Nicholas Aldridge

Along with every other reviewer, I'm sure, I am a huge fan of the original series. I grew up watching the show with my Mom and sister and it really opened my eyes to the genre. To start, I understand the need to separate the storyline from the original. As much as I would love to continue on with the Halliwell line, you wouldn't draw in new fans. I don't have any issues with the casting differences between the original series and reboot. The ethnic differences between the casts is completely lost to me. Charmed is in essence, a series about 3 sisters discovering a magical heritage and hidden strength through their bond to battle evil. The fact that one of the sisters is a lesbian doesn't add or subtract from that narrative. In fact, I applaud a subtle change like that. However, the show does lose me with the constant overt female-empowerment. Constant references to take down the patriarchy and white privilege takes focus away from the sisters and their fight to stay together while kicking evil butt. This show is having difficulty displaying an actual bond between the sisters. It just hasn't felt believable, whether that is through plot points like inviting the sister to move in the same day they met her or through the dialogue feeling forced and not natural banter among sisters. I've spent this whole review talking about anything other than magic for a show about witches. I hope that highlights the direction this show is taking. Basically, this show is not meant for the returning fandom of the Halliwells in San Francisco. Instead, this is meant for a different audience that is more concerned with pandering to current social issues. I just wish I hadn't been reeled in with the title of a beloved show to pad their viewer numbers.