Let’s start with the actual description, which reads:
“This fierce, funny, feminist reboot of the original series centers on three sisters in a college town who discover they are witches. Between vanquishing supernatural demons, tearing down the patriarchy, and maintaining familial bonds, a witch’s work is never done.”
(lol also my face when I read “taking down the patriarchy” in the pilot description)
Who the hell actually wants this? No one. This new description of the reboot has a plethora of issues, so let’s start at the beginning.
If the network had even bothered to watch the original series they would realize the use of the word feminist is completely unnecessary. In it’s day, Charmed was one of the most feminist, pro-women shows on air.
The series regulars consisted of mostly women and the story was all about a matriarchal line of witches where, as the word matriarchal suggests, all the women in the family were the ones with the most power. Every single witch in their family line was a woman, with the exception of Piper’s sons Wyatt and Chris (which Grams did not like when she found out). Hell, read this spell they did to help bless Chris:
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“I call forth from space and time
Matriarchs of the Halliwell Line
Mothers, Daughters, Sisters, Friends
Our family spirit without end.
To gather now, in this sacred place
and help us bring this child to grace.”
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You’ll notice how much of it is all about women, and in that episode when we saw the ghosts of their ancestors not a single man was present. Prue, Piper, Phoebe and Paige were some of the strongest women on TV and we were constantly reminded of how badass they were throughout the series’ 8 season run.
And then there’s the “tearing down the patriarchy” bit, which makes it abundantly clear that this show is trying to take advantage of today’s pro-feminist movement. In a world where men are finally starting to get punished for being perverts, rapists, harassers and all-around dicks, women are finally starting to climb the ladder in Hollywood.
After being continuously over-shadowed and overpowered, the 2018 mood is one of hope for women all over the world. Finally, they are getting their voices heard and most importantly: The world is ready to listen. From the #MeToo movement to #TimesUp, it’s very easy to understand where society wants to go, and I, for one, am excited to see it get there as we still fight against the Kevin Spaceys and Harvey Weinsteins in the world.
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The only reason the CW would ever include “tearing down the patriarchy” is to try and convince viewers that this show is “hip and cool” and modern and doing what the kids are doing, which happens to be supporting women. If these movements weren’t happening right now I highly doubt the writer of that would include that phrasing. Absolutely pathetic.
If this was an actual reboot of Charmed then there would be absolutely no need to mention its feminism or attempt to “tear down the patriarchy.” The fans of Charmed know that’s what the show is all about, that’s why they frigin’ loved it in the first place.
Finally, there’s the whole concept of it being about “three sisters in a college town.” Fans don’t want to see three strange actresses trying to call themselves the Charmed Ones and personally I definitely don’t want it to be in a college town, because that’ll just mean this show is going to be consisting of ridiculously over-used college tropes.
Charmed was about three adults, dealing with adult problems. The only character who started off as a college student in that show was Phoebe, and she quickly grew to become one hell of a columnist.
I get that this show is going to be on the CW, and I would be fine if they were to set it in college if it was actually, you know, a reboot instead of some show trying to use the title and concept of Charmed.
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We know the actresses are willing to come back or at least guest star on an actual Charmed reboot, and that’s what we all want. We want to see their kids working together and vanquishing demons, guided by whitelighter of their own. We want to see them living in the manor we all know and love, working on potions in the kitchen and breaking absolutely every single door and window when demons come and attack, only to have them all magically fixed by the next episode.
We want the Halliwell family line as we know it, not some pathetic attempt of a modern re-telling that uses the family name and ideas Constance M. Burge came up with to pander to a nostalgic audience.
Honestly, though, Holly Marie Combs says it best:
Here’s the thing. Until you ask us to rewrite it like Brad Kern did weekly don’t even think of capitalizing on our hard work. Charmed belongs to the 4 of us, our vast amount of writers, crews and predominantly the fans. FYI you will not fool them by owning a title/stamp. So bye.
— Holly Marie Combs (@H_Combs) January 26, 2018
To the CW: If you think you can pull the wool over our eyes and come up with some modern witch show and try to call it a Charmed reboot, you have another thing coming. And excuse you for trying to use today’s feminist movement to garner attention. Using a movement to get views makes you part of the problem, and not the solution. You are taking advantage of women who have been hurt and abused and those who want to help them, and you better think real long and hard before you try to promote this as a feminist show again. You know the saying: If it ain’t broke, don’t don’t fix it.
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Will you be watching the Charmed reboot, or are some things better left in the 90s?
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WRITTEN BY TARIQ KYLE
Tariq Kyle is a 27 year old writer currently living in Seattle, Washington. He is a short, ridiculous gay guy in love with all things Outlander, Charmed and men in general.
