{"id":21644,"date":"2013-07-31T06:30:59","date_gmt":"2013-07-30T18:30:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/?p=21644"},"modified":"2013-07-30T11:30:38","modified_gmt":"2013-07-29T23:30:38","slug":"big-worlds-on-small-screens-rebecca-fisher-discusses-charmed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/2013\/07\/31\/big-worlds-on-small-screens-rebecca-fisher-discusses-charmed\/","title":{"rendered":"Big Worlds On Small Screens: Rebecca Fisher Discusses “Charmed”"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Rebecca Fisher<\/em><\/p>\n

Introduction:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Two words: guilty pleasure. Back in the nineties, the runaway success of Xena Warrior Princess<\/strong> and Buffy the Vampire Slayer<\/strong> made network executives sit up and realize that there was an audience for fantasy-themed shows starring female protagonists. Perhaps with a little help from the current fad in New Age witchcraft and paganism, the concept of Charmed<\/strong> first aired in 1998, eventually becoming the longest-running hour-long television series with female leads. The brainchild of producer\/writer Constance Burge, who based the three main characters on herself and her own sisters, the show managed to run for eight seasons, even though its quality had drastically fallen by the time it finally came to a close.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

But the first season at least (the one that I\u2019ll concentrate on) was a lot of fun despite its silly plots and cheesy quality, held together by a trio of actresses that had great sisterly chemistry.<\/p>\n

Premise:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Halliwell sisters are all attractive twenty-something women who reunite in the family\u2019s old San Francisco manor house after the death of their grandmother. Eldest Prue (Shannon Doherty) and middle child Piper (Holly Marie Combs) have already moved in, but it\u2019s not until the youngest Phoebe (Alyssa Milano) arrives unannounced from New York that sparks really begin to fly. Guided by a strange message spelt out on an Ouija board, Phoebe discovers an old tome in the attic and reads the inscription on the front page:<\/p>\n

“Hear now the words of the witches, the secrets we hid in the night, the oldest of Gods are invoked here, the great work of magic is sought. In this night and in this hour, I’ll call upon the ancient power, bring your powers to we sisters three, we want the power, give us the power.”<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Phoebe reads from the Book of Shadows<\/em><\/p>\n

Cue some strange lights and tinkling noises, and it\u2019s not long before the sisters are trying to cope with their newly awakened magical powers. Inherited from their ancestress Melinda Warren, who prophesied the coming of three witches with immense magical skill, Prue discovers she has telekinesis, Phoebe receives premonitions, and Piper can … freeze time (I\u2019m not sure there\u2019s a technical term for that).<\/p>\n

As the Charmed Ones, the sisters find themselves charged with the protection of the innocent, but are also the target of various warlocks and demons who covert their powers. And on top of all that, they still have to juggle their careers and social lives, and come to grips with their ever-growing magical abilities.<\/p>\n

Storyline:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In the early days of the show, each episode encompassed a standalone story, though more often than not with a thread of continuity running through it. Usually a more mundane subplot concerning work or man troubles is wound throughout a supernatural crisis, with the sisters lending each other support and advice in times of personal difficulties. In fact, it\u2019s often the stories that are grounded in reality that provide the more compelling storylines, for the various monsters can be hopelessly corny.<\/p>\n

Almost without exception, every demon and warlock and evil spirit is out to steal the sisters\u2019 powers, and are given absolutely no depth or background beyond this simple goal. Deus ex machinas are par for the course when it comes to resolving plots, and most of the time enemies are vanquished by the sisters chanting a spell while an off-screen wind machine dramatically blows their hair back until the demon or warlock (usually a guy in a latex mask) disappears in a puddle of badly rendered CGI.<\/p>\n

Not helping is the fact that the entire cast sans<\/em> the sisters all exhibit incredibly dodgy acting skills. But then, that\u2019s all part of the fun!<\/p>\n

At this early stage of the show there is an emphasis on the bonds of sisterhood and the empowerment of women that was sadly lost in later seasons. After Constance Burge left the show, the stories became more about the convoluted mythos, the remaining sisters\u2019 love-lives and any excuse to put the lead actresses into increasingly bizarre outfits. But season one has an appealing simplicity about the proceedings which concentrates solely on three sisters with magical powers reclaiming their familial bond, destroying evil demons, and wearing fabulous clothes from a seemingly bottomless wardrobe.<\/p>\n

Plus, the quirks that the actresses use in order to demonstrate their individual gifts is especially fun: Phoebe will touch an object and jump dramatically, Piper will fling her hands up into the air, and Prue will…squint at things (at least until the producers realize how silly this looks and let her wave her hands around like Piper).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Piper, Prue and Phoebe Halliwell<\/em><\/p>\n

Characters:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In descending order we have Prue, the responsible and rather cold career woman who works at Bucklands Auction House, a venue that provides plenty of opportunities for strange and supernatural artefacts to cross her path. Right from the start there is a strained element to high-strung Prue and free-spirited Phoebe, particularly when it comes to the subject of Phoebe\u2019s unemployment and their deadbeat father.<\/p>\n

Second is Piper, who works as a restaurant manager and is the gentlest of the trio, often standing in as peacemaker to her more volatile sisters and struggling between the demands of work and her new calling. Phoebe is the youngest, a former wild-child who returns to San Francisco to reconnect with her family and roots. In lieu of a proper job, she identifies the most strongly with her witchy heritage and embraces her new role.<\/p>\n

As mentioned, the three actresses have a great dynamic with each other and the stories focus just as much on their relationship as it does their battle against the forces of evil. In fact, whatever havoc the monster of the week is causing can often feel like an afterthought to the sisters\u2019 dating troubles. Among the supporting cast (and subplots) is Prue reconnecting with her childhood sweetheart Andy Trudeau, now a homicide detective who grows increasingly suspicious as the sisters continue to get involved in various cases. Meanwhile Piper strikes up a romance with a handyman who is more than what he seems, and Phoebe makes several efforts to land herself a permanent job.<\/p>\n

Oh, and a young John Cho in an episode.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>John Cho!<\/em><\/p>\n

Conclusion:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Although there were several good episodes in later seasons, the first is the only one I\u2019d consider owning on DVD. It had a nice grounding in reality, with a few elegantly constructed arcs and an emphasis on sisterhood and each woman\u2019s efforts to use their unique powers in responsible ways that allowed it to rise above its flaws. And even when those flaws were on full display, they somehow manage to be pretty funny instead of irritating (at least most of the time). While it lasted, season one of Charmed<\/strong> was… yeah, I\u2019m going to say it… charming.<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Next Time:<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

What happens when Batman and Superman team up? You get the beginning of the Justice League, an animated series that served as a quasi-spinoff of the immensely popular Batman<\/strong> and Superman<\/strong> cartoons of the mid-1990s. Yet Justice League<\/strong> was subtly aimed at a much older audience, dealing with themes of power and corruption within a meticulously plotted story arc that was complex in nature and sprawling in scope.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Rebecca Fisher<\/p><\/div>\n

About The Reviewer:<\/h3>\n

Rebecca Fisher is a graduate of the University of Canterbury with a Masters degree in English Literature, mainly, she claims, because she was able to get away with writing her thesis on C.S. Lewis and Philip Pullman. She is a reviewer for FantasyLiterature.com<\/a>, a large website that specializes in fantasy and science-fiction novels, as well as posting reviews to Amazon.com<\/a> and her own LiveJournal<\/a> blog.<\/p>\n

To read Rebecca\u2019s detailed introduction of both herself and the series, click on Big Worlds On Small Screens<\/a>.<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Previous Big Worlds On Small Screens<\/strong> Reviews: [click on the title to view]<\/span><\/p>\n