Perceptions: Most polarizing Seasons for likeability

[rebooted]

Mar 7, 2022 22:30:57 GMT -5 rebooted said:

Your votes and messages welcomed

[rebooted]

I think this is all perspective based on how we perceive in general how the majority of fans view each season

From my understanding this is what I think in general people think of each season


Season 1: General fan rating is Very High - not as polarizing

Generally well received and fans thinking some of the earlier episodes are a bit cringey like Dream Sorcerer, Wedding from Hell etc. while Charmed found its groove. Also some wasted 1 episode storylines that could have been bigger arcs like When Bad Warlocks go good. The Whitelighter mythology isn't well thought of for its long term application. There is a gothy vibe in general, rewatching seems a little dated.

There are some general fan faves: That 70s Episode, The Woggy, Dead Man Dating, De Ja Vu All Over Again


Season 2: General fan rating is High - polarizing views due to the Love Triangle

Seems 60:40 in terms of likeability in general among fans. The season is a little lighter. The Dan, Leo, Piper love triangle is horrible to a lot of fans as is Piper complaining about a lot. Prue seems to be very likeable although her sudden career progression to Photographer is unrealistic. Phoebe seems to be very likeable but there is a lack of a love interest, power progression and having continued friendships out of wiccan duties. That Old Black Magic, She's a Man Baby episode and Animal Pragmatism seem to be more disliked. 

There are some general fan faves: Morality Bites, Apocalypse, Not, Chick Flick


Season 3: General fan rating is High - but less than Season 2 - not as polarizing

On the whole, in general I think Cole is well received. The erky bit for most fans is that Phoebe lies to her sisters after Sleuthing With The Enemy where some fans think the Po3 should have been impacted or the Cole story arc should have ended or that there would be resolution quicky - so not to steal focus from the show. It is clear that the sisters start to get a little irritating. Prue becomes reckless, much more angry and short fused and although her character develops this most in the entire series, her character becomes a pity party. She's still likeable like Phoebe who is still fun but also reckless and fluctuates between maturity and immaturity. Piper finally gets Leo and marries and still continues to be neurotic although seems to find more independence being married. Its considered dark and buffy like. Disliked episodes tend to be Sleuthing With the Enemy, Wrestling with Demons and although the acting performances are great, AHBL is a totally random episode.

There are some general fan faves including: All Halliwells Eve, Pre Witched, Sin Francisco.


Season 4: General fan rating is Average - very polarizing opinions.

Prues sudden departure is considered on the whole quite fast and drastic, and although fans in general warm to the character of Paige, feel like she is forced on the audience and the Charmed Ones very quickly vanquish some powerful demons after losing who they consider is the strongest. People think Prue is forgotten way to fast some other think it is better not to dwell. There is sympathy for Pipers grief and more likeable than the previous 2 seasons but fans generally feel that Phoebe moves on pretty fast and then once the initial Source is vanquished is disliked and embraces the 'PhoeMe' selfish path instead of the carefree younger sister, which when Paige comes along disrupts the birth order. There is a rapid speed up of the Cole-Source-Seer storyline into the later arc that a lot of fans don't like but some people like the action oriented darkness that doesn't come back later on in the series - perhaps snipits in Season 7. Disliked episodes include Marry Go Round, Enter the Demon, The Three Faces of Phoebe

There are some general fan faves including: A Paige from the Past, Brain Drain, Womb Raidar


Season 5: General fan rating is Slightly Below Average to Average (mainly because of fairytales, Cole, PhoeMe, death by baby & the finale) 

In general it is a lighter season complemented by the arrival of fairytale magical creatures which erk some as Charmed embraces Greek mythology over its orignal Celtic vibe. Phoebe is no longer the fun character from season 1 to early season 4 and is a lost soul celebrity. Paige's character seems to be a fill in and it is disappointing that she quits a profession she is good at. There is some good tension between the Paige vs. The Other Sisters and her independence. Piper's pregancy is quite pleasing to follow as is her relationship struggles with Leo however the birth of Wyatt, not only a boy, when fans expected Melinda, but more powerful than all 3 Charmed Ones. Most disheartingly for fans is the destruction of Coles character and there is debate on whether Phoebe and the Charmed Ones are to blame for how he self-destructed or whether the Source possession was indeed self inflicted. Overall with the departure of Cole and Prue and the introduction of a baby, it feels like by this point the show has changed and is riding the final wave of the girl power movement it was born into.

Disliked episodes are Oh My Goddess which uturns the series going forward, Witches in Tights, and Centennial Charmed seems to be an over rated 100th episode.

There are some general fan faves including: A Witch In Time, Sense and Sensibility and The Eyes That Have it


Season 6: General fan rating is Below Average BUT there is a Charmed Sons fandom that creates polarization.

If the actresses are not unrecognisable to you at this point, than their characters definitely are. The sisters looks and/or priorities have changed completely. Paige could almost be a supporting character and the sisters focus on themselves more than innocents. Drew Fuller is half liked- half whitelighter and show is centered on the next generation with really bad execution of a potentially great storyline from 5x22-23 where it starts. In general there are some good stand alone episodes and people tend like like some of the supporting characters like Ava the gypsie, Richard, Jason Deen and Barbus. What is frustrating is that Leo is supposed to be gone but he is not gone and the rip off of Magic School from Harry Potter angers a lot (not all) fans. It is very action orientated and pleasing with special effects with some great fight and battle scenes. 

Disliked episodes are Sword in the City, Hyde School Reunion, The Premier and the the Finale is a polarising episode.


There are some general fan faves including: The Power of Three Blondes, I Dream of Phoebe, Little Monsters and Chris Crossed. 


Season 7: General fan rating is Average - less polarizing views than Season 4

There is probably a less polorising view of Season 7 than there is of Season 4. In general it feels like the show is going back its heyday vibe. If you can get passed the Lesley and Phoebe storyline at the beginning, the Leo centricnessof some parts of the season, Pipers complaining even after she gets everything she wanted and the disappointing build up and outcome of the Avatar/Utopia storyline then fans generally like this season. Pros are the Zankou storyline, Paige getting some development though her new romance with Brody and taking on Magic School (which fans have learned to deal with), Billy Zane brining back the best of Phoebe's fun nature again, Wyatt and Chris having some part but not a big part of the show and throw backs to some old school storylines like Reece Davidson, the Shadow in Season 1 etc. Most fans would have loved Charmed ending here if it had to run this long with a well fan liked finale. 

Disliked episodes are Sword in the City, Once in a Blue Moon, Hyde School Reunion, The Premier and the the Finale is a polarising episode.



There are some general fan faves including: Witchness Protection, Death Becomes Them, Something Wicca This Way Comes


Season 8: General fan rating is Below Average - not as polarising as Season 6 though.

Widely viewed by fans as the Season that didn't need to exist, given that Season 7 could have finished the series on good point. Yet another guest star pimp out for Phoebe with Dex and even a rip off Sex and the City episode! Leo disappears because of Budget Cuts, Kaley Cucco is bought in to start a Spin Off but fails to resonate with audiences as well as her sister which annoys the heck out of most fans. The all mighty Triad look far less fearsome than they did in Season 2 and 3. Daryl which could have been the shows only redeeming feature is gone. Phoebe has a rushed finale finish with a Cupid, slightly likeable because of her empathy toward Billie but annoying due to her Babydaddy search. Prue is left out of a finale when she didn't need to be. Paige is very much liked in the season with Fans especially with her search for independence, enlightenment, and finding a partnership in Henry and embracing her whitelighter half. Leo is also well liked for the episodes he is in. There are some cool throw backs with the Hollow, the Angel of Death and Sam, progressing Paige again.

Disliked episodes are the Finale, Forever Charmed and Mr and Mrs Witch, 


There are some general fan faves including: Run Piper Run, Engaged and Confused, Jung and the Restless and Kill Billie Volume 2.

[Aaeiyn]

S6 & S8, most definitely.

IK S3-S8 (in general) around here isn't as well received. On Reddit, S1-S4 are golden and hardly trashed on. That being said I (almost) voted S7 & S8 merely because of Reddit, but I have to remember the opinions of here, as well. So, I stuck with S6 over S7 followed by S8, for my two votes.

Reddit just hates S8 (altogether). The opinions on this board aren't as critical of it, as Reddit is. In fact, here trashes S6 more than Reddit does. And, S7 is not really talked about outside of hating on Once in a Blue Moon and Brody. Otherwise, S7 is kind of that "gray" area.

I was surprised to see a lot of Reddit voting for S5 content, in my favorite episode(s) from S5-S8 (since, the conversations seem to center around hating on S5-S8, but I think Reddit is more open to S5-S6 than they think and are exhausted by the time they hit S7, but I digress).

That being said, I'm sticking with S6 because of the complaints here, and it hasn't won as many episodes in the S5-S8 list compared to S5 (on Reddit). And then, I voted S8 because it is horribly trashed on Reddit.

So, S6 (for these boards) and S8 (for Reddit) xD

[Aaeiyn]

Oh, I didn't realize we get a third vote. Then, I'll give it to S7 because it's "gray", and Reddit doesn't hate S5 as much as they think they do because they keep picking those episodes to win LOL