Charmed

:

Season 1
Season #: 8, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Metascore
61

Generally favorable reviews - based on 26 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 26
  3. Negative: 1 out of 26
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Critic Reviews

  1. Newark Star-Ledger
    Reviewed by: Alan Sepinwall
    Jun 18, 2013
    60
    Doherty and Milano, together with some silly dialogue and plots, promise some good campy fun. The problems come whenever their third sibling, played by Holly Marie Combs ("Picket Fences"), is on screen. You see, Combs can actually act, and whenever she starts to emote, she gives the trashy proceedings a bit more reality than they can handle. [7 Oct 1998, p.39]
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  2. Orlando Sentinel
    Reviewed by: Hal Boedeker
    Jun 18, 2013
    60
    "The power of three will set us free," the sisters chant. They are good witches. They just aren't particularly interesting witches. Yet. [7 Oct 1998, p.E1]
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  3. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    Reviewed by: Rob Owen
    Jun 18, 2013
    60
    Charmed has none of the wit or intelligence that characterizes The WB's superior supernatural series, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," but "Charmed" is an OK drama for the post-"Sabrina" crowd. [7 Oct 1998, p.E-4]
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  5. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: David Bianculli
    Jun 17, 2013
    60
    As Buster Poindexter once sang, they're hot, hot, hot...If Charmed gets more savvy, scary and sexy as weeks go on and it's a good bet it will falling under its spell will be an easy thing to do. [7 Oct 1998, p.93]
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  6. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Robert Bianco
    Jun 18, 2013
    50
    The combination of witchcraft fantasy with the female empowerment message may be enough to charm the show's target young-girl audience. The rest of us, however, should hold out for something a bit more bewitching. [7 Oct 1998, p.3D]
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  7. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Anita Gates
    Jun 18, 2013
    50
    This WB series, which has its premiere tonight, seems to want to be a dark dramatic version of "Sabrina the Teen-Age Witch Grows Up" or "Bewitched: The Single Years." Unfortunately, it just manages to make witchcraft look bland.
  8. Dallas Morning News
    Reviewed by: Manuel Mendoza
    Jun 17, 2013
    50
    With the silly, overwrought Charmed, the network of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dawson's Creek and Felicity is pushing its luck. [7 Oct 1998, p.1C]
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  9. Deseret News
    Reviewed by: Scott D. Pierce
    Jun 17, 2013
    50
    None of this will bother viewers who haven't seen "The Witches of Eastwick." And given that the movie was released in 1987 -- and that the WB's programming is aimed directly at teenagers -- chances are that the lack of originality in Charmed won't hurt the show's chances. [7 Oct 1998]
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  10. Detroit Free Press
    Reviewed by: Mike Duffy
    Jun 17, 2013
    50
    Though Doherty's return to prime time is only occasionally bewitching, Charmed, on first encounter, isn't without promise. [7 Oct 1998, p.5G]
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  11. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Phil Rosenthal
    Jun 17, 2013
    50
    Spelling is infamous for launching shows that need at least a half-dozen episodes to find their footing, and this effort has plenty of room for improvement. It's not nearly as bewitching as it needs to be. [7 Oct 1998, p.53]
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  12. Cleveland Plain Dealer
    Reviewed by: Tom Feran
    Jun 18, 2013
    40
    Loaded with bogus-pokus, Charmed is less witty and diverting than "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Its soap and fantasy elements ought to attract some of the same audience, but it's not likely to put many under a spell. [7 Oct 1998, p.1E]
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  13. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Matthew Gilbert
    Jun 17, 2013
    40
    It's "Party of Five" meets "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," but with less angst and pathos than the former and more adult pretension than the latter...As it is, "Charmed" is a pretty bland-tasting brew. [7 Oct 1998, p.C5]
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Awards & Rankings

9
#9 Best TV Season of 1998
2
#2 Most Discussed TV Season of 1998
4
#4 Most Shared TV Season of 1998

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 114 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 88 out of 114
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 114
  3. Negative: 22 out of 114
  1. SiAScORCH
    Nov 5, 2014
    8
    I'm not sure why the critic reviews are low, but I don't agree with them at all. This show was interesting and has a lot of magic stuff ifI'm not sure why the critic reviews are low, but I don't agree with them at all. This show was interesting and has a lot of magic stuff if you're into that, which I am so it was a real good show to watch for me. You get your favorite characters like in all shows, but it's always something neat to watch because you don't know what to expect next. I could say sometimes it seemed a bit repetitive but still, it had good romance and action along with plot twists. So overall I think it's worth rating an 8.… Full Review »
  2. Salonia
    Feb 10, 2013
    5
    Charmed is a prime example of a show that fell apart the longer it went on. The first few seasons are held back by low 90s quality, thoughCharmed is a prime example of a show that fell apart the longer it went on. The first few seasons are held back by low 90s quality, though unfortunately this is also when the writing and characterization is at its best. The show becomes glossier and showier as it continues, with really neat magic displays and great picture quality. But it also loses sight of what the show is supposed to be about: the bond of sisterhood, and it sadly spirals into centering on constant relationship whining and being inconvenienced by magic instead. The female leads become pettier and pettier as the seasons drag on, as well as overtly sexualized. Once you get into about the middle of the series and beyond, expect a lot of cleavage bouncing around and arms being manically waving in the air as shrill complaints about men and magic spew until a slew of demons get killed and the credits roll on a happy, sentimental note. It just all starts to bleed together and every mildly interesting trick, like body swaps and possessions, are used a dozen or more times. In short, it quickly becomes pointless after about season 4, and even in all of that time it never really manages to surpass "pretty good". Rarely will you get anything too deep or original. Go ahead if you're a giant genre fan but be prepared to wonder why you're even bothering after already putting in quite a bit of time. You might become trapped in feeling obligated to finish the whole thing despite no longer being very invested or having a lot of excitement in where it's going.… Full Review »
  3. Jems
    Sep 10, 2010
    7
    It has a good looking cast, some good plots to begin with and the characters are likeable.
    However the plot starts to go down hill when the    It has a good looking cast, some good plots to begin with and the characters are likeable.
    However the plot starts to go down hill when the character Prue dies and they miraculously find
    another sister - Paige (Rose McGowan) who is a bad actress in comparison to (Shannen Doherty) who plays Prue. Not only does the plot get confusing with the revelation of a new sister but they always win and no main characters die. I used to love watching this film but the last time I watched it I found it embarrassing to watch due to the corny feel of the whole episode. A good programme sticks to reality having good things and bad things happen which create empathy towards the programme's audience.    … Full Review »
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