With the success of the TV series BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
and its spin-off ANGEL the doors were cast wide open for supernatural series
that made heroes out of once were considered taboo and frightening characters.
Among the most successful was CHARMED which has been on DVD for a while now.
With blu-ray taking over though it was just a matter of time before the series
found its way there and the first season has just been released in that format.
I was never one to watch the series when it aired so I was curious
as to what I would find. After watching the first episode I was slightly
concerned as it seemed to delve into areas that would make many Christians
uncomfortable at best. Three heroines who were descended from witches who use
spells and incantations to save the day? But I set that aside and kept
watching. What it turned out to be was more of a fantasy series than one in
which we were being taught to accept anything wicked.
The story revolves around three sisters in San Francisco.
Prue (Shannon Doherty) is the oldest of the three and along with Piper (Holly
Marie Combs) live in the family's Halliwell Manor. Pure works in antiquities at
a local museum but leaves early on to work for a private collector. Piper is a
chef by training who ends up taking over a restaurant when the chef who began
the places leaves on opening night. In walks Phoebe (Alyssa Milano) the
carefree and careless member of the trio who returns from New York after a
failed attempt at acting.
It is Phoebe who comes across a trunk that contains a secret
book known as the Book of Shadows. She discovers the history of their family,
descended from witches, as well as the fact that it was prophesied that the
three were destined to protect the world from demons, warlocks and anything
else evil that the producers of the series could throw at them. It’s not
something any of the three came looking for but they adapt to their calling
eventually.
Each one is gifted with various powers to aid them in their
battle against evil. Prue has telekinesis that allows her to move objects with
her mind. Piper can freeze time. And Phoebe has premonitions of what is to
come. All three develop more powers as the series moves along but these are the
initial ones focused on in early episodes.
So how is the series? Well-made in every way possible. The
production values on hand here are some of the best for television which would
make or break a series based on fantasy like this one. In particular a great
job is done with both special effects and makeup. Not only that the
performances of the three leads are quite good as well, something that also
would have made or broken the chances this series had. That it lasted 7 seasons
is a credit to the job done by all.
So is there a reason to pick up the first season on blu-ray
if you already own the series on DVD? For the less discerning viewer perhaps
not or if your budget restricts you from picking it up. But as time passes and
I’ve watched items released that I owned on DVD and then picked up blu-ray
copies of I will say that the image and sound quality are superior to what I
once had. If you love the series and want to watch it in the best way possible
then by all means make an effort to pick this one up.
As a fan of series like THE X-FILES, BUFFY and SUPERNATURAL
I found that this one could become another of those series I could get into now
that I’ve found it. I’m waiting to see how long they will take before the rest
of the series is released in this format as well. It will be one worth picking
up.
No comments:
Post a Comment