Parents' Guide to Charmed

TV WB Drama 1998
Charmed Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

By Betsy Wallace , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 14+

Drama about witch sisters has violence, sexual references.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 14+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 10+

Based on 11 parent reviews

age 11+

Based on 48 kid reviews

Kids say that this show is a captivating blend of magic, adventure, and strong family dynamics that keeps them engaged, with many viewers expressing their love for both the storylines and characters. However, there is a consensus that it contains mature themes, including violence and some sexual content, making it more suitable for older kids and teens, often recommended for ages 11 and up.

  • entertaining magic
  • strong family themes
  • mature content
  • age recommendations
  • positive role models
Summarized with AI

What's the Story?

In CHARMED, sisters Piper (Holly Marie Combs), Phoebe (Alyssa Milano), and Prue Halliwell (Shannen Doherty) have lived normal lives until they learn in their 20s that they are witches. As "the Charmed ones," they're predestined to fulfill a prophecy and use the "power of three" to fight evil. Later, half-sister Paige (Rose McGowan) joins the team and each of the Halliwell sisters uses her unique gift—the ability to blow things up, freeze things, move objects, and morph into different realms—to battle demons and protect the innocent, while trying to hold down their day jobs.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 11 ):
Kids say ( 48 ):

This popular show is a sometimes strange mix of deathly serious drama and kooky comedy. Over its long run (1998–2006), Charmed constructed an elaborate good vs. evil fantasy world populated by elders, avatars, seers, and demons. But even with some heavy drama involving the death of family members, it remained fundamentally a lighthearted show that played out like a cross between a soap opera and a superhero series. The likability of the sisters keeps the show engaging, but the storylines get increasingly silly in later seasons, and the acting crosses over into hammy on several occasions.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Charmed mixes fantasy with reality. Which aspects of the show are realistic? Which are firmly in the fantasy realm? Which do you find more engaging: the fantasy elements, or the real-life aspects? Why?

  • The show has women as central characters. How are they portrayed? Do you think they're good role models? What does the show say about what women are capable of? Why is it important to see women in positive lead roles?

  • The sisters demonstrate teamwork, empathy, self-control, and courage. Why are these important character strengths? How do they help the characters practice their magic and use it for good?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by

Charmed Poster Image

What to Watch Next

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