Should Prue have been recast rather than character replaced?

[Esmeralda]

Sept 1, 2022 22:32:13 GMT -5 West said:

Sept 1, 2022 22:17:31 GMT -5 Esmeralda said:

Yes, Victor being recast worked, but we only saw Victor Halliwell once in Season One and Victor Bennett didn't take over until S3. Prue was a lead character through three full seasons. To have her die at the end of S3 and then have her come back looking different in S4? Like you said, West, that would also be for me a BIG FAT NO!

My actual response would be neither. I would've preferred if it was Piper & Leo and Phoebe & Cole with the Source leaving them alone and them going back to their true destiny of protecting innocents. That's what I like to think happened in the REAL Charmedverse, not the alternate-universe one. The series probably would've only gone four seasons, but that would've been perfectly okay with me!

So much thanks to Assassin Witch for coming up with the two-couples idea!

Now that's an interesting idea. No replacement for Shannen at all!   Many thanks Assassin Witch for this idea. I never would've thought of that.

Neither would I, but I'll bet if Connie was still around and Shannen was still fired, that's what she would've had happen.

[West]

Sept 1, 2022 22:47:22 GMT -5 Esmeralda said:

Sept 1, 2022 22:32:13 GMT -5 West said:

Now that's an interesting idea. No replacement for Shannen at all!   Many thanks Assassin Witch for this idea. I never would've thought of that.

Neither would I, but I'll bet if Connie was still around and Shannen was still fired, that's what she would've had happen.

I don't see her introducing a new half-sister. I'll bet Connie would make sure Prue isn't forgotten and do a better job than Kern honoring her legacy. Which not introducing another sister would've done anyway. 

Phoebe's character would've benefited Connie being still around. It's too bad she and Kern couldn't compromise and have Cole's character match with Prue than Phoebe. I thought I heard she was against Phoebe being matched with Cole or was it Cole's character in general. 

[rebooted]

I think they did a great job not replacing her as an actress player her character.

Prue was Shannen's. and it was hard to believe she closes the door at the end of Season 7 for me.

[zoeysmom]

I don't think it would've mattered much. I think the show started going downhill after Kern was in charge.
I like the idea of Kern being fired and Connie being in charge; I didn't like the "tits and ass", as someone so eloquently put it, version of Charmed. Charmed was supposed to be for, about, and by women, and making it all sexy made it less for women and more catering to the men. (Not saying it's bad to have stuff created by, about, and for men, but there's so much of that kind of thing out there already. I find it refreshing and nice to have stuff that's for, about, and by women.)

[Aaeiyn]

Jul 17, 2024 9:45:54 GMT -5 zoeysmom said:

I think the show started going downhill after Kern was in charge.

Connie was "Executive Producer" for S1-S2. Kern was equally "Executive Producer" since S1 and remained "Executive Producer" to S8. Connie got demoted from "Executive Producer" down to "Consulting Producer" for S3-S4 and then she's only credited as "Creator" for S5-S8, after she "left" (either fired or quit, IDK).

Kern is responsible (at least credited for writing) the following S1-S2 episodes, while Connie was (equally) "Executive Producer":

S1E2 "I've Got You Under My Skin"
(Story & Teleplay) S1E10 "Wicca Envy"
(Story) S1E14 "Secrets & Guys"
S1E20 "The Power of Two"
S1E22 "Deja Vu, all Over, Again"
S2E1 "Witch Trial"
(Teleplay) S2E19 "Ex Libris"
S2E22 "Be Careful What You Witch For"

Jul 17, 2024 9:45:54 GMT -5 zoeysmom said:

I didn't like the "tits and ass", as someone so eloquently put it, version of Charmed. Charmed was supposed to be for, about, and by women, and making it all sexy made it less for women and more catering to the men.

I still feel like this was a "Network" issue and not a "Executive Producer" issue. Along with S2 beginning the "sexy Charmed", you're complaining about. Connie (herself) is credited for "writing" (Story & Teleplay) S2E9 "Ms. Hellfire" and Prue's "Hellfire" outfit falls under that "sexy Charmed" theme.

I've said, numerously, Kern is a spineless coward and just caters to whatever the Network wants, and Connie didn't really have much of a choice BUT to equally bow down to the Network head honchos. In order for shows to be on certain networks, those networks thought THEY were in charge, and that the "Executive Producers" don't hold much weight, even on their own show. IK Joss Whedon (regardless of how we feel about him) fought tooth and nail with the Fox Network on how "Firefly" should be handled. The Network wanted more action, and Whedon wanted more drama, and the Network dropped "Firefly" because of it.

It wouldn't surprise me if Kern was a chicken, to the Network. That's why the likes of Connie, Shannen, Vernoff, etc., either quit or was fired for either voicing their opinions and/or making a stand, for their beliefs.

I don't really blame Kern for "sexy Charmed" other than him not defending Connie and her work, but I digress. I blame the Network. And, that's why S1 is the best season because it's less tainted by the Network vs I can tell the struggle between what the Producers/Writers wanted vs what the Network wanted, when it comes to S2. Ever wondered why Piper opened up a club, in S2? It was the Network's way in trying to insert band promotions, to up their ratings through fans of the bands, to watch their show, as well, as men drooling over "sexy women". ALL this started in S2, while Connie was still "Executive Producer".

Jul 17, 2024 9:45:54 GMT -5 zoeysmom said:

(Not saying it's bad to have stuff created by, about, and for men, but there's so much of that kind of thing out there already. I find it refreshing and nice to have stuff that's for, about, and by women.)

I disagree. Just because we're women, doesn't mean we're writers. Nor, just because we're women, we'll get along because of that. I'm fine with men writers writing an "all female show", as long as they do it right (same with the women writers).

I just take issues with Networks, thinking they're writers and knowing what's "best" for their audience. And, Networks aren't just males, either. Though, IK most of them are. I just know Networks are more interested in viewership numbers than good story telling, like writers care about. It's a conflicting relationship.

[forbuss]

Jun 7, 2022 21:04:39 GMT -5 Esmeralda said:

I think that because Kern would be in charge, that, yes, the quality would've declined no matter what they did.

I'm so glad they didn't recast Prue - I don't think anyone could play Prue as well as Shannen did and I'd never be able to accept the new actress as Prue. Ditto if it had been Piper or Phoebe or Leo or Cole who was recast.

I just wish they hadn't cast Paige or if they had, not make her a half-whitelighter no matter who her father was and have the same version of TK that Prue and Chris had. THAT'S what could've given them a chance for the quality to stay on the same level, because the show would've remained "Charmed", a show about sisters who happen to be witches, not a show where having a whitelighter for a father was more important than having a witch for a mother. That I'll NEVER forgive Kern for doing.

I just want to echo this. Shannen was/is Prue. I think the show was just amazingly cast in terms of the sisters. We can see this when Lori Rom played Phoebe in the pilot - even Shannen said that Alyssa brought something different and needed to the role.

[rebooted]

Jul 22, 2024 13:16:55 GMT -5 forbuss said:

Jun 7, 2022 21:04:39 GMT -5 Esmeralda said:

I think that because Kern would be in charge, that, yes, the quality would've declined no matter what they did.

I'm so glad they didn't recast Prue - I don't think anyone could play Prue as well as Shannen did and I'd never be able to accept the new actress as Prue. Ditto if it had been Piper or Phoebe or Leo or Cole who was recast.

I just wish they hadn't cast Paige or if they had, not make her a half-whitelighter no matter who her father was and have the same version of TK that Prue and Chris had. THAT'S what could've given them a chance for the quality to stay on the same level, because the show would've remained "Charmed", a show about sisters who happen to be witches, not a show where having a whitelighter for a father was more important than having a witch for a mother. That I'll NEVER forgive Kern for doing.

I just want to echo this. Shannen was/is Prue. I think the show was just amazingly cast in terms of the sisters. We can see this when Lori Rom played Phoebe in the pilot - even Shannen said that Alyssa brought something different and needed to the role.

Yeah you could fire the actress but you could NEVER take Prue away from Shannen Doherty. That was hers and hers only! 

And so I am glad the only thing the created/stole from her was a remake her back on the back of a motorcycle in Cat House!

They needed another character and they actually did quite well with the introduction of Paige and Rose McGowan. 

[Too Much Coffee]

So glad they didn't recast which they originally wanted. No way Holly would accept that. She'd protest hard.

[Ravenna]

I wasn't as attached to Shannen as some are, as Prue was never my favorite sister. So it would have been interesting in my personal opinion had they tried to recast Prue. It's worked in other shows as mentioned like Aunt Viv in the Fresh Prince (even though original Aunt Viv was an impossible act to beat). Maybe I would have liked someone else portraying Prue more, who knows. I also like the idea of Prue's character being there and still introducing Paige to shake things up. Though then Paige would have had to have different powers that didn't mimic Prue's so much and adding a whole other power unless it was strictly passive would have made the Charmed Ones even more over powered.