Charmed: A Top TV Show

While browsing AC I found this article titled Charmed Television Show Approaches Its End, which was published on May 9, 2006, and it got me thinking about the show and what I think about it.

I am one of those many who, thanks to cable TV got a chance to view a really terrific show. My sister is a huge Charmed fan and she watched it diligently on Sunday nights on the WB. I had other things to do on Sunday night and never really got into the show. Then I got cable, found TNT and began watching Charmed at a time that suit me. TNT now shows Charmed 4 times a day and thanks to that schedule I was able to atch the entire series in a few short months.

It didn't take me long to get hooked on this unique show. The show centers around 3 sisters, Prue (Shannen Doherty), Piper (Holly Marie Combs) and Phoebe (Alyssa Milano) who are good witches. At the end of season 3 Prue was killed off and Paige (Rose McGowan), a half sister came in to take her place.

This is where I disagree with Morgan who wrote the article mentioned above. I loved Prue. She was the oldest sister and acted that way. She was tough and took pride in taking care of her younger sisters. She was moody but it worked. Truthfully I never really cared for Shannen Doherty until Charmed. I think she did a great job with the role, she commanded each and every scene she was in. She was angry, strong willed, powerful and intelligent. The show did successfully continue without her, but through the entire thing I constantly missed her. I eventually did accept Paige but not as a replacement for Prue, instead as a new character who kept the show going.

The three sisters were Charmed by being very powerful witches whose destiny was to fight evil and keep the world safe. Throughout the years they battled many demons, warlocks, and just plain evil beings. Many of the demons and battles they had were a bit ridiculous but that was part of the charm.

The true strength of this show was in the relationships and the growth of the characters. When the show began, the girls just found out they were witches and had powers. We got to see them go through this life-changing event. We got to see all the questions, the doubts, the learning, all of it. In short we got to grow and learn right along with them.

The emotions were also high priority in the show. And when we were having issues with Prue dying and trying to accept Paige, so were Piper and Phoebe. We also get to see Piper and Phoebe transform into their new roles. Piper being the middle sister, who with Prue's death, is now the oldest and Phoebe, the youngest having to become the middle once Paige who was younger than both showed up.

We got to love the supporting characters as well. Andy, who only lasted one season, was a past love of Prue's and a cop, who became the first outsider who knew the sister's were witches. Darrell, who was Andy's partner and also eventually knew the sister's secret and helped them along the way. Darrell lasted until season 8. Then there was Chris who I never really cared for but he was still an interesting character.

Of course there was also Cole, who was a long time love of Phoebe's. He also happened to be a demon who later became The Source of all Evil. This was a classic case of the character development and writing getting the viewers to love a character who should not be loved. Cole was great and it was sad when he finally left, after being vanquished by the sisters multiple times.

We cannot forget about Leo. Sent to watch over the girls as their white lighter, a witch's guardian angel, Leo and Piper fell in love. They had a love that gave hope to all who witnessed it. Leo truly became part of the family. In the end Leo even gave up his powers and became mortal in order to be with Piper.

In the last season they did bring in Billie (Kaley Cuoco). The sister's took in Billie and began training her so they could lead normal lives without demons. I never really cared for Billie. I think she was an over the top addition. The only time I cared for her was once she found her sister. Next to her sister Billie was a terrific character.

The writers never stopped giving us great characters and terrific personal storylines. Mixed in with all of that they also managed to show some extreme creativity by creating not just great demons but an entire new world. They even managed to get us viewers to believe in this world. Not only do we believe in this world, we wish we could be part of it. At the very least we wish we could have the kind of relationships that the sister's had.

The show is officially over now, but you can still catch it on cable on TNT 4 times a day. In addition, the first 6 seasons have been released on DVD worldwide while season 7 has been released everywhere except here in the US. The latest word according to Wikpedia.org is that both season 7 and 8 will be released before the end of 2006 in the US and by early 2007 worldwide. There is also talk that season 8 will contain lots of extras for the fans. Seasons 1 thru 7 contain no extras due to policy set forth by Paramount, but the recent take over of the DVD department by CBS opens up the possibility of extras on Season 8.

If you have never had the pleasure to view this superb show then do yourself a favor and catch it now. It may not be the best show ever but it is definitely among the top. It is a pure pleasure to watch. Enjoyment, entertainment, intelligence, great characters, terrific relationships, and a brand new world all rolled into one great show. As a viewer you are Charmed to have the ability to watch Charmed. Watch it now on TNT or better yet just buy the DVD's. You won't regret it.