Some people who actually like Charmed will get mad but

[omri]

Did any body noticed about the similarities in buffy and charmed? NO i don't mean it in the good way. It's like the writers in charmed actually took some ideas from buffy!
Like the whole Angel/Buffy story is pretty much the same with the Cole/ Phoebe
Story. There's tons of other things!.
think you could mention them?

[Salvation]

I was actualy thinking about the same thing bcuz my tv is reairing the show & yesterday episode was Cole/Phoebe wedding which it didnt happen bcuz something happend,& yah Cole was evil all over again but the difference that Phoebe didnt know that yet.

They got the same thing that happend with Willow when she turned dark & start to use the magic for bad things the same happend once with Pru & later on with Phoebe.

[Valyssia]

Sorry this is a bit OT. Not trying to hijack your thread... Just supporting the hate.

<hops on soapbox>

There are tons... I hated Charmed with an unbridled passion. It lacked one of the major themes that BtVS had going on in spades...there were no consequences to their actions. In the Charmed universe...the sisters could have turned all of the people on the planet into sheep and gone out for mutton chops with 0 consequences.

The other Charmed stumbling block was the fact that they had a Godmode. IDKFA in Charmed was "The power of three will set us free..." Every time the writers would find they'd painted themselves into a corner they'd IDKFA. That happened once or twice and I said, "PPPFFFFFTTTTT!!! You guys inhale sharply!" and moved straight on.

I watched it a few times in later seasons and it half killed me. They ripped off Jo with their Magick School garbage. Talk about dead desperate.

It was a stupid show...may it rest in pieces.

</falls off soapbox and staggers away>

Val

[omri]

And there more things to consider!
White Lighter=Watcher... and such.
Charmed is so stupid. I mean it has it's own story line that sometimes hold on it's own... but common.

[SarahRegi]

man you guys baged up the show lol.
but yeah it was a bit too childish at some points. i mean i loved it once it aired and everything but now that i look back and see some re-runs on TNT i sometime think wow this stuff is so old school compared to Buffy, but i still like some of it. the only reason i started watching it a long time ago was because of Alyssa and Shannon.

[Valyssia]

man you guys baged up the show lol.
but yeah it was a bit too childish at some points. i mean i loved it once it aired and everything but now that i look back and see some re-runs on TNT i sometime think wow this stuff is so old school compared to Buffy, but i still like some of it. the only reason i started watching it a long time ago was because of Alyssa and Shannon.

*blush*

*hands Sarah a cookie*

Val

[scarybunny]

I actually made a list about all the similarities between the shows and the episodes and I even found that the Buffy episodes aired waay before charmed aired their own mellowed out version of the episodes... I've forgotten most of the list (very long list)... Plus I wrote it down when the shows were still airing and i probably have it at the bottom of a box or something...



Don't get me wrong I like Charmed, it's okay cause you don't have to think about anything, its' all just there for you (actually another reason why i don't love it) great for when you're half-asleep.
Plus, Charmed introduced me to the whole supernatural genre of shows, but then one night i changed the channel and voilà! Buffy Season Two "Halloween"!!
I had watched Charmed from the beginning so i kept on watching it and Buffy at the same time. And I was like "Wow, you know, the Charmed stories are a hell of a lot like the Buffy stories that aired before this Charmed story!!"

[Project]

Sorry this is a bit OT. Not trying to hijack your thread... Just supporting the hate.

<hops on soapbox>

There are tons... I hated Charmed with an unbridled passion. It lacked one of the major themes that BtVS had going on in spades...there were no consequences to their actions. In the Charmed universe...the sisters could have turned all of the people on the planet into sheep and gone out for mutton chops with 0 consequences.

The other Charmed stumbling block was the fact that they had a Godmode. IDKFA in Charmed was "The power of three will set us free..." Every time the writers would find they'd painted themselves into a corner they'd IDKFA. That happened once or twice and I said, "PPPFFFFFTTTTT!!! You guys inhale sharply!" and moved straight on.

I watched it a few times in later seasons and it half killed me. They ripped off Jo with their Magick School garbage. Talk about dead desperate.

It was a stupid show...may it rest in pieces.

</falls off soapbox and staggers away>

Val

You are right on, I think.

I liked Charmed when I was like 12 and didn't know any better. The writing in Charmed is just horrendous many times. And I feel like towards the end, the main point of most of the episodes was to get the girls in some sort of skimpy outfit. I hated how each episode had like a marketing title (Charmed: valkyrie vixens or some other such porno sounding nonsense)

They had some good arcs (Cole and Chris were pretty compelling) but the execution was terrible, there seemed to be very little continuity... it's like you'd think everything with Cole would have affected Phoebe a bit more? It REALLY makes me mad that Charmed was renewed and Angel was cancelled.

It really just goes to show how awesome Buffy is when you compare it with a show like Charmed. It's like comparing a well-done primetime drama with a soap opera.

[KingofCretins]

"Charmed" has three big problems -- continuity editing, Alyssa Milano, and continuity editing. It did rip off several Buffyverse story lines -- The Avatars were obviously Jasmine, Cole was obviously Angel. It does stand as an entertaining series in its own right, and I think it has some episodes that are up to top 25 Buffy episode caliber, like "All Hell Breaks Loose" (Shannon Doherty's last episode). There's nothing wrong with enjoying "Charmed" for what it is.

There is even an episode, by the way, that pretty much rips off Buffy herself -- it's about Pandora's Box, which has a guardian, one chosen everytime the previous guardian is killed. And the guardian? Short, blonde student :)

[Cinderela]

"Charmed" has three big problems -- continuity editing, Alyssa Milano, and continuity editing. It did rip off several Buffyverse story lines -- The Avatars were obviously Jasmine, Cole was obviously Angel. It does stand as an entertaining series in its own right, and I think it has some episodes that are up to top 25 Buffy episode caliber, like "All Hell Breaks Loose" (Shannon Doherty's last episode). There's nothing wrong with enjoying "Charmed" for what it is.

There is even an episode, by the way, that pretty much rips off Buffy herself -- it's about Pandora's Box, which has a guardian, one chosen everytime the previous guardian is killed. And the guardian? Short, blonde student :)

Only three big problems? Like scarybunny, I also watched them at the same time. There were so many similarities I wondered if lesser Buffy writers went over and wrote for Charmed! The "no consequences" issue always bugged me, too! On Charmed, they actually had a SPELL to erase anyone's memory at will. It didn't seem to bother the Charmed crowd like Angel S5 did with the Angel crowd! :roll:

However, there were some fairly imaginative story arcs - on more than one occasion, one of the sisters actually BECOMES the Angel of Death. I was attracted to the whole "greatest magical power ever" arc - it was actually interesting to see the issues involved in raising a great magical power from birth.

I think a lot of the continuity problems came from so much time traveling and/or traveling to alternate realities. I can see how it would be hard to have much contiuity when you are going forward or backward in time almost every week!

And it wasn't only the "Power of 3" spell they could fall back on - they could summon the ghosts of all the witches in their bloodline! Oh, and you can't forget the "Cleaners" that literally come and "clean up" (read: alter reality) any magical messes they make. And I can't even get started on the "Book of Shadows" - I'd never get off my soapbox!

[SarahRegi]

*blush*

*hands Sarah a cookie*

Val

what kind of cookie :p

*sorry going a little off-topic here, but didn't Shannon once admit that the reason she left the show was because of all the reasons you guys are saying? looks like she had a point... really all this cracks me up :lol:

[omri]

Ummm i think it was a fight between her and Alyssa Milano....

[SarahRegi]

Ummm i think it was a fight between her and Alyssa Milano....

yes that too, but she also criticized the show's arcs like if it was too little or cheap worth keep doing.

[Risa]

I like the show Charmed but I am gladly willing to admit they "borrowed" so many plots from the world of Jossverse and others. They had an episode where Piper was in a mental institute. The dillusions were caused by a demon...sound familiar? Cole comes back from hell or whatever they want to call that demon holding ground. So many plots...so little originality. But I think the show was still worth watching.

[Mr.Pointy]

I remember when the first season of Charmed was on, I saw bits of it and would laugh at it cos I saw it as a bad, cheap, rip-off of Buffy but then around the 2nd season I started to become a fan after I stopped comparing it to Buffy. But it is true how the writers would blatantly rip-off Buffy storylines. Their was very little originality and the Buffy cast knew about it too. I remember reading Joss and/or Sarah mentioning how they would do something on Buffy then a month or so later Charmed would do it lol. IMO though it was a good show for what it was but IMO it was nowhere near the same league as Buffy.

[Ahm Shere]

I like Charmed, I do, but I also have to admit that the storylines are too much alike. Like on Buffy, Season 3, there was Balthazar (Or however you say it) for an episode, then Charmed went in and called Coles demon alter-ego Balthazar...You know what I mean. I was sitting there thinking...wasn't that on Buffy?

Also, I noticed quite a few actors from Buffy appeared on Charmed. Like 'Luke', Brian Thompson 'Principle Snyder', uh...Armin Shimmerman or something :s Charisma Carpenter...yada, yada ,yada.

In season 1, I think they were hunting vampires or a demon, and Phoebe says 'Where's Buffy when you need her?' :s

Charmed lacked originality, granted, but I still liked it.

[Calum]

well granted i do like charmed more than buffy, but charmed only started a season and a half after buffy. and it was last in that group of shows like roswell, angel etc, so it was always going to be compared. and did'nt buffy get all magical later on, couldn't one argue that buffy took that from charmed.

both shows had there own originality , thats why they both lasted so long

[sherrilina]

"Charmed" has three big problems -- continuity editing, Alyssa Milano, and continuity editing. It did rip off several Buffyverse story lines -- The Avatars were obviously Jasmine, Cole was obviously Angel. It does stand as an entertaining series in its own right, and I think it has some episodes that are up to top 25 Buffy episode caliber, like "All Hell Breaks Loose" (Shannon Doherty's last episode). There's nothing wrong with enjoying "Charmed" for what it is.

There is even an episode, by the way, that pretty much rips off Buffy herself -- it's about Pandora's Box, which has a guardian, one chosen everytime the previous guardian is killed. And the guardian? Short, blonde student :)
Yeah, I just watched two epps (and the beginning of a third) or Charmed season 1--one in which Clay comes to visit Phoebe to sell a cursed urn, and one in which Piper is attacked by a weird variation on a werewolf (why is it no one considered the possibility that it was a werewolf?!) which looked like it borrowed Oz's wolf-suit, lol! From those two epps, I get the feeling that Charmed is okay as far as the interaction b/t the sisters (though I find Phoebe to be kind of an annoying ditz, and Piper too sometimes--the only one I really liked was Pru!), but the MOTW are incredibly cheesy and silly--I mean, the woman who was the Windebango or whatever (werewolf thing) was so hammy and obvious I was cringing, and Piper's supposedly "dark" outbursts....kind of as dark as Peter Parker gets in Spiderman 3! :lol:

So yeah, I think Charmed is pretty lame compared to Buffy, or in its own right even--I'd have to see more though I suppose.

[vampmogs]

well granted i do like charmed more than buffy, but charmed only started a season and a half after buffy. and it was last in that group of shows like roswell, angel etc, so it was always going to be compared. and did'nt buffy get all magical later on, couldn't one argue that buffy took that from charmed.

both shows had there own originality , thats why they both lasted so long

No one is comparing it in terms of its worth but rather that it seems to steal many storylines from Buffy, evidently the writers couldn't think up of anything on their own. Furthermore, we had magic on Buffy's third episode and late into s1 Joss had intended for Willow to become a witch.

Didn't Charmed start when Buffy s3 aired?

I don't think Charmed had originality at all, aside from stealing Buffy storylines it repeated the same stories over and over again and as others have mentioned used conveniant plot devices to get out of any situation.

[Salvation]

In season 1, I think they were hunting vampires or a demon, and Phoebe says 'Where's Buffy when you need her?' :s



I know it i was thinking when i heard it & in which show.

[Calum]

well obviously a buffy forum isnt the best place for me to be arguing this point , but as far as i can see they are two very different show, and i could be wrong on this but didnt both shows wind up on the wb, so similarity's were bond to creep in, and plus most of the points you guys have said are from the early days of charmed when they probably were looking at where other shows had sucess, but later on season 4 + it really came into its own

[omri]

well obviously a buffy forum isnt the best place for me to be arguing this point , but as far as i can see they are two very different show, and i could be wrong on this but didnt both shows wind up on the wb, so similarity's were bond to creep in, and plus most of the points you guys have said are from the early days of charmed when they probably were looking at where other shows had sucess, but later on season 4 + it really came into its own

It is not a buffy forums. it's a general forum with many subforums of other shows. two shows being on the same network does not have any thing to do with stealing story lines. and charmed did came into its own around season 4 but was still Stupid. the whole "power of 3" was really annoying. I mean come on! have a little originality. charmed just isn't a GREAT show. like some one said on the thread "it's a nice show to fall a sleep with". that's it.

Oh! there's another one! how many times the charmed ones lost their powers and had to use their "minds" to figuer it out? really sounds like the episode "helpless" in buffy...

[Pandora's_Box]

Something I gotta give...Joss told himself he inspired of the Goddesses episode of Charmed to come up wit the Goddess Willow...Really a waste for Charmed the three first seasons were great...but after...didn't evolved which I can't accept...like Smallville's doing right now.

[vampmogs]

Something I gotta give...Joss told himself he inspired of the Goddesses episode of Charmed to come up wit the Goddess Willow...Really a waste for Charmed the three first seasons were great...but after...didn't evolved which I can't accept...like Smallville's doing right now.

Joss stated he took "Oh my Goddess" that Willow says in Chosen from the Charmed episode with the same title. However, making Willow a type of goddess wasn't taken from the show, rather that one line.

It is also stated in an Ats commentary by the writers that themes were explored you wouldn't find on dare they say it, Charmed :roll:

Originally Posted by Calum
well obviously a buffy forum isnt the best place for me to be arguing this point , but as far as i can see they are two very different show, and i could be wrong on this but didnt both shows wind up on the wb, so similarity's were bond to creep in, and plus most of the points you guys have said are from the early days of charmed when they probably were looking at where other shows had sucess, but later on season 4 + it really came into its own

Regardless of them being on the same network or not the show shouldn't have been recycling storylines from Buffy and putting it in Charmed. Shows are supposed to have individuality, great shows are great because they are individual, different and unique; regardless of what other shows are on the same network. If as you say, the writers were looking to other shows to work out what made them successes, to me that shows they didn't have the creativity nor the spark to make their own show based on their talent; but rather the talent of others. This is rather inexcusable and it is amazing the show lasted as long as it did.

To my amusement the final season of the show was put on during the middle of the day here in Australia because no one was watching it. :)

IMO the first three seasons of Charmed were superior to anything that came before it, I thought the show went so laughably downhill after that.

[TheCharmed1]

I have to admit there are some similarities between Buffy and Charmed, but I thin over all they are very two different shows. I like both Buffy and Charmed, I started to watch charmed first when it first stated showing over here, and I didn't actually start watching Buffy until about two years ago. But I am not Biased, I like them both the same any way. I like watching both shows, yes they do some times do seem a bit similar, but I think that is because they are both based on urban legends kind of, and the legends all are pretty similar. I don't know if I am really making sense but they are both sort of based on stories witches and Vampires, these are ancient and just cause Joss made a show about vampires doesn't mean it's original. A lot of his stuff are indeed copied from legends and stories about mythical creatures. So if Joss copied this why can't Charmed?

I think that’s why they are similar. But I think it makes them better the fact that they are based on stories and legends from the past it make them more relatable to the viewing audience as they will have most likely hear about the legends and stories in the past.

[Ahm Shere]

I have to admit there are some similarities between Buffy and Charmed, but I thin over all they are very two different shows. I like both Buffy and Charmed, I started to watch charmed first when it first stated showing over here, and I didn't actually start watching Buffy until about two years ago. But I am not Biased, I like them both the same any way. I like watching both shows, yes they do some times do seem a bit similar, but I think that is because they are both based on urban legends kind of, and the legends all are pretty similar. I don't know if I am really making sense but they are both sort of based on stories witches and Vampires, these are ancient and just cause Joss made a show about vampires doesn't mean it's original. A lot of his stuff are indeed copied from legends and stories about mythical creatures. So if Joss copied this why can't Charmed?

I think that’s why they are similar. But I think it makes them better the fact that they are based on stories and legends from the past it make them more relatable to the viewing audience as they will have most likely hear about the legends and stories in the past.

IMO, I don't think that is why they are similar. Charmed HAS copied Buffy on many occasions, and not just because they are based on urban legends either. I can think of many episodes that look like they have been took right from the Buffyverse, put some different actors in, slap on the name 'Charmed' and aired it. I know it sounds as if I don't like Charmed, but I do. I'm just in rant mode :D

[Cinderela]

I have to admit there are some similarities between Buffy and Charmed, but I thin over all they are very two different shows. I like both Buffy and Charmed, I started to watch charmed first when it first stated showing over here, and I didn't actually start watching Buffy until about two years ago. But I am not Biased, I like them both the same any way. I like watching both shows, yes they do some times do seem a bit similar, but I think that is because they are both based on urban legends kind of, and the legends all are pretty similar. I don't know if I am really making sense but they are both sort of based on stories witches and Vampires, these are ancient and just cause Joss made a show about vampires doesn't mean it's original. A lot of his stuff are indeed copied from legends and stories about mythical creatures. So if Joss copied this why can't Charmed?

I think that’s why they are similar. But I think it makes them better the fact that they are based on stories and legends from the past it make them more relatable to the viewing audience as they will have most likely hear about the legends and stories in the past.

Actually, I thought that using some of the same legends and stories was kinda cozy. Like the same evil was happening all over the world and Buffy and Charmed were using different methods and different powers to fight it.

I watched both at the same time and they both had good and terrible arcs and eps.

[vampmogs]

I have to admit there are some similarities between Buffy and Charmed, but I thin over all they are very two different shows. I like both Buffy and Charmed, I started to watch charmed first when it first stated showing over here, and I didn't actually start watching Buffy until about two years ago. But I am not Biased, I like them both the same any way. I like watching both shows, yes they do some times do seem a bit similar, but I think that is because they are both based on urban legends kind of, and the legends all are pretty similar. I don't know if I am really making sense but they are both sort of based on stories witches and Vampires, these are ancient and just cause Joss made a show about vampires doesn't mean it's original. A lot of his stuff are indeed copied from legends and stories about mythical creatures. So if Joss copied this why can't Charmed?

I think that’s why they are similar. But I think it makes them better the fact that they are based on stories and legends from the past it make them more relatable to the viewing audience as they will have most likely hear about the legends and stories in the past.

Where not saying that Joss was the first show to have vampires in it, we aren't saying Charmed shouldn't have had vamps in it, because it is a supernatural show and was bound to happen. However, Joss copied no one with the Angelus arc as for example, which Charmed seemed to then copy with the Phobe and Balthazar arc. It is the storylines that were copied, not the myths and legends no one is faulting Charmed for that.

[Goddess Guidance]

what kind of cookie :p

*sorry going a little off-topic here, but didn't Shannon once admit that the reason she left the show was because of all the reasons you guys are saying? looks like she had a point... really all this cracks me up :lol:


Ummm i think it was a fight between her and Alyssa Milano....

Shannen's main problem was with the producer of Charmed, Brad Kern. She did not agree with the direction he had for the show and Alyssa Milano apparently did. Shannon has said that she wanted what was best for the show and a certain cast member didn't back her up. Holly Marie Combs and Brian Krause spoke out in defense of Shannon and were silenced. Even the shows creator had issues with Brad Kern. After her complete departure Kern ruined the show. Shannen & the shows' creator Constance were both against the Cole story line. So, Shannen's departure was more serous than a fight with Alyssa Milano.

[SarahRegi]

Shannen's main problem was with the producer of Charmed, Brad Kern. She did not agree with the direction he had for the show and Alyssa Milano apparently did. Shannon has said that she wanted what was best for the show and a certain cast member didn't back her up. Holly Marie Combs and Brian Krause spoke out in defense of Shannon and were silenced. Even the shows creator had issues with Brad Kern. After her complete departure Kern ruined the show. Shannen & the shows' creator Constance were both against the Cole story line. So, Shannen's departure was more serous than a fight with Alyssa Milano.

wow in this is the really truth? i know some people didn't like Shannon's character at all but i loved it. i think Prue's character would have continued to develop much better arcs if only they had kept her through the show. it was too sad they let her go.

[sherrilina]

wow in this is the really truth? i know some people didn't like Shannon's character at all but i loved it. i think Prue's character would have continued to develop much better arcs if only they had kept her through the show. it was too sad they let her go.
Wow, Prue is pretty much the only character I like so far in the few epps I've watched--the other two sisters, especially Phoebe, are way too flakey and silly IMO.

It's too bad when producers ruin a show...

[Francy]

Shannen didn't want the Cole storyline? :blink: It is the best thing in Charmed..thanks God her will didn't prevail. I agree that the show started to go downhill after her departure, but not before season 5, in my opinion. Season 4 and 5 were still strong, my favourite, actually.

As for Charmed copying Buffy...it may have copied some ideas here and there, ot let's say, taken inspiration, but in general, I think the stories you can tell are not infinite, and some are bound to be similar, whether there is the intention or not. For example, in supernatural shows/books/movies, one of the typical themes being the fight between good and evil, it's almost inevitable that there is a love affair between an evil being and a good hat. It's very common...so Phoebe/Cole to me didn't seem a copy of Buffy/Angel, but another variation on the wave of the archetypal impossible romances (also because, imo, Phoebe/Cole was done way better than Bangel..but that's beside the point). Besides, if you look for it, every show/movie has stories that repeat some other story told in some other shows/movies. Almost every possible story has been told, by now, and originality is very difficult.
That's why I'm not outraged by the possible similarities between Charmed and Buffy..they both are grounded in the supernatural, and the elements that characterize the supernatural are more or less always the same. Besides, even when Charmed actually took from Buffy, Charmed's approach was always quite different from Buffy's, and the shows managed to keep their own styles.

[Afterglow]

I think when two shows are both based on the supernatural that to some extent it's fairly inevitable that similar storylines will pop up in both shows. There were plenty of Charmed episodes/plots that appeared to be very similar to Buffy episodes and some that definitely took inspiration from Buffy (Cole/Balthazar = Angel/Angelus, anyone?), but I always thought any "copied" storylines were executed in a different way on Charmed and hence still maintained a hint of freshness.

The shows always felt very different to me, they both had their own styles, their own rules and ways of writing. Buffy was the more intelligent show IMO, the one full of metaphors, symbolism and its writing was far superior. Charmed on the other hand was the "goofier" and less mature show I suppose, in fact I'd say sometimes the writing bordered on cheesy, but I enjoyed it for what it was - entertainment.

[sherrilina]

Buffy was the more intelligent show IMO, the one full of metaphors, symbolism and its writing was far superior. Charmed on the other hand was the "goofier" and less mature show I suppose, in fact I'd say sometimes the writing bordered on cheesy, but I enjoyed it for what it was - entertainment.
Oh I'd say it was pretty cheesy--if not in the writing than in the acting! I've only seen a couple of epps so far, but is there a rule that the villains have to be really hammy and bad actors? :s Lol...

[Francy]

Oh I'd say it was pretty cheesy--if not in the writing than in the acting! I've only seen a couple of epps so far, but is there a rule that the villains have to be really hammy and bad actors? :s Lol...

The villains in Charmed suck, for the most part...they are all "muahahahahaha", and "aaaaaargh" when they are being killed...they are frightening in their extreme lameness! :lol: But also the Master was extremely cheesy and lame, and all vampires in general, in season 1...luckily, Buffy grew from that. Charmed not so much, as far as villains go (especially the minor villains)
The spells were also extremely cheesy...:rolleyes: But there were also good moments, in the show..the interactions among the sisters always made me smile, for example! ;)

[sherrilina]

The villains in Charmed suck, for the most part...they are all "muahahahahaha", and "aaaaaargh" when they are being killed...they are frightening in their extreme lameness! :lol: But also the Master was extremely cheesy and lame, and all vampires in general, in season 1...luckily, Buffy grew from that. Charmed not so much, as far as villains go (especially the minor villains)
The spells were also extremely cheesy...:rolleyes: But there were also good moments, in the show..the interactions among the sisters always made me smile, for example! ;)
Yeah, the Master was pretty cheesy (though he's mroe tolerable in flashbacks and The Wish), and I can't stand Luke, but even so.....I mean, damn! Two of the villains I've seen so far, Jeremy in the first epp and that werewolf-rip-off lady in a later season 1 epp were so obvious and silly! And the spells....yeah, "The Power of Three Will Set Us Free" over and over again? :roll:

But yeah, thank god for Spike and Dru in season 2 to breathe fresh air into the villains of the show and change the face of vamps for good...

[omri]

About the Cole/Phoebe arc. Some one said that it was obvious that in was between good and evil love between the sides will come up... first of all, not so much and seconed of all maybe you're right! but there's really really big similarities. Like when she really didn't kill him but didn't told her sisters.. buffy did killed Angel.. but when he came back she really didn't told her friends in the same way. It's just too much the same... BLAH

[Francy]

About the Cole/Phoebe arc. Some one said that it was obvious that in was between good and evil love between the sides will come up... first of all, not so much and seconed of all maybe you're right! but there's really really big similarities. Like when she really didn't kill him but didn't told her sisters.. buffy did killed Angel.. but when he came back she really didn't told her friends in the same way. It's just too much the same... BLAH

Well, I think that is the problem, when you look too much into things. I don't think the Charmed writers, in creating the Cole storyline, were saying to each other: "Buffy killed Angel, but she didnt, actually..and then, she didn't tell her friends. So, let's make it that Phoebe doesn't tell her sisters that Cole is not dead!" :rolleyes: Sure, the storylines are similar, but I wouldn't expect anything different from an heroin who gets involved romantically with a demon..at some point, he is going to go evil, and she has to take some action. Also, in Charmed, it was kinda logical on Phoebe's part not to tell them, given that they wouldn't have trusted her.

Someone earlier in the thread said that there was an episode in Charmed where the sisters lost their powers, and had to use their intelligence to survive. Why would it be copied from Buffy? It is a common plot twist in the supernatural based mythologies. Also Superman lost his powers, at some point..don't you think that it's kinda obvious/normal that in the course of 8 seasons, in a show based on magic, the issue of losing their powers would come up? Why immediately scream "Buffy-copying"?
I think my point is, not all similarities between shows are derivance from another show...most often, it's just common storytelling, and human cultural heritage. It's not like Buffy is an island, and created something new. Buffy used stuff that was already there, in its own way.

[Willow's Tara]

Before anyone compares "Normal" and "Brain Drain", BD aired before Normal, (Buffy was like a season in front, so they would have been in season 5 in that point I believe, I know its Angel that was three seasons behind Buffy).

Now, I love both shows Buffy and Charmed *Crickets Chirp....* Well I do, but there are some points of Charmed I didn't like, like for example Charmed's vampires were too cliche, and I didn't like them erasing people's minds and the cleaners doing the same, they could have turned that into a storyline (I did that in my story but evatually got rid of it when I realized how stupid it was).

And there's this one episode, and whether I liked it or not (I did), that seemed a bit I dunno, um it's the episode when Phoebe's library friend is (In season 2) killed because of a demon and she becomes a ghost, Prue is also helping this man who trying to find justice for his daughter, can't remeber the title of the episode, but the demon kills the girl because she was studying on them, now come on, what about the detectives and thousands of other people who threatened to expose magic? I didn't see anyone killing them, and back to the Cleaners, come to think of it, where were they in All Hells breaks loose, it's the Time demon that changes the past, not the cleaners. I would have preffered the sisters going back in time and changing things like that.

And I started hating Phoebe soon somewhere in season 5, come on, she acts all sad in Womb Raider and then suddenly she's saying "I am free! Yay! in A Witch's tail, now Buffy was still upset after Angel/Riley etc, and when Angel came back, Buffy understood it was Angelus, not Angel, yet Phoebe doesn't realize it is the Source who possesses him. (Cole I mean).

great, now you people are making me rip Charmed apart;) But I still love it, it just those kinds of things that annoy me. Althought I liked Charmed's Wendigo better then Supernatural's Wendigo, because we see it properly and such (I thought the people of Charmed made that creature up, are you telling me it's an actual Myth?)

We could also compare Smallville to Charmed and Buffy, but we don't, they have thier silimarites but shows do it all the time, as long as it's not exactly the same then it should be okay (Like Smallville's episode when Clark believes he is in a Alysum is different to Charmed and Buffy alike, Buffy- Demon Charmed- Warlock Smallville- Phantom Zoner?, and was it a warlock or a demon in the Charmed world?)...

Now if Charmed wanted to be exactly like Buffy and boost the ratings, they probably would have added two lesbians in it (But I can imagine Charmed's lesbians being hotter then Willow and Tara, I will explain why in a moment)

I also realize about the conquences stuff just now, in Mortality Bites, they were learnt about what could go wrong if they use thier magic for person use, and sure, Paige was never there in MB so she wouldn't know, but Phoebe and Piper 9Along with Leo) should already know about that stuff, yet later they are always using it, revenge, potions (How in the hell does no one noticed or hear a Turkey in Phoebe's office?) etc.

Now back to the Lesbian, tell you the truth, I felt that somehoe Charmed became more shallow by the seasons, while I compare the characters to Buffy and Charmed, the Buffy characters aren't that hot (I don't mean all, but some, Tara, Willow, Dawn and some others for example) and that's why I liked Buffy, because there was a difference in the characters, they didn't all look hot and wearing clothes that nearly revealed all, even the disguses they chose were hot, plus they were kissing a man the following episode after the last boyfriend, Especially Phoebe/Paige, I think they actually cared more about sex then anything else, and Phoebe wonders why she didn't get married until season 8.... (And Piper actually settled with someone in the first half of the first season, and the only exe she had since was Gregory the fireman).

But regardless, I am a Charmed and Buffy fan completely,. That's why I watched Charmed in the midday everyday, (Of course that was before I discovered the season 8 disk set was out for two months already!)

[Goddess Guidance]

wow in this is the really truth? i know some people didn't like Shannon's character at all but i loved it. i think Prue's character would have continued to develop much better arcs if only they had kept her through the show. it was too sad they let her go.


Yes. Holly Marie has said in interviews that she believes the tension with Shannen & Alyssa could have been worked out but then others got in it. Now the next part is my only my opinion...I believe Kern instigated things between the two to get Shannen outed. Shannen was the first actress cast for the show. She was there from the beginning and had strong opinions about where the show was going. She was friends with the show's creator & probably saw Charmed as her baby. Constance took inspiration from her own life. She is apart of 3 sister family. I'm sure Kern's vision wasn't representing her sisters. Shannen didn't name Kern, but said a certain person working on the show was not respectful of women. That he expected her to just look pretty and say whatever lines given to her but he didn't treat the males that way.




Shannen didn't want the Cole storyline? :blink: It is the best thing in Charmed..thanks God her will didn't prevail. I agree that the show started to go downhill after her departure, but not before season 5, in my opinion. Season 4 and 5 were still strong, my favourite, actually.

As for Charmed copying Buffy...it may have copied some ideas here and there, ot let's say, taken inspiration, but in general, I think the stories you can tell are not infinite, and some are bound to be similar, whether there is the intention or not. For example, in supernatural shows/books/movies, one of the typical themes being the fight between good and evil, it's almost inevitable that there is a love affair between an evil being and a good hat. It's very common...so Phoebe/Cole to me didn't seem a copy of Buffy/Angel, but another variation on the wave of the archetypal impossible romances (also because, imo, Phoebe/Cole was done way better than Bangel..but that's beside the point). Besides, if you look for it, every show/movie has stories that repeat some other story told in some other shows/movies. Almost every possible story has been told, by now, and originality is very difficult.
That's why I'm not outraged by the possible similarities between Charmed and Buffy..they both are grounded in the supernatural, and the elements that characterize the supernatural are more or less always the same. Besides, even when Charmed actually took from Buffy, Charmed's approach was always quite different from Buffy's, and the shows managed to keep their own styles.

Kern also wanted Paige and Pheobe to fight over Cole. He revealed this recently in Charmed Magazine. It didn't happen because Alyssa and Rose refused. I enjoyed the Cole story line at first. Then it became played *cough* season 5. I can understand why Shannen and Constance didn't want to go there. I agree that the similarities seem to come from the fact that they're both supernatural shows and not the writers saying hey, let's do what Buffy does.

[SarahRegi]

wow thanks for all the info Goddess, it's nice to learn and hear about things from shows i didn't know, even all the comparisons between different shows.

[amy1234]

I think you're all right that charmed copied loads off buffy and angel i was watching an episode and it was similar to buffy, and they have some of the same characters too like holtz and cordy have stared in it many times but that might be a coincedence (<<that right??:s)

[Vampmaster]

I think you're all right that charmed copied loads off buffy and angel i was watching an episode and it was similar to buffy, and they have some of the same characters too like holtz and cordy have stared in it many times but that might be a coincedence (<<that right??:s)

I am a major charmed fan. I just thought I'd state that for the record. Though I admit that the two shows do have their similarites... They were of the same genre and so obviously certain things will be quite similar. I am far too lazy to back read but felt the need to answer amy1234's question.

I am not sure about Holtz but Charisma Carpenter has indeed starred on the show several times. However she wasn't playing Cordelia but a demonic seer who's power were much stronger than Cordelia's power. Though we aren't giving much background info about her... I think we are led to assume that she resumed control as resident underground seer after the sisters vanquished the seer of season 4.

[Willow's Tara]

Amy- Not sure where you going, but the same actors starring in Buffy and starring in Charmed don't really mean anything, either the creators or whoever saw that actress or had actor talent and asked them to play a role or the actors auditioned for it.

Um the guy who played the Major on Buffy is in a season 3 Charmed episode (Hmm, I think Buffy would have been in season 4 in that timeframe)

[Oldone]

I have liked watching fantasy/sci-fi shows since I was a kid and first watched captain Kirk fighting his way around the universe, So it was probably a given that I would like Buffy, Angel, Charmed, Firefly, Roswell, X-Files and so many other programmes of this ilk. I have got them all on dvd now having just got the old book style Angel season 5 off ebay in the last couple of weeks. So it is easier to compare different episodes from different series. The thing is to watch this kind of stuff you have to be able to switch off from reality and use your imagination to lose yourself in the narrative. I've always been able to do this and if I am watching Buffy I manage to forget everything else I have ever seen and the only thing I am watching is Buffy and it's the same if I'm watching Charmed, that way i can enjoy all the series in their own right. I like different things about different shows, one of the things I like most about Buffy/Angel was the writing was snappy and just for the length of the programme I can relate to being a teenager again. While I have friends who wont even entertain watching the show because its "a kids show" though they will watch Charmed because its more "grown up" I say just enjoy them all for what they are! Sure some of the story arcs are similar but as someone else said its all been done before, I could probably find a thousand books written decades before either show was concieved that have similar storylines, it doesn't mean that JW ripped off his story its just his own particular take on things. Or as my daughter said last year while trying to understand Macbeth for her English exam,"oh it's just like Eastenders!"
Charmed vs Buffy? it's whatever one I am watching!

Oldone