Regarding TV, characters die for behind-the-scenes reasons that go years without a definitive explanation. But the sisters on Charmed made their most prominent character’s death mean something and never let it be forgotten.
Unlike supernatural shows that rely on high-concept dialogue, Charmed kept things real with the sisters’ moral arcs. It’s a testament to the show that, even today, it still rings true.
Family
The original Charmed, produced by Brad Kern, benefitted from letting the viewer go along the Halliwell sisters’ journey of self-discovery and magical discovery. They learn about demons, spells, and the forces of sound at a natural, slow pace that allows us to get to know them and grow with them. On the other hand, the reboot needs to give its characters more time to breathe, and it tries to cram too many significant events into the limited running time. It also annoyingly relies on the supernatural ability to bring people back from the dead, which is never an excellent idea for a show focusing on family and sisterhood. Alyssa Milano carries the show with her powerful performance as Phoebe. The other two sisters, Piper and Prue, are equally impressive in their roles. The show also boasts a solid supporting cast, including Ted King as inspector Andy Trudeau, Dorian Gregory as his partner Darryl Morris, and Brian Krause as the Halliwell sisters’ white lighter, Leo Wyatt.
Magic
The occult got very hip on television with the arrival of Charmed. The show revolves around three sisters who discover they descend from witches. They gain magical powers and must battle supernatural enemies while navigating their everyday lives. Despite its demon of the week formula, most episodes had clear emotional through-lines focused on family. The best ones explored the bond of sisterhood and how it trumped romantic relationships. The original Charmed ended with Shannen Doherty’s Prue being killed by a demon, but the series adapted to make room for a new sister, Paige (Rose McGowan). This change opened up whole new avenues for grounded, emotional storytelling. The CW’s reboot of the series is known for its diverse cast and inclusion of Latina characters. It’s also been known to be less of a demon-of-the-week show, and it relies on its brand of magic to drive the plot. That doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have its fair share of cheesy or silly episodes.
Comedy
While it can sometimes be cheesy, something must be said for a show that combines supernatural drama with kooky comedy. This is especially true when it comes to family-friendly entertainment. The show’s premise is simple: three sisters with magic powers must fight demons, ghosts, warlocks, and other creatures of the supernatural world. The Halliwell sisters, Piper (Holly Marie Combs), Phoebe (Alyssa Milano), and Prue (Shannen Doherty), live together in the City by the Bay of San Francisco and use their enlightened powers to fight evil. Unlike other shows that tend to make their heroes and heroines too perfect, Charmed always had a clear moral arc rooted in the importance of family. Moreover, the writers understood that it is essential to create truly dangerous villains rather than ones that are easily defeated or destroyed for behind-the-scenes reasons. This is what makes the show so compelling even after so many years have passed.
Romance
The occult became hip and excellent thanks to Charmed, which followed three sisters: Piper(Holly Marie Combs), Phoebe (the sexy Alyssa Milano), and Prue(Shannen Doherty). These modern-day witches battle supernatural evil that comes in many different forms. In the end, good always prevails, but it is a close fight as demons are very clever and often disguise themselves in human form. Unlike Sabrina the Teenage Witch or Bewitched, the Halliwell sisters have full-time careers that occasionally conflict with their witchy duties. That was especially true of Piper, a sous chef, while Phoebe ran a successful nightclub. Even when the girls’ long-lost half-sister Paige (Rose McGowan) came on the scene, it didn’t feel like a haphazard plot convention. Making her part of the Power of Three was one of the show’s most outstanding achievements. The show also handled the death of a central character in an emotionally satisfying way that was very real.
