The Charmed Ones are back! Well, a new trio of Charmed Ones. The CW’s reboot of Charmed is here, and while controversial amongst many long-time fans, many are still intrigued to see what it brings.
“Stronger together.” That’s what Marisol tells her daughters, firebrand social justice warrior Melanie “Mel” Vera (Melonie Diaz), and her sister, fun-loving Maggie (Sarah Jeffrey), about their family. But then, a shocking tragedy shatters their world and threatens their sibling bond: Marisol dies in a horrifying accident. Or was it?
Three months later, we find Mel unable to accept the official explanation of their mother’s death, while Maggie accuses her of being morbidly obsessed. And then, another huge shock shows up at their front door: they have an older sister, brilliant geneticist Macy (Madeleine Mantock), whom their mother kept a secret all these years! Macy is eager to connect with Mel and Maggie, but Mel can’t handle another shock, and shuts her out.
With the emotions of all three sisters running high, each of the girls suddenly exhibit impossible new abilities: Mel can freeze time, Maggie starts hearing others’ thoughts, and Macy has telekinetic powers. But don’t worry, there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation…or so says Harry Greenwood (who as far as they know is the officious new chair of the women’s studies department), when he gathers the three sisters together to reveal they’re actually powerful witches, as was their mother. And he’s not really a professor, he’s their “Whitelighter,” a witch’s advisor and guide!
Not only that, but Mel was right: their mother’s death was no accident – she was murdered by unknown dark forces. It’s a lot to take in, but ultimately the sisters accept their new destiny as The Charmed Ones…and their new duty to protect humankind from the demons that walk among us…one of whom killed their mother.
At San Diego Comic Con, the executive producers Jennie Snyder Urman and Jessica O’Toole, along with cast members Sarah Jeffery, Madeleine Mantock and Melonie Diaz attended for a Charmed panel.
“The original was so much about female empowerment and sisterhood and strong women taking over the world and I feel like that’s what we need right now,” Urman says of why she wanted to revive the classic fan favourite. “It felt like a good time to get back to that and show women kicking ass.”
During the panel, Jeffrey also stated that the new series isn’t here to ‘replace’ the original, “Charmed is so iconic,” she says. “They laid the groundwork and we want to be respectful of that and the mythology of everything. We want to honour it while bringing a modern twist. Come join us!”
Starring Madeleine Mantock (The Tomorrow People), Melonie Diaz (The Breaks), Sarah Jeffrey (Shades of Blue), Rupert Evans (The Man in the High Castle), and Ser’Darius Blain (Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle).
Charmed is set to premiere Sunday October 14th at 9 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.
