Like other TV shows, Charmed underwent various changes to create a story that would interest the viewers and keep the story running. Among the common changes were in the storyline and crew departure. The following is a deep analysis of the show's changes over the eight years of production.
Story Structure Changes
Constance M.
Burge left the show after the second season, and showrunner Brad Kern took her position. However, she
remained active on the show because the crew would consult her until season
four. Her departure greatly impacted the show because it led to storyline
changes. For instance, the crew changed the structure from "demon of the
week" to story arcs. The producers also paid more attention to the
protagonist, which was not evident in season one.
During the
second half of the fourth season, the producers abandoned the long arc system
and resumed the serial connection of all the episodes in a season. The idea led
to a substantial increase in the show's fan base. It was during this season
that Charmed attained the highest rating of 4.21.
Changes in Timeslots
Charmed
experienced various changes in its time slots as it had to pave the way for
other shows. However, the changes did not have a major impact on its ratings.
It was among the most watched shows. Due to its large fan base, people were
willing to watch it regardless of the time it aired.
The show was
initially aired on Wednesday nights, but in season two, it was moved to
Thursday. From season five to eight, it was aired on Sundays. Although it
competed with strong-rated shows, its rating didn't reduce much.
Changes in Characters
Shannen Doherty
left the series during the third season. The departure led to her character's
death in the series, a factor that created mixed
emotions among fans. It also led to the introduction of a new
character, Paige. Many fans described the character as interesting, which
contributed to the increase in the show's ratings.
Doherty's death
was revealed during season four's premiere, creating many speculations about
how the show would end. Following Prue's death, the stories of the three
sisters seemed to balance, which evoked more interest among fans. The story
became easy to follow due to the dynamic changes.
Budget Changes
Budget cuts led
to major changes in the show, but the producer created an interesting series
that attained a high ranking. One major change was using demons with make-up
and costumes instead of special effects as planned. The special effects were
costly and couldn't be used on a budget of $ 2 million.
The producer
also pointed out the budget cuts made to save for the last two episodes of the
final episode. The money was made to include Brian Krause in the storyline.
This prevented an abrupt ending that could have raised concerns among fans or
reduced the show's ratings.
Charmed
production faced various changes, but the crew ensured that none negatively
affected its ratings. The budget was the major change that caused speculation
among fans. However, the debates increased the show's ratings.
