Common Sense Media Review
By Kari Croop
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Charming dramedy mixes magic, some sexuality.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
What's the Story?
Based on an unexplained feeling that they have something in common, a trio of women become fast friends in the small New England hamlet of EASTWICK. Joanna (Lindsay Price) is a mousy reporter who can't seem to get what she wants, Kat (Jaime Ray Newman) is a put-upon mother of five whose beer-swilling husband doesn't have time to work, and Roxanne (Rebecca Romijn) is a bohemian widow who gets tongues wagging all over town. But their lives are inextricably altered when brash millionaire Daryl Van Horton (Paul Gross) blows into town and helps them realize the collective potential of their powers. The series is based on the 1987 film The Witches of Eastwick, which in turn was based on John Updike's novel of the same name.
Is It Any Good?
This is actually the third time that The Witches of Eastwick has been adapted for the small screen (a pair of unsold pilots were developed in 1992 and 2002). But the third time, as they say, could be the charm. Given the current TV and movie climate, which takes kindly to all things fantastical, audiences seem receptive to the subject, and the casting shows promise, too. Gross, in particular, turns in a devilishly credible take on a role originated by Jack Nicholson (talk about a tough act to follow!).
That's not to say the show will sail easily into the headwinds of ratings nirvana. The premise is a silly pill to swallow and things could easily go south as the story unfolds. But, as a viewer, you do find yourself rooting for the characters as they come into their own ... and you kind of want them to pull off an improbable feat.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how a show like this one fits in with current trends toward fantastical subjects, including vampires, witches, and wizards. What's the appeal of these topics/characters?
How does the devilish Van Horne use sex as a tool of power? Do the women also use their sexuality to get what they want?
How does the series compare with the 1987 movie that inspired it (or the original John Updike book, for that matter). What liberties does the show take with the original content? Do the changes improve the story? If so, how?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 23, 2009
- Cast : Jaime Ray Newman , Lindsay Price , Rebecca Romijn
- Network : ABC
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : April 19, 2021
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