Wish I had watched the series on TV! (Charmed - The Complete Season 1 (DVD))

Member Name: Jonni_boi

Product:	Charmed - The Complete Season 1 (DVD)
Date:	23/07/09 (74 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: sooooooo many of them!

Disadvantages: some episodes don't come together good!

I presume you are very surprised by the fact that I am actually reviewing a box set, but I can't help it, I was given this one for Christmas and if you do not like my review on this then I would like help due to the fact that this sort of review is very new to me. And a few more box sets are on their way.

I got interested in Charmed due to some of my friends as they couldn't stop talking about the TV Programme. So I wanted to start watching them on TV, only problem was, was that it was like the 3rd series in and therefore could not really start watching it for the first time, so I decided to check out the prices at HMV and Zavvi up town, but they were £20.00 each and I never had enough money for them, then all of a sudden Christmas 2008 popped up, and the friend I went to town with had bought me the box set and I was really happy but also really guilty as he had spent £20 on a present, which isn't right considering I spent only £10 on him!

Anyway I decided to start watching the first few episodes with my mom, (Dad and my brother was out) luckily, otherwise I would have been harassed with "Mr. Broom" my dad's new best friend, especially when drunk, anyway, "Mr. Broom" stayed in the cupboard, and I watched the first episode, only the next day my mom had totally forgotten the episode and therefore we watched it again the Friday after. I wanted to watch a few more, but I realised that it would be beneficial to watch one episode every Friday and then write a short review, and I mean a short review, on that episode alone. There is only one problem with this and that is that it will take quite a long time for me to complete this review, but I am hoping it is worth it in the end.

Before I start my review on the very first episode I shall mention about the 3 main characters.
There is Piper, who is played by Holly Marie Combs. Piper inherits the ability to freeze time. Holly Marie Combs is a good actress, from what I've seen and she has really become the character. She will be seen in 2 new films, one called "Tekken" which is based around the game series. And "Triangle", which is a different film. She can be seen in a new TV Series called Mistresses.

Phoebe Halliwell is Piper's sister. She is played by Alyssa Milano. Phoebe inherits the ability to see the future, well see premonitions. Alyssa Milano is a really great actress and really plays her characters brilliantly. She has been in a lot of films and she is also a singer, but she was a singer before I was born, and I really don't know what her singing career was like! She was also in series 3-4 of "My Name is... Earl", her character was Billie Cunningham.

The other sister happens to be Prue Halliwell. She is the oldest sister, making Piper the middle sibling. Prue inherits the ability to move objects with her mind, she is played by Shannen Doherty. She is a really good actress and that shows as she has 3 new films that she is in, coming soon. However I wasn't too satisfied with her playing Prue as she didn't really relax into the character as much as the other actresses did!



The first episode is called: "Something Wicca This Way Comes". I have actually watched this episode twice considering the fact that my mom was totally drunk the first time and therefore could not remember a single thing about this episode. But if I want to talk the truth, I have really watched it 3 times, however not all in the same format, because many of you may already know that I have read the first book in the adapted book series and as expected, it's the same. Anyway I have to admit this episode is really good, and it's a good technique to start off the series, so I was happy to realize it was the same as the book. I thought this episode was really good, and wouldn't mind watching it again. It was a really great way to start the series, and it is about Prue, Piper and Phoebe, receiving their powers, but then they learn about warlocks, and then miraculously they learn that somebody close to them are a warlock. A warlock is a very bad witch, and kills witches to gain their power to use for evil. Will the power of three, set them free?

I rate this episode an 8/10, because it was a great way to start the series, only it felt like a really awkward episode.



We watched the second episode the Friday after we watched "Something Wicca Comes This Way". This one is called "I've Got You under My Skin". I don't really know what to think about this episode, I have to admit, I was half expecting it to be exactly like the second book, how wrong could I have been? Anyway, I think this episode was way too quick and fast, it didn't really make you guess who the warlock was, and you knew straight away that it was the male photographer Phoebe liked. I do also not like how simple it is for the girls to get the spells, all they need to do is look into the book of shadows, but surely they will come across something that is not found in the book of shadows? Surely. This one is about Phoebe jumping into her power, and using it whenever she wants. She has a crush on this male photographer, who ends up being a warlock, and the other sisters come and rescue her. Piper also made this episode pretty funny as she had watched something on TV saying witches wasn't allowed in a church so she's been afraid of entering a church!

I rate this episode an 5/10, as it didn't hold my attention, and I am pretty sure that they could have done this episode a lot better.



"Thank You for Not Morphing", is the third episode. I had to admit, it got me guessing and guessing and guessing. It showed that some episodes are obviously better than others, however I wasn't too happy with the fact that, all they had to do was find the spell in the book of shadows, I want just one single episode where they have to make the spell up. However they have just learned about their powers, so I can understand that they are learning and learning. This episode was about their dad coming home, he had not seen them for most of their life, and they want to know why he had left them alone for so long. But can Prue learn to trust him? Or is he really part of the bad side?

I rate this episode an 7/10, not quite up to the standard as the first episode, but I believe it was good and makes you questioning. What I want to see now is one where they are placed in a soon to be dead position.


I am incredibly grateful for this fourth episode. "Dead Man Dating" happens to be the best episode of this box set yet. I had to admit that this was totally different to the others. It drew me in straight away and I was fully engaged. Yet again comedy flowed through now and again, and it had to do with Piper! None of the three sisters looked up anything in the book of shadows, so that must have been what held my attention, I think. Anyway, this is about someone who gets killed on his birthday, for no apparent reason. He turns into a spirit, and some evil horse rider is after him. He has been looking for someone who can see him and Piper and Prue and Phoebe happens to be the only people who can see him. It's now up to them to try and find his murderer, and hand him over to the police. But trust Piper to say what she said to her sisters at the funeral, that was funny (you'll understand if you watch the episode!)

I rate this episode a 9.5/10 because it was different to the rest and showed us that they were good witches. Also there was no consulting the book of shadows, and they were actually helping someone else, not just themselves, and also because it was funny. They were put into a life threatening situation, to some extent. Though for some reason I felt as if it didn't deserve the 10/10 rating, I don't know why, call it gut instinct!



The fifth Episode happens to be called "Dream Sorcerer". I have to admit something, which happens to be that me and my mom, accidentally, missed this episode and watched the 6th, but the week after we went back to watch this episode, but to be honest, I see no link why it should have been in order, and I reckon we wouldn't have noticed that we had missed one.

This one was a plain and simple episode. It revolved around Prue more than the others and she was overworking, but then, while at Piper's restaurant she refuses the drink a guy gave her, then all of a sudden he ends up in her dreams ready to kill her, she has no control. Now everyone would just normally stay awake, but Prue has been over-working and is tired endlessly, but how on earth can you keep awake when you become unconscious?

Meanwhile, Piper and Phoebe makes a spell to get the men they've always wanted, only then realising its way too strong, and everywhere Piper go every single guy matches her description!

I give this episode an 8/10, it was good and tensing, no constant use of the book of shadows as there was nothing on dream warlocks in the book. The comedy was funny though there wasn't enough of it. There was something definitely missing, but I reckon I will find my 10/10 sometime...



The Next Episode is called "The Wedding from Hell". This episode was pretty okay, I can surely say that it definitely does not beat the fourth episode! Again this episode related to normal life, only it was slightly different. An evil bride to be decides to marry someone else's groom, in the intention to create demonic offspring. Only Phoebe has a premonition about it, thinking it was about Piper, luckily Piper is saved, but can they defeat this bride to be?

I give this episode an 8/10. I cannot really explain why as such, I like how they used the life of others again. But it was missing a major thing, which I cannot actually figure out. I think it was just too easy for them, they had the knife already and everything, and I do realise that Prue was given it to look up the historical part of it, but that still doesn't really explain a lot, as if they couldn't think of any other magical way and decided to make it pretty boring. Why do the pieces always fit too neatly, a puzzle is allowed to be extremely hard, if you understand what I mean. I'm still looking for the brilliant episode that I should rate 10/10. How long should I wait?



The next episode is the 7th in the first season. It is called "The Fourth Sister". I'm not too sure about this episode, the title makes you intense and you want to watch it, only the episode isn't as good as the title anticipates.

It's about a troubled teenager called Aviva who has guidance by a good witch through a mirror, problem is, is that the witch appears good, but really she is bad. Aviva quickly befriends the Halliwell sisters, and she wants to be part of their coven (because the witch in the mirror wants her to steal their powers), but can the 3 sisters discover her, before it's too late.

I give this episode a 6.5/10, I haven't been quite sure whether to give it a 6 or a 7 so decided to go in between. This was all too quick in my opinion, it was good and I'll give you that, only it isn't the best episode and think that it was all too quick and easy to solve for the 3 sisters. I am hoping all the episodes are better than this one.



Now this is the 8th episode, it is called "The Truth Is Out There and It Hurts". This one is immense, but it was quick but funny and sad all at the same time. There is a new warlock about who has 2 normal eyes and one hidden eye, which he calls upon and that eye destroys a person. Only, when Prue tries to find something about it in the book of shadows, she can't find anything, but then the book of shadows kept on flipping automatically back to a page which has a truth spell on. So Prue decides to find out if her boyfriend, Andy, could handle being with her knowing that she is a witch. But she doesn't know that Piper and Phoebe were in the house as well. So now all three of them must save a victim, kill a warlock, and tell and hear the truth all at the same time for 24 hours, how could things be any worse?

I give this episode a 7.5/10, I know I can hear your complaints saying that I have said it was immense but the doesn't excuse the fact that the warlock's death was too easy and it was slightly over the top, will I ever give a 10 out of 10 for an episode?



Still no sign of the 10/10 and I've just watched the 9th episode (Okay... So I have another 12 episodes to go and 1 of them could possibly be the 10/10) but still...
This episode is called "The Witch Is Back". I thought this was really good. But it was confined. Prue is given a necklace by her boss, only, when Prue opens the locket a warlock comes out. This warlock MAKES Prue use her power... And when she does he copies her power. This warlock still has the other powers he had before and so he can "BLINK", as the called it, it's like teleporting from one place to another in a blink of an eye. When the alarm is raised, he jumps out of the window and he lands on the floor with no scratch on him at all. The three sisters need help so they call upon the spirit of their ancestor: Melinda Warren. She tells them that they can add to the book of shadows and they can also create their own spells. Phoebe is fascinated by her and learns that her power is really good, when she's been thinking that it's got no defence and doesn't help her out of tricky situations. They learn a lot from her and want her to stay.

Phoebe also learns that she can see the past as well as the future. I rate this episode an 8.5/10. I was thinking a 9 but maybe that's slightly too high, and an 8 is too low. So I went in the middle again. I think this episode is brilliant and one of the better ones in this season. Definitely worth a watch, in my opinion.



I was really happy in watching this episode... This one is called "Wicca Envy". This episode finally tells us more and more about Prue's bosses. Ever since she had her new job, we have been questioning what her bosses (Rex and Hannah) were and why they wanted their powers. Rex gets a new power where he can control a person's mind, and he makes Prue steal a priceless tiara. Now Prue has to show that she didn't steal it and that Rex was mind controlling... She also has to prove that she didn't kill the security guard...

I rate this episode an 8/10. I liked how they managed to build up the tension through more than one episode! I enjoyed this one lots, but still think there will be better ones out there.




This is the 11th episode and it is called "Feats of Clay". When I watched this one I thought it was brilliant based on the fact that it was a good story-line, it was soooooooo risky but really good, however now I feel that it wasn't very good and had a weak story-line, it's amazing how I can think one thing then the next. In this episode one of Phoebe's ex-boyfriends comes back. He has stolen something with a curse and wants Prue to sell it, only she finds out that it was stolen and tries to protect her sister by telling her now it is up to them to save them.

See it was a weak story-line, and now I don't think much of it! I would have given it a 6/10, however I think differently now so therefore I rate this a 3/10 it could have been soooooooo much better, and it looks like this is the lowest rating I've given a episode, but I really didn't think much about this one!



This Episode called "The Wendigo" is my favourite one so far, the rating has even beaten the 4th Episode, it was really, really good. There is a supernatural creature on the loose and is after a specific blood type. Magically Piper happens to be all alone and this Wendigo comes after her. She is luckily saved by this man who wants to kill it, so Piper decides to help him by giving him information from the Book of shadows. A Wendigo is a creature that kills for a certain blood, in the day time it takes the form of a human (therefore it could be anyone) and only kills when the moon is out. But then the guy has turned up dead, and it's up to Prue and Phoebe to save the day... And it's the power of 2 because Pipers transforming into a Wendigo, let's just hope Prue and Phoebe doesn't shoot the wrong one...

I rate this episode a 10/10, it deserves it, and I was extremely tense, as it was a tense episode, it is the best one on this box set so far, and if I find out there is one better, I'll be very surprised. And I'm only half way through; surely an episode won't beat this rating!



The next episode is called "From Fear to Eternity". I'm not too sure what to make of this one. It is about a demon that appears on Friday the 13th ever 1,300 years. Today is the year it appears, and it is targeting certain witches, only now, Phoebe and Prue are both in danger and can only save each other! This one was okayish but I know it was no match from the episode before, and therefore this episode seemed worse than it actually is due to the fact that "The Wendigo" episode was brilliant.

I give this episode a 7/10 for really good story line but it seemed not so good, considering it was the next one after "The Wendigo"



"Secrets and Guys" was the next episode we watched, this one was pretty good and it was more circled around Prue which made it more of a rubbish episode as it featured Prue all on her own which could possibly mean that she could become someone who thinks she's brilliant compared to her sisters. This one was about Prue not wanting children until she is ATLEAST 5 years older, and she is threatening to throw all her old toys away. But then this boy called Max calls for help, and if by magic Prue is the only one who finds out and now it is up to her to save him

I rate this episode a 6/10, as it isn't much of a story line and seems like they just threw this episode in, however it was really enjoyable and it made me enjoy it more!



"Is There a Woogy In The House?" Is probably the best title I have come across in this box set. This relates to the sisters' childhood. Ever since Phoebe was young she believed in the Woogy that lived in the basement, and she is still afraid of this supernatural thing. But she takes a step in and meets the Woogy and it makes Phoebe into a powerful evil witch, who manages to get rid of her sisters and claim her house! Now it's up to Prue and Piper to save her. This was an AMAZING episode, but yet again felt different and out of place. Maybe it was because of the ending (which I am totally excited about).

I rate this episode a 8.5/10 because of the brilliant ending where Phoebe manages to actually log her story of the Woogy man into the book of shadows (how EXCITING) but it did seem thrown in just like the last episode, will there be an episode which is linked? I don't know!



"Which Prue Is It Anyway?" is the next episode, I found this to be one of the funniest episodes yet. This one again centres on Prue. A warlock wants to get her and she maximises herself LITERALLY, there is now 3 Prue's which makes things really hilarious!

I give this episode a 7/1-0, for a brilliant humorous episode, however it was lacking something, and it was an easy story-line to pull off. And yet again didn't link to any of the other ones.



The 17th Episode is "That '70s Episode". I thought it was very, very good, as the three sisters went backwards in time and sorted out a problem that their mom had. They sought for help from both their mom and Grandmother, who were both happy to help. Though their Grandmother was not convinced that they were who they said they were. Also when they were children they had their powers, but they don't remember having them at that age. That's a bit weird, don't you think?

I give this episode an 8.5/10, as it felt different and boring to an extent compared to some really, really good episodes I have come across



"When Bad Warlocks turn good" is the next episode. I thought it was really good, but yet again out of place, I thought most episodes are supposed to be linked in some way, but this box set has gone beyond that and linked each episode with the tiniest bit of information possible. We are introduced to this warlock that is trying his best to be good, and guess who stumbles into him? It's Prue, yet again. I understand how she's the oldest but she doesn't have to think she's the only witch; it really annoys me at times. Anyhow, if this guy turns into a warlock then he will complete the 3 warlocks, the most powerful warlocks that have ever existed (Sounds exactly like "The Power of Three" Episode, but involving Warlocks instead of Witches). Only he won't complete the three warlocks.

I give this a 6.5/10, it just didn't work and felt like they (the writers) were scraping for anything and they might have lost their trail of thought so decided to twist an already made episode, which made this seem like a rip off, but it was still good!



"Out of Sight", is the next phenomenal episode, and it really was phenomenal, but not brilliant, as there were slight glitches in the episode that annoyed me! This is about a little boy who gets stolen by a Grimlock (A creature who can only see by steeling a child's eyes). Prue, Piper and Phoebe, are there to save the day yet again, but can they do it? There are a few problems along the way... Phoebe finds a new man who could possibly make things a bit complicated. Piper is run up with work (as usual). And now we come to Prue! A reporter sees Prue using her power, and he's now trying his best to get video proof! Not only that, but he's gone bragging to Andy, and now her secret is released! UH OH!

I give this episode a 9.5/10, this was such a fantastic episode and I'm really looking forward for next week's episode! This is such a brilliant episode and definitely needs everyone to watch it. But problem is, is that they consulted the Book of Shadows and got a potion and it all ended so quickly, but I should be expecting this for a little few more episodes!



"The Power of Two" episode is the next in line, and this one really scared me based on the title. I thought that 1 of the sisters was going to die and I was really, really scared! Anyhow this story is about Piper going on holiday. So Phoebe and Prue are left by themselves, which is always a bad thing to do! So guess who turns up on their doorstep? A Spirit. This ghost is a serial killer who has escaped from Alcatraz Island seeking revenge! But how do you go about killing a ghost? And will they or won't they need the power of three?

I give this episode an 8/10 as it was really, really good, and funny but scary all at the same time! I cannot believe I only have 2 more episodes left.



The penultimate episode is called "Love Hurts" and Leo returns, which was surprising and also brilliant. We recently found out that Leo is a whitelighter, but a new character comes in who is a darklighter. The darklighter has fallen in love with a witch and now Leo has been told to look after this witch but the darklighter decides to kill Leo, and he's been successful. Leo ends up in the attic of the Halliwell's and Piper wants to save him, so she ends up swapping powers, but Prue and Phoebe was in the same room, so now Prue gets premonitions and Phoebe has Telekinesis. Will Piper save Leo? How will Phoebe and Prue beat the darklighter while looking after the targeted witch?

I rate this episode a 9/10 for sad, sorrow, upsetting scenes, but on the other hand you have terror, love and horror, a great mix which is perfect for a perfect episode, but I think the last episode will be the best as there are unfinished ties in this one!



The last and final episode in the first season/series is: "Déjà vu All Over Again". This one was full of suspense and supernatural. The Charmed sisters are being attacked and are fighting for their lives (once again). The Charmed ones have to fight against time sorcerer: "Tempus Fugit". Who has created a terrifying time loop. When the warlock dies, time is then reversed to the morning, and everything happens again and again, until all 3 witches die. It is a race against the clock, and with only Phoebe who can feel the repetitiveness, are the sisters doomed?

10/10 is my rating for this last episode, as it is a well written, well acted, and well directed episode, and one that I shall never forget (unless series 2 is even better). I have Buffy the Vampire Slayer to watch next, and then I should have the next series of Charmed by then and I shall watch that afterwards!

So how do I go about ending this really long review? I bet you all are so tired from reading all of this and therefore I don't want to make you read more and more and bore you much longer. I think this is a brilliant series, and one that everybody, of all ages, would like, and it is so definitely worth buying, I shall not be expecting series 2 in a present under the Christmas tree, oh no! It's getting bought when I get the chance!

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