In 1998 the world was introduced the Halliwell sisters. Three strong women (later four with the introduction of Paige and the exit of Prue) who learn they have magical powers. They have to juggle being themselves and handling their newfound responsibilities of demon fighting.
Charmed was a feminist show for the time period that it aired. An issue with the show is that it centers a little too much around women searching for love and marriage, but that’s something that is to be expected when it’s a show written by a man.
For the most part, we’re given characters that will fight for what they deserve. They take on the responsibilities of fighting against the evils that come across their world. I could do an entire report on the representation of the strong women within this show. Alyssa Milano (Phoebe) and Holly Marie Combs (Piper) started as just actresses for the show but eventually worked their way up to be producers. This is a major jump for women, especially for those in the early 2000s.
And I would like to, but for now, I really want to talk about the reboot that The CW wants to make.
These are the character descriptions from TVLine below:
“MACY | A witty, intense science nerd, Macy — who is in her late 20s — is a Ph.D. in quantum physics who’s moving with her boyfriend Galvin to Hilltowne, Michigan, to work in the university lab. Macy has reason to believe that she is the sister of Mel and Madison. Her power is telekinesis.
MEL PRUITT | A strong-willed feminist, she feels deeply and is a bit controlling. Mel — who is in her mid 20s and a lesbian — is the sister of Madison. In the wake of a tragic accident, the grieving Mel becomes angry, defiantly unkempt, even violent, pushing away those who might help her, including her girlfriend, Detective Soo Jin. Mel’s power is time-freezing.
MADISON PRUITT | Mel’s younger sister (she’s 18-ish), an athletic (pilates, cheerleading) college student pledging a sorority, Madison is the opposite of her feminist sister with a desire to fit in. Madison is horrified to learn she is a witch. Her power is hearing people’s thoughts.”
Now, I’m not going to bash them all but, let’s take a look at Mel. Based on the character description, I get the feeling she’s going to be our token gay. Don’t get me wrong, LGBTQ+ and minority representation is important in media, but to make it a defining characteristic of someone is a major no-no. Just based on the character descriptions, it comes off as Mel being the stereotypical man-hater. Making her out to be volatile and queer has negative connotations to it that perpetuate stereotypes of the “angry lesbian” that film and TV have a very long history of doing.
The CW has a history of queerbaiting, just look at Super Girl for example. Could they grow and change and show a good representation? Yes, I firmly believe that everyone can change. But that doesn’t feel like the case here. If there are going to be queer characters, there’s a very fine line that needs to be walked. The CW doesn’t seem to have grasped that line with the proposal of this reboot.
Their original plan of doing spinoff was something I was looking forward to. It would have been something that would have allowed them to explore the world that the original Charmed had set up. They wouldn’t have had to worry about fans and previous actors looking over their shoulders, at least not as much. But what can you expect? TV seems to be hell-bent on remaking old beloved shows so that they can ride the cash cow without working too hard.