'Charmed' Reboot & The Importance of Diversity Behind the Scenes

'Charmed' Belongs to The CW/Warner Bros.
In this video, I’m gonna break down my feelings about the original Charmed series, the controversy about the casting and my feelings about the show itself.
It’s taken me a while to get this video out because I wanted to make sure I touched on every point as carefully as possible. The 2018 Charmed Reboot is a polarizing reboot of a beloved series and there are good reasons for the division and unfair ones.
Before I begin I think it’s important to note that I do think the reboot is fine. There are some growing pains, but after taking the time to re-watch the first season of the original series, I think that’s just a common thing. A lot of shows have messy first seasons and while streaming has made us somewhat intolerant of that, sometimes shows need time to find their footing and I think Charmed (2018) ended its first season doing that.
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[@BelEnnui]

Your discussion of light-skinned Black women being seen as Latina really hit a spot with me because I have continuously been interpreted as Latina not only because I am light-skinned, but because I do, in fact, speak Spanish well enough to confuse people. As a teenager, this made me happy because it proved my fluency in Spanish. Later, when people started to erase my Blackness, laughing in my face when I said I'm Black, I just hated it. I mean, I have my own issues with Blackness being applied everywhere as to me it's mostly a U.S. concept, but for explaining my experiences to others it does help to have that label. And so for people to take it from me and say I'm Latina when I DON'T experience things as a Latina...is painful.

[@purplelove3666]

Biracial is NOT black.whete the heck does it make sense that a non black person can have a black child

[@coRynnstar]

@@purplelove3666 ?????? What does this have to do with the original comment? Also, no one gets a prize for gatekeeping biracial folks, don't waste your energy on that.

[@purplelove3666]

@@coRynnstar I am stating fact.

[@kayanurshiya3778]

@Purple Love well most people with common sense know mixed race people are both of their parents race. But almost every white people somehow label them as only black!!! If you’ve an ounce black dna you’re considered tainted!! But in Africa , Europe etc biracials are mostly considered biracial. America hasn’t gotten rid of their 1 drop rule yet I guess 🤷🏾‍♀️

[@purplelove3666]

@@kayanurshiya3778 its hard to change stupidity and superiority.people dont realize that if they name a person who is half black and half white ,black they are pretty much saying that white is still superior.remember that was the theme during the slavery days?.

[@Aishyo]

You really summed up my feelings of the show honestly the casting confused me. Sarah Jeffrey is ambiguous looking and has played a variety of ethnicities so yeah. Also, Black Lightning you can tell there are Black people behind the camera because of the hair styles the wigs are laid. The lace tells all lol

[@Princess_Weekes]

The lace and edges know the truth.

[@jackiem3740]

hey girl heeeeeeeeeeeey! im subscribed to you as well!!!!!!!

[@myfriendjenonline7831]

MelinaPendulum I need that on a tshirt. 😂

[@Anna133199]

21:00 The daughter of a couple made up of a mixed race person and white person can turn out darker than both of them. It's not as likely as the daughter being some colour in between them, but it happens.

[@epif1]

oh yes it happens! us the people born in Latinamerica are mixed in highly varied degrees, which results in your kids coming out in all kinds of combinations 🤣. I have met people whose facial features are identical to their parents but their skin is much much darker/paler, or you don't look like your siblings which is my case 😆

[@MaryamMaqdisi]

@@epif1this lol, I’m very yellow but my sister passes as white, and people just roll with it because it happens

[@coryl3943]

Not to be that person but John Cho is Korean, not Chinese.

[@Princess_Weekes]

TY! Yes, he is Korean, but the character he plays is Chinese

[@DeborahWalkerXOXO]

Not to be THAT person, but he's fine AS!

[@jjj7790]

Something about that casting kind of bothers me for a similar reason as the non-Latino Latinos in this discussion, but obviously without the colorism and other issues. Why do an Asian minor characters in American media that's not by Asian creators, almost always get defaulted to Chinese? Why couldn't John Cho's character just be Korean? There was nothing uniquely Chinese about the character. It ends up in this situation of not-representation where the actor plays an Asian character, but can't actually use any of their own background to depict their own character and in the worst case, they end up having to rely on stereotype. Also it gives me the impression that non-Asian creators just think all East Asians are the same. I understand for larger productions where the background does matter (like they are cast as a family member of someone with more screen time) because actors of color have to take what they can get, but for smaller stuff where the character's Asian cultural history is not a big part of it, I don't understand.

[@brees3]

On the question of “is Charmed feminist?” I think for the time, yes. A lot of what the characters did challenged social norms: Prue being a successful business owner, Piper and Phoebe embracing their femininity as assets, not liabilities, the women being (mostly) sex positive. Establishing their strength as inherently feminine and celebrating femininity was feminist. I have yet to see another character like Piper in the nerdsphere, a character who runs a successful business and is a single mom and kicks ass AND explores the emotional exhaustion of those tasks.

[@sofdemi8042]

Agreed. Plus, they channeled their powers through emotions, further leaning in to embracing femininity and seeing emotions as a positive aspect of life that one needs to learn to control.

[@thaboiinblue]

Where’s. 👏🏾 Her. 👏🏾 Bonnet? 👏🏾 😂😂😂

[@Princess_Weekes]

The curls too full for her to be bonnet free!

[@thaboiinblue]

MelinaPendulum I wish the CW would stop pretending with these black women and their hair. I also feel the same about Iris and her hair. I want to see her bonnet when she’s at home with Barry.

[@thaboiinblue]

I too was VERY engaged and impressed with Maggie finding out she’s half black. I had wished they had taken that storyline further. It’s funny to me, because while I can see Jeffery is light-skinned and often mistaken for Latina, her features remind me of a black woman. If anything her hair often throws me off. If her hair were a different texture, I feel like most people would see it faster too.

[@joshroberts1936]

I hope they take Maggies arc further in season 2

[@thaboiinblue]

Josh Roberts It would be a real shame if they didn’t.

[@CrunchyTaterTot]

Yea she’s very pale but she immediately read as Black to me.

[@dramonmaster222]

Yeah, one of my biggest gripes about S1 of the Reboot Charmed is the lack of Brujería magic. I mean in 22 eps. we had ONE spell in Spanish and that was it! And I was REALLY disappointed when I found out that the show only had ONE Latina actress.

[@moustik31]

What a missed opportunity!

[@joz2012]

Mantock is Afro Caribbean I want to say Jamaican I believe Also it’s funny because I went to a paley fest and some of the producers said that they would have three different fathers but it seems like they threw that out the window because that was a great way to fix the problem Also funny with Macy and her hair I deadass think she was doing her own hair because of budget; and this season Madeleine hired her own person and she’s black and she’s definitely switching Macy’s hair up and I love that about Madeleine she’s very pro-black But I would also love to see Sarah’s natural wavy/curly hair in the show and not just straight all the time

[@Princess_Weekes]

I think it is Jamaican too, but that might just be wishful thinking hehehe. I do love Madeleine she seems really sweet!

[@shanika4160]

What's wrong with them having 3 different fathers? Yeah on the surface I can sniff out people getting offended for others [cough cough, some white people] but as someone in that position I wouldn't mind that being shown. Look at the stats, it's not so uncommon.

[@robertsoko2276]

@JB JG Maybe because he is her father, he may have not be her biological father but he is the only father she has ever known

[@AsterInDis]

The whole show feels performatively woke.

[@Sargassomermaid]

When I watched season 1 there were moments I imagined the male writers high five-ing themselves for being woke

[@corbanekarel3692]

That's very true of the first episode or two. The rest felt more organic, to me at least.

[@medtle1]

There is a show that used to be on Kids WB called Mucha Lucha, where the creators weren't Latine/Latinx, but they constantly had Latine/Latinx people involved in the show (but had to censor a lot of the lucha moves due to executive meddling). Apparently, the show was very popular in Latin America. It is kind of weird to say that an animated kids' show about luchadors created by people who weren't Latine/Latinx was more racially and culturally aware than a reboot of a show intended for teenage and adult viewers (especially teenage girls and women). The casting director and crew of 2018 Charmed definitely should have made an effort to find other Latina actresses. It's not like they can't find any Latina actresses.

[@alicesmith255]

I know this may be shocking to someone with US views on Americans (continent), but Latin American countries don't have Mexican culture (outside of, y'know, Mexico) and so are not really a good sign of whether or not a luchador cartoon is culturally aware. Mexican food is as foreign as Chinese food in Argentina.

[@medtle1]

@@alicesmith255 I learned about Mucha lucha involving Mexican people in the show and being popular outside of the usa from rebeltaxi. Maybe he meant the show being popular in Mexico and not latinidad necessarily. Either way, it still had more effort put in than the reboot of Charmed. kzbin.info/www/bejne/i2LLnpmneLx7hac

[@VHS_NEON]

Stop saying Lanix for fuck sakes. It’s Latino. There’s barely any Latinos who even say Latinx and those who do are a very, very small minority. It’s again one of those things where non Latinos/ Hispanics decided to call us a certain way without even asking us. It’s annoying as fuck and none of my relatives in Mexico use that fucking wird. I’m so sick of hearing it, especially by non Latin people who act like they’re doing us a davor or like saying Latino is offensive. Half of Latin America keeps saying Latino. Ffs…

[@garf1906]

@@VHS_NEON hi actual mexican here, umm why you so mad? Theyre just using a neutral version, heres nb folks who happen to be latine (myself included) who happen to like it, because its lowkey a dum dum move that spanish has gendered words, and idk maybe respect that people like using it, just because its a minority it doesnt mean theyre not there, also you missed the point op made (great obrservation op!)

[@VHS_NEON]

@@garf1906 The point is that this little minoritie tries to litterally change a language and claims that the language itself is offensive. That's one of the dumbest arguments I've ever heard. Most Latinos don't use it, most don't care about it and most don't even know it exists. I don't get where this very, very small minoritie gets the nerve to try and change whole language based on their offended feelings, and then goes on to tell others that they should stop saying "latino" because some people might not handle it, go postal and melt. If they would only use it among themselves there wouldn't be a problem. But they're not. And that's what annoying about that.

[@selwatchesyt]

My mom really likes this new Charmed. She tried to get me into it. I tried but I just watched five or six episodes but I couldn’t connect. If it really dug into bruja culture I probably would still be there. I find shows with diversity without letting those characters express their culture bland and generic. I didn’t watch the original Charmed growing up although my best friend was obsessed with it. I don’t know if they add Latina writers to the show I would be willing to give it another shot.

[@JJDK485]

I didn't see Latino witchcraft at all. Poor writing and research!

[@KnightofEkron]

Ngl, nothing can quite beat the Cole/Phoebe romance.

[@whitb850]

Yes, absolutely. And while I wasn't the biggest Leo fan myself (I found the actor pretty bland), I have to admit that the Leo-Piper forbidden witch-whitelighter relationship was also great on the show. This was probably mostly due to Holly being such a fantastic actress that she really became the heart of the show and we always felt her strong emotions. So I loved all the stuff with her fighting for her marriage and her children.

[@demario0708]

Congrats on getting an agent. I’ve been watching you since I was in middle school and I just graduated from undergrad in May. Yah boi got a post grad job now so I’ll support your Patreon and your book when it gets publish, because you and your content is amazing and really inspired me.

[@moustik31]

Hip, hip 🙌🏾😊

[@jackiem3740]

We serve a scarce and elusive queen. 💙 Congrats on all the newfound success. 💅

[@sasodei4eva]

As someone who’s been a subscriber since your twilight videos and Du Hast opening days, I weirdly feel like I grew up with you throughout my teenage and early to mid twenties and am genuinely proud of you for getting an agent for your book! 😂 Massive congratulations!! 🤘

[@tadeoasojano1004]

Hello, new subscriber here. I love your videos. I would love to hear what you think about season 2. I am an AfroLatino and am struggling with how we are represented in media. There is a huge difference in being a Black person from Latin America and being a person who has a Black parent and a Latino parent. Many people do not understand the difference between Black racial identity and Black cultural identity. Im also a priest in the Afro-Cuban Lukumi or Ocha faith (often misnamed "santeria") I am actually happy they diverted from mentioning the religion because they got it completely and offensively wrong as well as the Spanish pronunciation from all 3 actresses was not great. Id rather no representation than poor representation. I agree I wish people would portray afrolatinidad more accurately and understand that we are not monolithic.

[@selwatchesyt]

Oh the joke on The flash was grandma Esther’s noodle dish and meat loaf🙄 I read Candice and Jesse L. Martin was cracking jokes about that on set. LOL. I’m guessing one of the writers got the hint because I think in season 5 someone mentioned her yams.

[@JaiProdz]

I LOVE your Charmed views, and while it seems Charmed does have a dedicated, albeit small-knit fan community (unlike the huge fandoms of The X-Files and esp Buffy!), the reboot's controversy definitely struck me. Many had racist comments, others wanted the OG Sisters back (which I get), after the 70s version with 3 unrelated women fighting evil was canned, the new one did sound promising but I just never got into it. In terms of the original series, I HATED how flimsy they dealt with continuity, and the few episodes that did really stuck out (like when Bane Jessup comes back). Prue was my favorite, and I prefer the first 4 seasons, and parts of 5 (before they really ruin Cole). I always wished the show's mythology was taken more seriously, and that the writers understood how strong of a foundation they had! The seasons onward from 4 fall into that cheesy, bad effects and outfit-of-the-week shtick...which is fun as a kid, but I severely hated season 8 when I watched it through. 1-3 had it's issues but as you said, the acting and the chemistry really makes it such a good watch (in that respect the family dynamics remind me of Gilmore Girls, where they deal with difficult topics or trauma in a very powerful way.)

[@JaiProdz]

Also screw Brad Kern. I also read that Constance and Shannen agreed about a certain direction they wanted the show to go into, and production disagreed which perhaps is another aspect of the two of them leaving.

[@eventingirl001]

Coming at this 3 years down the line, it really sucks that the Charmed Reboot is just a comedy of errors. As an OG Charmed Stan, I wanted the series to work, I really did! I was happy to see the series more diversified and even the magic more diversified as well. To your points, I agree, it would have been amazing to see someone like Tanya Saracho lead the series (someone who is yes Latina but also practices as well). The New Charmed has some interesting storylines that they should have leaned in. I think the New Charmed leans more on the spectacle of "magic" it just feels like, DISTRACTION! Not that the OG Charmed had great effects but they balanced practical and special effects really well.

[@MiggyMiggs99]

Really great video! BTW the characters were made younger to most likely target the CW's younger audience. I also would like to know your opinion on Harry, they are some people in the fandom that feel as though he has too much screentime and that he's being treated as if he was a fourth sister. Also do you stan Hacy?

[@MissKashira]

I think I've had sushi twice in my life and both times involved a white person thrusting it in my face and going "no, try it, it's good." It's not. While I loved the original Charmed I gave up on new Charmed pretty early on because it seemed like pandering written by people who didn't actually believe the things the show was meant to support. The fact they found two black girls and cast them as Latina was something I didn't know, but in no way surprises me as that's the vibe I got from the storytelling. "We want your money, but we don't actually care about the things you care about." But given your recommendation I'll give it another shot and see if I get further this time.

[@sofdemi8042]

Yeah...this show has pandering written all over it

[@katemccrea6963]

Congratulations on the book! That's such a huge deal. So, let me just say what bugged me about the reboot. How they pitched it against the original. If you hated the source material so much, why co opt it, take its name, and a lot of the premise? The whole twitter war and pr war they started threw a lot of original fans off right from the beginning because of that. Yes, we were disappointed that it wasn't a spinoff of the original. show. Holly Marie Combs had gone to the CW with her own idea for a continuation based on Piper's family and was shot down. A lot of us were still mad about that. So when the new show came up, it took us by surprise. Why completely reboot something that's only been off air for 11 years? Then the whole anti original stuff started and it was like, ok. And I do remember it being labeled as a feminist Latina led reboot. I'm white, so I'm not going to go into colorism because I don't know much about the subject, but they definitely promoted it as such. And made it a huge deal. I tried watching the new show, but they just set up such a huge divide between original fans and reboot fans it was kind of hard to get over that. I watched the first two episodes, but they were just so bad, I couldn't get into it. Now, as to whether or not the original was feminist: by 90s standards, it was. The fact that the women all worked and where single and lead characters was a pretty big deal. Sure, they all dated and that was big story lines, but they put their sister hood first. Piper was willing to give up Leo if her sisters didn't giver her blessing, for example. And true, they all had issues about whether they wanted to help people, but it was usually after major personal traumas they'd encountered while protecting the innocent. Prue loosing Andy is a good example of that. Piper loosing Prue. It goes on from there. I agree that the first four seasons where definitely the strongest, because when certain people behind the scenes took over, that's when the clothing got tighter, the storylines got dumber. If you look up Brad Kern, there's a whole separate drama between him, Holly Marie Combs, and other shows that will make you go woah. I want the new show to do well, I wish it nothing but the best. I'd love for the chance to see it explore other types of magic. I hope they do dive into that next season.

[@phyliciaadams5647]

I felt you with my soul when you brought up the hair not being done. Please make a video talking about season two.

[@thaboiinblue]

Maggie is my fav too! 😊😊😊 Sarah Jeffery is VERY talented.

[@Aishyo]

Congrats to you girl and trust me full time jobs and KZbin are a hard to manage

[@angelineturner3298]

Recent subscriber here, congrats on your book. (Sorry I can't say anything about Charmed, having never seen a single show)

[@Princess_Weekes]

Welcome

[@ColorMeCrystal27]

Thank you so much for this wonderful, thoughtful video! It's so refreshing to see both iterations of Charmed discussed and critiqued while still maintaining appreciation and affection for them. It would be interesting to hear your thoughts about CWs other reboot from last season - Roswell, New Mexico - if you are ever so inclined. No pressure tho!

[@Martin_Tyto]

Omg, yes. All this. But especially that they could never decide where the mother was from or the magic system... Like at this point it's an annoying trope not to specify that latin@s are very diverse especially because people's relationship to the occult is so different. Also we can clock a fake accent. Like that annoying thing where you're watching a show and the mom is Colombian the dad is Cuban and the grandparents are Mexican. But yeah going in I was under the impression that the actress playing Macy was from the west Indies or at least her family was and that magic system would positively reflect that. It did not! Then when they confirmed that the love interest was Haitian (or from the Caribbean) and that Yoruba witchcraft existed in this world I thought it would lead somewhere. Then I don't think they ever went back to it. Honestly so disappointing.

[@scifigrl92]

“How can people think we were all Latina?” It was promoted as a Latina show and I thought Latin American included the Caribbean because the definition of Latin America is Mexico, Central America, and all of South America. Since the Caribbean is in Central America, wouldn’t that make mads Latina? Apparently not so I’m confused because it goes against everything I learned in 5th grade geography.

[@MaryamMaqdisi]

Depends on who you ask and what not, I’m Argentinian and in Spanish geography we learn that Latin America is everything south of the US, even though many countries like Guyana or Jamaica are not necessarily “Latin” speaking. Our reasoning is that we were all hit badly by European colonialism first and most also by US interventionism after. We don’t all share a language, but we share a history of struggle and crisis caused by western Europe. Meanwhile in the US people use Latino/a/x as a synonym of Hispanic, which excludes even Brazil, extremely dumb as they even speak a Latin language and have so much in common with us but whatever lol. So all of this is to say, it’s complicated. I think of everyone south of the US as Latine unless they claim otherwise, if they don’t identify as such then it’s more important to respect that choice rather than definitions made by outsiders.

[@bloom6081]

A video from both you and Lindsay in one day. What did I do to deserve this blessed feed today? I will always watch either of you guys' videos regardless of whether or not I even know the subject matter. Congratulations on the agent!

[@TooLazy65]

Glad you're still making videos :) and congrats on getting an agent. You just encouraged me to finally finish my novel and get my ish together.

[@Nipponsuki]

I was a big fan of the original charmed series. I did wish for more POC on it but just was used to it not really having any. Season 2 is interesting for the reboot. I don't like Macy and Harry together but Macy definitely was serving up the fearest looks, hair on point Yass Queen! I hope to hear what you think about season 2. It seems like a complete reboot of the show and also gets more into scifi themes like buffy x stargate which I am here for. The one thing I hate is what happened to the Indian lady's magic shop there was soo much they could've done there.

[@Atomantia]

Did anyone else watch witches of east end

[@blackpyxy9583]

Yup too bad it was cancelled 😫😫

[@DeborahWalkerXOXO]

I enjoyed it, the cancellation was a shame

[@angelperez3750]

"season 2 of charm needs more bonnets!"

[@catbroady]

Okay, you mentioned Killjoys and I would love to hear more of your thoughts on that show, because I loved it! (I know this isn't directly related to this video, but I was just so excited to hear Killjoys mentioned...) Great video, lots of stuff I didn't know!

[@CaribbeanCitizen]

Yes! Absolutely, Killjoys is such a good show, probably one of my all-time favourites. I would love to see Killjoys content.

[@lilsheba808]

I tried to watch a few episodes but it felt so clunky and tropey. The dynamic was odd with the sisters. I was honestly already against the show. Earlier that year I had attended a con in which Holly Marie Combs, Brian Krause and Charisma Carpenter did a Charmed panel, and that when I found out that both Holly and Alyssa had not been asked to be a part of the show (not so much on screen but on the producing side) let me know that I probably wouldn't care for it. Now knowing that non latinx actresses are playing latin characters just...eh😑. And I agree that the original series did play with feminist episodes (Lady Godiva) and that they were very strong women, but it wasn't a feminist show per se. Also my fav is forever Piper❤💜.

[@newjeansfan238]

The reboot's debut was a mess, rushed out, it's going too fast, the sisters discovered their power, that there are witches and no reaction, find it normal, the half-sister just discover her sisters and she acts like the old sisters & at the end of ep 1 or 2, acts like the knew themselves since childhood? It's not believable! There is no alchemy between theses sisters, theses actresses, i don't find them good actresses neither! The cop girlfriend is useless too, just plays the girlfriend of Meg the sister, Meg the sister used on her the truth spell and her cop girlfriend just critisized her and acts like a crazy woman! I'm not attacking the diversity or the origin, race of the actresses, i don't care, yes it's great to see latino & black womens in american series BUT the truth is that it was a mess in scenario, acts, no alchemy between them neither etc I gave up because i don't believe the story, the actresses, the alchemy, it's just such unbelievable to see normal womens who didn't have power, discovered their power and find it normal LOL The half-sister discover her sisters who she didn't know, didn't live with them but after demons attacks, she acts like the old sister, protected them and the 3 sisters acts like the best friend like they knew each other since childhood? LOL Sorry not believable

[@CrunchyTaterTot]

The hair thing is so obvious to me but I feel so superficial for noticing when a show clearly has no Black stylist on set. I was watching All American with my sister and the hair on that show is so bad I couldn’t even focus on the plot. I stopped and went to one of the actresses Instagrams to see if that just how she wore her hair because I couldn’t believe a stylist did that and sent her to set. Like, say what you want about the Black-ish Universe shows the hair is always on point. I look to Rainbow or Zoey whenever I need hair inspo 😂😂

[@dirtydove]

I didn't realize there were casting issues. I was excited then turned off by the handling of the show. I was hoping that the brujeria aspect was more incorporated or used to elevate the public opinion of that path of witchcraft. It's such a robust, rich culture and spirituality that I felt let down when they presented this bland form of movie magic in the beginning. But, you have brought some points for me to try it again. Here's to the future and hope for growth!

[@sojabursche]

i was super excited for it but then i saw the first episode and it had a disabled character be the evil gut that kicks off the series that then turned out to be a demon and faking his disability and it was revealed by him getting up out of his wheelchair, i was out. like fuck that show honestly if they open like that (first episode where you try to make a good impression so people will come back) i don't want to know what else is coming.

[@fireyonix]

I’m fine with blind casting but if you are going to do it you need to be vocal about what you are doing. So that we are not perpetuating or participating in colourisim bias. Not just one article but broadcast the fact that you have picked the best actresses for the job and they happen to be a different race but we should view them as ‘blah’ or you should incorporate the fact that the other sisters have a different race into the story line and make sure that is broadcasted too. Don’t hide behind the face you said it once. I also agree that dark skin Latinas and Latino’s never get given a shout so if the girls picked we’re the best cool. But if they were picked cause they looked Latina that’s lame, they should actually hire someone of that ethnicity (and people of that ethnicity come in all shades)

[@DeborahWalkerXOXO]

Subscribed directly after viewing your Sleepy Hollow videos today. It really explained my experience as a viewer. Congratulations on your book, the agent and things moving forwards. You appear to have done the work so tell that imposter whisperer to shut up! I'm not about to watch this show but I was curious as I watched the original and it too left me impatient. Until WP give up on the arrogance that they can do everything amazingly well these kinds of debacles will continue. It is difficult for them to allow BAME people into creative spaces because they honestly believe in their excellence but slowly things will change. I love your breakdown, the investigation you have put in, the opinion you bring - these kinds of reviews offer soo much more depth and it's appreciated. In terms of the Caribbean heritage of the actresses; that's a whole CAN of worms. I had a think about it and apparently I might be classified as afro-latina but it isn't a part of our culture in the Caribbean so I don't understand it. But, they could be like me in that sense. My family is populated by Portuguese ancestry - a VERY troubling aspect of Caribbean history - and if their families have similar backgrounds, to be honest once you know certain things claiming that history isn't easy. I say all that to say, they may have Spanish, Portuguese etc heritage and the LatinX situation is only now being discussed, it may be easier for them to just leave it alone for now - hence the scrubbing of references to it online.

[@zxcbyyyy]

Okay, you convinced I'm going to check this out and this CW every character has to be in a relationship at all times.

[@Kcoldraz]

Love the old Charmed. But watched the first two episodes but can't get into it. Specially since they changed the spells, love those short poem spells they use in the old Charmed.

[@conflictpersona8]

Shannon Doherty* was my favorite charmed one. 😍 i love prue it was sad that here and alyssa didnt get on my fav seasons were the ones w. Her. That john cho episode GOLD i saw it recently and one of the better episodes. I think the way they pitched it to the public the reboot made it problematic i eventually need to watch it for myself but its a Shame it ended up pitting the original cast against the new cast bc thats problematic. I thought the show was supposed to be Latina... why would they parcel it that way if that wasnt true thats why i wasnt a fan of how it was being pitched to us. Gina is problematic smh so 👀 idk just the whole way the network went abt it is the problem not the actual actresses themselves its just weird

[@zeusgiron784]

The fact I am half Guatemala half black, it did felt insulting how they messed it up with the new Charmed

[@SadisticSenpai61]

I didn't even know there was a Charmed reboot. Now I want to go watch it. I loved the original up until they killed Pru. I like Paige and all, but it felt like the series was just missing something after that. The whole "we're sisters that grew up together and have to work together even when we can't stand each other" balance was just completely wrong after that. Apparently there was a bunch of time travel stuff with Wyatt or something at the end? I probably wouldn't have liked that at all if I'd lasted that long. Now to watch the vid! XD Edit: Ofc it was Milano that caused the drama. I've recently become more acquainted with Milano's... specialness. McGowan has been fairly clear that Milano is part of the problem.

[@ninjaeris131]

Season 2 of Charmed needs more bonnets! Best line ever! Also, I was stunned in the latest season when Macy showed up in some braids!

[@JamieBleu]

Sarah Jeffery is latina passing because she is biologically similar to the stereotypical latina. She is mixed with indigenous, black, and white. She looks almost exactly like Cierra Ramirez who is an obvious cultural latina.

[@user-it8kw3wy2y]

Best thing would have been to create something original. Not reboot something that had nothing to do with the original family and what was already established.

[@Just_One_Tree]

Will you please enable the automatic captions?

[@supaspydamn]

Charmed premiered on my birthday Oct 4th in NYC. I remember!

[@NerdyQueen1234]

All of this just makes me miss season 1 of reboot Charmed don’t get me wrong season 2 was cool but you can tell the writers room abandoned everything from season 1 but it’s still it’s own thing I would love to hear your thoughts on it

[@DrGregoryHouseIT]

Welcome back! And congrats on getting an agent. I like the original Charmed (well, mostly the first 4 seasons. 5 and onward... yikes) but I believe Allison Pregler gets it right with her Charmed reviews. The new Charmed had a very horrible start, with one of the sisters being a little more than a hateable mouthpiece for 'feminism' and the replacing of the sisters discovering their powers with Henry the Whitelighterpedia explaining everything while KIDNAPPING them.

[@karleecraziness9216]

I am super confused about Sara Jeffrey because I have heard one she is half Mexican and then I hear she is half black! She passes as both but I am super confused

[@selwatchesyt]

I read she’s part Black, White, and Canadian Indigenous on Wikipedia.

[@gudldj]

I had a similar feeling about the original show growing up, where I loved first 3 seasons and after that I was more watching for sporadic glimmers of goodness but it is ultimately unfortunate after that. This new show I watched kinda secretly and filled with cringe, I really didn't like the way they developed it, it's way too aged down. I was really hoping they would take what charmed could have been back in the original show and evolve that for a new audience today but it feels like they just made the instagram/pinterest version of the show. I really wanna hear your thoughts on season 2 if you get the chance.

[@newjeansfan238]

I'm a french fan of Charmed the original version that was feminist too with sorority, women the charmed ones save other and themselves by powers, we saw Paige being discriminated when she wants to enter in the police force in season 8. I watched the reboot, give one chance but i gave up the reboot who was a mess, the debut was a mess

[@danifergie]

PRINCESS!!!!! It's so good to see you back on YT and congratulations on your book and agent

[@Kaefer1973]

Working with Lindsay Ellis? Well first of all, I thought so. Second of all, now that I'm sure, that's probaly the reason youtube recommended this cahnnel. Anyway I'm not really of the opinion a person playing a character has to be of the same ethnic or cultural background as the character, but I don't include the USA in that statement, there are enough actors to more or less fit most ethnic groups and cultures to some degree, so they certainly should make an effort. But if there was a Bhutanese documentary about the Second World War, I don't think there would be a need to import actors from The USA, Russia, Japan, Britain and/or Germany.

[@bookbook9495]

I learned a lot about a few cultures from the original Charmed, but it kind of broke down when the first ones rolled in. They did 2 or 3 tropes but worse.

[@curtisdavenport2308]

OUR QUEEN IS BACK!!! Congrats on getting an agent! Proud of you! :)

[@kingtravis76]

I hope your book successful

[@kIrazaparap]

I really want to hear your thoughts of how season 2 followed up. I won't say my opinion on it here but I will say they changed showrunners

[@michaeld2008]

Hey! New follower so I'm only just seeing this. It's interesting both as a discussion on series 1 and also because series 2 is now out and hearing about it (I'm in the UK so haven't seen it. I hear it's... Not good haha). But anyhoo, I really enjoyed the new charmed. I mean, it's definitely shaky - but I love, absolutely love, the new sisters ☺️

[@lamine428]

Why'd they cancel the secret circle I'll never let that go!

[@pheela]

it was never going to last more than 3 seasons but I really think they deserved a season 2... imo it was the overly large cast that became fatal. too much money spent on actors and CGI and sets (every member of the large cast needed a house and bedrooms + the public locations) -- with not too much money made. the network realized they were never going to break the 5-season mark and take off internationally so they pulled the plug before the show found its feet

[@taniajuan]

Is the year of our Lord 2021, and i just get notified that this show exist. Anyways, 11/10 content, i will continue binging your videos.

[@toluosinibi1479]

I watched the last season of the original Charmed first. I loved it. Admittedly I was young so of course missed a lot of the nuance or problematic elements. But yeah me and my sister binge watched that final season a number of times. Loved it.

[@AllyYoko]

spoiler guess the oldest sister role is truly cursed in this franchise

[@nayirahmuhammad277]

How expensive is having an agent btw?

[@mandelharvey3429]

Whoever Hollywood chooses to tell a story. Chuck Heston was a great African Moses. Hugh jackman playing a short man. Just don't tell me it's wolverine. He's some new guy and well get somebody to play wolverine for the first time in the reboot. It's not like Hollywood likes short thick men. I'm bothered that people are more freaked when I suggest Kevin heart should play wolverine and people are only about his skin color. Not that comedians doing rage are genuinely scary. He's not pretty, he's fit, he's short, and if someone like Hugh jackman playing Cyclops and someone like Halle berry or stansa or anybody taller than kevin heart shorter than hugh whomever playing Jean grey being charmed by the short ugly guy is a lot more interesting interesting than two tall pretty boys. And yes from the first time I ever saw that wolverine was from Canada I thought he was this guy from a made for tv Harriet tubman movie who was so traumatized from the stuff they'd done to him. I was a kid whenever I saw that movie. Anyway it's ok for them to use their people to be ethnically inaccurate as long as they don't lie about who they're showing us.

[@symonewest5449]

Omg what is your book when does it come out?! Can I pre-order? Sorry I'm new to your channel

[@ScarletFierce]

Hey Melina. Quick question on what you thought of the last ep of Game of thrones?

[@lillimarq]

I actua;;y had no idea about the casting controversied. I came to watch it quite late, because OG Charmed really really lost me there at some point and I was not remembering it kindly. So when I started watching I just assumed they all were Latinas or half Latinas. I catually had to google to see if SJ had black roots at all so that that storyline would not be disrespectful, but the Latina bit I had no doubt. I do love the show though even with messier and finished/unfinished S2. Any thoughts on S2?

[@mandelharvey3429]

Do you have a retro review? Cleopatra 2525.

[@davantegourdine4295]

I feel like the original charmed was better even with the lack of diversity because you got to see them grow as people and witches. In the reboot it just seems rushed. They get powers and then the next episode they mastered it. Also in the orginal it felt their natural progression into their roles as charmed ones and their jadedness towards the end was natural whereas in the reboot it felt like sjw with sisters.

[@AMB33ZY]

I really couldn’t get into charmed the reboot because it felt like they were grasping at a lot of undeserved things. One of the major aspects that I loved about the old charmed is that their personal relationships were earned relationships with the exception of Billy and her sister( I honestly say watching that happened to Call Charmed is why I was not shocked at the shit show that Game of Thrones turned into). The Romeo and Juliet aspect to Leo and Piper. The Beauty and the Beast aspect to Cole and Phoebe. They earned their statuses as for each of their characters their OTP’s. Another thing that ruined the show for me was even though it was behind the scenes things that made Shannon Doherty‘s character die when she did die in the show it was meaningful. It became meaningful to the sisters into the audience and so I just had this deeply bothered feeling that they were going to kill up one of these characters and there was something to like about each of them that I would have been angry if they killed off any of them and so I didn’t want to get attached to any of them even more. Because they assumed the personal relationships I just assumed that a lot of the major events are going to happen as well and it’s going to feel very undeserved and that to me as a reflection of how little you care about the series if you’re not gonna take the time to earn those moments. The final nail in the coffin for the show for me was something very petty which is that I liked the show the Witches of East End and they use the same house which is just the definitive end to the series because CW’s never gonna let them use that house for that show as well, so I was salty. I think the show in general could use a little slowing down and taking of its time to really develop a lot of the relationships and the world. I also do not give the actresses a pass. Everywhere and in every publication that I saw it was talking about them all being Latina and they should’ve said something. Accountability is another strong factor that is going to push along diversity. The show runners would have had to address it before hand rather than being very messy and trying to get away with it on the sly after the fact.

[@Tiriban]

Witches of East End was a good show! 👍

[@zachbrewer-kirby8115]

Great to see you back!

[@EricVsEverything]

YOU'RE BACK

[@TheEwmoon]

Did you watch season 2 and what did you think of Jesse from buffy episode one making a comeback?!?!? I thought he was great. Season 2 of the new charmed was pretty enjoyable, but I have a lot of criticism. I love your takes on season one, I absolutely remember every ad or article about it stating the actresses were latina, they fumbled that shit hard. I haven’t watched the third season yet, I think its on right now. But yeah, I don’t remember the end of season 2 very well except being a little disappointed and annoyed so I wonder where its at now. Overall, it has felt like a very erratic and messy production but one that is scrambling towards something real and more stable. Did you watch Siempre Bruja at all ?

[@CaetyBoop]

I definitely thought it was a bit disappointing that it was supposed to be heavily Latina and they weren’t doing a lot of Santeria based magic or Latinx folklore. The culture was lacking. It was giving yt washed Latinx expression. Then to find out only 1 sister was Latina, is crazy!

[@CaetyBoop]

The Medusa episode was a great episode. The message was great. I’m reply as I watch.

[@jamescutter522]

I hope you do a season 2 review

[@FreyaEinde]

I don’t know if you watched the original Roswell. But the newer Roswell reboot is pretty good and does just enough different to make it worth watching.

[@readingdino711]

I really don't like the reboot for many, many reasons, that I'm too lazy to list. That's why I don't want this to have any diversity. But I do like the acting.

[@angelaholmes8888]

The first three seasons the creator constance m Bruce was the showrunner of the show but then pushed to consultant she left the show after season 4 brad kerns fully took over the show he totally changed the show for the worst the actress were forced to wear skimpy clothes plus the sisters became selfish in the later seasons

[@Jojo-pq7yn]

Correct me if im wrong but i think you could be afro caribbeans and latina but i dont know if she was that

[@josehenriqueseverosaraiva8727]

Are they white latinas? If so, it doesn't make much diff if the character isn't latina

[@mandelharvey3429]

Is there anything you get if I go KZbin premium?

[@martianpudding9522]

It took me waaay to long to realize why they all needed to be the same race lol

[@wuylliambarbosa9881]

Madeleine mantock she's Africa Caribbean and Sarah Jeffery she is Canadian indigenous does it bother some people that Melanie Diaz she plays a lesbian roll!?

[@candyDREAMER]

Lol @ watching this after season 2 knowing the writers room clearly didn't change much. 🤣🤷🏾‍♀️

[@lyrablack8621]

I wish I knew what this show was so I could engage better ✊🏼😔

[@JERomero89]

Choochi. Ray's friend's name is Choochi. Why does it have it be Choochi? Why do we have to know his name is Choochi? Why do we have to know his name?

[@thebuckrogers22]

this iw what i dont get about the show, it was dubbed as being a reboot with latina sisters. only one of them is latina. the tried to pass a half black and i forgot her other ace off as latina cuz she looks similar to the actual latina. half way throught he show, they changed it to where this character dad was black. however, she still isnt half latina. same with the one who clearly looks black. there is no latina in her.

[@ellareba]

Anything witchy and I’ll give it a shot but I was so disappointed. Love the themes and discussions they were trying to create but the execution flopped. It was so on the nose it was suffocating making the whole thing come across cringe, super cringe dialogue and over the top soapy gasps and squeals. It felt like all telling no showing, that goes for the relationships too, nothing compelling I couldn’t wait for them to dump them. For me Mel was the weakest character and actress, shame they made her a total man hating lesbian stereotype. She was so painfully judgemental it was just irritating. I’m surprised people like that they were experts at their powers by the second episode.. I hate that, I personally love the struggle I feel like it’s more compelling than all-powerful all of a sudden. The magic system makes no sense either why are they able to do things at the snap of their fingers. Just so many missed opportunities with this one.

[@mandelharvey3429]

I love iris. Candace Patton. She's much like sisko DS9 whose just a person whose pretty. In that universe Lyla gets to portray a black woman. Same as Rom and kira played the black characters on DS9 even with white skin the character she plays is a black God fearing knows God personally and he's got a crush on her prayers answered faith after rape descendants of slaves black woman. But a black woman would never have been allowed to portray that on screen. Imagine viola Davis as kira nerys or Gina Torres or Gabrielle union with her real hair or a badly as kira. And if that show exists let me know.

[@Alphajedi1975]

Yay........... Happy and proud of you.

[@Heothbremel]

❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@leahstumm9662]

👍

[@mandelharvey3429]

Pretty is pretty. All of these women are beautiful. Halle berry tries so hard I'd have her play the incredible hulk on Broadway. Given the option of casting you or a white man to play Marshall Matt Dillon in the reboot of gunsmoke, I don't care you're wearing the six shooter. I won't tell people you're a white man. That's my point. Just be honest. No need to lie. These women are beautiful. The management team is probably so white they just assumed they were lying about white women because that a what they normally do. Can we get some darker people occasionally. And have people be people. The last 3 storms would have been good for Jean grey. It's irritating to have the one drop of black blood be all that matters. How about the mostly white people that are super white play characters traditionally written as white and let the black people be mostly black. Maya Rudolph can pretty much play anyone whose ethnicity isn t a feature.