The show "Charmed"

[CondurerMan]

Does anybody here watch the series

about 90% of what they use are from a wiccan source
ofcourse they really take it to extreme measures :)

I heard Wicca mantioned about 30 times on the show.

When i actually tell people i'm a Wicca they stair at me and say
"yea right, go see a shrink"
Although i like the show personally i think it does give out a rather misnunderstood view of wicca to people outside the craft.

what are your views?

[Danustouch]

My opinion of this is quite simple. It's ENTERTAINMENT...and should be taken as such. If people wish to take that show as their source of knowledge of wicca..then it's THEM that are the idiots, not the people who put the show on the air. The problem is with the large portion of society who are too lazy to research things on their own, so therefore, take entertainment, and try to adapt that to "Truth".

[Illuminatus]

The chicks on that show are hot!!!

(hee hee I'm taking the show at face value just like danus says!)

[manstranger]

Psst ... illuminatus ... if you look at anybody that got an acting roll in a TV show, chances are they would be hot.

[Danustouch]

Especially an Aaron Spelling Television Show ;)

[Chibi-Fallon]

I really just don't like the show. The plot always seemed a little weak to me. I think I saw on Mad TV once Aaron Spelling's TV show ideas "Scantily Clad Women + Witchcraft = Charmed". I know people who like it, but I'd rather watch "The Simpsons" or "Everybody Loves Raymond" or something *funny*. Charmed doesn't have it's funny moments tho. But they're moments when you're not supposed to be laughing.

[Empress Kerigan]

It's a show it doesn't have to give the proper undestanding of anything. It's there for entertainment purposes only. Not educational.

[flar7]

Originally posted by Illuminatus
The chicks on that show are hot!!!

(hee hee I'm taking the show at face value just like danus says!)


"ditto"

[Artemis84]

I myself love the show! You can always find me sitting in front of the nearest television on a Thursday night. :)

[Raindancer]

I like the show quite a lot, though some of the "witchcraft" makes me cringe sometimes. I just tell people that its a little like that, but mostly not, and explain. At least if they ask, it means they're curious and will listen. Its entertainment, and like any fictional entertainment, I have to suspend my disbelief and enter into their world. At least they're the good guys, and in that sense its a positive thing. Still, you get the distinct impression that if they weren't "Women with power" they would be able to get a date on Sat. night, and be much happier. IWe haven't gotten the post-Pru episodes out here yet, without spoiling it for me, can people tell me ( if they've seen the new Halliwell sister, how she compares? How do they bring her into the picture? Which side of the family does she come from, mom or dad? Is it possible to answer those questions without giving anything away?
Raiindancer

[flar7]

she is their mothers daughter by the white lighter she left hubby
for! Although she is nice, she is still a poor substitute for pru.:(

[Illuminatus]

Originally posted by Raindancer
I like the show quite a lot, though some of the "witchcraft" makes me cringe sometimes. I just tell people that its a little like that, but mostly not, and explain. At least if they ask, it means they're curious and will listen. Its entertainment, and like any fictional entertainment, I have to suspend my disbelief and enter into their world. At least they're the good guys, and in that sense its a positive thing. Still, you get the distinct impression that if they weren't "Women with power" they would be able to get a date on Sat. night, and be much happier. IWe haven't gotten the post-Pru episodes out here yet, without spoiling it for me, can people tell me ( if they've seen the new Halliwell sister, how she compares? How do they bring her into the picture? Which side of the family does she come from, mom or dad? Is it possible to answer those questions without giving anything away?
Raiindancer

I'll tell you about her.. she's F@%@^$'n HOT!!! Everything else is incidental.

[Raindancer]

Shannen Dougherty was really good as Pru, but she is kind of a loose cannon. When the show started and they said she was in it, I wondered how long she was going to stick around. She's bailed out of two big series now at least. What a pain. I wonder if she''ll be back for a cameo now and again, like Grams or their mom does.
Raindancer

[CondurerMan]

In my opinion the new sister "Paige" is annoying.
her power is cool but she just doesn't fit
my view.

[Raindancer]

Sigh... Trouble is that everyone is used to Pru... I know that as an actress Shannen D. has the right to go where she thinks best, but I wish she hadn't left the series. I'll just have to wait until the new series starts out here to see how Paige is, maybe she will grow on me. Hopefully... I guess the alternative would have been ending the show which would really have been a shame.

One thing I would like to see is them working more with other witches to do things. Mostly ( but not completely, other witches are made to look like a lot of New Agey bubble heads. I'd like to see some good male witches also who aren't just trying to steal their powers. The Warlock thing bothrrs me. But yeah, I would like to see more of the other witches with powers helping out. A major circle to kick some demon butt would be cool.

On the side, we get TV Guide here, and in several cases, with Charmed and other programs here, they've given away the surprises before they've aired. A couple weeks before the Charmed Episodes at the end of the series for the year were aired, they told us that Pru was going to bite the big one and would be replaced by a half-sister Paige. So when the series finale was aired with the likely scenario that it would be Phoebe making the sacrifice to save Piper and Pru, we already knew that somehow it would be Pru making the sacrifice to save Phoebe. That really sucks, like reading a long and engrossing book for weeks only to have some clown come along, see the title, and tell you what the ending is. I know you have TV Guide over there, can anyone tell me if they did that elsewhere also? I'm really getting tired of them doing that, and I'm going to tell them so when I get a chance.
Raindancer

[Nina]

I'm in the UK - we haven't got to the post-Pru episodes yet! I didn't know she'd gone!

Oh well, hardly surprising, but there we go.

By the way - I like the series - like Buffy, or Angel, it's great fun escapism pure entertainment. Nothin' more, nothin' less. And when you're a sad old soul like me, you have to have some entertainment in your life! My day so far has seen me down at the DIY superstore, and then back to paint my bathroom.

What a thrilling life I lead... :D

[Raindancer]

Hey don't complain about boring LOL... I have lots of "Excitement "lately that I would gladly give you LOL. In the past 3 months, I've had a whole series of things happening, all of them expensive. Having to have the yard taken down to the ground because of too tall grass, two visits by the plumber for a backing up toilet, the washing machine leaking, and as of yeseterday, the fridge stopped being cold, and the freezer now actes like a fridge. I had to move about two weeks worth of frozen meat to my Ex's freezer ( at least we get along that well) aaaannnddd I've got three young kids ( I'm a solo parent) who constantly want/need things. That, and you live in UK which I would love to see and where I would love to spend some time exploring around. So be thankful... :-) BTW I love Buffy and Angel too. Though in the last Buffy episode I saw she died. What a way to end the series... I hope they find some way to bring her back.
Raindancer

[Myst]

I'm just glad to zone out in front of the tv every once in awhile now - that's what entertainment is for. If you want to think open a book, if you want to worry open a newspaper.

[Raindancer]

I know what you mean, though the TV doesn't help much in the worry dept, especially when the news comes on, between Sept. 11 and GW Bush wanting to go back to the Reagan era.
Raindancer

[CondurerMan]

I had a diffrent problem
i was so eager to see the new season that i saw the begining of the 4th one before i saw the ending of the 3rd

[Alaiyo]

Originally posted by Raindancer
Shannen Dougherty was really good as Pru, but she is kind of a loose cannon. When the show started and they said she was in it, I wondered how long she was going to stick around. She's bailed out of two big series now at least. What a pain. I wonder if she''ll be back for a cameo now and again, like Grams or their mom does.
Raindancer

I personally think that Alyssa Milano didn't like not being more in focus in terms of storylines, etc and that's why she warred so much with Shannen. . I've noticed since Pru's been gone that Phoebe (her character) has take nthe lion's hsare of the stories and closeups.

[shnen]

when is the show on now??? I haven't seen it in sooo long... :(

what happened to pru?

[materra]

I don't watch charmed but I have seen it....I watch Buffy and Witchblade. :D They kick a__. :D

[shnen]

hate buffy, never heard of witchblade...

[cherrywind]

I have pretty much the same opinion as Danus, it's entertainment and should be taken as such. If anybody chooses to believe it's the truth then they're the stupid ones. Would you turn on Star Trek and take it as truth? Buffy The Vampire Slayer? The X-Files? No, of course you wouldn't.

[Flar's Freyja]

While some of the "witchcraft" portrayed in the series is downright silly, it's possible to catch an accuracy now and then and the show attempts to present a positive image of witches. Although the show is for a younger audience, I enjoy it because it's wonderful, mindless escapism.

I loved the Halloween episode that they did a while back that presented lots of accurate history on the craft and the burning times. I had taped it but accidentally erased it. :(

[Grey]

Chick flick (and sont take this wrong), glowing balls flying about ,evil , and SPAARRKLIEES

[FireBird]

I like the show Charmed very much. We are the good guys for a change. And Witchblade is pretty cool too.
http://www.firebird63.bravepages.com/

[Wyrdsister]

I've tried to get into Charmed, but it just doesn't do it for me. I LOVE Buffy and Angel (not that their representations of Wicca or magick are all that "accurate"), and I just started watching Witchblade. I'm hoping that "witchblade" is just a name and they won't play up any witchcraft stuff. :) Just my preference!

Wyrdsister

[Skye]

Charmed, never seem it. Don't watch the tele much.

[materra]

Fortunately, Witchblade is about a weapon that mystically guides it's wearer/warrior...not about the Craft. It is based on a comic book heroine. A police show gone fantasy folks..IMO way cool and fun. Good plots and characterizations.

[Raindancer]

I haven't seen Witchblade yet, but then we don't see things first out here in beautiful downtown New Zealand. I've seen the first few episodes of Post-Pru Charmed so far and its fun. Watching Paige learn her craft and making messes is fun. Luckily all the big time bad guys they were fighting before seem to have taken a vacation while she comes up to speed is lucky. I like Buffy too, but have some trouble with Willow not being allowed to do magick. What's the point of being a witch if you can't do magick? I realise that she was going over the line but thats a matter of getting her do's and don'ts straight. But then too, in real life, I've known a couple witches who lost the line between what they wanted and what was right to do. IMO they should have focussed on her staying on the right side of the line.
BB
Raindancer

[Alaiyo]

I have only seen the pilot, so I can't comment a lot on Witchblade, except that I liked what I saw, even with ex-Baywatch star David Chokaci.

Back to Charmed, I've paid a little more attention to the reruns of last season and I am convinced now more than ever that Alyssa Milano wanted to be the focus of the show and didn't like that it was often Shannon or Shannon and Holly Marie that most viewers paid attention to. Rose McGowan is all right, but to me she will be the unfortunate Tatum of Scream!, that died by being crushed by a garage door because she couldn't get through the doggie door because her chest was too big.

Alyssa's Phoebe takes took much screen time and the stories are almost exclusively about her with certain exception.

Love her or Hate her--Shannon brought interest to the show and she didn't have to have every story revolved around her to keep you waiting.

[aria]

the show was ok back in the first few seasons. Now I think it just sucks. *shrugs*

[Raindancer]

Well, I think the first few post-Pru episodes have been sort of fun, but we'll see. I think that programs that were good sometimes die off because the people that decide the direction of the show, how it develops, zig when they should zag. They make a bad decision about where its going and then find they've painted themselves into a corner. I think thats what happened to Dark Angel. They got themselves into places they didn't want to be and couldn't get out of them. Raindancer

[ShadowStorm]

Originally posted by Danustouch
My opinion of this is quite simple. It's ENTERTAINMENT...and should be taken as such. If people wish to take that show as their source of knowledge of wicca..then it's THEM that are the idiots, not the people who put the show on the air. The problem is with the large portion of society who are too lazy to research things on their own, so therefore, take entertainment, and try to adapt that to "Truth".

It IS entertainment...and people who think otherwise are a bit confused.

[Alaiyo]

Originally posted by Raindancer
think that programs that were good sometimes die off because the people that decide the direction of the show, how it develops, zig when they should zag. They make a bad decision about where its going and then find they've painted themselves into a corner. I think thats what happened to Dark Angel. They got themselves into places they didn't want to be and couldn't get out of them. Raindancer

I agree with you about Dark Angel though I am one of the few that thinks they shouldn't have put Max and the wheelchair guy (her current husband? Shawn Weatherly) together. I think it was much better when he cared about her and she found him amusing.

[Alaiyo]

I think that like anything else, because there are so many misconceptions about the Craft and other things, people are hungry to see it portrayed positively and credibly.

Just like I'm sure there are many Asians that are waiting for that breakthrough show where they are not running around saying "mee so solly" or portrayed as having these either barely living lifestyles or exotic esoteric lives that fuel the fantasies of American consumers.

I'm sure there are Black people who are waiting for the day that broadcast tv understands that while some comedies are well done about their lives, dramas about Black people are something that all people will and do watch and want to watch.

You have a show like Charmed and yeah it's entertainment but when you find out about teens taking up what they think is the Craft because they think that they'll be about to fling people across the room and stop time and vanquish demons, part of you wants there to be a more realistic portrayal. Just a part.

Until they dumped Prue and really bored me with the whole "Cole" thing, I loved Charmed and took it as it was presented, which was entertainment.

It sure is a looong way from the obnoxious days of Samantha and Darrin Stevens on "Bewitched." Man, you could not make that today! Darrin of 2002 would been like, "Dude, I aint never gotta work again! I have a wife that can just conquer me some major cheddar !" He wouldn't have cared about whether she used her power or not except only if she got caught. The mother in law would still be an issue because clearly Endora never wanted her daughter with a non witch. And of course we know that the Darrin of the 1960s and his issues with Sam's powers was metaphor for the oppression of women and their unique talents and individuality that challenged the male authority.

Sabrina the Teenaged Witch (the series) was comical in that they would try to train in the Craft but it was obnoxious. The original comic was better because of its surrealism and it reminded me of the Japanese comic Lum or those Obnoxious Aliens.