It has been a year since CW released the pilot of the divisive new TV series Charmed; divisive because it is a reboot of a beloved show from the late 90s and early 2000s that many people still love to re-watch today. While a new version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is also in the making, the viewers are sceptical – and maybe rightly so – that a revisitation of old material can live up to the popular original.
Growing up in the 90s and early 2000s, the original Charmed was a big part of my teenage years, and my mum and I used to sit down every single week to watch the latest episode together, so when the CW Charmed reboot was first announced, I had every intention to hate it because it couldn’t possibly be as good as the many childhood memories I connected with Prue, Piper, Phoebe and Paige. After watching the first episode of CW’s new reboot, I knew how wrong I was to judge the new Charmed so prematurely and with the second season right at our doorstep, I decided that it was time for a little re-watch and recap of what happened in season one and what it was that I loved so much about it.
A word of warning: This recap of Charmed Season One contains spoilers, so if you haven’t watched it yet (and you should), head over to Netflix before reading on.
The story of the CW Charmed reboot follows Mel and Maggie Vera who, just after their mother’s mysterious death, find out that they have a sister: Macy Vaughn. Immediately after their reunion, their Whitelighter, Harry Greenwood, informs the sisters that they are witches – the famous and powerful Charmed Ones – and that their purpose is to defeat evil and to stop the apocalypse brought on by the rising of the Source. Macy, the so-called Sister of Space, has the power to move objects with her mind. Mel, the Sister of Time, can stop and speed up time. Maggie, the youngest and Sister of Emotion, can read thoughts and feelings. As the show continues, the sisters face a variety of demons, the truth about their mother’s death, the Elders (the witch council) and a coven that calls itself the Sarcana as well as their own, personal demons. The first season of the Charmed reboot is an emotional rollercoaster ride filled with lots of laughs, tears, a many-layered story and weekly cliffhangers.
Right at the beginning of the pilot, the viewer is practically thrown into a story that seems to be already in progress. We meet Maggie, Mel and their mother Marisol, we receive a brief glimpse of their family life and her mother’s problems at work before Mel’s and Maggie’s mother dies a mysterious death. The pilot is probably the weakest episode in the first season of this reboot, which is a shame because it very likely put a lot of people off before Charmed was able to unfold its real magic. The introduction, Marisol’s death, the appearance of a third sister, Harry Greenwood’s Whitelighter speech, a demon and many references to current politics and the #MeToo movement are all crammed into a 45-minute episode that should really have been a two-parter.
Yet the pilot is not without its charms (no pun intended) and that is the reason why, after a rather messy 45-minute episode, I concluded that I loved it. Right from the beginning, Charmed manages to strike a certain chord that is rare to find even in modern TV shows and that is the feeling of watching real people on television instead of mere characters. As a 31-year old and even throughout my twenties, I have rarely felt represented properly in any form of media even though, occasionally, I did have something in common with a character. Yet Charmed really hits the nail on the head when it comes to portraying a group of millennials. Everything about the sisters, from the clothes they wear to their speech to the way they interact with each other and their dependence on modern technology, has a refreshing natural feeling to it which is rare in a world of television that never quite seems to understand how young women think, talk and behave. Watching the pilot – and the other 21 episodes in the first season – feels like watching myself and my friends.
As the season progresses, the viewer learns more about the sisters’ characters and, the witchcraft aside, it is probably what makes the show incredibly special.
One of my favourite things about the entire show is the portrayal of Mel’s sexuality. Fortunately, television has been showing us gay characters for a long time now and it took me a rewatch to realise just what was so different about Mel being gay and why I was enjoying the portrayal of her sexuality as much as I was. Charmed is one of the few TV shows I have seen that treats its gay characters exactly like its heterosexual characters, that treats gay relationships exactly like its hetero relationships. The viewer is confronted with several relationships on Charmed, some of them already in progress, some newly developing for the viewer to watch, but Mel and her girlfriends don’t stand out. There is no explanation, there is no footnote, there is no justification. Mel is gay and she doesn’t have to justify or to explain herself to anyone because of it, she and everyone else in her life, even the people who have not known her for very long, accept her sexuality without question or a second thought to it. She isn’t treated any differently than Macy or Maggie are. It is a utopian portrayal because of the discrimination members of the LGBTQ+ community still face today, but it’s refreshing and uplifting to watch as something our society should work towards.
Early on in the first season, Macy’s love life is also touched upon and the first mention of it shocked me and brought me actual tears of joy. At 28, Macy is the oldest of the sisters and, after having grown up lonely, she managed to make a career as a scientist. She is beautiful, she is successful, she is smart and funny, she has friends and is developing a wonderful relationship with her sisters. She is also a virgin at the beginning of the show, which she confesses to her Mel, Maggie and Harry. While most US television shows try to convince their viewers that everyone loses their virginity at age 16, I know from personal experience that it is far from true (and the many women I know who have lost their virginity in their mid or late twenties will certainly back me up on this). Most virgins that we see on television have some kind of flaw that makes them less desirable; they are either ugly, freaks, loners or Mormon vampires even though, in real life, the reasons are multifold and rarely have to do with desirability. Although Macy is insecure about her virginity at first (despite Mel reassuring her that it’s a patriarchal tool to control women), the show makes it clear that there is nothing wrong with Macy and that romance doesn’t happen for everyone at the same time. As the show progresses, Macy grows more confident and even finds love, sending the viewer the message that for her, it was definitely worth the wait. The reason this particular storyline brought me to tears is the memory of my late teens and the struggle with the same insecurity we see in Macy at first, followed by the reassurance that you can lead a full and meaningful life without sex. It is a message I would have needed in my teenage years and a message many young women will now be receiving thanks to the Charmed reboot.
Each sister has a very unique personality and they’re as different from each other as they could be. On multiple occasions, that leads to squabbles or even a full-blown fight, but in the end, it’s just as their mother Marisol always told them: “You’re better together. Your differences are your strengths. And nothing is stronger than your sisterhood.” Macy is almost instantly accepted into the family and the three of them form a strong bond that seems unbreakable. The sisters love to joke and tease each other and sometimes even fight, as normal sisters would, but they never miss the opportunity for a deep and meaningful conversation or to support, comfort and lift each other up. Most of the time, that is Maggie’s opportunity to shine. Even though she is the youngest sister, as the empath of the family and a psychology major, she is also the kindest and wisest of them all and her wisdom always comes out in the most beautiful of ways, especially when she talks to Macy, the new sister they have only just accepted into their family. When Macy confesses her lonely childhood, the bullying and her struggles to fit in, Maggie delivers a beautiful line that is well worth remembering: “You’re smart and you’re sexy. You’re funny and you’re serious. And screw anyone who tries to put you in a box.” The sisters stick together not only as family members but also as friends, giving viewers a wonderful example of how friendships can shape and better us. That is why most of the episodes serve as the perfect feel-good material after a bad day.
The sisters aren’t the only beautiful example of friendship on the show, however, because right at the beginning of the season, another new person steps into their lives and that is their Whitelighter Harry. His character and proper British demeanour stands in stark contrast to the American millennials and yet, as the season progresses, a beautiful friendship develops between the witches and their Whitelighter. He is formally initiated into the Vera-Vaughn family bond in an adorable scene quite early in the season in which the sisters reenact a sorority initiation to cheer Maggie up, welcoming Macy and Harry into their family “by the power of the poof” with a not-so-magical feather duster. These moments of pure silliness are only made better when they’re seen in contrast to the quiet moments of thoughtful conversation in which they exchange advise and show a deep love and understanding for each other even though they can’t always provide a solution for the other one’s problems.
The relationships on the show alone make it worth watching, but it is the single characters that make them what they are and the Charmed reboot did a wonderful job at creating modern, realistic characters that the viewer can’t help but love. There is no question that the sisters are each wonderful characters that serve as powerful role models for a new generation of Charmed viewers, roles models I wish I had had as a teenager. They each come with their own, unique, admirable qualities: Macy is an intelligent and accomplished scientist who outgrows her lonely childhood and embraces her newfound family throughout the first season. Mel’s strength and determination to fight for what is right are qualities that are inspiring to watch, especially in contrast to Maggie’s wisdom and undeterred compassion. The show balances their new witch powers and responsibilities and personal life and problems perfectly, giving the viewer an interesting mix of fantasy and drama. The Charmed reboot is not only a story about three witches, it is also a story of friendship and personal growth that stems from exceptional characters.
Yet it’s not just the Charmed Ones that are interesting to watch and follow throughout the first season, because the show comes with a set of minor characters that each have a unique personality and story and I haven’t found one that wasn’t in some way interesting to me. In fact, the side characters are given an exceptional depth that is quite rare to see.
One of my favourite characters is Galvin, Macy’s colleague and first love, who is a little too perfect for his role. Watching Galvin on the show makes the viewer wish that he was real because he is the epitome of the perfect boyfriend. He is handsome and kind and funny and he is the first boyfriend in the television history of boyfriends who shows a relatable reaction to his love interest being a witch: excitement. Whereas it’s usually a common theme to have the significant other step away and fear and doubt the witchcraft, Galvin only shows a gleeful enthusiasm. And, let’s be honest, if you found out that your partner could do magic, you would think it’s cool, too. But Galvin isn’t ready to sit back and let his witch girlfriend save the world, he is determined to be active in that department as well. He saves the day more than once, goes on a dangerous magical quest to help Macy and in the end, willingly sacrifices himself to stop the apocalypse in the emotional and stunning penultimate episode. After watching the Charmed reboot, no one’s first boyfriend is going to be able to compete with Galvin.
Parker is another minor character who goes on to play a large role in the storyline. He is Maggie’s new boyfriend – and a half-demon. Fans of the original series will recognise some parallels to the Phoebe & Cole story, and it is quite similar, but also surprises with some new, original twists. Parker’s love for Maggie makes him want to fight his demon side, but his family aren’t exactly making it easy for him, and yet Maggie is determined to make their relationship work regardless. It is her compassion and her determination to always see the good in people that won’t allow her to give up on Parker. Despite her efforts, the season ends with their relationship in a limbo which will hopefully be resolved in the upcoming season.
Another interesting side character that, at first, is quite hard to judge, is Jada, a member of the Sarcana. With her cool lightning power from her half-Whitelighter side and her badass style and attitude, Jada definitely looks dangerous, so the viewer definitely can’t blame Mel for being attracted to her. Yet as their relationship develops and Mel dives deeper into what the Sarcana is and what they do, Jada bares her vulnerable side as well. Jada has her very own objectives, yet she is also Mel’s girlfriend and helps Mel become a better witch and a better person by creating a safe space for her in which Mel can be honest and truly herself. For the viewer, the early stages of their romance with the sizzling and the tension are very exciting to watch.
For fans of the original, it might come as a surprise that the sisters are confronted with far fewer demons than expected. Instead, they face different magical problems that arise from the circumstances, and mythical creatures, such as satyrs and an Egyptian fertility goddess. One of my personal favourites is “Manic Pixie Nightmare” in which the Charmed Ones encounter a pixie that was forced to do a horrible man’s bidding. In this as well as in other cases, the evil doesn’t come from a magical source, but is instead a choice another human being made. The pixie’s regained freedom comes with her instant regret in a heartbreaking, emotional scene. In “Switches and Stones”, the sisters not only switch bodies, a trope that never fails to be funny, they also meet Medusa and deal with her not by defeating her, but with compassion and understanding. Even Knansie with a K, the necromancer that brought Macy back to life after her stillbirth, isn’t portrayed as thoroughly evil. With Parker being a half-demon and Macy resurrected with demon blood, thus making her part demon as well, evil isn’t quite black and white for the Charmed reboot. Instead, as Macy struggles to come to terms with her demon side and the powers that come with it, and Parker fights off his inner demon to be with Maggie, evil is about choices more than it is about origins. Charity, a member of the Elder council and Harry’s former lover, is another perfect example. The Elders are set up to be the governing body of the magical world, the rule makers and enforcers, but Charity goes down a darker path. She even goes so far as to kill her fellow Elders to pursue her own goals and doesn’t shy away from sacrificing innocent lives for the greater good. She is neither good nor evil, like most of the troubled characters the viewer encounters on the show. The motives that define her choices are human and, to a certain degree, understandable.
For most of the first season, it is unclear just who the viewer should trust and who is responsible for the circumstances that surround them. Even Harry seems suspicious at first as the Charmed Ones come to terms with what it means to be witches. On one side, there is the Elder council, on the other, the Sarcana. On their quest to find out what really happened to their mother, Macy, Mel and Maggie learn to use their powers, to trust each other and to navigate their way through the magical as well as through the real world of their personal problems and love lives.
Not only does the Charmed reboot delivery a magical storyline with many surprising twists and turns, it does so with humour and feeling. The jokes are modern and fresh and maybe a little hard to understand for older generations because of the chosen language (words like extra, lit and bougie have received a new meaning in the last few years), but it is a language that young women understand and use. Charmed also doesn’t shy away from mentioning current political and social issues like Trump, Brexit and the #MeToo movement, and the fact that the majority of the cast are people of colour also brings with it a number of questions, like Maggie wondering whether it is right for her to apply for a scholarship meant for black students when all of her life, she had considered herself to be of Hispanic origin. It also perfectly combines the millennial lifestyle with witchcraft in which the Charmed Ones often solve their problems using magic as well as modern technology, such as taking photos of the Book of Shadows to cast spells outside their home or using the front camera of their phone to defeat an evil spirit that can’t see its own reflection. The Book of Shadows itself also receives an upgrade with the option of Alexa-searching the pages for the right spell. While it is a little unfair to judge the twenty-year-old original Charmed for its bad special effects, it is worth noting that the reboot does have a nice look to it. Spells like Charity’s portal or Parker’s shadowy demon side are very nice to look at and are very well executed.
While the pilot doesn’t make the best first impression, the Charmed reboot improves within the first three episodes and it is well worth sticking to. For the viewer, it is palpable how much love and time went into creating this reboot and the characters especially. The sisters, Harry and all the minor characters are relatable, modern, lovable and serve as excellent role models for a new generation of Charmed fans. Sadly, the show was received with mixed reviews, but while most of the criticism came from people outside the Charmed reboot’s target group, it is an excellent show for young women and girls, a show that leaves a warm, wholesome feeling behind. CW’s Charmed is magical feel-good entertainment at its best that teaches the viewer about friendship, love, acceptance and compassion in a fresh and relatable format with a familiar story.
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