re-watchers. 


------------------

Favorite Prue Moment: Too hard to pick one (might just repost my moments from every episode when I can)
Favorite Phoebe Moment: Too hard to pick one (might just repost my moments from every episode when I can)
Favorite Piper Moment: Too hard to pick one (might just repost my moments from every episode when I can)
Favorite Sisterly Moment: Too hard to pick one (might just repost my moments from every episode when I can)

EPISODE GRADES

1. Something Wicca This Way Comes - A-
2. I've Got You Under My Skin - C+
3. Dream Sorcerer - B-
4. Thank You For Not Morphing - A-
5. Wedding From Hell - C+
6. Dead Man Dating - A+
7. The Fourth Sister - B-
8. The Truth is Out There and It Hurts - A
9. The Witch is Back - A
10. Wicca Envy - B
11. Feats of Clay - A-
12. From Fear to Eternity - A+
13. Secrets and Guys - A
14. The Wendigo - A+
15. Is There a Woogy in the House? - A+
16. Which Prue Is It Anyway? - A+
17. That Seventies Episode - A++
18. When Bad Warlocks Turn Good - B+
19. Out of Sight - A
20. The Power of Two - C-
21. Love Hurts - C
22. Deja vu All Over Again - A+

Overall Thoughts: I REALLY loved season 1. What a great job they did with it. Good episodes, great introduction into the sisters and their lives and fun and interesting villains. The supporting and guest cast were all well done too. But, one thing going into season 2 I'll miss is Andy, Quake and the amazing music score (I hear does not come back into season 2 )

Season Overall Grade: A

TMC: I had fun reading this Silas.

[pheebs]

Apr 2, 2021 18:28:18 GMT -5 Too Much Coffee said:

Apr 1, 2021 6:47:12 GMT -5 Esmeralda said:

ES: New-member Silas has been watching S1 for the first time after a friend suggested he start with S4 and S5 up to 'Necromancing the Stone' and has been reviewing the episodes he watched. He's finished watching S1 and wrote a wonderful overview that I'm afraid a lot of Cafe members won't read because it's in the 'Deja Vu All Over Again' thread. Like him, for some reason, I can't add a new thread to the "20th Anniversary - Season 1 Watch and Discuss" or the "Charmed Reviews" sub-board, so I decided to post it here. It's a great way to remember S1 without having to re-watch it.

Enjoy!! I sure will enjoy reading this now. Thanks Es.


TMC: Silas , I'm going to read and comment along to your review. 

PHEEBS: And I'll follow along too.

Mar 31, 2021 20:16:13 GMT -5 Silas said:

Silas' review and overview of Charmed Season 1:

I can't believe I have finally finished the first season of Charmed for the first time. I really do wish I started off with Season 1 first, and not watched S4 and S5 (up until Necromancing the Stone) first. I went into the first season with low expectations for Piper, with her being my least favorite sister during my S4 and S5 re-watch, and with what I heard about Prue. We'll boy was I surprised, as I loved all three sisters so much, yes with some exceptions.

TMC: SO glad Silas, you ended up coming around to Prue and the sisters.

PHEEBS: So glad you came around to the sisters as written in S1-S3.

As for Prue and Andy's love story this season, I wish that Andy had found out Prue's secret much earlier. Now knowing he dies, it angers me even more.

TMC: I wished that myself. It should have happened when Prue did the truth Spell.

PHEEBS: Don't I wish.

What can I say about Andy. I absolutely love him. My favorite male co-star. He has a pre-existing relationship with all three sisters not just Prue, having grown up with him. Earlier this season I mentioned in my reviews, he might become the male co-star I love the most, and that has been sealed - Sorry Leo and Cole (from seeing you in S4/S5).

TMC: I've noticed you have become an Andy fan. I don't blame you with having seen Leo and Cole during those seasons first, it makes sense.

Leo, I did like him a bit at the beginning. But having seen Piper and Leo's story in S4 and S5. Sorry, not nuts on their relationship at at all. Piper was better when she didn't know he was a whitelighter, after hating how she reacted when she found out. I also don't like Leo, for sleeping with Piper before she knew. I may have felt differently seeing 1-3 BEFORE 4 and 5. But overall, apart from a couple of episodes, and loving Piper with other men in S1 not Leo. I guess I'll simply never be a fan of them. LOL, maybe Leo should have just been a handyman and not a whitelighter, and one who got a job offer the way Josh did, and left. Then I might have liked them for their short arc.

TMC: I can understand that.

I loved all three sisters this season, but Phoebe was the most consistent with me loving her in every episode (apart from Power of Two). Prue had a very rough patches in early S1.

PHEEBS: I'm so glad you love Phoebe she was here.

Piper was perfect the entire season apart from Love Hurts. All her subplots at Quake when she wasn't not paired with Leo were just so much fun. I laughed with Piper not at her like I did in S4/S5. She might be the only sister this season who got all the best subplots.

TMC: Piper is a joy to watch in S1 isn't she. Couldn't agree more.

I really loved seeing Prue as the older sister and leader. Especially how much a focus it was on the sisters and the co stars do not take over. The sisters think on their feet, its more dramatic wondering how they'll get out of situations, and researching on their own. I did like when Patty or Grams left something in the book to help them.

Also the Warlocks this season were great, and I liked them all. Well with some exceptions *cough* Rex and Hannah. I really liked that Warlocks overall were the most used villain, and I'm hoping to see this continue into Season 2. Having seen S4 & S5, I wished they paired Phoebe or a sister up with a warlock than a demon. Because the whole witches and warlocks comparisons/counterparts feels really cool. Pairing a witch with a demon, just makes this a typical fantasy drama, as having watched o many shows, falling in love with a demon is so cliche now.

PHEEBS: Won't they, I really did like them as villains. As you've seen in S4 & S5, they are barely around sadly.

So many strong episodes this season, and I especially love the balance of scary/dark episodes with some comedy moments/subplots added in.

Least Favorite Male Villain: Rex

Least Favorite Female Villain: Hannah

TMC: I agree with Hannah 100%. As for male, I can't think of anybody that I hated that much. I might go with the Dream Sorcerer because he was so creepy. 

PHEEBS: I agree with you on Hannah. I'm tossing up between Harry and The Dream Sorcerer.

-----------------------------------

Least Favorite Episode: The Power Of Two 

Least Favorite episode with Prue: Power of Two & The Fourth Sister
Least Favorite episode with Piper: Love Hurt
Least Favorite episode with Phoebe: Power of Two
Worst Sisterly Moment: Prue and Phoebe fighting (The Power of Two)

Wished I had unseen it moment: Hannah and Matthew (The Witch is Back)


TMC:   I totally love your Wished I had unseen it moment, because I agree with that.

PHEEBS: Love your wished I had unseen it moment. I agree with you on the episodes you didn't like with the sisters, I did feel that way when we re-watched S1. 

----------------------

Favorite Innocent: Male (Mark) Female (Daisy)
Favorite Tear-Jerker Moments: Andy Dies (Deja Vu All Over Again) / Patty hugs her daughters (That 70s Episode) / Reuniting a Mother and Daughter (The Wendigo)
Favorite Warlock: Nicholas
Favorite Demon: Demon of Fear
Favorite Spell: Power of Three Spell (Something Wicca This Way Comes)
Favorite Vanquish: Jeremy
Favorite Male character: Andy
Favorite Female character (non Charmed one): (tie) Melinda & Patty
Most Wanted Back for another appearance even if they don't: Melinda
Favorite guy matched/interacting with Prue: Andy
Favorite guy matched/interacting with Piper: Mark
Favorite guy matched/interacting with Phoebe: Brent
Favorite Sisterly subplot: (Tie) The Hot Water & Majority Rules
Favorite Prue subplot/stories: Secrets and Guys (Helping Max), Saying I Love You (From Fear to Eternity)
Favorite Piper subplots/stories: Helping Doug and Shelley (Feats of Clay), Falling in love with Mark (Dead Man Dating), Dealing with Harry (Secrets and Guys), Going into the Church (I've Got You Under My Skin) {LOL, you can sure tell which sister had the best subplots this season in my eyes}
Favorite Phoebe subplot/stories: The Amazing Phoebe (Dead Man Dating), Meeting Mom (That Seventies Episode)
Favorite Sister: Phoebe
Favorite Episode: That Seventies Episode


TMC: I love all of these. I love the way you have set up this. 

PHEEBS: Me too.

--------------

TMC: I honestly think we should do someone similar like you have here but as separate threads in the season boards, and have fun filling them out. It might be easy to do S3, as it is fresh on the minds of us re-watchers. 

PHEEBS: What a great idea, TMC.

------------------

Favorite Prue Moment: Too hard to pick one (might just repost my moments from every episode when I can)
Favorite Phoebe Moment: Too hard to pick one (might just repost my moments from every episode when I can)
Favorite Piper Moment: Too hard to pick one (might just repost my moments from every episode when I can)
Favorite Sisterly Moment: Too hard to pick one (might just repost my moments from every episode when I can)

EPISODE GRADES

1. Something Wicca This Way Comes - A-
2. I've Got You Under My Skin - C+
3. Dream Sorcerer - B-
4. Thank You For Not Morphing - A-
5. Wedding From Hell - C+
6. Dead Man Dating - A+
7. The Fourth Sister - B-
8. The Truth is Out There and It Hurts - A
9. The Witch is Back - A
10. Wicca Envy - B
11. Feats of Clay - A-
12. From Fear to Eternity - A+
13. Secrets and Guys - A
14. The Wendigo - A+
15. Is There a Woogy in the House? - A+
16. Which Prue Is It Anyway? - A+
17. That Seventies Episode - A++
18. When Bad Warlocks Turn Good - B+
19. Out of Sight - A
20. The Power of Two - C-
21. Love Hurts - C
22. Deja vu All Over Again - A+

Overall Thoughts: I REALLY loved season 1. What a great job they did with it. Good episodes, great introduction into the sisters and their lives and fun and interesting villains. The supporting and guest cast were all well done too. But, one thing going into season 2 I'll miss is Andy, Quake and the amazing music score (I hear does not come back into season 2 )

Season Overall Grade: A

TMC: I had fun reading this Silas.

PHEEBS: Me too! 

[thepowerofnicki]

It was nice reading your reviews Silas! I loved seeing your take of season 1 as a new viewer. Curious to see how you feel about season 2 and 3 moving forward and goes this compares with your opinion of season 4 and 5.

I must say though, I loved Rex and Hannah as villains. They had good chemistry together and I liked their characterization of evil is seductive and I also liked how they played Hannah as the office rival and alpha b-word. I find their portrayals way more interesting than the later seasons villains "I AM SO EEEEVIL" schtick.

[Silas]

Apr 4, 2021 16:01:26 GMT -5 thepowerofnicki said:

It was nice reading your reviews Silas! I loved seeing your take of season 1 as a new viewer. Curious to see how you feel about season 2 and 3 moving forward and goes this compares with your opinion of season 4 and 5.

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed reading it. Looking forward to starting S2, but I'm taking a bit of a break before I do, as have other shows and stuff distracting me.

If you are interested, I reviewed each S1 episode individually on the anniversary board. If you'd like, I might re-post these into here, so they are all together. As might be hard to hunt them down among other comment in the threads.

Apr 4, 2021 16:01:26 GMT -5 thepowerofnicki said:

I must say though, I loved Rex and Hannah as villains. They had good chemistry together and I liked their characterization of evil is seductive and I also liked how they played Hannah as the office rival and alpha b-word. I find their portrayals way more interesting than the later seasons villains "I AM SO EEEEVIL" schtick.

I'm glad you found something to like about them. I know someone who likes them as much as you appear to like them at another board I'm apart of.  I guess we'll have to agree to disagree here.

So would you rank them near the top overall as your favorite villains (without giving away any characters I haven't yet seen from the seasons I haven't watched yet)?

[squint]

Can someone explain to me what's so different about the score from Season 2 onwards? Never noticed any significant change...

[thepowerofnicki]

Apr 5, 2021 22:33:42 GMT -5 Silas said:

Apr 4, 2021 16:01:26 GMT -5 thepowerofnicki said:

It was nice reading your reviews Silas! I loved seeing your take of season 1 as a new viewer. Curious to see how you feel about season 2 and 3 moving forward and goes this compares with your opinion of season 4 and 5.

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed reading it. Looking forward to starting S2, but I'm taking a bit of a break before I do, as have other shows and stuff distracting me.

If you are interested, I reviewed each S1 episode individually on the anniversary board. If you'd like, I might re-post these into here, so they are all together. As might be hard to hunt them down among other comment in the threads.

Apr 4, 2021 16:01:26 GMT -5 thepowerofnicki said:

I must say though, I loved Rex and Hannah as villains. They had good chemistry together and I liked their characterization of evil is seductive and I also liked how they played Hannah as the office rival and alpha b-word. I find their portrayals way more interesting than the later seasons villains "I AM SO EEEEVIL" schtick.

I'm glad you found something to like about them. I know someone who likes them as much as you appear to like them at another board I'm apart of.  I guess we'll have to agree to disagree here.

So would you rank them near the top overall as your favorite villains (without giving away any characters I haven't yet seen from the seasons I haven't watched yet)?

I would definitely rank them near the top of my favourite villains list.

Along with Cole and the Seer. There are a few others but I don't want to spoil anything!

[thepowerofnicki]

Apr 6, 2021 7:44:38 GMT -5 squint said:

Can someone explain to me what's so different about the score from Season 2 onwards? Never noticed any significant change...

I believe there are normally two composers working on the show. In season 1 they had Tim Truman and Jay Gruska. Starting in season 2 Tim departs and in comes J. Peter Robinson.

In season 1 especially with the epiosdes Tim does there are these chime sounds. I would suggest you watch an episode like Something Wicca this Way Comes and compare it with something like Witch Trial.

The season 1 score sounds very "Charmed" to me for some reason. It feels generic after.

[squint]

Apr 7, 2021 23:00:45 GMT -5 thepowerofnicki said:

Apr 6, 2021 7:44:38 GMT -5 squint said:

Can someone explain to me what's so different about the score from Season 2 onwards? Never noticed any significant change...

I believe there are normally two composers working on the show. In season 1 they had Tim Truman and Jay Gruska. Starting in season 2 Tim departs and in comes J. Peter Robinson.

In season 1 especially with the epiosdes Tim does there are these chime sounds. I would suggest you watch an episode like Something Wicca this Way Comes and compare it with something like Witch Trial.

The season 1 score sounds very "Charmed" to me for some reason. It feels generic after.

Thank you very much for enlightening me! I think I get the picture now as I have recently rewatched Season 1 (it just never occured to me that those kind of sounds disappear later on). Those chime sounds did convey a kind of magical-yet-not-fairy-tale-ish-but-rather-dark-ish tone, though :-)

I also thought Rex and Hannah were rather good villains, at least they had some kind of a plan and they did suggest a logical hierarchy of the dark side at the start. They had their creepy moments but that also made them original in a way (which other villains sorely lacked).

[summerreading]

Apr 7, 2021 23:00:45 GMT -5 thepowerofnicki said:

Apr 6, 2021 7:44:38 GMT -5 squint said:

Can someone explain to me what's so different about the score from Season 2 onwards? Never noticed any significant change...

I believe there are normally two composers working on the show. In season 1 they had Tim Truman and Jay Gruska. Starting in season 2 Tim departs and in comes J. Peter Robinson.

In season 1 especially with the epiosdes Tim does there are these chime sounds. I would suggest you watch an episode like Something Wicca this Way Comes and compare it with something like Witch Trial.

The season 1 score sounds very "Charmed" to me for some reason. It feels generic after.

I really did prefer the season 1 score. I agree it did get pretty generic later on. And so many scenes used some pretty average scores.

S1 felt more Charmed and magical to me. I wished Tim stayed on.

[summerreading]

ES: New-member Silas has been watching S1 for the first time after a friend suggested he start with S4 and S5 up to 'Necromancing the Stone' and has been reviewing the episodes he watched. He's finished watching S1 and wrote a wonderful overview that I'm afraid a lot of Cafe members won't read because it's in the 'Deja Vu All Over Again' thread. Like him, for some reason, I can't add a new thread to the "20th Anniversary - Season 1 Watch and Discuss" or the "Charmed Reviews" sub-board, so I decided to post it here. It's a great way to remember S1 without having to re-watch it.

Enjoy!! I sure will enjoy reading this now. Thanks Es.


TMC: Silas , I'm going to read and comment along to your review. 

PHEEBS: And I'll follow along too.

SUMMER: Me too.

Mar 31, 2021 20:16:13 GMT -5 Silas said:

Silas' review and overview of Charmed Season 1:

I can't believe I have finally finished the first season of Charmed for the first time. I really do wish I started off with Season 1 first, and not watched S4 and S5 (up until Necromancing the Stone) first. I went into the first season with low expectations for Piper, with her being my least favorite sister during my S4 and S5 re-watch, and with what I heard about Prue. We'll boy was I surprised, as I loved all three sisters so much, yes with some exceptions.

TMC: SO glad Silas, you ended up coming around to Prue and the sisters.

PHEEBS: So glad you came around to the sisters as written in S1-S3.

As for Prue and Andy's love story this season, I wish that Andy had found out Prue's secret much earlier. Now knowing he dies, it angers me even more.

TMC: I wished that myself. It should have happened when Prue did the truth Spell.

PHEEBS: Don't I wish.

What can I say about Andy. I absolutely love him. My favorite male co-star. He has a pre-existing relationship with all three sisters not just Prue, having grown up with him. Earlier this season I mentioned in my reviews, he might become the male co-star I love the most, and that has been sealed - Sorry Leo and Cole (from seeing you in S4/S5).

TMC: I've noticed you have become an Andy fan. I don't blame you with having seen Leo and Cole during those seasons first, it makes sense.

SUMMER: Me either.

Leo, I did like him a bit at the beginning. But having seen Piper and Leo's story in S4 and S5. Sorry, not nuts on their relationship at at all. Piper was better when she didn't know he was a whitelighter, after hating how she reacted when she found out. I also don't like Leo, for sleeping with Piper before she knew. I may have felt differently seeing 1-3 BEFORE 4 and 5. But overall, apart from a couple of episodes, and loving Piper with other men in S1 not Leo. I guess I'll simply never be a fan of them. LOL, maybe Leo should have just been a handyman and not a whitelighter, and one who got a job offer the way Josh did, and left. Then I might have liked them for their short arc.

TMC: I can understand that.

I loved all three sisters this season, but Phoebe was the most consistent with me loving her in every episode (apart from Power of Two). Prue had a very rough patches in early S1.

PHEEBS: I'm so glad you love Phoebe she was here.

Piper was perfect the entire season apart from Love Hurts. All her subplots at Quake when she wasn't not paired with Leo were just so much fun. I laughed with Piper not at her like I did in S4/S5. She might be the only sister this season who got all the best subplots.

TMC: Piper is a joy to watch in S1 isn't she. Couldn't agree more.

SUMMER: I love S1 Piper, and so glad you did too.

I really loved seeing Prue as the older sister and leader. Especially how much a focus it was on the sisters and the co stars do not take over. The sisters think on their feet, its more dramatic wondering how they'll get out of situations, and researching on their own. I did like when Patty or Grams left something in the book to help them.

Also the Warlocks this season were great, and I liked them all. Well with some exceptions *cough* Rex and Hannah. I really liked that Warlocks overall were the most used villain, and I'm hoping to see this continue into Season 2. Having seen S4 & S5, I wished they paired Phoebe or a sister up with a warlock than a demon. Because the whole witches and warlocks comparisons/counterparts feels really cool. Pairing a witch with a demon, just makes this a typical fantasy drama, as having watched o many shows, falling in love with a demon is so cliche now.

PHEEBS: Won't they, I really did like them as villains. As you've seen in S4 & S5, they are barely around sadly.

So many strong episodes this season, and I especially love the balance of scary/dark episodes with some comedy moments/subplots added in.

Least Favorite Male Villain: Rex

Least Favorite Female Villain: Hannah

TMC: I agree with Hannah 100%. As for male, I can't think of anybody that I hated that much. I might go with the Dream Sorcerer because he was so creepy. 

PHEEBS: I agree with you on Hannah. I'm tossing up between Harry and The Dream Sorcerer.

SUMMER: For me it's Harry and Hannah.

-----------------------------------

Least Favorite Episode: The Power Of Two 

Least Favorite episode with Prue: Power of Two & The Fourth Sister
Least Favorite episode with Piper: Love Hurt
Least Favorite episode with Phoebe: Power of Two
Worst Sisterly Moment: Prue and Phoebe fighting (The Power of Two)

Wished I had unseen it moment: Hannah and Matthew (The Witch is Back)


TMC:   I totally love your Wished I had unseen it moment, because I agree with that.

PHEEBS: Love your wished I had unseen it moment. I agree with you on the episodes you didn't like with the sisters, I did feel that way when we re-watched S1. 

SUMMER: Dying of laughter, at that too. 

----------------------

Favorite Innocent: Male (Mark) Female (Daisy)
Favorite Tear-Jerker Moments: Andy Dies (Deja Vu All Over Again) / Patty hugs her daughters (That 70s Episode) / Reuniting a Mother and Daughter (The Wendigo)
Favorite Warlock: Nicholas
Favorite Demon: Demon of Fear
Favorite Spell: Power of Three Spell (Something Wicca This Way Comes)
Favorite Vanquish: Jeremy
Favorite Male character: Andy
Favorite Female character (non Charmed one): (tie) Melinda & Patty
Most Wanted Back for another appearance even if they don't: Melinda
Favorite guy matched/interacting with Prue: Andy
Favorite guy matched/interacting with Piper: Mark
Favorite guy matched/interacting with Phoebe: Brent
Favorite Sisterly subplot: (Tie) The Hot Water & Majority Rules
Favorite Prue subplot/stories: Secrets and Guys (Helping Max), Saying I Love You (From Fear to Eternity)
Favorite Piper subplots/stories: Helping Doug and Shelley (Feats of Clay), Falling in love with Mark (Dead Man Dating), Dealing with Harry (Secrets and Guys), Going into the Church (I've Got You Under My Skin) {LOL, you can sure tell which sister had the best subplots this season in my eyes}
Favorite Phoebe subplot/stories: The Amazing Phoebe (Dead Man Dating), Meeting Mom (That Seventies Episode)
Favorite Sister: Phoebe
Favorite Episode: That Seventies Episode


TMC: I love all of these. I love the way you have set up this. 

PHEEBS: Me too.

SUMMER: Me, three.

--------------

TMC: I honestly think we should do someone similar like you have here but as separate threads in the season boards, and have fun filling them out. It might be easy to do S3, as it is fresh on the minds of us re-watchers. 

PHEEBS: What a great idea, TMC.

SUMMER: I like that idea.

------------------

Favorite Prue Moment: Too hard to pick one (might just repost my moments from every episode when I can)
Favorite Phoebe Moment: Too hard to pick one (might just repost my moments from every episode when I can)
Favorite Piper Moment: Too hard to pick one (might just repost my moments from every episode when I can)
Favorite Sisterly Moment: Too hard to pick one (might just repost my moments from every episode when I can)

EPISODE GRADES

1. Something Wicca This Way Comes - A-
2. I've Got You Under My Skin - C+
3. Dream Sorcerer - B-
4. Thank You For Not Morphing - A-
5. Wedding From Hell - C+
6. Dead Man Dating - A+
7. The Fourth Sister - B-
8. The Truth is Out There and It Hurts - A
9. The Witch is Back - A
10. Wicca Envy - B
11. Feats of Clay - A-
12. From Fear to Eternity - A+
13. Secrets and Guys - A
14. The Wendigo - A+
15. Is There a Woogy in the House? - A+
16. Which Prue Is It Anyway? - A+
17. That Seventies Episode - A++
18. When Bad Warlocks Turn Good - B+
19. Out of Sight - A
20. The Power of Two - C-
21. Love Hurts - C
22. Deja vu All Over Again - A+

Overall Thoughts: I REALLY loved season 1. What a great job they did with it. Good episodes, great introduction into the sisters and their lives and fun and interesting villains. The supporting and guest cast were all well done too. But, one thing going into season 2 I'll miss is Andy, Quake and the amazing music score (I hear does not come back into season 2 )

Season Overall Grade: A

TMC: I had fun reading this Silas.

PHEEBS: Me too! 

SUMMER: I enjoyed reading this.