Charmed - Series 1 (Box Set) (DVD)

...I'm back with another Charmed DVD review - sorry, but I love it!! This time I am reviewing the DVD box set of Series 1, which is one of my favourite series.

Charmed is the story of the three twenty-something Halliwell sisters who come from San Francisco. They are called Prudence (Shannen Doherty), Piper (Holly Marie Combs) and Phoebe (Alyssa Milano). They were raised by their grandmother or 'Grams' after their mother was killed and ...
...of all time - The Charmed Ones, who have individual powers that combine to form the Power of Three. Prue has the power of telekinesis (moving things with her mind), Piper can freeze time and Phoebe has the power of premonition.

With the help of the Halliwell Book of Shadows (a demonic dictionary) and some friends they meet along the way, their destiny is to protect the innocent from various evil nasties. This first series is mainly ... more

Hello all! I'm back with another Charmed DVD review - sorry, but I love it!! This time I am reviewing the DVD box set of Series 1, which is one of my favourite series.

Charmed is the story of the three twenty-something Halliwell sisters who come from San Francisco. They are called Prudence (Shannen Doherty), Piper (Holly Marie Combs) and Phoebe (Alyssa Milano). They were raised by their grandmother or 'Grams' after their mother was killed and their father left.

After the death of their beloved 'Grams', the girls discover a family secret that changes their lives forever. They come from a long line of good witches who practice Wicca or Witchcraft (wow, and I thought inheritance tax was a shocker!).

According to an ancient prophecy, the power of the Halliwell line culminates in three sisters who will become the most powerful good witches of all time - The Charmed Ones, who have individual powers that combine to form the Power of Three. Prue has the power of telekinesis (moving things with her mind), Piper can freeze time and Phoebe has the power of premonition.

With the help of the Halliwell Book of Shadows (a demonic dictionary) and some friends they meet along the way, their destiny is to protect the innocent from various evil nasties. This first series is mainly about how they come to terms with this new life-path.

Before I launch into a description of the box set, I'll give you a bit of background on the show itself. Charmed is yet another lucrative project of the ultra successful producer Aaron Spelling and team. They have been responsible for the likes of Dynasty, Melrose Place, Beverly Hills 90210, Sunset Beach (lol!) and Charlie's Angels.

However, Aaron is not actually the genius behind Charmed. He is more the money that enabled the production. The real credit has to go to series creator Constance M. Burge, a noted TV writer. Not only did she come up with the initial idea, but she has also written and produced various episodes. She no longer works on the show and hasn't done for some years. The main writer and producer of the show is Brad Kern and he is still there to this day.

The show started back in 1998 and is now in its 8th series.
It is currently shown in most countries, has millions of fans world-wide and is about to become the longest running television show with all female leads!

The series 1 box set is where it all begins.

The DVD box comes in a rather fetching purple, with a picture of the three women looking mysterious. Inside are all 22 episodes of the series in a 6-disc set.

I will now give a brief description of each episode. It is always a conundrum as to whether to do this or not, because I know some people don't like to know anything about the plot. However, I feel that people need a taster of what they are getting as it may encourage them to buy, so if you don't like to know, please scroll down passed this bit!

As a special treat (!), I am also going to do what the DVD set fails to (more on this later) and give the name of a featured track from each episode, just in case anyone likes a song, but doesn't know what it is!

DISC ONE

#1. Something Wicca This Way Comes

The three very different sisters find themselves back in their childhood home, The Manor. It is clear they have some major issues with each other, but all this is eclipsed when Phoebe unearths the family secret that unleashes their powers. The Charmed Ones have arrived, but now they are targets for any evil.

This is an excellent series opener and is extremely well acted. 10/10

Featured track: How soon is now - Love Spit Love

#2. I've Got You Under My Skin

The sisters struggle to come to grips with their new powers as a demon that absorbs life-forces comes a little too close for comfort.

I liked the way the writers drew on a legend from a different religion for this episode. 9/10

Featured track: Walking on the sun - Smash Mouth

#3. Thank You For Not Morphing

An attempt is made to steal the Book of Shadows just as the girls' estranged father Victor returns to try to re-establish a relationship with his daughters. Can they trust him? The girls also get a handyman, Leo, to start work on their house.

This is a tense episode which sheds some light on the sisters past. 9/10

Featured track: Prophecy - Remy Zero

#4. Dead Man Dating

John Cho stars as a ghost who makes contact with Piper to help him save his soul from an evil Chinese spirit.

Again, the use of myths from a different culture makes this episode very interesting. 10/10

Featured track: Secret smile - Semisonic

DISC TWO

#5. Dream Sorcerer

A twisted scientist finds a way to stalk women in their sleep. When Prue finds herself a victim, her sisters must find a way to stop a tragedy from occurring.

This isn't my favourite episode, but it is a watchable episode nevertheless. 7/10

Featured track: A stroke of luck - Garbage

#6. The Wedding From Hell

Piper caters a wedding that is shrouded in mystery. A very controlling bride and a priest's death in strange circumstances, lead the sisters to wonder whether there is a demonic connection.

This is an enjoyable episode that is quite comical. What's wrong with a bride being controlling on her wedding day? 9/10

Featured track: Evidence - Tara MacLean

#7. The Fourth Sister

A troubled teenage girl, who claims to be a witch, befriends Phoebe in hopes of joining the Halliwell coven. Is she all she seems?

This is quite a dark, well written episode. 9/10

Featured track: Wheel - UMA

#8. The Truth Is Out There... And It Hurts

When Phoebe has a premonition about a scary warlock with a laser in his forehead, it is up to the sisters to prevent a murder. Prue casts a truth spell with interesting results.

This is a very entertaining episode. 9/10

Featured track: One more murder - Better Than Ezra

DISC THREE

#9. The Witch Is Back

When Prue is attacked by a warlock from the middle ages, the sisters are forced to conjure their ancestor Melinda Warren to help them defeat him.

This has an imaginative storyline, where we find out more about the Halliwell history. 9/10

Featured track: Around here - Counting Crows

#10. Wicca Envy

Prue is framed for stealing a priceless tiara from her work. The sisters must find out who is behind the scam before the evil plan takes an irreversible turn.

You can't trust anyone these days! A well crafted episode. 8/10

Featured track: She's so high - Tal Bachman

#11. Feats of Clay

Phoebe's shifty ex-boyfriend, Clay, comes back into her life looking for help selling an ancient Egyptian urn. Unfortunately, this urn carries a mortal curse and Clay is hardly trustworthy. Can the sisters find out the truth before the curse takes effect?

I really like this episode because it is an interesting idea for a story. 10/10

Featured track: Inside out - Eve 6

#12. The Wendigo

Piper is attacked by a vicious mystery creature called a Wendigo. She survives, but there is a nasty side-effect to being scratched by this creature. Will Prue and Phoebe be able to help Piper?

This is an excellent episode with lots of twists. Scary! 10/10

Featured track: Down so long - Jewel

DISC FOUR

#13. From Fear To Eternity

Billy Drago stars as The Demon of Fear, who comes to kill witches by turning their worst fears against them every 1,300 years on Friday the 13th. Can the sisters face their biggest fears to save themselves?

This demon is mean! A chilling episode. 9/10

Featured track: No mercy - Kahleel

#14. Secrets And Guys

Prue receives a message via Ouija board, from a young boy who has been kidnapped by thugs who know he has special powers. The sisters must find him before he becomes an accomplice to a crime.

A good story where Prue discovers her maternal side. 9/10

Featured track: Day by day - DC Talk

#15. Is There A Woogy In The House?

A minor earthquake unleashes an evil shadow demon from beneath the Manor. Phoebe becomes possessed and must fight her dark side before it completely takes her over.

What to do when your house turns on you! This is a great episode where Phoebe learns more about her powers. 10/10

Featured track: Zavelow House - Owsley

#16. Which Prue Is It Anyway?

When Phoebe has a premonition about Prue's death at the hands of a warlock, Prue casts a spell to multiply her powers. As always, the spell goes a little awry and Prue ends up with two clones of herself!

This is one of my favourite episodes of the series. It is well written, well acted and funny! 10/10

Featured track: Teardrop - Massive Attack

DISC FIVE

#17. That 70's Episode

When the sisters are almost killed by a warlock from their past,
they cast a spell that takes them back to their childhoods in the 70's. They must find out how this warlock became so powerful so they can change the future outcome.

This is a terrific episode where we finally meet the girls' mother and grandmother. 10/10

Featured track: S.O.S - Abba

#18. When Bad Warlocks Go Good

Prue meets a young priest who is fighting his evil warlock half. His brothers are not keen to let him forge a new life away from evil. The sisters must try to prevent him from the temptations of his old life.

This is a very well written episode, with a bit of double crossing thrown in! The priest is very cute laydees (well, that is until he turns into a warlock!) 10/10

Featured track: A charming spell - Splashdown

#19. Out Of Sight

Prue sees a young boy captured by a demon called a Grimlock. The sisters' attempts to save him are somewhat compromised after a reporter sees Prue using her powers. Will the three P's be able to save the child and protect their secret?

Yuk! Grimlocks! Mean and scary. A gripping episode. 10/10

Featured track: Hermes bird - Remy Zero

#20. The Power Of Two

Piper has to go away on business, leaving her two sparring sisters to cope on their own. Matters are complicated when Phoebe discovers a ghost from Alcatraz, who is hell-bent on revenge for his imprisonment.

I really enjoyed this absorbing episode and the relationship between Prue and Phoebe is well written. 10/10

Featured track: Stolen car - Beth Orton

DISC SIX

#21. Love Hurts

The sisters discover that there is more to Leo than meets the eye, when he is attacked by a Darklighter. In trying to help, Piper casts a switching spell that ends up switching Prue and Phoebe's powers. Can they save the day without their own powers?

A clever idea for a story, but a bit slushy! 8/10

Featured track: Human (on the inside) - Nine Inch Nails

#22. Deja Vu All Over Again

Tempus, the time demon, hatches an ingenious plan to create a time loop in order to perfect a way to kill the Charmed Ones. Can the sisters find a way out of this 'Groundhog day' to save themselves?

This inspired episode is one of the strongest in the series, I think. 10/10

Featured track: Animal Instinct - The Cranberries

Blimey! That is a lot of episodes! Take a minute to rest your eyes!

As you can probably tell, I highly recommend this series. Although the show started in 1998, I didn't start watching until last year, when I caught episode 4 on Living TV. I was totally hooked.

For me, this show really stood out as different from anything else I had seen (I was never in to Buffy). I liked the fact that although these women are clearly the obligatory 'Spelling Babes', they are also portrayed as being intelligent, capable women. The characters are extremely well crafted and the observations from the writers at this time were very good. There is usually a lesson or moral to a story.

I think the reason Charmed works so well is because it combines the excitement of magic and special effects, with characters people can relate to, especially women of the same age as the ladies. It is about ordinary people with ordinary troubles, leading extra-ordinary lives. This means they can deal with the usual storylines of a drama, but the supernatural element gives it a whole new twist. For example here are just some of the situations covered in this series: death of a close relative, being abandoned by a parent, troubled teens, love-life issues, trust, facing your fears and dealing with something that makes you different.

The relationship dynamics between the three sisters is incredibly well understood too. Prue is the workaholic, rational, responsible, oldest sibling. Phoebe, on the other hand, is streetwise, but irresponsible and impulsive. As the middle sister, Piper often finds herself trying to play peace-maker between the two and in my experience, this is an accurate portrayal of what the middle sister ends up doing.

I think the soundtrack to this series is brilliant. The music chosen is mainly in the alternative category. They have tended to stay away from mainstream commercial pop and used a mixture of singer/songwriters and bands. The songs are very appropriate for setting the mood of the show, whilst introducing the audience to some new songs.

Although this series is well worth owning, I have only given the DVD box set a Satisfactory in the value for money stakes. This is because there are no extras or special features. There are audio options which include subtitles in 9 languages as well as English plus the chance to watch in English, German, Spanish, Italian and French. However, these hardly constitute as exciting! The box set is still very expensive, even at the £39.99 I bought it for and at this price, you would expect more.

In fact, the more I think of what the manufacturers could have done with this product, the more irritating it is that they didn't. There could have been a 'behind the scenes' documentary, cast interviews, a blooper reel or music guide. Phoebe was originally going to be played by actress Lori Rom and there is an unaired pilot floating around somewhere. Clips from that might have been something the fans would have liked. The inclusion of any one of those ideas would take this up to Good or Excellent value for money.

Despite this, there is one thing the DVD has in its favour over recording episodes from the TV. The broadcast versions of episodes always bleep out swear words and edit some of the messier vanquishes, which sometimes leaves the conclusion to the story looking a bit lame. The DVD has everything in all its glory and that does actually make a difference to the viewing, so there is a good argument for buying the DVD set!

All in all, I expect only die-hard fans will be willing to pay the higher prices (although even I wouldn't buy it for more than £40!).
Everyone else may prefer to wait until it goes down to a more reasonable amount. You might even want to consider making it one of those items you ask for as a pressie - that way you get to own this terrific little series, without having to shell out yourself hee hee!

Blessed be my dears,

Thecharmedones :)

 

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