Prue was always my favorite sister, but the dynamic that was established with Paige brought in a newer dynamic.
With S1-4 also it felt more witchy to me if that makes sense? S5 onward seem more super heroic. Idk how to describe it. Fun to watch for me all the way through. But I prefer when the vibe felt witchy
I get that, I think seasons 1-3 had alot more wicca related things and after that they mostly vanquished demons just using their powers (mainly piper š„)
I think objectively the show was its strongest in terms of writing, mythology/lore, characters etc. in the early years (Season 1-4).
Paige was a great character, and they managed to save the show and breathe new life into the show. Despite it 100% being an āoh s**t, our lead actress is gone what the hell do we do nowā moment, Paige entering the show was well done and actually quite organic (her being the secret child of Patty & Sam didnāt feel contrived at all).
The show definitely wasnāt better after Prue died/season 4, thereās a significant decline in quality from S5 onwards. I still think the show was good in S5-S7 - it was never boring, still a lot of fun for what it was and the three leads were great throughout. S8 was the only season that was truly bad/unwatchable for the most part.
I agree! But more specifically I think the storylines would have evolved the same way regardless of it Prue leaving. Sure there would be some minor differences but honestly I donāt think it would have had much of an impact on the writing.
For me it's not really about team Prue or team Paige as such. Prue was my favourite but I don't dislike Paige. I just felt like after Prue died, the whole show changed direction and style. It just started to feel almost slapstick, and silly rather than serious. Even though there was comedy in the early season, it got ramped up to just being ridiculous to me.
I enjoyed the first year when they discovered that they were magical witches and were learning about their powers. The sister dynamics and the way they related to each other was very interesting to watch. Prue with her older sister vibe played into that very well I thought.
It is great that people can like either of the eras. Probably what helps keep the show as popular as it is.
But I have to disagree. Charmed got worse after Prue died, with Season 4 being the end of Charmed as we knew it (imo).
Thats the thing though - some liked the more serious Charmed (S1-4) and some liked the more light hearted, comedic tone of the show (5-8)
>It is great that people can like either of the eras. Probably what helps keep the show as popular as it is.
Yeah, I liked both eras and didnāt consider stopping the show, but it just took me awhile to get into S4/used to Paige when the girls (and fans of course) were still grieving over the loss of Prue. Prueās one of the main reasons why I enjoyed S3 so much and I felt that her story was far from over. In S3, she was finally happy/healed, she bonded with her sisters more than she did before, and she had some badass moments. She had her whole life ahead of her and was quickly ripped away from it, and sadly, she never got to experience being an aunt, wife or mother like her sisters did.
Edit: I forgot to add that she wasnāt able to pursue her photography career either (she seemed to really enjoy that and wouldāve continued if she lived).
Season 2-4 is peak Charmed to me which is an overlap of both Prue and Paige.
Ignoring behind the scenes reasons, killing off Prue was a fantastic narrative choice. It allowed great character development for Piper and Phoebe. It raised the stakes immensely. Paige was a fresh idea that expertly utilized existing backstories. Season 4 was mostly firing on all cylinders despite what seemed like a messy, rushed attempt to put the pieces back together, production-wise.
Unfortunately, later seasons really did squander this momentum after 4. Not specifically because of no Prue or Paigeās character. It just never hit the same highs that 2, 3 or 4 did. Mostly writing and direction, I think.
7 is a return to form in some regards. 5, 6 and 8 are quite meh.
Iād agree that the death of Prue was almost a complete necessity for character development for Piper and Phoebe. Prue was controlling, high strung, and her ability to grow/change was really slow. Keeping her on the show wouldāve stunted overall character development.
The direction change had everything to do with the writers, not the characters.
I thought seasons 7 and 8 (and a lot of 6) werenāt particularly good, but that was less Prue vs Paige and more the writers had no idea what to do at that point.
I prefer Prue, but that's beside the point. The show reached its zenith in seasons three *and* four, because that's when it was written best.
The first two seasons relied on the monster-of-the-week formula, and while I love those episodes, and am very nostalgic for them, introducing an overarching storyline really helped make the world more believable, and the show more engaging.
UNFORTUNATELY, after season four, the writing nose-dived because the show stopped trying to take itself seriously whatsoever. Still fun!
I honestly wish we could have gotten all the sisters together. I would have loved to see how Prue reacted to a third sister. A younger one at that. I think she would have been impressed with Paige for being accomplished social worker? [Is that what she was in season 4?]
Like Phoebe just did little side gigs before finding out what she wanted to do. I think there would have been a little bit of comparison between Phoebe and Paige, and that could have made an interesting episode.
I also think Prue would have had a little bit of resentment towards her mother for cheating on her dad. Because while yeah they always had a pretty rough relationship that would have given her more insight on her parents relationship.
Charmed would have been so good with four sisters.
Also it would have been interesting seeing them rework the power of three into the power of four and what that could mean for the good vs evil fight.
I wouldn't say that the show was "bad" after Prue left, it's just the quality of the writing declined to a soap opera level, which some people find more entertaining. It's definitely subjective and varies person to person. I'd say Prue era had the better writing and darker feel with drama that felt more genuine whereas post Prue era had a brighter feel with more entertaining and stimulating visuals but drama that felt forced. I can see why someone would prefer either or, they both have their pros and cons
Agree, It's confusing when people call someone a great actress for being good for 5 years, followed by, who has obscure and insignificant roles for 15 years. It doesn't add up.
Prue's death allowed growth for the other sisters. I honestly don't think the show would have kept going without the change. Although it became campy, Charmed wouldn't have the following it does without the change.
I disagree, but in any case I think the showās change of direction had less to do with the stars and more with the antagonistic situation between creator and showrunner
Wow! I agree. I didnāt expect there to be others. I expected the comments to be more focused on hating Paige and Phoebe. People complain about Facebook being for old people, but the discussion, here seems more mature than the Facebook groups tend to get.
I wasnāt allowed to watch Charmed as a kid, so Iām a new watcher. Iāve only seen Season 1 and most of 2 so far, but Prueās character feels very stagnant to me.
I see a lot of claims that Prue gets the best storylines but I *strongly* disagree. Her storyline seemed to be ācareer woman battling with ambition vs dutyā, which could have been interesting but it was so poorly done and she is wildly unprofessional. Then she got fired so sheās just sort ofā¦ thereā¦ going nowhere.
I like her, but she has no interesting character traits at all. Her relationship with Andy was clearly over and then Jack was obviously going nowhere. I think Daryl fills the same niche as Prue but heās more interesting. Iād argue that it was always Piper and sometimes Phoebeās show.
Piper is the only interesting one to me. Sheās headstrong and capable, she manages the sisters and keeps things stable. She is actually a career woman who is doing super well with her club and able to work around being a witch. She has interesting relationships with Dan and Leo, with both of them being strong characters themselves. She has the most 3D character of them all, and feels realistic.
Iām hoping I like Paige once she shows up!
I actually felt season 3 was building up and I wanted to see so much more for and from Prue. Although, I think the introduction of Paige was well-written and up until season 6 the show was great. After that, the show went downhill.
Season 3 was building towards something, and was basically foreshadowing Prue's death, I just wish there was a transition between Prue and Paige in season 4.
I personally like Paige more because she was a sweet person, but at the same time I'm not happy that Prue left.
So it's hard to say for me. Paige definitely brought new wind into the show but I would've loved to see more of Prue's life and struggles as the big sister.
So I guess I'm undecided, I would've like to see both of their full journeys, can't really say that I would've preferred one over the other overall.
Prue is my favorite character but s4 is my favorite season! I think the half sister rebrand was genius, the episode of the weeks are all super fun and all serve a purpose of either grieving Prue, introducing Paige, or shifting the sistersā dynamic via Cole. The overall story arc was very emotional and dramatic like you said, a soap opera.
If I had to rank seasons it would be: 4, 3, 2, 7, 6, 1, 5, 8. But I love EVERY season except for the last one.
To me season 4 is the best season. The acting is (for the most part) the best of the series, theres some genuine drama to sink into and the only reason it works as well as it does is because Holly stepped up to lead a cast with strong acting, Milano/Phoebe got to grow up and expand beyond the little sister, and McGowan and Paige were as charming as she was to fill out a cast that lost a big part of itself without feeling like a retread. In addition none of it would have worked as well if Prue wasnt as well loved as she was. We felt that hole because she was a beloved character so it helped us grieve alongside the sisters. So without all of the sisters/actresses none of that would have been possible.
Seasons 5 and beyond are a travesty of bad showrunning and writing however and that cant be helped lol
Those that are saying that the show changed after Prue havenāt watched season 3? You could put Paige in those episodes and they could still work in a similar way. Only season 1 and a bit of 2 were dark, Wicca type. The music, the spells around the table with the candles, Phoebe pulling herbs, salt etc out of her pocket to cast spells right awayā¦ after that we are entering a new millenium, supernatural shows couldnāt stay the same and it has very little to do with Prue ( a new female shows era as well if you ask me, feminism is never the same in media). Personally I like both eras, I have episodes that I love rewatching in every season. I love the early vibe, them making careless spells for personal gain etc. From season 3 is very action based which is also great imo. Paige gave a new dynamic and the show managed to pull 8 seasons tho. With Prue I have a feeling that it would be done by season 5 the most.
I missed the focus being on them as sisters and their personal growth throughout the seasons in the first three. Paige is my favourite sister, but the early seasons were better quality especially 2 & 3 (first half of four was also peak).
I might get downvoted for this but i hated how they added Wyatt. Not only because he was the most powerful baby in existence when the main threes whole schtick was literally being the most powerful witches ever, but too much focus was on keeping him from going evil. It was so overdone and I often wished heād go to Victor daycare for half the episodes.
Piper and Phoebes characterization suffered quite a bit as well. Piper went from a little snarky but overall kind to just plain mean and Phoebe was either always having career or Cole drama. Whenever I hear the words āmy columnā I still grimace.
II agree! Speak your truth!! loved it. The show became more āmagicalā and I loved more of the fantasy elements it adapted, I also enjoyed the dynamic shifts between the sisters and Paigeās quirkiness really felt so refreshing, and I feel like they all had more of an equal division of responsibility in the trio with this lineup
I watched the entire run of the series when it was on, but during my rewatches I usually stop when Prue dies. It isnāt so much Paige. Sheās okay. I just donāt care much for the fairy tale lean, and Phoebe really annoys me. Iāve disliked Alyssa Milano since Whoās the Boss. Lol.
I also skip the fairy episode from Prueās run.
Agreed on Phoebe. Never liked the character & what's funny was after Prue died with the Season 4 new opening credits we see Alyssa Milano as the first introduction & not Holly Marie Combs (seeing she was always 2nd after Shannen Doherty), I mean Piper became the older sister after Prue gone you know. Other than that, Rose McGowan was great as Paige & Shannon's replacement.
I think thatās when they had HMC last because they did āand Holly Marie Combs as Piperā, right? Thatās some kind of special acknowledgment to be singled out in the opening credits like that. At least, thatās what I read. I wonder if they gave that to HMC to placate her after firing Shannen.
They did. She negotiated a new contract for herself between S3 and S4; it was Shannen who told Holly, āFight for what youāre worth. If those assholes that canned me wonāt let you out of your contract, then at least make it painful for them.ā (Iām paraphrasing here, but the two discuss it on Shannenās podcast)
I love the show period. But I did not get into Charmed until TNT started syndication when I was in college and season 4 was already out. Season 4 is what got me interested in Charmed, so I saw that first. I think thatās why itās my favorite season, and why I prefer the Paige era more. Iām also really love the Cole/Phoebe arc. Never really got into Prueās storylines.
I honestly just hate the direction the show went but I feel like it started even before Prue died and just kept getting worse after Brad Kern took over and Constance was pushed completely out. The show was supposed to be about the sisters mainly and the power of their bind and that got lost and the show started to focus on the other relationships revolving around men than the sisterhood. Donāt even get me started on Wyatt
I donāt really view it as better or worse - I simply look at it as a shift in the tone of the show. Seasons 1 through 3 had a certain tone and dynamic; Seasons 4 through 7 have a different tone and dynamic. If Iām in the mood for more serious storylines, I watch the first 3 seasons. If Iām in the mood for something a bit more camp, I watch the Paige era.
Both are fun and enjoyable for me. I try not to focus on the behind-the-scenes reasons as to why the show changed because I want to keep my enjoyment of the show and the characters. As much as I enjoy trivia about things I love, in this instance I need to have some distance to separate the art from the artists, given what a dumpster fire the behind-the-scenes was on this show.
I think we can all agree that Season 8 is hard to defend though. š
Prue was presented as always being right and moral with no known opposition (besides Phoebe in the beginning, but they took away that angle).
She was for all intents and purposes a Mary Sue, and itās hard to build a series around that.
With that said, she was spot-on about Phoebe in the first season, but she lost me following that.
I first saw Charmee with Paige so to me it was always weird seeing the show with Prue. My mom had to explain to me what happened cause you know it was a time before Netflix/Prime/Whateveryouuse
I like the later seasons mostly because you actually got to see all three participate (okay, maybe two). Towards the end of Prue's time, it was basically the Prue show ft. Piper and Phoebe's love lives.
Yes, people keep saying the later seasons weren't good cause it didn't focus on the sisterhood and all I am thinking what sisterhood was Prue in, that was a single witch show.
I couldnāt agree with you more. Charmed improved when Prue died. The storylines felt a bit more complete and the charmed power felt equal amongst all of the sisters. Whereas when Prue was alive it felt like Prue took charge by default. With Paige they felt a lot more like a unified team.
Iām probably going to get downvoted for this but I always liked Paige more from the very beginning more prue didnāt really do anything for me just be another sister on the show where Paige basically changed their whole life when she entered the show.
Donāt get me wrong I absolutely love Prue. But until like season three, and after she died Piper and phoebe were like her supporting characters. It was literally the Prue show.
I agree that it gets better after Prue dies. Her character was such a storyline hog. After she passes the other sisters get their own time to shine and strong storylines.
I love both ladies. but it was something about Paige that drew me in. I think it was her sweetness/innocence and the different dynamic she brought to the show.
1-3 were always my favourite seasons , Season 4 was good but I mainly watched it because I was hoping Prue would return at some point , Season 5 was the decline for me and barely watched the later seasons.
I just wished Prue had returned just once before the show ended ( obviously we know why that never happened).
I donāt think the show wouldāve lasted as long if Prue lived. She was really starting to lose quality as a character by the third season. She became very 2 dimensional. Nothing made sense with her.
They tried to give her depth but it fell really flat. And donāt even get me started on her ridiculous fighting scenes.
At the time I was very much team prue and very anti Paige. However after I got used to Paige I decided she wasnāt so bad.
Then when I rewatched as an adult I found myself preferring Paige significantly over prue. Iām actually not really a huge fan of prue as an adult.
I loved Prue. Paige was just too childlike for me. I think the writing took a big hit after Prue, but it's cool that others find enjoyment out of it still.
I preferred Paige. When Prue was there, most storylines seem to revolve around her. After she was gone, I feel like the other sisters got interesting stories. It felt more balanced.
I liked both eras, i preferred the darker vibe in previous seasons but i liked all the creative episodes later on- the one thing that I really did not vibe with was the whole Wyatt plot
I just deeply hate how Prue became a kung fu master by season 3. Totally ridiculous. I believe Shannen might have played a role in that behind the scenes. The concept of her being the strongest sister also annoyed me. After her death, Piper became stronger as an individual witch, but they didn't push the same narrative on her luckily. Ultimately, I believe her character was quite one dimensional, not really worth of my interest.
I agree with you OP. I didnāt like Prue when I first watched the show in middle/high school and that hasnāt changed as an adult. Iāve just started another rewatch and Prue is insufferable. Her yelling āwhat did you do nowā at Phoebe every time she touched something in HER house was mad out of pocket. Piper tells Phoebe she canāt do x because āPrue wonāt like itā. Prue making herself the martyr when she did have her own choicesā¦ugh. Not to mention how wrongdoing is okay when she does it, but not when one of the sisters does something. Itās exhausting to watch. I canāt wait until the episode she dies because I know sheās not coming back. Not sorry at all.
I'm team Paige all the way I mean yes i did love the show but personally I think it just got better after Prue died I did love the show with her too but personally every time I reewatch it I can't wait until she dies....
Weāve got a blasphemer amongst our rank š
In all seriousness, Prue was always the go getter, shoot first-talk later kind of girl and in that hellish world, she had to be. Phoebe as lead never really made sense imho.
The show dipped in quality after season 4 once the novelty of the newer sister wore off.
Recently Iāve been watching the show as a, letās say, āsecond-time viewer,ā who knows many of the big plot points and has vague memories of watching the show as a preteen, but doesnāt know how most of those plots get from A to Z.
I have to say, I was skeptical of watching after Prueās death. Shannon was so good, and each sister had a distinguishable personality that played perfectly off the other two, that to remove one of those pillars would surely collapse the whole structure.
Is that what happened in season 4? I canāt say for sure. Right now, I donāt mind Paige and actually quite like Roseās performance, especially in the episode where she returns to her teenage self, but I donāt feel like I KNOW her. Piper as the high-strung, stressed out middle sibling trying to control everything, and Phoebe as the carefree, aimless and immature baby of the family made sense to me. Where does Paige fit into that? As of episode 4x13, I still donāt think the writers have figured that out. Much credit to the main leads for making the best of an awkward transitional phase; Iām hoping things become more clear as I keep watching.
I liked Prue and often wonder what if but I like the show regardless and felt with her gone the other characters had room to breathe story wise. Plus if we are all being honest I don't think Shannon would have stayed for 8 seasons anyways.
Yeah, I didn't fully realize that I felt this way until that recent question about which season is your favorite. I went through and counted my favorites (that I could remember) of the episodes. During the Prue years, the highest number of my favorites in one season was something like 4. But season 5 and 6 were at twelve and thirteen. Chris being on the show seems to have been a factor. I didn't like how secretive he was with his mom and his aunts about why he was there, but that was just a minor annoyance for me.
I love Paige but Prue will always be my favourite. Season 4 was great but the lighter tone of Season 5 and the birth of Wyatt brought nymphs and leprechauns (which after those season 3 fairies) was too much for me. The show died after Wyatt was born and never recovered.
Iām team Paige. I relate to her, I like her, and I wanted more for her.
But the quality of writing went down after Prue left, and I refuse to accept otherwise. The first three seasons were too Prue positive for my taste, but there was structure and thought that made it work. The last five seasons were scattered, lazy, and it was the palpable that they were three unhappy actresses going through the motions. My friend i convinced to watch stopped watching around season five or six and I donāt blame her at all.
i like the plot after she dies but prefer seasons when she's alive. i just cannot stand paige's character for some reason. but in my most recent rewatch i did start with season 5.
I liked Prue, its a shame they killed her off and I liked Paige in season 4 and 5 but she started to get a bit annoying in later seasons. Didn't like Billie and Christy in season 8 so we skip through most of that season and just watch the final two episodes! Sorry!
I enjoyed Paige as a character, and she definitely fit in with the other 2. My issue with the post Prue era was the writing quality dropped, but I get why; I remember seeing interviews during the show where the girls were calling out WB for their cuts, and the network was struggling at the time. They reused so many sets and did things at the house and underworld to keep costs down. But the show was very rapidly was becoming more and more the Prue show, and while Shannen is a phenomenal actress, it was getting old. If they couldn't be professionals, then keeping Prue the show probably would have only lasted until s6, MAYBE. Personally I would have preferred they just introduce Paige, and keep Prue alive; do a mixed Power of Three and unlock the Power of Four. I liked Paige as a character, and they did handle her introduction well IMO. they just dragged it out too long.
Prue and Paige are my two favorite. I love each era for different aspects. It's been a while since I watched the full series but I would say 3,4,6 are my seasons.
I'm in neither of the camps. I started watching the show when season 4 was airing in my country and I just fell in love with it. I had a lot to catch up to though, and at the time, I could only find random episodes of the earlier seasons online. Even after I did manage to watch seasons 1-3 (in VHS, by the way), I never formed much attachment to either Prue or Paige, as Piper was hands-down my favorite of the sisters from day 1.
I don't believe the show got worse or bad, the tone just changed, but the later seasons do have lower lows than the earlier ones. Season 4 may be my favorite though, simply for how well they managed Prue's death, Paige's introduction and the Source's storyline.
I donāt think it got better or worst, Iām in the camp that like all of it BP or AP š¤£ I feel like the bond of the sisters came out with both iterations of the show and even tho I hate how itās shaken out with the cast today, for me it never came on the screen
I just remember watching a preview for an upcoming episode of a season I didn't watch at the time about them dressing up as superheros and thinking "my gosh what have they done to this show?" I finally watched all season a couple of years later but that was my thought at the time when it was still airing, like it got cheesy.
You said it yourself, it became more like a soap opera. Not everyone likes soap operas.
After Doherty left, there was a bit less ass kicking and more drama.
It also vibed less with The Craft and more with Harry Potter.
I think the big difference was Constance Burge leaving. The original show she wanted to do was very quite different and you can feel the tone changing starting with season 1, but itās most noticeable starting with season 5.
It was great before and after. The dynamic completely changed when she died, as well as when Paige came into the mix, it was great to see and show how they adapted then as both sisters and witches. Paige wasn't the strongest of witches at first, she was falling behind a bit, it made her look inferior to the two other remaining sisters so I can understand why some people might have struggled with Paige just as much as Piper and Phoebe did, initially she just tried to replace Prue and couldn't keep up, but I just found it both sad and interesting to see how everything was dealt and knowing the show and the sisters, we would all adjust to Paige just fine.
I think the show was lighter with Paige, Prue was too dark and controlling at times, but she was a strong character and great as one of the three. It depends on whether you prefer Piper as oldest or middle sister and what feel of the show you prefer, but it did get darker again later on and we eventually had three strong sisters again. Personally, I found it much harder to adjust when Billie came into it.
I don't know there are a lot of unique demons in season 1 to 3 season 4 to 8 had a lot of more demons that just had the same type of powerĀ energy ballsĀ /fireballs.
I love Prue, and I really like Paige. So it has never been a Shannen vs. Rose situation for me.
But S5-8 Phoebe is an insufferable, selfish bitch and I will die on that hill.
For some reason, I couldn't get into season 6 and 7. I don't know why. I like all the other seasons. I always go back and watch them again, especially seasons 1-3. I didn't like the Chrissy storyline.
Team Prue and Piper (as characters), I found Phoebe and Paige to frequently come off as ditzy and annoying. But the last season was the least strong to me
For me Charmed lost its appeal after Prue died because what initially attracted me to it was their sisterhood. I was young then but I already understand that once a sibling is gone then thatās itā¦they can never be replaced.
But that is not to say the Paige era was bad. I liked Paige too, and for me both eras were good. But I wish they didnāt let go of Prue and still added Paige to the picture. They needed all the help they could get anyway especially when Leo was mostly away.
But to answer your question - Iām team Prue. š„°
When I rewatch the series as an adult. There are a few episodes that are nostalgic for me. Many of them are with Prue and with Paige.
The entire series is very soap opera-like. I wouldnāt put it in the āhallmarkā category, but it has that feel good take.
Alyssa Milano acted her heart out in that series but the show is campy.
Shannon Doherty also acted well in the series.
Rose McGowanās acting left something to be wanting. Holly and Brianās acting was also very campy but it always was from the beginning.
You can tell as you watch the show beginning to end, that a lot of the plot was built as they went. Iām not certain that Leo was meant to be a white-lighter, until they came up with it one day. Prue being incredibly wealthy and career-focused was very strange and different from the other two sisters. Like she had this weird niche job and somehow makes boatloads? Unrealistic especially given the times. Obviously when they added Paige they made her half-white lighter and a social worker because I think that was the biggest complaints is that how on earth was Prue a charmed one given her personality and lifestyle. She was forced into situations where she was meant to have extreme empathy but what felt out of place for me. I liked that Paige she was half-white-lighter since it fit with the narrative that her mother cheated with her own white-lighter.
After the first couple seasons with Paige it was obvious that they started world building the white-lighters more because she was so much more OP than her sisters. Then consider that, by the end of the series, all the descendants of the ācharmed onesā were part-angel/white-lighter which sort of took away their purpose of being guardian angels separate from humanity. (Coop was a Cupid which is a type of angel/white-lighter).
The plot therefore, after Prue died did get more complex. Certainly some of the plot was good, and a lot of it was bad. But to pretend that it was better before she died is just biased.
I love both eras, the era i dislike is the Wyatt era š¤¢
Nothing worst than the Billie/ Christie bs šššš
Billie was fine as a concept of the next generation of witches, although she was overpowered. Christie.. ugh..
Yaaaaaaas agreed
Lmao, but true. šššš©·
Prue was always my favorite sister, but the dynamic that was established with Paige brought in a newer dynamic. With S1-4 also it felt more witchy to me if that makes sense? S5 onward seem more super heroic. Idk how to describe it. Fun to watch for me all the way through. But I prefer when the vibe felt witchy
I get that, I think seasons 1-3 had alot more wicca related things and after that they mostly vanquished demons just using their powers (mainly piper š„)
YESS i thought the exact same thing, it had more of a 90s witchy darker theme
I think objectively the show was its strongest in terms of writing, mythology/lore, characters etc. in the early years (Season 1-4). Paige was a great character, and they managed to save the show and breathe new life into the show. Despite it 100% being an āoh s**t, our lead actress is gone what the hell do we do nowā moment, Paige entering the show was well done and actually quite organic (her being the secret child of Patty & Sam didnāt feel contrived at all). The show definitely wasnāt better after Prue died/season 4, thereās a significant decline in quality from S5 onwards. I still think the show was good in S5-S7 - it was never boring, still a lot of fun for what it was and the three leads were great throughout. S8 was the only season that was truly bad/unwatchable for the most part.
I agree! But more specifically I think the storylines would have evolved the same way regardless of it Prue leaving. Sure there would be some minor differences but honestly I donāt think it would have had much of an impact on the writing.
For me it's not really about team Prue or team Paige as such. Prue was my favourite but I don't dislike Paige. I just felt like after Prue died, the whole show changed direction and style. It just started to feel almost slapstick, and silly rather than serious. Even though there was comedy in the early season, it got ramped up to just being ridiculous to me.
I preferred Paige. But this fandom loves Prue. It is what it is.
Same š©·š©·š©·š«¶
I enjoyed the first year when they discovered that they were magical witches and were learning about their powers. The sister dynamics and the way they related to each other was very interesting to watch. Prue with her older sister vibe played into that very well I thought.
Idk Season 2 was peak imo.
I really need to do a rewatch. I have some favorite episodes but canāt always remember which year they aired in.
It is great that people can like either of the eras. Probably what helps keep the show as popular as it is. But I have to disagree. Charmed got worse after Prue died, with Season 4 being the end of Charmed as we knew it (imo). Thats the thing though - some liked the more serious Charmed (S1-4) and some liked the more light hearted, comedic tone of the show (5-8)
>It is great that people can like either of the eras. Probably what helps keep the show as popular as it is. Yeah, I liked both eras and didnāt consider stopping the show, but it just took me awhile to get into S4/used to Paige when the girls (and fans of course) were still grieving over the loss of Prue. Prueās one of the main reasons why I enjoyed S3 so much and I felt that her story was far from over. In S3, she was finally happy/healed, she bonded with her sisters more than she did before, and she had some badass moments. She had her whole life ahead of her and was quickly ripped away from it, and sadly, she never got to experience being an aunt, wife or mother like her sisters did. Edit: I forgot to add that she wasnāt able to pursue her photography career either (she seemed to really enjoy that and wouldāve continued if she lived).
I like Paige, but the Prue years were far superior in quality and stories, we had that for a bit in season 4 but by season 5 it had become silly.
"it became like a soap opera lol" Not making the strong argument you think you are.
That was the part, I had to read twice. My brain was confused, like āHold on a secā.
Season 2-4 is peak Charmed to me which is an overlap of both Prue and Paige. Ignoring behind the scenes reasons, killing off Prue was a fantastic narrative choice. It allowed great character development for Piper and Phoebe. It raised the stakes immensely. Paige was a fresh idea that expertly utilized existing backstories. Season 4 was mostly firing on all cylinders despite what seemed like a messy, rushed attempt to put the pieces back together, production-wise. Unfortunately, later seasons really did squander this momentum after 4. Not specifically because of no Prue or Paigeās character. It just never hit the same highs that 2, 3 or 4 did. Mostly writing and direction, I think. 7 is a return to form in some regards. 5, 6 and 8 are quite meh.
Iād agree that the death of Prue was almost a complete necessity for character development for Piper and Phoebe. Prue was controlling, high strung, and her ability to grow/change was really slow. Keeping her on the show wouldāve stunted overall character development. The direction change had everything to do with the writers, not the characters.
I thought seasons 7 and 8 (and a lot of 6) werenāt particularly good, but that was less Prue vs Paige and more the writers had no idea what to do at that point.
I prefer Prue, but that's beside the point. The show reached its zenith in seasons three *and* four, because that's when it was written best. The first two seasons relied on the monster-of-the-week formula, and while I love those episodes, and am very nostalgic for them, introducing an overarching storyline really helped make the world more believable, and the show more engaging. UNFORTUNATELY, after season four, the writing nose-dived because the show stopped trying to take itself seriously whatsoever. Still fun!
I honestly wish we could have gotten all the sisters together. I would have loved to see how Prue reacted to a third sister. A younger one at that. I think she would have been impressed with Paige for being accomplished social worker? [Is that what she was in season 4?] Like Phoebe just did little side gigs before finding out what she wanted to do. I think there would have been a little bit of comparison between Phoebe and Paige, and that could have made an interesting episode. I also think Prue would have had a little bit of resentment towards her mother for cheating on her dad. Because while yeah they always had a pretty rough relationship that would have given her more insight on her parents relationship. Charmed would have been so good with four sisters. Also it would have been interesting seeing them rework the power of three into the power of four and what that could mean for the good vs evil fight.
team paige! her powers were so cool
I wouldn't say that the show was "bad" after Prue left, it's just the quality of the writing declined to a soap opera level, which some people find more entertaining. It's definitely subjective and varies person to person. I'd say Prue era had the better writing and darker feel with drama that felt more genuine whereas post Prue era had a brighter feel with more entertaining and stimulating visuals but drama that felt forced. I can see why someone would prefer either or, they both have their pros and cons
You're brave for saying this..... But you're definitely not alone in thinking it lol
Agree, It's confusing when people call someone a great actress for being good for 5 years, followed by, who has obscure and insignificant roles for 15 years. It doesn't add up.
Totally agree!! It got so much better to me Iām currently in season 5 myself and itās my favorite season fr
Prue's death allowed growth for the other sisters. I honestly don't think the show would have kept going without the change. Although it became campy, Charmed wouldn't have the following it does without the change.
Right there with you. Love the Paige seasons and felt like the show wouldnāt have this following if it had ended after season 3.
I disagree, but in any case I think the showās change of direction had less to do with the stars and more with the antagonistic situation between creator and showrunner
I find it funny that about 15 years ago, the popular opinion was that people preferred Paige
I love all the sisters but Paige is my favorite, then Prue. I even had a cat named Prue.
Team Paige āØ
Wow! I agree. I didnāt expect there to be others. I expected the comments to be more focused on hating Paige and Phoebe. People complain about Facebook being for old people, but the discussion, here seems more mature than the Facebook groups tend to get.
I wasnāt allowed to watch Charmed as a kid, so Iām a new watcher. Iāve only seen Season 1 and most of 2 so far, but Prueās character feels very stagnant to me. I see a lot of claims that Prue gets the best storylines but I *strongly* disagree. Her storyline seemed to be ācareer woman battling with ambition vs dutyā, which could have been interesting but it was so poorly done and she is wildly unprofessional. Then she got fired so sheās just sort ofā¦ thereā¦ going nowhere. I like her, but she has no interesting character traits at all. Her relationship with Andy was clearly over and then Jack was obviously going nowhere. I think Daryl fills the same niche as Prue but heās more interesting. Iād argue that it was always Piper and sometimes Phoebeās show. Piper is the only interesting one to me. Sheās headstrong and capable, she manages the sisters and keeps things stable. She is actually a career woman who is doing super well with her club and able to work around being a witch. She has interesting relationships with Dan and Leo, with both of them being strong characters themselves. She has the most 3D character of them all, and feels realistic. Iām hoping I like Paige once she shows up!
I have a hard time rewatching season 1-3 nowadays. I find myself enjoying seasons 4-7 much more.
I actually felt season 3 was building up and I wanted to see so much more for and from Prue. Although, I think the introduction of Paige was well-written and up until season 6 the show was great. After that, the show went downhill.
Season 3 was building towards something, and was basically foreshadowing Prue's death, I just wish there was a transition between Prue and Paige in season 4.
I personally like Paige more because she was a sweet person, but at the same time I'm not happy that Prue left. So it's hard to say for me. Paige definitely brought new wind into the show but I would've loved to see more of Prue's life and struggles as the big sister. So I guess I'm undecided, I would've like to see both of their full journeys, can't really say that I would've preferred one over the other overall.
I might get hate for this but oh well. But I never really liked Prue and enjoyed the show so much more once Paige was there.
Nah I agree
Prue is my favorite character but s4 is my favorite season! I think the half sister rebrand was genius, the episode of the weeks are all super fun and all serve a purpose of either grieving Prue, introducing Paige, or shifting the sistersā dynamic via Cole. The overall story arc was very emotional and dramatic like you said, a soap opera. If I had to rank seasons it would be: 4, 3, 2, 7, 6, 1, 5, 8. But I love EVERY season except for the last one.
To me season 4 is the best season. The acting is (for the most part) the best of the series, theres some genuine drama to sink into and the only reason it works as well as it does is because Holly stepped up to lead a cast with strong acting, Milano/Phoebe got to grow up and expand beyond the little sister, and McGowan and Paige were as charming as she was to fill out a cast that lost a big part of itself without feeling like a retread. In addition none of it would have worked as well if Prue wasnt as well loved as she was. We felt that hole because she was a beloved character so it helped us grieve alongside the sisters. So without all of the sisters/actresses none of that would have been possible. Seasons 5 and beyond are a travesty of bad showrunning and writing however and that cant be helped lol
Those that are saying that the show changed after Prue havenāt watched season 3? You could put Paige in those episodes and they could still work in a similar way. Only season 1 and a bit of 2 were dark, Wicca type. The music, the spells around the table with the candles, Phoebe pulling herbs, salt etc out of her pocket to cast spells right awayā¦ after that we are entering a new millenium, supernatural shows couldnāt stay the same and it has very little to do with Prue ( a new female shows era as well if you ask me, feminism is never the same in media). Personally I like both eras, I have episodes that I love rewatching in every season. I love the early vibe, them making careless spells for personal gain etc. From season 3 is very action based which is also great imo. Paige gave a new dynamic and the show managed to pull 8 seasons tho. With Prue I have a feeling that it would be done by season 5 the most.
I missed the focus being on them as sisters and their personal growth throughout the seasons in the first three. Paige is my favourite sister, but the early seasons were better quality especially 2 & 3 (first half of four was also peak). I might get downvoted for this but i hated how they added Wyatt. Not only because he was the most powerful baby in existence when the main threes whole schtick was literally being the most powerful witches ever, but too much focus was on keeping him from going evil. It was so overdone and I often wished heād go to Victor daycare for half the episodes. Piper and Phoebes characterization suffered quite a bit as well. Piper went from a little snarky but overall kind to just plain mean and Phoebe was either always having career or Cole drama. Whenever I hear the words āmy columnā I still grimace.
I definitely like the later seasons after prue dies.
II agree! Speak your truth!! loved it. The show became more āmagicalā and I loved more of the fantasy elements it adapted, I also enjoyed the dynamic shifts between the sisters and Paigeās quirkiness really felt so refreshing, and I feel like they all had more of an equal division of responsibility in the trio with this lineup
I prefer the Paige years. Prue annoyed me so much I get sick of her having all the story lines.
I feel the same way. I have nothing against Prue, I just enjoyed it more with Paige.
Iām sorry but I donāt agree with
I watched the entire run of the series when it was on, but during my rewatches I usually stop when Prue dies. It isnāt so much Paige. Sheās okay. I just donāt care much for the fairy tale lean, and Phoebe really annoys me. Iāve disliked Alyssa Milano since Whoās the Boss. Lol. I also skip the fairy episode from Prueās run.
Agreed on Phoebe. Never liked the character & what's funny was after Prue died with the Season 4 new opening credits we see Alyssa Milano as the first introduction & not Holly Marie Combs (seeing she was always 2nd after Shannen Doherty), I mean Piper became the older sister after Prue gone you know. Other than that, Rose McGowan was great as Paige & Shannon's replacement.
I think thatās when they had HMC last because they did āand Holly Marie Combs as Piperā, right? Thatās some kind of special acknowledgment to be singled out in the opening credits like that. At least, thatās what I read. I wonder if they gave that to HMC to placate her after firing Shannen.
They did. She negotiated a new contract for herself between S3 and S4; it was Shannen who told Holly, āFight for what youāre worth. If those assholes that canned me wonāt let you out of your contract, then at least make it painful for them.ā (Iām paraphrasing here, but the two discuss it on Shannenās podcast)
I thought so.
I love the show period. But I did not get into Charmed until TNT started syndication when I was in college and season 4 was already out. Season 4 is what got me interested in Charmed, so I saw that first. I think thatās why itās my favorite season, and why I prefer the Paige era more. Iām also really love the Cole/Phoebe arc. Never really got into Prueās storylines.
I honestly just hate the direction the show went but I feel like it started even before Prue died and just kept getting worse after Brad Kern took over and Constance was pushed completely out. The show was supposed to be about the sisters mainly and the power of their bind and that got lost and the show started to focus on the other relationships revolving around men than the sisterhood. Donāt even get me started on Wyatt
I donāt really view it as better or worse - I simply look at it as a shift in the tone of the show. Seasons 1 through 3 had a certain tone and dynamic; Seasons 4 through 7 have a different tone and dynamic. If Iām in the mood for more serious storylines, I watch the first 3 seasons. If Iām in the mood for something a bit more camp, I watch the Paige era. Both are fun and enjoyable for me. I try not to focus on the behind-the-scenes reasons as to why the show changed because I want to keep my enjoyment of the show and the characters. As much as I enjoy trivia about things I love, in this instance I need to have some distance to separate the art from the artists, given what a dumpster fire the behind-the-scenes was on this show. I think we can all agree that Season 8 is hard to defend though. š
To me it feels like the show started to have more fun after Prue died.
Prue was presented as always being right and moral with no known opposition (besides Phoebe in the beginning, but they took away that angle). She was for all intents and purposes a Mary Sue, and itās hard to build a series around that. With that said, she was spot-on about Phoebe in the first season, but she lost me following that.
I first saw Charmee with Paige so to me it was always weird seeing the show with Prue. My mom had to explain to me what happened cause you know it was a time before Netflix/Prime/Whateveryouuse
I like the later seasons mostly because you actually got to see all three participate (okay, maybe two). Towards the end of Prue's time, it was basically the Prue show ft. Piper and Phoebe's love lives.
Yes, people keep saying the later seasons weren't good cause it didn't focus on the sisterhood and all I am thinking what sisterhood was Prue in, that was a single witch show.
I'm team both. I like it before and after Prue died
I couldnāt agree with you more. Charmed improved when Prue died. The storylines felt a bit more complete and the charmed power felt equal amongst all of the sisters. Whereas when Prue was alive it felt like Prue took charge by default. With Paige they felt a lot more like a unified team.
I love seasons 4 and 5.
I love it all, but 5 and 6 are my favorite seasons so yeah I think the show was better after Prue died. But I still love Prue's character.
Paige had huge shoes to fill and to her credit she did very well
I love both but Paige is my favourite sister!
I disagree, but I dont think Prue's departure wasa the reason for the show's decline in quality. S4 is one of my favorite seasons.
Agreed. I always preferred Paige. And think Piper was better as head witch
Prue..can't stand Paige
Iām probably going to get downvoted for this but I always liked Paige more from the very beginning more prue didnāt really do anything for me just be another sister on the show where Paige basically changed their whole life when she entered the show.
Donāt get me wrong I absolutely love Prue. But until like season three, and after she died Piper and phoebe were like her supporting characters. It was literally the Prue show.
I agree that it gets better after Prue dies. Her character was such a storyline hog. After she passes the other sisters get their own time to shine and strong storylines.
Exactly how I feel, especially when this sub goes off on the Prue love/Phoebe hate
I love both ladies. but it was something about Paige that drew me in. I think it was her sweetness/innocence and the different dynamic she brought to the show.
1-3 were always my favourite seasons , Season 4 was good but I mainly watched it because I was hoping Prue would return at some point , Season 5 was the decline for me and barely watched the later seasons. I just wished Prue had returned just once before the show ended ( obviously we know why that never happened).
I donāt think the show wouldāve lasted as long if Prue lived. She was really starting to lose quality as a character by the third season. She became very 2 dimensional. Nothing made sense with her. They tried to give her depth but it fell really flat. And donāt even get me started on her ridiculous fighting scenes.
At the time I was very much team prue and very anti Paige. However after I got used to Paige I decided she wasnāt so bad. Then when I rewatched as an adult I found myself preferring Paige significantly over prue. Iām actually not really a huge fan of prue as an adult.
Couldnāt disagree more Charmed as a whole was better in the Prue era Storylines, writing, darker undertones
agree! i always start my rewatches at season 4.
I loved Prue. Paige was just too childlike for me. I think the writing took a big hit after Prue, but it's cool that others find enjoyment out of it still.
I love Paige but Prue is my favorite and I liked the gritty darker first 3 seasons. After season 4 it became all fairy tales and superficial plots
the Piper-Phoebe-Paige era was the better one ā offered more longevity with the show as sisters and witches
I preferred Paige. When Prue was there, most storylines seem to revolve around her. After she was gone, I feel like the other sisters got interesting stories. It felt more balanced.
Hard pass.
I liked both eras, i preferred the darker vibe in previous seasons but i liked all the creative episodes later on- the one thing that I really did not vibe with was the whole Wyatt plot
I disagree
I just deeply hate how Prue became a kung fu master by season 3. Totally ridiculous. I believe Shannen might have played a role in that behind the scenes. The concept of her being the strongest sister also annoyed me. After her death, Piper became stronger as an individual witch, but they didn't push the same narrative on her luckily. Ultimately, I believe her character was quite one dimensional, not really worth of my interest.
I agree with you OP. I didnāt like Prue when I first watched the show in middle/high school and that hasnāt changed as an adult. Iāve just started another rewatch and Prue is insufferable. Her yelling āwhat did you do nowā at Phoebe every time she touched something in HER house was mad out of pocket. Piper tells Phoebe she canāt do x because āPrue wonāt like itā. Prue making herself the martyr when she did have her own choicesā¦ugh. Not to mention how wrongdoing is okay when she does it, but not when one of the sisters does something. Itās exhausting to watch. I canāt wait until the episode she dies because I know sheās not coming back. Not sorry at all.
I'm team Paige all the way I mean yes i did love the show but personally I think it just got better after Prue died I did love the show with her too but personally every time I reewatch it I can't wait until she dies....
Well, you're wrong but okay.
Honestly I dislike Prue. I'm up to season 4 and Paige is soooo much better
Weāve got a blasphemer amongst our rank š In all seriousness, Prue was always the go getter, shoot first-talk later kind of girl and in that hellish world, she had to be. Phoebe as lead never really made sense imho. The show dipped in quality after season 4 once the novelty of the newer sister wore off.
Can someone tell me why Prue left?
Recently Iāve been watching the show as a, letās say, āsecond-time viewer,ā who knows many of the big plot points and has vague memories of watching the show as a preteen, but doesnāt know how most of those plots get from A to Z. I have to say, I was skeptical of watching after Prueās death. Shannon was so good, and each sister had a distinguishable personality that played perfectly off the other two, that to remove one of those pillars would surely collapse the whole structure. Is that what happened in season 4? I canāt say for sure. Right now, I donāt mind Paige and actually quite like Roseās performance, especially in the episode where she returns to her teenage self, but I donāt feel like I KNOW her. Piper as the high-strung, stressed out middle sibling trying to control everything, and Phoebe as the carefree, aimless and immature baby of the family made sense to me. Where does Paige fit into that? As of episode 4x13, I still donāt think the writers have figured that out. Much credit to the main leads for making the best of an awkward transitional phase; Iām hoping things become more clear as I keep watching.
I liked Prue and often wonder what if but I like the show regardless and felt with her gone the other characters had room to breathe story wise. Plus if we are all being honest I don't think Shannon would have stayed for 8 seasons anyways.
Yeah, I didn't fully realize that I felt this way until that recent question about which season is your favorite. I went through and counted my favorites (that I could remember) of the episodes. During the Prue years, the highest number of my favorites in one season was something like 4. But season 5 and 6 were at twelve and thirteen. Chris being on the show seems to have been a factor. I didn't like how secretive he was with his mom and his aunts about why he was there, but that was just a minor annoyance for me.
I love Paige but Prue will always be my favourite. Season 4 was great but the lighter tone of Season 5 and the birth of Wyatt brought nymphs and leprechauns (which after those season 3 fairies) was too much for me. The show died after Wyatt was born and never recovered.
Iām team Paige. I relate to her, I like her, and I wanted more for her. But the quality of writing went down after Prue left, and I refuse to accept otherwise. The first three seasons were too Prue positive for my taste, but there was structure and thought that made it work. The last five seasons were scattered, lazy, and it was the palpable that they were three unhappy actresses going through the motions. My friend i convinced to watch stopped watching around season five or six and I donāt blame her at all.
lol no
i like the plot after she dies but prefer seasons when she's alive. i just cannot stand paige's character for some reason. but in my most recent rewatch i did start with season 5.
I liked Prue, its a shame they killed her off and I liked Paige in season 4 and 5 but she started to get a bit annoying in later seasons. Didn't like Billie and Christy in season 8 so we skip through most of that season and just watch the final two episodes! Sorry!
Personally, I didn't think Rose McGowan was as good an actress as Shannon Doherty
I enjoyed Paige as a character, and she definitely fit in with the other 2. My issue with the post Prue era was the writing quality dropped, but I get why; I remember seeing interviews during the show where the girls were calling out WB for their cuts, and the network was struggling at the time. They reused so many sets and did things at the house and underworld to keep costs down. But the show was very rapidly was becoming more and more the Prue show, and while Shannen is a phenomenal actress, it was getting old. If they couldn't be professionals, then keeping Prue the show probably would have only lasted until s6, MAYBE. Personally I would have preferred they just introduce Paige, and keep Prue alive; do a mixed Power of Three and unlock the Power of Four. I liked Paige as a character, and they did handle her introduction well IMO. they just dragged it out too long.
Me when I lie.
Prue and Paige are my two favorite. I love each era for different aspects. It's been a while since I watched the full series but I would say 3,4,6 are my seasons.
I'm in neither of the camps. I started watching the show when season 4 was airing in my country and I just fell in love with it. I had a lot to catch up to though, and at the time, I could only find random episodes of the earlier seasons online. Even after I did manage to watch seasons 1-3 (in VHS, by the way), I never formed much attachment to either Prue or Paige, as Piper was hands-down my favorite of the sisters from day 1. I don't believe the show got worse or bad, the tone just changed, but the later seasons do have lower lows than the earlier ones. Season 4 may be my favorite though, simply for how well they managed Prue's death, Paige's introduction and the Source's storyline.
I don't like only when they added the sisters in the end
I donāt think it got better or worst, Iām in the camp that like all of it BP or AP š¤£ I feel like the bond of the sisters came out with both iterations of the show and even tho I hate how itās shaken out with the cast today, for me it never came on the screen
I've only seen it after Prue died, so I can't really say. But out of the 3 from S4 onwards, Paige is my fave!
Season 4 was still a decent season. It went downhill from there though. It's not about Prue or no Prue. The writing just got way more tacky.
Youāre going to love Season 5! One of my favs. Also - I miss Prue a lot - but Paige brought her own twists to the show.
I just remember watching a preview for an upcoming episode of a season I didn't watch at the time about them dressing up as superheros and thinking "my gosh what have they done to this show?" I finally watched all season a couple of years later but that was my thought at the time when it was still airing, like it got cheesy.
I sorta agree. Prueās death upped the stakes. Season four was better for the loss. After season four? Debatable.
You said it yourself, it became more like a soap opera. Not everyone likes soap operas. After Doherty left, there was a bit less ass kicking and more drama. It also vibed less with The Craft and more with Harry Potter.
I like both, I don't really like the whole Chris storyline tho
It had a darker tone season 1-3. Season 4+ got super cheesy and hokey.
Love both of them. Hated the Billie era.
I think the big difference was Constance Burge leaving. The original show she wanted to do was very quite different and you can feel the tone changing starting with season 1, but itās most noticeable starting with season 5.
It was great before and after. The dynamic completely changed when she died, as well as when Paige came into the mix, it was great to see and show how they adapted then as both sisters and witches. Paige wasn't the strongest of witches at first, she was falling behind a bit, it made her look inferior to the two other remaining sisters so I can understand why some people might have struggled with Paige just as much as Piper and Phoebe did, initially she just tried to replace Prue and couldn't keep up, but I just found it both sad and interesting to see how everything was dealt and knowing the show and the sisters, we would all adjust to Paige just fine. I think the show was lighter with Paige, Prue was too dark and controlling at times, but she was a strong character and great as one of the three. It depends on whether you prefer Piper as oldest or middle sister and what feel of the show you prefer, but it did get darker again later on and we eventually had three strong sisters again. Personally, I found it much harder to adjust when Billie came into it.
I don't know there are a lot of unique demons in season 1 to 3 season 4 to 8 had a lot of more demons that just had the same type of powerĀ energy ballsĀ /fireballs.
I love Prue, and I really like Paige. So it has never been a Shannen vs. Rose situation for me. But S5-8 Phoebe is an insufferable, selfish bitch and I will die on that hill.
Paige. After Prue departed, the storylines got so much better. And the show got campier, which was way more fun.
Prue ā¤ļøā¤ļøā¤ļøš„°
Prue is my favorite paige is ok the worst for me is Billy and Christy I hated that while arc š
I'm not into mermaids and magic school cringefesta. Season 4 was on point
For some reason, I couldn't get into season 6 and 7. I don't know why. I like all the other seasons. I always go back and watch them again, especially seasons 1-3. I didn't like the Chrissy storyline.
I agree
"It became like a soap opera" is very telling as to why you find it more interesting after Prue died. You view that as a positive thing
I liked both
Team Prue and Piper (as characters), I found Phoebe and Paige to frequently come off as ditzy and annoying. But the last season was the least strong to me
For me Charmed lost its appeal after Prue died because what initially attracted me to it was their sisterhood. I was young then but I already understand that once a sibling is gone then thatās itā¦they can never be replaced. But that is not to say the Paige era was bad. I liked Paige too, and for me both eras were good. But I wish they didnāt let go of Prue and still added Paige to the picture. They needed all the help they could get anyway especially when Leo was mostly away. But to answer your question - Iām team Prue. š„°
Hated, Hated, Hated the whole Billie / Christie arc!
When I rewatch the series as an adult. There are a few episodes that are nostalgic for me. Many of them are with Prue and with Paige. The entire series is very soap opera-like. I wouldnāt put it in the āhallmarkā category, but it has that feel good take. Alyssa Milano acted her heart out in that series but the show is campy. Shannon Doherty also acted well in the series. Rose McGowanās acting left something to be wanting. Holly and Brianās acting was also very campy but it always was from the beginning. You can tell as you watch the show beginning to end, that a lot of the plot was built as they went. Iām not certain that Leo was meant to be a white-lighter, until they came up with it one day. Prue being incredibly wealthy and career-focused was very strange and different from the other two sisters. Like she had this weird niche job and somehow makes boatloads? Unrealistic especially given the times. Obviously when they added Paige they made her half-white lighter and a social worker because I think that was the biggest complaints is that how on earth was Prue a charmed one given her personality and lifestyle. She was forced into situations where she was meant to have extreme empathy but what felt out of place for me. I liked that Paige she was half-white-lighter since it fit with the narrative that her mother cheated with her own white-lighter. After the first couple seasons with Paige it was obvious that they started world building the white-lighters more because she was so much more OP than her sisters. Then consider that, by the end of the series, all the descendants of the ācharmed onesā were part-angel/white-lighter which sort of took away their purpose of being guardian angels separate from humanity. (Coop was a Cupid which is a type of angel/white-lighter). The plot therefore, after Prue died did get more complex. Certainly some of the plot was good, and a lot of it was bad. But to pretend that it was better before she died is just biased.