Charmed (WB)

common sense media says

Three witchy women flirt and fight evil; teens OK.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that most of the series' witchcraft and occult-related material is obvious and over-the-top fantasy. But the Wiccan (earth-bound) variety of witchcraft is also shown and hits closer to reality -- Wicca is actually practiced by some in real life. Mature relationships, violence, and characters in peril are common throughout the series.

Positive messages: The sisters often put themselves at risk to protect other people and each other. But given the show's fantasy nature, it's difficult to call them good real-life role models.
Violence: Frequent battling of demons, many of whom die gruesome deaths. The sisters and their loved ones are often in peril.
Sex: Female wardrobes emphasize bare skin and cleavage; sexual innuendos.
Language: Occasional profanity on the level of "bitch."
Consumerism: The network promotes music featured on the show.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Some potions/spells put people under an influence, as if they've taken a drug.

More on Charmed

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about witchcraft. Do you think it's depicted realistically in this show? Is there any realism at all to the program? Do teens prefer the drama of the sisters' personal lives or its fantasy aspects?

What's the story?

What's the story?
CHARMED is a cross between Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Like Buffy, the Halliwell sisters have been given powers and a mission to fight evil, but like Sabrina, they haven't completely mastered their magic, and spells often go awry in funny and problematic ways. The sisters, also called "the charmed ones," are Phoebe (Alyssa Milano), Paige (Rose McGowan), and Piper (Holly Marie Combs); in earlier seasons, Shannen Doherty played fourth sister Prue. Each sister has different gift -- the ability to blow things up, freeze things, move objects, and morph into different realms. They lived normal lives until learning in their twenties that they held the "power of three" and were predestined to fulfill a witchcraft prophecy, sowhen they aren't busy being witches, Piper runs a nightclub and Phoebe writes an advice column.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Charmed is a strange mix between deathly serious and kooky comedy. Over its long run, the show has constructed an elaborate good vs. evil fantasy world populated by elders, avatars, seers, and demons. But even with some heavily dramatic content involving the death of family members, Charmed remains fundamentally a silly show -- often with weak storylines and poor acting.

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-PG
Network: WB
Cast: Alyssa Milano, Holly Marie Combs, Rose McGowan
Genre: Drama
Where to watch: WB

This review was written by Betsy Wallace
 
 

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What parents & educators say

9

Most useful reviews by all members

 
Okay Show
Charmed is a fun rainy-day show. The plot and characters are half-baked, but there is enough cheesy romance and fight scenes to keep it going. The relationships, while mature, are nothing to worry about. The violence is sometimes a little much, but usually okay for teens. Younger kids won't be as interested. Bottom Line: it's fun, but not great.

OnlyForForever
teen, 15 years old
 
Good for Teens..Kids? No.
I personally LOVE the show. Me and my mom really got into the show ,when i was about 11. Although somethings i admit where a little bit to mature for me,(and I normally would just fast forward past them Or skip the whole episode,since the more mature ones would bore me) I found it to be a really good show. Phoebe,Piper,Prue and Paige are actually pretty good role models in my opinion . I mean they often risk their own lives to protect others, even if they can't stand the person. And they also enforce strong family bonds , being selfless , thinking BEFORE you act , following you're instincts and your gut feeling. The violence isn't really a big deal, everything is "tasteful" and nothing is to bad gruesome. If you'd let your kid watch any of the CSI'S or NCIS Or Castle ..I'd say green flag for Charmed , because those shows show way more than Charmed ever did..

Wesnocs
parent of 11 , and 13 , 16 , 19 year old
 
Not Good For Anyway
Do not like it and prefer to not watch it either for me, as an adult and certainly not for my children.

Riley__
teen, 18 years old
 
I loved it.
I began watching the show when I was twelve and I immediately loved it. Really if people are afraid of the magic terms being taken to an extreme by a kid, they should decide not on age but on the maturity of the child. I loved almost every season. The fast-paced action and witty banter kept my interest. It shows the classic good vs. evil fight and then it shows how a magical family can work together...it's never boring in the Halliwell household.

charmedrules
teen, 14 years old
 
This my favorite show!!!!!!!!
Its so luvable ive been whatching it since i was 2. I ve never been able to stop.When i was little i had dreams where demons would chase me but it always ended safley because good beats evil every time. My favorite girl character is Prue. And male is Chris. luv him always.

 
I love the way they can always get out of bad situations
On every episod, one of the Charmed ones always gets in some kind of troble. But as together they fight it off one way or another.

rebma97
teen, 14 years old
 
A mystical show for teens+
My mom saw some of this show, and I started watching some of it, too. It was interesting. I haven't watched much episodes, so my review might not help. But I do remember a good amount of violence, but the blood looks like ketchup so it's not that bad. But once I saw a kissing scene that was a bit racy, so sex is something to be aware of. I think this show should be rated TV-14, because it can get pretty violent and sexual.

 
great show
I love this show and I've been watching it since I was ten. Great show with great writing. BTW the reviewers just look for reasons to be upset

 
Love it.
I'm probably going to get a lot of crap for this, but I let my 4 y.o. watch it. We sit down and watch it together. She'll ask questions and I answer them. I love the show because it shows that a girl can be powerful too, you don't need a man to protect you. I'm wiccan, and the show does take the magic to an extreme, but overall, it does a good job of showing that you can't harm others with magic, and that whatever you do will come back to you. Good show overall.

 
Charmed is inventive and colorful, which makes it very fun to watch, but there is little truth in it. The sisters say they are Wiccan, but they follow none of the rules and people watching this show could easily get the wrong idea about Wicca and its intentions. As long as the viewer knows that Charmed is almost purely constructed of fiction, there is no harm in watching it, although I wouldn't recommend it for small children.

Color
teen, 16 years old
 
great!
I love the show!

djb952
adult
 
Witchy!
This program causes me great concen because of the stress on the occult and witchcraft. Children in the formative years of development are impressionable and will act out what they see on TV. Teaching about spells and magical potions as methods of combatting evil is an inappropriate message.

 
best show ever
This is my favorite t.v. show i have been watching it since i was 11. As the show progresses the sisters become smarter and bond more after a days work of fighting evil. the sisters grew really close when the eldest sister Prue dies by the sources assisin shax dies

acole224
teen, 15 years old
 
Started watching when I was 7 with my mom and all the sexual stuff went right over my head. I just loved the magic. Just started watching again when I was 13. I just LOVE this show.

LeoDiCaprio1999
kid, 12 years old
 
love this show!!!!
i love it! this is one of my favorite shows, its the best. i love the powers, the sisters, and leo!!! lol. great demons in each episode, great use of the powers, great show, period!!

Zebra_Girl
teen, 14 years old
 
This show is 3 witches fighting evil for good. It's a cute show with comedy and the unexplained supernatural combined. IN almost every episode there is a meaning and a good reason why you need to keep your eyes glued to the T.V. screen until the 5 hour marathon is over. I enjoy, maybe you will too.

smnp96
teen, 16 years old
 
BEST SHOW EVA
This is a great show. The charmed ones balance there lives, friends and the world of magic. This is a must see show. There is violence but it is not really bad because all you really see is potions then demons blowing up (which disappear strait after). There is not much sexual things just kissing really.

CUHS
adult
 
Great for everyone who loves Magic
I love Charmed so much that I want 2 meet the cast

Koi-Pie
teen, 13 years old
 
Excuse me?
I was actually watching this show as I was growing up. I was about 4 when I really started to pay attention to it, and all that did was help shape my interest in the supernatural. Watching this show made me think and it helped my mind mature, and not in a bad way. If there was anything overly sexual, I looked at something other than my tv screen and turned the volume down, because I knew it wasn't good for me to see; if your kids know things like that, it should be fine. If they don't, watch it with them; it's easy to cover their eyes during any 'bad scenes', as they're fairly predictable. If your kids know basic right from wrong, the subject matter in this show shouldn't be a problem; besides, good always wins in this show, which is a good lesson to teach them.

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