No, I'm not just talking about Brad Kern but all the men who have gotten rid of women behind the camera.
"Gotten rid of" as in fired?
When you read Rose's statements.
IK Rose has had her opinions regarding, as you put it:
whoever said Shannen was one of the few women to direct episodes.
IK she's talked about being mistreated by some (not all) of the male directors. I don't have that video source, ATM, unfortunately, but I do recall Rose's honesty regarding her experience with certain directors. I even recall her saying the only directors she did like working with were the female directors, and she would be sad to not work with them, again, as they wouldn't be around to continue directing the show. Unfortunately, I cannot find that interview, for the life of me.
The thing is, Charmed went through so many directors as it did writers maybe even moreso. It's no wonder the show is all over the place, and yes, I am including the Prue era as part of the "all over the place" description, as well. Even so, looking at all of the (alleged) female directors, the episodes they happen to have directed, I didn't care too much for.
Ellen S. Pressman directed "Thank You for Not Morphing" - Some people love this episode, I'm not one of them. This episode fell very flat. Tony Denison needed a lot more acting direction from Ellen. As I found a lot of his delivery to be dull. Especially, his delivery on the line "I want to go out with a bang." was not all that inspiring. I don't even think Tony believed in the script he was given. Also, the direction wasn't quite clear when Victor was and wasn't wearing the protection ring. I had thought Prue fulfilled her prophecy, as the eldest, when she TK'd him because I thought he was still wearing his ring, but I guess not. This episode is one hot mess, and I think Ellen could've done a lot better of a job fine tuning this lackluster of an episode. OFC, I can (also) point fingers at the actual writers of this script via Chris Levinson & Zack Estrin but ultimately, Ellen didn't work for me in bringing this script to life.
Martha Mitchell directed "She's a Man, Baby, a Man" - I was extremely uncomfortable watching the direction of Alyssa Milano's character being horribly objectified, as a particular scene has her icing up and down her body very inappropriately. And, I'm surprised a female (of all people) director didn't stop to think...well, this is wrong. Then again, maybe the director position isn't as powerful of a position as we think. Maybe, Martha really was against it, IDK. IDK of any articles supporting this theory, though. But, this isn't the first time I noticed the wardrobe change from classy to sexy. It all started with S2E1 "Witch Trial" which is (unfortunately) a Brad Kern episode, that he wrote and directed by Craig Zisk. S2E1 stripped down both Piper & Phoebe to be naked. S2E1 was the start of it all, and S2E5 continued that trend. Along with S2E14 "Pardon My Past" written by Michael Gleason and directed by Jon Pare. So, really, S2 started all of this objectification and not S5 like Krista (which, I'll go over, as well) and some (not all) others believe. Ironically, Eilish Zebrasky (a female costume designer) didn't begin working on the costume designs until S2E1, the beginning of the more revealing outfits and remained part of the team until the end of S7, but I digress. My point being, this episode was directed by a female, and I'd be shocked if this was her idea or relieved that she didn't really have much of a choice and followed Javier Grillo-Marxuach's script for the sake of simplicity.
Shannen Doherty directed 3 episodes total: S2E22 "Be Careful What You Witch For", S3E14 "The Good, the Bad and the Cursed" and S3E22 "All Hell Breaks Loose" - Where to begin? I'll start with S3E22 "All Hell Breaks Loose" written by Brad Kern. I cannot express how much I loathe this episode. I've stated over and over again how much I despise Prue's last sequence of events is her hurting other people and just overly outraged and rude, for no reason, at all. Like Martha's case, I'm not sure if Shannen allowed this, put this in or just abided by Kern's script. Either way, I'm mentioning both of them, as they both have a job to do, and I think they both failed the homework assignment. Kern should've written a better script, and Shannen should've seen how sloppy and messy of a script she was handed and should've demanded a better script to bring to life, but I digress.
S2E22 "Be Careful What You Witch For" (also) written by Brad Kern but not quite as terrible as S3E22 but still not a fantastic episode to re-watch. This episode could've used a little bit more fine tuning. Such as that weird and awkward camera angle, when the dragon warlock tries to fly away from being vanquished by the "Power of Three" spell. The camera angle shot just shows Piper & Prue and completely cuts out Phoebe's character. I understand they needed room for the dragon warlock to escape out the window, but it just looks weird after he's vanquished, and we have this gigantic opening space between Piper and the rest of the conservatory. I don't believe this creative decision to be a Brad Kern choice. It was either a Shannen decision, or one of the camera man decided to go rogue, and Shannen let it slide or missed it LOL
S3E14 "The Good, the Bad and the Cursed" is probably the only episode I like that Shannen directed. This episode (also) happened to be written by other women, as well via Monica Breen & Alison Schapker. Now, I'm not exactly sure if it was the writers or Shannen to continue pursuing Cole's stalking tendencies from S3E13 "Bride & Gloom" written by William Schmidt and directed by Chris Long, but I digress. I wanted to end Shannen's directing history on a positive note 'cause I went really hard against S3E22.
Roxann Dawson directed S5E17 "Lucky Charmed" - The only thing I like about this episode is Pat Benatar. Going back to what Rose said about enjoying in working with female directors, well Rose (also) has expressed her distaste for always being stuck with the leprechauns. So, I'm rather conflicted if Roxann is the one to blame for starting Rose on this path in interacting with the leprechauns or the writer via Curtis Kheel. I keep wondering how powerful this director position really is, but I digress. I would've preferred the Charmed Ones to have vanquished Saleel and not the leprechauns. Whether Roxann thought that this up and approved of Curtis' script, IDK. I (certainly) would've preferred the Charmed Ones saving the day over the leprechauns, but I digress.
Now, I'll point out the remaining female directors that happened to direct episodes that I did enjoy.
Elodie Keene directed S1E20 "The Power of Two" written by Brad Kern. One of my more preferred Kern episodes, and it was directed by a female director. I do believe this director to have brought this script to life, beautifully. As this is one of my favorite episodes, to date. Elodie directed the Prue & Phoebe inner grudges flawlessly, and it played out so naturally. She captured Andy's desires in wanting to help people and trusted Prue to get the job done. Wish more episodes were like this.
Janice Cooke directed S8E10 "Vaya Con Leos" written by Cameron Litvack. Janice did a wonderful job balancing out a serious issue while still providing that fun factor, into it while not taking away from the tragedy. There are some moments where the episode fell flat via Holly's delivery in telling Leo that she loves him, while they're in garage. And, Piper in the hospital telling Leo that he's going to be OK. I do think Janice could've fine tuned Holly's acting, just a little bit more, but it's still a good episode, nonetheless.
That concludes all the female directors I can find. Otherwise, I do seem to like and enjoy a lot of what the female writers came up with as opposed to female directors trying to make bad scripts work.
Statements from Krista Vernoff
My issue with Krista Vernoff is her coming to this realization of the objectification of Alyssa Milano 3 seasons later. I understand Krista Vernoff didn't become a part of the team until S3, but there were still clear signs of putting our leading stars into sexy outfits long before S5E1 "A Witch's Tail" came into play. A lot of the more obvious is in S2. S3-S4 was more subtle about it, but it was for sure still there. Both Alyssa Milano & Shannen Doherty were still wearing shirts, to expose their bellies. S4, Rose's first appearance has her wanting to seduce Shane, up on a roof top and gestures her character inappropriately, in her very first episode. S4E6 "A Knight to Remember" she's in bed with Glen, naked (obviously, and it's the point but still). Better yet, in S4E17 "Saving Private Leo", when Piper & Paige come back to the manor and taking off their coats, I see Rose McGowan purposefully pulling her pants down to further expose her belly more than what it already was doing. S4E22 "Witch Way, Now?" Piper unbuttons Paige's top, slightly and tells her to expose herself. S5 (specifically) the mermaid episode did NOT start the sexualization of our girls.
That being said, I've read several articles regarding Krista and her distate for the mermaid episode:
Article 1,
Article 2,
Article 3. All three of these articles points the finger at the Network for wanting to objectify our leading ladies to which I've been saying the Network applied that pressure, as Kern has written scripts for S1 and wasn't objectifying them then.
In regards to Krista's departure, she even stated she was being offered money to remain and not be kicked off. So, IDK how true it is, that women were being "gotten rid of", when a female writer and producer was being offered extra money to remain a part of the show.
The only female IK of that might've (keyword) gotten fired was Shannen Doherty. But, I've heard so many conflicting stories about this that I don't even know what's true and what isn't. I've heard she was fired or quit. I cannot confirm one way or the other.
All and all, let's not forget who's still the costume designer, at this point, still Eilish Zebrasky via S5. I hate her S5E3 "Happily Ever After" Cinderella dress design, though, not her best. Eilish should've used a similar dress she gave Phoebe back in S2E1:
I think they broke the mythology with whitelighter hybrid powers. The power of witches in relation to birth.
There's a lot of inconsistencies and continuity errors within the show (even in the Prue era, and I've mentioned them), that's why we're here. It just doesn't phase me, anymore. I consider it part of the show's "charm", no pun intended xD
The credits that no longer respect the age of the sisters and above all no longer show the powers I hate that.
S1E1 "Something Wicca This Way Comes" & S1E2 "I've Got You Under my Skin" intros don't honor this, either. S1E3 "Thank You for Not Morphing" through S1E5 "Dream Sorcerer" intros honors the powers but still doesn't have them credited in birth order. That doesn't happen until S1E6 "The Wedding from Hell". Alyssa Milano was being credited dead last. I believe S1E1-5 was honoring how they appeared in the pilot (kinda, as Holly, who appeared first, was being credited after Shannen).
A part of me wishes for the powers to be displayed, but another part me doesn't. By the time we reach S8, that's A LOT of powers to be showcasing. Between Phoebe's premonitions, levitation, empathy, Paige's scardy-cat orbing, TK orbing, travel orbing, orb aways, healing, and Piper's freezing and blowing things up...it's a lot of powers to be showcasing/cramming in there. Though, it could've easily been achieved by the time we hit S7. As the only characters left in the credits are the Charmed Ones and Leo...sometimes Darryl, but I digress.
PHOEME and Piper get hateful.
I still think Piper has been relatively consistent, and I don't find her personality to have changed that much. Phoebe (on the other hand), I agree. Her character completely changed. Do I think she became hateful? No, not really. To Cole, maybe but not to other people (well, kind of her sisters but after Cole's demise, she's less hateful).
the worst remains 5 with the mermaid, the tales etc and Melinda who becomes Wyatt.
While, I agree that S5 is like...the worst season ever, I don't believe these episodes/events are, personally.
What saves S5E1 "A Witch's Tail, Pt 1" (specifically) is Paige and the innocents via Mylie & Greg. Paige saves S5E3 "Happily Ever After", for me. Well, Paige & Grams, specifically. Their bonding moment is the highlight of the episode, personally. I already commented on the Cinderella dress. I'm not going to repeat myself about it. In regards to Wyatt, I do believe the choices we make can change the future. I choose to believe the chocolates Piper consumed in S4E16 "The Fifth Halliwheel" is what helped created Wyatt. Yes, I'm aware the chocolates was to help make the consumer fertile and open to demonic seeds. And, as we know, Leo is not producing demonic seeds. But, this is a show about magic, and side affects do happen/occur, so anything can happen ;P
I don't hate season 4 and 7 just so disappointed of all that
I get it, it just feels that way, a lot LOL
