The Evolution of "Kind of" Just the Main Ensemble Intros

[Aaeiyn]

Disclaimer: Somewhat, of a continuation from my "Evolution of S1 and S2" threads and a "spin-off" thread to the Favorite Season Intro thread.

I got to thinking about the S2E2 "Morality Bites" intro being the ONLY intro, out of the ENTIRE show, to ONLY showcase the main three ensemble via Piper, Phoebe & Prue (in this case, or Paige for those years). The closest "just the main three ensemble" intros is USUALLY with ONE extra person via T.W. King for S1, Greg Vaughn for S2 (kind of), Brian Krause for S3-S7, etc. I'd like to showcase all of them, if I may.  I wanted to write it all out, in a separate thread.

S1E3 "Thank You For Not Morphing" Intro

This intro is the FIRST to have "kind of" our main ensemble via Holly Marie Combs, Alysa Milano & Shannen Doherty with T.W. King as the "ONE extra person". This is (also) the beginning of the intro showing the powers of our leading stars, but the flow of it is really weird. It'll do what's normally seen in the intro but forgets to put the intro effects on the powers scenes. As if the series was trying to figure out how to insert the powers scenes into the credit form. Both Doherty and Milano's credit scenes are now different, compared to their S1E1 and S1E2 counterparts. The funky background, to the actor names is still in place, and Milano is being credited behind King. This intro is only found in this episode, alone. Side note, I think it's the weirdest one, personally.

S1E4 "Dead Man Dating" Intro

This intro begins to look somewhat relatively "normal" compared to what we'll see, later. No more funky background behind the actor names. We're seeing the powers being used before crediting our leading stars. The only difference is...Milano is still being credited behind King. This intro is only found in this episode, alone.

S1 Intro 2

This intro is similar to "S1 Intro 1" minus Gregory, and it keeps Milano ahead of King (the first episode, Milano is finally ahead of BOTH Gregory AND King is S1E6 "The Wedding from Hell" but S1E7 "The Fourth Sister" is the first with "kind of" just the main ensemble and AHEAD of the "ONE extra person"). Can find this intro, in the following episodes:

• S1E7 "The Fourth Sister"
• S1E8 "The Truth is Out There...and it Hurts"
• S1E11 "Feats of Clay"
• S1E12 "The Wendigo"
• S1E16 "Which Prue is it, Anyway?"
• S1E17 "That 70s Episode"

Even though, King is never actually present in S1E17, he's still in the credits, for that episode. Little Andy is in this episode, but it's still not the Andy that King plays.

S2E2 "Morality Bites" Intro

This is a unique intro as it's the only intro, out of all eight seasons to only have our leading stars, in the intro. No T.W. King, Gregory, Krause, Vaughn, Bryant, Julian McMahon, Drew Fuller nor Kaley Cuoco. Just Shannen Doherty, Holly Marie Combs and Alyssa Milano. This intro is only found in S2E2 "Morality Bites". Even though, Krause is in this episode, he's still not being credited, in the actual intro.

S2 Intro 5

This intro is similar to "S2E2 Morality Bites Intro", but we're adding Vaughn, into the mix. There's no Gregory, Bryant and still no Krause (even though Krause is in a couple of these episodes). This intro is in the following:

• S2E7 "They're Everywhere"
• S2E8 "P3 H20"
• S2E10 "Heartbreak City"
• S2E12 "Awakened"
• S2E17 "How to Make a Quilt Out of Americans"

Again, Krause was in S2E8 and S2E12, yet he's still not being credited, in the intro.

S3 Intro 3
(Brian will ALWAYS been in S3, meanwhile Dorian and Julian tend to be in and out of the credits)

This is a MASSIVELY updated version, of the intro, compared to S1-S2. Seen in the following episodes:
• S3E9 "Coyote Piper"
• S3E10 "We all Scream of Ice Cream"
• S3E11 "Blinded by the Whitelighter"
• S3E17 "Pre-Witched"

S4 Intro 2
(Brian will ALWAYS been in S4, meanwhile Dorian and Julian tend to be in and out of the credits)

This time, Milano is being credited FIRST, followed by McGowan THEN Combs but with an "as Piper" text. It's this way, for the REST of the series. Seen in the following episodes:
• S4E5 "Size Matters"
• S4E6 "A Knight to Remember"
• S4E11 "Trial by Magic"

S5 Intro 2
(Brian will ALWAYS been in S5, meanwhile Dorian and Julian tend to be in and out of the credits)

Another updated version, for the season. Seen in the following episodes:
• S5E6 "The Eyes Have It"
• S5E13 "House Call"
• S5E14 "Sand Francisco Dreamin"
• S5E15 "The Day That Magic Died"
• S5E16 "Baby's First Demon"
• S5E17 "Lucky Charmed"
• S5E18 "Cat House"
• S5E19 "Nymphs Just Wanna Have Fun"
• S5E20 "Sense and Sense Ability"

S6 Intro 3

Funny enough, Drew isn't always in S6, along with Brian and Dorian, but S6E17 "Hyde School Reunion" still credits Brian despite him not being in that episode, so the few episodes with just the main ensemble and Brian is the closest "just the main ensemble" we'll get. This is the LEAST seen intro with the "'kind of' just the main ensemble" intro. Funny enough, BOTH Combs & Krause are "kind of" updated, compared to their S5 counterparts. Seen in the following episodes:
• S6E8 "Sword and the City"
• S6E13 "Used Karma"

S7 Intro 2
(Back to the main ensemble and Brian, Dorian only gets credited, whenever he's around)

Both Combs & Krause get a little bit more re-vamped, in this season, compared to their S5-S6 counterparts.
Seen in the following episodes:
• S7E2 "The Bare Witch Project"
• S7E3 "Cheaper by the Coven"
• S7E6 "Once in a Blue Moon"
• S7E7 "Someone to Witch Over Me"
• S7E8 "Charmed Noir"
• S7E11 "Ordinary Witches"
• S7E12 "Extreme Makeover: World Edition"
• S7E13 "Charmageddon"
• S7E17 "Scry Hard"
• S7E18 "Little Box of Horrors"
• S7E19 "Freaky Phoebe"
• S7E20 "Imaginary Fiends"

S8 Intro 2

Kaley is in EVERY single S8 episode, so whenever Brian gets "let go" to make room for Kaley's character is the CLOSEST we'll have to ONLY the main ensemble, BUT this version is STILL ONLY women
Seen in the following episodes:
• S8E11 "Mr. & Mrs. Witch"
• S8E12 "Payback's a Witch"
• S8E13 "Repo Manor"
• S8E14 "12 Angry Zen"
• S8E15 "The Last Temptation of Christy"
• S8E16 "Engaged & Confused"
• S8E17 "Generation Hex"
• S8E18 "The Torn Identity"
• S8E19 "The Jung and the Restless"
• S8E20 "Gone with the Witches"

This concludes "The Evolution of 'Kind of' Just the Main Ensemble Intros".