‘Charmed’: Reboot is more mayhem than magic

[Tim]

The biggest problem is that this show decided to charge straight into heavy worldbuilding right from the start instead of taking the time to build up the sisters as characters and establish their relationship with each other. In contrast, the original show didn't start going there until S3, so we had two full seasons to establish the sisters as characters before the storylines started getting heavier and higher-stakes.

Aside from the Rex and Hannah arc, and later Rodriguez, the first season of the original series was mostly stand alone episodes.  The evil being showed up, caused trouble, the sisters came in, vanquished the evil being, the end.  However, during those episodes we got some nice sister moments that helped establish the characters.  With no story arcs to distract the writers, they were able to focus on the sisters themselves.

The reboot should have done this.  Focus on the sisters, before moving into world building. 

Hopefully, late S1 and S2 address this issue and slow down the pace. The show's future is now far more secure, so there's no need to rush through everything.

Amen to that.

[BettyNewbie]

Feb 26, 2019 12:15:12 GMT -5 Tim said:

Aside from the Rex and Hannah arc, and later Rodriguez, the first season of the original series was mostly stand alone episodes.  The evil being showed up, caused trouble, the sisters came in, vanquished the evil being, the end.  However, during those episodes we got some nice sister moments that helped establish the characters.  With no story arcs to distract the writers, they were able to focus on the sisters themselves.

The reboot should have done this.  Focus on the sisters, before moving into world building.

And, that's likely where the problem is.  This show clearly doesn't want to do "Monster of the Week" episodes and instead have everything be part of a big, continuing arc.  Which is standard for modern TV storytelling, but it may not be the best for a show like Charmed (where the premise is entirely based around the sisters' bond with each other).

[adzpower]

I hope they kind of switch to an episodic format for season 2 but perhaps have little tid-bits of the overall arc in each episode, nothing major until it starts to come to fruition, just so its still all connected but you could watch them at anytime and not struggle to understand the story of the individual episode, I'm aware that's easier said than done though.

[BettyNewbie]

Feb 27, 2019 6:34:10 GMT -5 adzpower said:

I hope they kind of switch to an episodic format for season 2 but perhaps have little tid-bits of the overall arc in each episode, nothing major until it starts to come to fruition, just so its still all connected but you could watch them at anytime and not struggle to understand the story of the individual episode, I'm aware that's easier said than done though.

If they were wise, they'd consider doing that, but sadly, that's not the trend of current TV. This show really wants to be centered around a big, ongoing mystery arc (Marisol's death) like so many shows are nowadays, but that doesn't really jibe with the original Charmed premise -- three sisters who are the world's most powerful witches and are destined to protect innocents from evil. That premise needs a more episodic format, at least in the first 1-2 seasons. We need to see the sisters actually trying to live out their Charmed destiny before the heavier storylines start hitting.

[Tim]

I hope they kind of switch to an episodic format for season 2 but perhaps have little tid-bits of the overall arc in each episode, nothing major until it starts to come to fruition

Kind of like the Rex and Hannah arc.  For the most part, it was in the background, and had little to do with the actual episode. 

The reboot really needs to take ideas from the Connie era, rather than the Kernus one.

[Melinda Halliwell]

But like people have said if that's what's expected nowadays and what youngsters want then the show will hash out overall story arcs than one episode formats instead of asking folks what they'd like perhaps.

[Tim]

And that's part of the problem.  Classic Charmed was NEVER good at big story arcs (smaller ones, like Rex and Hannah, were fine though). 

The reboot is having the same problem here, plus they should have waited a season or two, before throwing all this at us. 

[BettyNewbie]

Feb 28, 2019 12:10:05 GMT -5 Tim said:

And that's part of the problem.  Classic Charmed was NEVER good at big story arcs (smaller ones, like Rex and Hannah, were fine though). 

The reboot is having the same problem here, plus they should have waited a season or two, before throwing all this at us. 

Exactly.^^^ The show wants to jump right into heavy mythology and worldbuilding without taking the time to actually establish the sisters as characters first. All of this crap with Parker should've at least been held off for Season 2.

[Tim]

The reboot should have taken points from SPN.  The first season, aside from the hunt for yellow eyes and finding John, was mostly stand alone episodes.  Dean and Sam roll into town, fight and defeat the monster, and leave.  The end. 

We really didn't get into world building until Cas showed up at the start of Season Three.

The Charmed reboot should have done the same.  The only hope is, now that the future of the show is secure, they can slow down and just breathe.

[Melinda Halliwell]

Cas showed up in season 4 not 3 Tim.

[Tim]

Oops!

[Melinda Halliwell]

That's okay I forget also when certain characters showed up when.

It was blonde haired Ruby played by Katie Cassidy who turned up at the start of season 3.

[Tim]

The reboot really needs to look at the Original Series on how to do Season One right, IMO.

[Katie]

Apr 5, 2019 23:21:51 GMT -5 Tim said:

The reboot really needs to look at the Original Series on how to do Season One right, IMO.

I just said this in the original board, when Summer brought up how great S1 has been with her rewatching at the Cafe. 

Still, S1 of the original is miles better than the reboot, just with how they did the whole season. Really the first season would have been enough if they cut the Parker and family stories out completely, and just focused on the mothers killer, Charity and the Sarcana stuff, that is more than enough. With the Sarcana introduced in the second half of S1, so the first half is all standalone building the sisters up. Maybe you can have the Elders brought into the picture mid-season. Then you'll have a better S1.

[Tim]

The original series knew how to take its time.  No rush, rush, rush, like the reboot.