|
|
Post by LeosSON on Sept 22, 2007 12:41:59 GMT -5
Afraid of what? Why weren't the writers able to maintain some kind of continuity about Piper's fears? *In "From Fear to Eternity", she had a fear of flying. *In "A Witch's Tail", she apparently had a fear of water, due to how Patty had died (wasn't this supposed to be Prue's fear?) *In "Sympathy For a Demon", we are told that she has a fear of spiders. Which is it? Even though I agree with the inconsistency's, logically, people can have more than one fear... Ratings have nothing to do with a shows downhill. It's the quality of the episodes that lead to the bad ratings. The ratings going down in season 4 was mostly due to Shannen's departure which is understandable. Another major reason was that season 4 was too dark and from what I've learned, when shows get too dark, the ratings suffer. Too much drama. Realistically, they could have had 2 seasons with season 4. Cole's departure from the show was executed poorly in season 5. Phoebe loosing her powers and never regaining them was executed poorly. Season 6 and 7 were pretty good but the 2nd half of seasons, the storylines were executed poorly. Season 8 was the worst season. If their would have been a season 9 like season 8, I would have stopped watching. Ultimately I think the show went downhill in season 4 after they killed off the source. After season 4, they introduced fairytales and made the show lighter and more comical rather than serious and dramatic. It became all about Wyatt and the sisters personal lives rather than the power of three and saving innocents. The Book of Shadows was used a lot less. Everything that made the show what it was was slowly dissipating with each season. Just my observation. LeosSon |
|
|
|
Post by violinist5 on Sept 22, 2007 14:16:45 GMT -5
I finshed watching season 8 last weekend which was the first time I had seen aby of the episodes. The show did go down hill. I was, I can't find the right word, but season 8 was really statisfying. Peope are saying it was the worst, that it was really bad. I don't think it was the worst but it really lOst sight in what the show was all about and some of the stuff that was happeing like Paige getting married and finding love seemed rushed like I don't think they got into it as much as they should. And with Billie, it wasn't good. I didn't like the part on how they made Billie do all the work and stopped doing the saving inocents thing cause that was what they were about. But I did like the last two episodes, the last one, I thik they gave a ending that made sense and that ended the show well. But overall it was not the best. They could of done alot better.
|
|
|
|
Post by roseyc on Sept 23, 2007 7:28:31 GMT -5
Well, for me season 8 was the worst season because the Billie character was the worst addition to the show and her storyline. Season 7 was just as bad when they had a comback season in season 6 when the acted like the Chris character never existed when he was so popular. Season 5 was all over the map first it was Cole is now bad when after he was good. They didn't know what to do with him. They should have never brought him back after season 4 if they were going to do to him what they did. The second half of season 5 was about every stupid magical creature that had ever existed. Paige became stupid in season 5 after a great season 4. I agree with Leosson ratings have nothing to do with how good a season is. Season 2 wasn't that bad. I think in retrospect in looking at the reruns it pales in comparison but at the time there weren't too many unwatchable episodes in the first four seasons not like the last four. Season 4 was dark but so was season 1 and season 3 but not as dark as season 4. Personally I loved the show when it was dark. The lightness was when the show hit the pits. But agree again with Leosson they should have never vanquished the source ever. Everytime they did vanquish the source he should have gone to another demon who would become the source. The show lost it's luster after they did that.
Here's my order from best to worst
S4
S3
S1
S6
S2
S5
S7
S8
Season 6 would have been much higher if they would have shown the conclusion to the Chris-Crossed episode which they never did complete. It was a showdown (Chris and the sisters verses Evil Wyatt) that was much anticipated that never happened and the series went down after that
|
|
dagg
Innocent
Posts: 10
|
Post by dagg on Sept 24, 2007 22:42:19 GMT -5
the show got off track when constance berge left.
it was different than what it was originally intended to be and the story lines shifted and seemed less about the chtrs and more about the explosions and action sequences.
it wasnt bad exactly.... just different and not as good as it could have been had she stayed on.
|
|
|
|
Post by roseyc on Sept 25, 2007 22:38:37 GMT -5
Well I think she was a good writer but Constance Burg didn't want the character of Cole at all from what I've read and heard
|
|
|
|
Post by foxfire on Sept 27, 2007 20:07:53 GMT -5
Since a lot of people have rated the seasons I think I'll do the same... here I go!
S3
S4
S5
S2
S8
S1
S6
S7
I really love the Shannen seasons but I think there were a lot more quality episodes in seasons four and five. I ranked 6 and 7 the lowest because to me they weren't as entertaining as the other seasons.
|
|
Esmeralda
Charmed
S2 "What If...?"
Fan Fic Winner
Twenty Years Gone....But Never Forgotten.
Posts: 21,920 
|
Post by Esmeralda on Sept 29, 2007 12:13:59 GMT -5
Well I think she was a good writer but Constance Burg didn't want the character of Cole at all from what I've read and heard I think the main thing that she had against Cole is the fact that he's a demon; just a demon. During S1 & S2, the main "bad guys" were the warlocks, with the demons being the Demon of This or the Demon of That. Once you introduced Cole, then all the bad guys were just demons, period, with no specific power of their own. It's why it was so hard to get a different Big Bad--demons were demons, period. I agree that had Connie stayed, it probably would've stayed a bit more formulaic and that would've gotten boring after awhile. But I also think the sisters would've stayed the sisters and not change the way they did. Piper should've continued to act like the middle, despite her being the oldest--she'd grown up the middle; she should've kept acting the middle. Phoebe should've continued to act like the baby--she was a disaster as the middle! And Paige should've acted the ONLY, not a Phoebe-wannabe. Even losing their big sister should not have changed their characters that badly, especially since they're all adults. If Prue had died when they were very young, that would be different. As is, nope. The fact that Connie was basing the sisters on herself and her sisters would've helped her continue to let them be themselves. For me, here's the order: S2 S1 S5 S4 S3 S7 S8 S6 |
|
dagg
Innocent
Posts: 10
|
Post by dagg on Sept 29, 2007 16:50:02 GMT -5
Well I think she was a good writer but Constance Burg didn't want the character of Cole at all from what I've read and heard you are absolutely correct on that.. she did not want that. and yes, it was a major part of the series and for the most part, i liked it and i like how they did pull it off... but the bigger point i was trying to make is that she had a definite view of what the show was supposed to be about... three sisters that happened to be witches. after she left for a long time it turned into a show about witches that happen to be sisters. thats something that a lot of people point at on several boards, but i think that had she stayed with the show two things would have happened. 1) the show would have actually been a bit better over the next few seasons and 2) i dont think it would have lasted the 8 years that it did (im guessing six would be the limit on that one). |
|
|
|
Post by foxfire on Sept 29, 2007 20:36:37 GMT -5
The show may have fallen into a specific formula but it wouldn't have gotten too boring. One of my other favourite television shows, Sailor Moon, followed a formula. Each episode there was what the fans called a "Monster-of-the-Day". However, what kept the show interesting was the new powers, character development and heart wrenching deaths.
If Charmed fell into the "Monster-of-the-Day" formula, they would have been able to balance it out with whatever the sisters are going through in their lives. With a show like Charmed, with so many relationships and job changes, I don't think it could have fit into a specific formula.
|
|
|
|
Post by whitelightertony on Oct 1, 2007 14:29:15 GMT -5
I am curious as to what Burge's long-term vision for the series was? I'm sure she had one in mind.
|
|
|
|
Post by pipercharmedphreak on Oct 1, 2007 18:33:28 GMT -5
that would certainly be something i would like to know!
|
|
Esmeralda
Charmed
S2 "What If...?"
Fan Fic Winner
Twenty Years Gone....But Never Forgotten.
Posts: 21,920
|
Post by Esmeralda on Oct 1, 2007 18:45:51 GMT -5
Me, too. Too bad there's no real way of finding out. But if we had some idea about that, that would give use a better way of deciding which way we would've prefered. I particularly wonder what changes she would've made when she found out that they were planning on killing off Prue and bringing in a new half-sister to replace her... But Piper and Phoebe, too, since they were based on herself and her sister.
|
|
|
|
Post by marienomad on Oct 2, 2007 10:25:42 GMT -5
I have a feeling that it might have something to do with that Morality Bites episode. It showed a possible future that has a potential big bad villian that's a politician and maybe show what Phoebe maybe killing someone.
|
|
Esmeralda
Charmed
S2 "What If...?"
Fan Fic Winner
Twenty Years Gone....But Never Forgotten.
Posts: 21,920
|
Post by Esmeralda on Oct 3, 2007 12:37:34 GMT -5
I often wondered about that, since the sisters agreed to keep an eye on him. That would've made a *very* interesting story arc, much better than some of Kern's.
|
|
|
|
Post by blaketat on Oct 12, 2007 23:11:32 GMT -5
Even Though I Loved Most Seasons.
I Really Think It Went Down In Season 4.
Losing Shannen Was Probably The Bigger Impact Of The Lower Ratings.
But Mid Season 5 It Seemed To Pick Itself Back Up.
Then Dropped Dramatically In Season 7.
|
|
|
|
Post by ArchAngel on Oct 14, 2007 9:23:41 GMT -5
There are some Charmed fans (and I know they are many) claiming that the series lost much of its punch and enjoyable factor somewhere along the line. I would like to know when and how they believe this train wreck actually happened. Is it just a simple matter of bickering with an actress that doesn't return or a simple matter of some guy ruining the show with his demented and skewed desires. Why, when, and how did Charmed start going downhill?  heh,heh. I am actually visiting here after seeing a E special where they were talking about Hollywood show downs and they were picking on "Shannen v.s. Alyssa" and I was Like "Wow that is so not true" The meaniest thing said was by one of the Interviewed "Hollywood Gurus that said "When they Replaced Shannen with Rose it became a substandard Show with Alyssa Milano, some girl I don't know, and some other girl I don't know...that is not what I watched Charmed for...I watched Charmed for Shannen Dorherty, Alysa Mliano, and that other girl that I don't know"  But Anyways, I said it many times Before. Charmed was only was supposed to be for 3 Seasons and they were supposed to have killed the Source by the Season Finale of Season 3, thus I consider Season 1-3 "Original Charmed", Season 4 "Charmed Again:an Alternate Story and a "spin off ,Season 5-6:The "Twice Blessed Child/1329 Prescott" "Spin off" more about Baby Wyatt and and the Relationship Drama of the Girls, Season 7 the Avatar Tales/A new danger "Spin off", and Season 8 "What we are still on?..er..<Tap dance>" Spin off Because of the Popularity at the time WB offered a Contract Extention that Alyssa and Holly signed but Shannen refused to sign which made everyone, especially Alyssa, unhappy. WB tried to sue Shannen to Stay, everyone including Alyssa begged Shannen to stay but in the end feelings were hurt and Shannen left just as the original contract ended and the Series Finale turned into a Samurai Movie styled ending just in case they couldn't get Shannen to get on board for next season. (Thus "Real Charmed" ends with All the girls dying...."all fades to black" in the sytle of the Samurai movies..or "Xena's Death") They tried getting her to sign the Contract a few more times before issuing a "Pink Slip" while she was off doing "Another Day" and WB decided to take the risk of getting someone else to play a "lost Sister" instead of a Prue replacement Thus Started "Charmed:The Charmed Again sequal" which is technically like "Highlander the Renegade Version' in that pureist like me takes it as a Spin off Series and not "Original Charmed" The "Charmed Again"sequal actually only lasts 1 Season because they actually fufill their Charmed Destiney and defeat the Source just as prophecy said they were made to do and the Sequal ends on a High note with Piper Pregnant (at Last) Sweet and exceptable "happy ever after ending" especially cause not only did they defeat the Source, his return attempt, and the Seer's attempt to be the Source, but they inadvertantlly destroyed all the upper demons and Warlocks and hid the Grimore making it impossible for anyone else becoming Source BUT NOOOOOOO!! Next season comes and the New Spin off "Charmed:1329 Prescott" (Bad 90210 Joke) where we are focusing on the relationship drama that is Phobe Haliiwells Life, That having a Baby isn't so "happily Ever After" or the "fulfilment" Piper though it was cracked up to be considering the stealing of the baby by evil comes a focus later to be amplified by Chris coming back from the future to "Save Wyatt" but there definately being a "time loop" here as it isn't until Chris tells the Elder of Wyatt "turning evil" that the Elder tries to kill Wyatt for the "greater Good" with this SPin off of Charmed that belongs more on WE or Lifetime Television (most of it's rating drop being the Male viwers wondering off to go watch the Girls gone Wild Infomercial cause the "girlie Drama" is sickning) ending With Leo being turned into a Pychopath that, on the good side makes him go on a Rampage killing even more Demons, especially the new High level ons. Season 7: The Avatar Tales: Not only has nothing to do with Charmed's original plot or storyline, but is focused a whole lot on Fairy Tale nonsence, Phoebe looking for love in all the wong places and Paige trying to "find herself. OMG!! "As the Haliwell Manor Turns" (Bas As the World Turns joke) By now I think I am the only guy watching the show in hopes they might fight and blow something up and switching between the Foodnetwork and Discovery Channel and History Channel the 10 minutes in the beggining of the Show and 10 minutes at the end of the show when Phoebe is talking to her current notch in the bedpost. The tongue in cheek humor of it is that Phoebe's Baby and the girl's demon free lives that Phoebe saw by the Seer and via the Shamanas was actually the Avatar Runned future that she and her sisters had to stop...with Phoebe eventually Whining why cant she have a Vision come true (the one with her child) when in fact her premonitions over the years have always been so the Charmed Ones can Stop tings from happening and she was so focused on the Child that she don't realized she was in a "drugged" state and she was babbling about there being no more Demons because of the Avatars (They were running the show and she was Sedated) Luckily the Avatar Tales Ended though rather anti climatically sort of proving they "meant well" Another funny thing about this 4th Spin off is that between the Charmed Ones killing all the Original really powerful Demons (except for Demon of Fear) and Leo Destroying every demon in site and CHris Destroying every demon he coulld, and then the Avatars sucking the lives out of as many powerful Demons as they could all we had left on the Baddie sides were mostly low level demons dressed as punk rockers, Goths, or "Men in black" Didn't stop them from doin ambituos things like trying to resurect the Source (doubt he would still have his Mantle) and resurecting the last formidable "old" Demon Zanku that wanted nothing short of the Source of the Charmed Ones and Wyatt's power boost...the Nexus (divided to the Dark one in the Basement and the White One in the Chandelleer) Of course thhey ended up doing a "poison the well" bit and blew up ther Nexus and Zanku along with it solving many problems including being found out as witches once again in which they falked their deaths. Charmed Season 8 :The Final Battle(aka The Cop Out) : Lets Make this Clear. The Charmed Ones are alive and in Hiding for a few eppisodes but neither they or their Kids have nothing to do with nothing with the "Ultimate Battle" because without the Nexus they and even Wyatt are Has beens (which is why he is a working Whitelighter instead of "King" of the World). No the "Ultimate Battle" lasted 1/2 a second in the Season Finale and was between their Prodigy and her Sister who was the Triad's prodigy ( Sister tried to flame her and the Charmed Ones, she instictively reflected, sister burned up in her own firestarter powers...'Ultimate battle between good and evil' over) Of course the ending sequence is both the nicest part and most disheartening part that pretty much shut down any chance of a Spin off or a Movie as they clearly stated that they "lived Happily ever after" for at least 3 generations as their pact with that MIB leader demon wanted in exchange forhelping them get rid of the Triad. It was also nice to see that they just didn't blast what's her face for betraying them originally, but then again she is a girl and therefore forgivable...If she had been a guy....<BAMMM> your evil male butt is vanquished...lol Over all I don't compare seasons with each other cause they all were seprate "spin off" of Original Charmed which was Season 1-3 with the "heroic Death: and "all fades to black" ending being a little chiche with all the Samurai/ninja movies out at that time, but cool. Liked all off "Charmed Again" Spin off, Liked most of Avatar Tales Spin off, Like the Zanku attempt to take the Nexus, Liked only Chris Crossed and Witches in Tights from the Drama Seasons better played on WE or Lifetime, and Liked most of the "ultimate Battle" Spin off though the girls were no longer active in the fight in good against evil and the coolest part being Paige actuallly learning "utter love" which is the trigger emotion that allows a Whitelighter to heal (something Chris didn't learned...maybe to angry to feel "utter love") |
|
|
|
Post by whitelightertony on Oct 14, 2007 15:12:19 GMT -5
Do you mean the WB never originally intended to produce a fourth season? I have a hard time believing that.
And I still think they should have brought Nathaniel Pratt back, even after Prue died. He would have been an interesting Big Bad for Season 8.
|
|
|
|
Post by vandergraafk on Oct 18, 2007 19:02:54 GMT -5
Aw, Homeland Security would have shut Pratt up, lest he prattle on about witches.
|
|
|
|
Post by whitelightertony on Oct 18, 2007 20:14:55 GMT -5
Unless Homeland Security hadn't discovered the sisters' secret at the end of S7, and the S7 finale could have set up a storyline for S8 where Piper, Phoebe, and Paige face off against Nathaniel Pratt.
|
|
|
|
Post by ArchAngel on Oct 23, 2007 4:55:19 GMT -5
Do you mean the WB never originally intended to produce a fourth season? I have a hard time believing that. . No the sign up was 3 years which is abnout average for any Show that gets past Pilot Season reviews...By the Third epsisode WB decided to run with "Charmed" though in fact the Series was first intended for NBC and was rejected, was pitched to CBS and ABC and was rejected and WB was the only one willing to take a Chance on a "occult series"...lol But as soon as they realized they had a hit they wanted it to stay the same way that Disney had "Pirates of the Caribbean 2,3,4,5,and 6" already in the works once the Original was a smashing hit...lol Season 4 and 5 were part of an Extention contract that everyone but Shannen signed. and Seasn 6, Season 7, and Season 8 where 1 year extensions. But as Xena and then Charmed proved, fan demand for it to stay on isn't enough to keep exhausted writers creative for 22-25 eppisodes a season v.s. 1 or 2 movie scripts a year the average Movie writer might do or the 3 months or more a Book writer might have to write a book. In fact without Core Advertisers llike Chevy,Panteene,Stay free, Crest and pretty much everyone else that advertises products that everyone (especially Women 18-33) would use anyway, Charmed might have been axed sooner. Think Crest toothpaste was a big buyer of the "$20 30 second spots" that Charmed offered compared to it costing nearly a Million dollars to advertise in spots on "Friends" or "Fraiser"...lol |
|
