Tag: Demons

Throw-back Sunday: Ranking the top 5 villains from “Charmed”

It’s Throw-Back Sunday TV Fans!  For today, I have returned to one of my old favorites, Charmed, as I am currently on the last season of my re-watch.  The Halliwell sisters are always fun to watch and truly know how to protect their innocents from the forces of evil with good magic.  Even though most of their everyday foes are easily conquered with a Power of 3 spell, there are some villains on the show who just won’t go away…no matter how many times they vanquish them.

These villains become worthy opponents who continue to threaten the sisters over the seasons, trying desperately to bring down the infamous Charmed Ones.  While some villains are just completely terrifying, others take the time for a well-thought out pun, while others are tormented by the darkness that continues to incessantly creep in, wiping out any goodness that may be inside.

Either way, these villains have paved their way into my top 5, refusing to sit back and let good conquer evil.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the series yet.

My top 5 villains from Charmed are:

5

Christy Jenkins

In the final season of Charmed, we are introduced to the character of Billie, who is a young witch eager to take on demons and excited to have the Charmed Ones as her mentors.  We find out that Billie has a complicated past, however; and has unresolved memories about her older sister, Christy being kidnapped by a demon when they were children.  We later learn that former villains, The Triad, are responsible for this and have been training and raising Christy to be an unstoppable force of evil.

The Triad anticipated that sister witches could be the ultimate power to take down the Charmed Ones.  Christy initially pretends to be good to lure Billie to her side, but her childhood and innocence were corrupted long ago when she was taken, as she is unable to step away from the darkness.  Billie has to ultimately kill her sister in an act of defense, which is unbelievably heart-breaking.

The very idea of putting sisters against sisters is a genius move of the Triad, but they are unable to predict that Billie’s goodness combined with the Halliwell sisters is too powerful for evil to tip the scale.

4

Zankou

An upper level demon who is after great power, Zankou initially appears to be on the side of the Charmed Ones, when he teams up with them and Agent Brody to stop the Avatars.  He bids the Charmed Ones adieu, but they know this is not the last they will see of him.  Zankou begins to re-organize the underworld in an attempt to steal the power from the Nexus, which is beneath the Halliwell manor.

He also tries to obtain the Book of Shadows, which he successfully manages to steal.  Zankou stands out from other demons because he learns to anticipate their humanity, which so many other demons have failed to do in the past.  He spies on them in their home and even reads Piper’s diary to get the full inside scoop on the Charmed Ones and their human emotions giving the term “know thy enemy” new meaning.   This comes in handy later on when he causes the sisters to shake their bond, making the book and them vulnerable in the process.

Ultimately, the Charmed Ones are able to defeat Zankou by tricking him into absorbing the power of the Nexus so that they can cast a spell to destroy it and everything else in their path, causing the Charmed Ones to fake their own deaths in the process.

3

The Source

The Source is probably one of the scariest demons I have ever seen on Charmed.  He initially cloaks his face with a dark hood, but later reveals his half-face which had been mutilated from his many battles in the past.  The Source is the big bad that has been mentioned since the beginning of Charmed.  Even Rex, Prue’s demonic boss, mentions that he won’t be pleased without revealing his name.

The Source is always after power and is no longer interested in sharing a balance between good and evil.  He even takes in the power of the Hollow, which is forbidden, to try and kill the Charmed ones.  The Source is also responsible for the death of the oldest Halliwell sister, Prue.  His demon for hire, Shax is the one who kills her, shattering the lives of the Halliwell family.  Later, he tries to corrupt Paige to his side, but he is no match for the power of family and love.

Even though The Source is beyond scary, he does take a few moments to toy with his enemy, taunting the sisters to “say hello to Prue for him.”  However, this only enrages the sisters even further, using the magic of their entire ancestry line to stop him.

2

Barbas aka The Demon of Fear

Barbas first appeared in season one in one of my favorite episodes of all time where he appears on Friday the 13th to take out 13 witches to free himself.  He reads the fears of his victims and then uses that fear against them, causing them to die from what looks like a heart attack, as their hair turns completely white from the panic and fear.  The victims truly believe that their fear is coming to life, which makes him a very dangerous demon to say the least.

Barbas targets the Charmed Ones and comes very close to killing Prue, preying on her fear of drowning.  However, Prue is able to overcome her fear with love.  Barbas is banished as he is unable to obtain the 13 witches he needs for freedom but he is never gone for good.  Barbas has appeared as a recurring demon over the seasons, teaming up with other forces of evil to bring down the Charmed Ones.  When the Charmed Ones go on trial, he leads the prosecution, bringing up evidence against the Charmed Ones in quite the compelling argument.

When the Charmed Ones get trapped in a parallel world where everything evil is good, they have to go to Barbas as the source of all good to help them.  He is clearly one of the toughest enemies for the Charmed Ones and he is quite entertaining as well in the process.

Some honorable mentions before revealing my number one pick are:

  • Inspector Rodriguez
  • Bane
  • Shax
  • The Woogyman
  • Gideon
  • Evil Wyatt
  • Evil Charmed Ones
  • The Seer
  • The Triad
  • Agent Jackman

1

Cole Turner

It should be no surprise that my favorite villain has to be Cole Turner.  Cole first appears on Charmed in season 3 and is the love interest of Phoebe.  Cole reveals that he is half-demon and half-human, which causes quite the internal conflict.  His demon-side, Belthazor is an upper-level demon who is absolutely terrifying.  However, his human side is tall, dark, and handsome, proving to be quite the charmer and an excellent lawyer.

Later in the series, Cole becomes the source of all evil, taking in the hollow to protect Phoebe and her sisters from the original source.  When the sisters ask what happened to the powers of the source, the Seer says “into the void” with a knowing smile, as her plan to make Cole the new source has sprung into action.  Cole cannot control the powers of the source but he refuses to give up Phoebe in the process, his love remaining true to her.  He even corrupts Phoebe to darkness, tricking her into a dark wedding and impregnating her with the spawn of Satan.

The Charmed Ones are able to vanquish Cole but one learns that he is never gone for too long.  Cole remains trapped in limbo, collecting powers of vanquished demons along the way to become an even greater threat with more powers than the sisters thought possible.  Through it all, Cole tries to continue to change for Phoebe and hold on to their love, but he ends up being his own worst enemy.  In an effort to change his fate and be with Phoebe, he tries to create a new world and goes back in time.  This plan back-fires, however; as he is now in a time when it was possible for him to be vanquished as Belthazor.

Cole is vanquished on his 118th birthday in the 100th episode of Charmed and it seems like this one is for good.  He makes a special appearance when Piper is trapped in limbo later on in season 7, however.  Cole comes to her rescue and even sends Drake to Phoebe, to remind her about the importance of loving again, even though he will always be loving her just a little out of reach.

Either way, Cole is my favorite villain of all time on the series, proving that villains can find love too.  Unfortunately for Cole, his own inner-conflict and pride get in the way, preventing him from ever finding the happy ending he so desperately wanted for him and Phoebe.

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to share some of your own thoughts and comments on your favorite villains from Charmed.  Thanks for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe.  Thanks for your support!

“Charmed” is Back for a Reboot! Ranking the top 5 couples from the original “Charmed.”

Happy Wednesday TV fans!  I have been recently re-watching one of my favorite television series of all time, Charmed for the 7th time through and I was very interested to find out that the CW has requested a pilot order for the reboot of the show.  It has been about 20 years since the show premiered and ran for 8 seasons with the magical Halliwell sisters portrayed by Alyssa Milano, Holly Marie Combs, Rose McGowan, and Shannen Doherty.  Holly Marie Combs is openly opposed to the reboot but Shannen Doherty is trying to stay positive.  It’s understandable for there to be controversy around the reboot, as the original story and characters can never be replaced.

The original Halliwell sisters of Charmed still represent strong female characters to look up to and root for even re-watching today.  That can never be replaced, but it would be exciting to see something similar for the new generation and something nostalgic for the rest of us who remember the series so well.  90210 had a reboot years later and even had special appearances by the show’s original cast, but it still doesn’t hold a candle to the original series and never will.  Other shows featuring TV witches such as The Secret Circle and Witches of East End didn’t last for very long airing after Charmed was off the air so it’s hard to predict if the reboot will be able to have a successful run.

Similar to the spinoff proposed series of Wayward Sisters from Supernatural, the Charmed reboot has a real chance to capture an audience in desperate need of strong and smart female leads who can save the day from demons and deal with everyday problems.  While I don’t know much about the pilot, it doesn’t seem like it will follow the lives of the next generation of Charmed ones, but may be set on a college campus with three new witches coming to power.  Either way, I am all for giving the show a chance.  How about you?

The attention around the Charmed reboot sparked my interest in discussing some of my favorite moments, episodes, characters, villains, and ships.  For today, I will be discussing the most memorable couples/ships from the series.  While some couples on the show do find their fairy-tale happy ending, others end a passionate bond in tragedy, breaking the hearts of our beloved Halliwell heroines along the way.  Either way, their love was inspiring, fiery, and memorable.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. 

My top five ships from Charmed are:

5

Paige & Kyle aka Agent Brody.

Kyle and Paige 1 30

When Paige is introduced as the half-sister of Piper and Phoebe in season 4, she has to learn about her powers and new destiny very quickly to keep up with the rest of the Charmed ones.  Paige steps into the role of the third sister seamlessly and really captures the sisterly bond, but her ultimate destiny focuses more on helping others through Magic School rather than on a romantic relationship.

Paige does have her share of relationships over the seasons, but the most memorable one for her would be with Kyle aka Agent Brody.  Portrayed by the charming Kerr Smith, Kyle came to the sisters seeking revenge on the new big bad, The Avatars, who he believes are responsible for the death of his parents.  Paige and Kyle instantly have a spark and move quickly into a romantic relationship.

One of my favorite moments is when they get trapped in a 1930’s novel set in black and white and need to solve a mystery to get back.  They embrace the world, costumes and all, and end with a very passionate kiss, letting fans know that this is the start of something lasting for sure.  Sadly, Kyle’s quest to take down the Avatars leads to his untimely death, separating him from his love, Paige.  While Kyle does become a white lighter and implies that they may see each other again, the series ends without them together, as Paige finds love with Henry instead.

4

Prue & Andy.

Prue and Andy 1 30

In the first season of the show, Prue is handling a lot.  She moves back in with her sisters, basically has to represent the mother-figure as the oldest sister, gets attacked at her new job, and is reunited with her childhood sweetheart, Andy.  As if that isn’t enough, Andy is an Inspector for the police and is desperately trying to figure out why Prue is connected to so many of his unresolved cases.

Prue’s love for Andy is pure and true, but she tries to keep her distance from him to protect him.  When Prue thinks that she may be able to trust Andy with her secret of being a witch, she casts a truth spell that lasts for 24 hours.  To her dismay, Andy reveals that he would not be able to continue a relationship with her.  At the end of the season, Andy sacrifices himself to protect Prue and her sisters.

Prue has a fleeting moment with him in limbo before he is gone forever and it’s now clear that he would have accepted Prue completely, secret and all.  He just needed more time to fully process what she shared, which is completely understandable.  Sadly for Prue, she has to say goodbye to Andy forever and is never really able to find anyone as worthy again.

3

Phoebe & Coop.

Phoebe and Coop 1 30

Out of all of the Halliwell sisters, Phoebe has gone through the most relationships.  Toward the end of the series, fans were wondering who she would ultimately end up with and immediately spot the romantic tension between her and Cupid, Coop.  Coop is there to lead the way for Phoebe to open her heart again and find love; only he ends up falling in love with her in the process.

Coop is funny and charming and is really the only worthy candidate for Phoebe to end up with since Cole is gone forever.  While they don’t necessarily have the same passion she had with Cole, Phoebe does learn to truly open her heart again with Coop and finally get the family she has been dreaming of.

2

Phoebe & Cole.

Phoebe and Cole 1 30

This list would not be complete without including Phoebe and Cole.  Cole is introduced in season 3 and is a demon who is half-human.  While he initially tries to use his budding relationship with Phoebe to worm his way into the house to steal the Book of Shadows, Cole falls deeply in love with Phoebe, jeopardizing his cover and bringing his humanity to the surface.

Phoebe and Cole’s love is the most passionate on the show.  They have this almost magnetic pull toward one another, which does lead to some rocky moments, however.  Cole eventually becomes the source of all evil, even luring Phoebe to darkness for a while, but his love for her never fades.  It seems like Cole has been vanquished several times, but he always finds a way to return, holding on to the hope that he can be with Phoebe.

When he is finally vanquished for good, Phoebe says that maybe “it wasn’t meant to be.”  However, fans still cling to the idea of Phoebe and Cole ending up together.  The downfall of Cole was too much, however; leading to his demise, but their connection to one another has always been undeniable.  Cole leaves a goodbye letter for Phoebe that reads:

Dear Phoebe, 
If I’m dead right now, 
I know it was at your 
hand. No one else in 
heaven or hell had 
Power over me. Please, 
don’t cry. I was dead 
Before I met you. I was 
Born the day you loved 
me. And my love for you 
will keep me alive… 
Forever 
Love, 
Cole 

This letter is one of the most resonating moments for me on Charmed.  Cole brought new life into the show and was one of my absolute favorite characters.  While being one of the greatest villains for the Halliwell sisters, he is Phoebe’s ultimate weakness.  Even when they were apart, Phoebe knew that she may never love anyone the same way again.

Some honorable mentions before revealing my number one ship are:

  • Paige & Henry
  • Prue & Bane
  • Phoebe & Jason
  • Piper & Dan
  • Prue & Jack

1

Piper & Leo.

Piper and Leo 1 30.jpg

My number one ship has to go to Piper and Leo as if there was any doubt!  At the beginning of the series, their blossoming relationship is charming and real.  Phoebe even initially competes with Piper to win Leo’s affection, but it’s always been clear where Leo’s heart lies.  As Piper’s white lighter, it is forbidden for them to be together, but they cannot deny their connection.

Piper and Leo have been through so much together and Leo is even ripped away from her during their first attempt at a wedding.  Ultimately, Piper and Leo are meant for each other.  However, they go through quite a lot on the way and are tested constantly.  Piper and Leo have two beautiful sons, Wyatt and Chris, and form a beautiful family together, constantly trying to keep this priority above all others.

While Piper is known for her quick temper, Leo balances her out and always keeps her calm.  When they are apart, it’s truly heartbreaking, as fans recognize the selfless love these two have for one another.  Piper and Leo do get their happy ending and keep their friendship and love strong in the process.  There is something so believable and undeniable between Piper and Leo, still holding the test of time and reminding us what true love is all about.

I hope you enjoyed my list and feel free to post your own comments and thoughts about the ships on Charmed along with your thoughts on the new reboot.  Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the Top 5 TV Bad Boys Redeemed by Love: “I’m a Complex Guy, Sweetheart.”

Happy Friday TV viewers!  When you think of your favorite male hero on television, what comes to mind?  Are you thinking about the selfless actions they make to help those in need?  Perhaps, they become so good at playing the “hero” that we forget about the anti-hero who has just as much charm and more intrigue.  While the good guy typically saves the day and gets the girl, what about our favorite bad boys who lurk in darkness and mystery?  Being a “bad boy,” isn’t enough, however; as the hero will ultimately sweep in to make things right.  For today’s topic, I am specifically looking at bad boys from television who are redeemed by love and transform into a more realistic hero we can root for as a result.  These “bad boys” are nowhere near perfect and continue to make mistakes along the way, but that’s why they are so entertaining to watch.  While a hero may sometimes feel destined for greatness, our favorite bad boys were initially looking out for themselves and possessed their own agenda.  This changes drastically, however; when they fall in love with the right person who brings out the best in them and reveals an unlikely hero in the process.  Please note some spoilers are ahead.  My top 5 TV Bad Boys redeemed by love are: 

5

Cole Turner from Charmed.

Cole 1 5

“I was dead before I met you.  I was born the day you loved me.  And my love for you will keep me alive…forever.” (Cole’s letter to Phoebe from Charmed)

When Cole was first introduced on Charmed, he was revealed to be a demon who was half-human, posing as a lawyer.  His plan was to get Phoebe to fall for him so that he could worm his way into the Halliwell house to steal their powerful spell-book, “The Book of Shadows.”  Seemed like a solid plan, until Cole fell madly in love with Phoebe.  Cole had the tall, dark, and handsome role down pat, as he used his charm to get what he desired.  What separated him from other “bad boys,” was his vulnerability for Phoebe.  Even when he was the source of all evil, his love for her still allowed him to embrace goodness inside him that he thought was long gone.  Over the seasons, Cole and Phoebe’s love was epic and messy, ending in heart-break and tragedy.  Even though Cole overcame his demonic side on more than one occasion and came back from the dead repeatedly, their love did not ultimately win out to the dismay of fans everywhere.  Phoebe even commented that “it wasn’t meant to be,” but the uncertainty in her voices suggested otherwise.  While Phoebe ended up finding several new romantic loves later on in the show, none of them compared to her passionate love for Cole.

4

Killian Jones aka Captain Hook from Once Upon a Time.

Hook 1 5

“When I win your heart Emma, and I will win it. It won’t be because of any trickery.”  (Hook to Emma in OUAT)

When the devilishly handsome Captain Hook sailed into our hearts on OUAT, he initially was out for revenge against the “crocodile,” otherwise known as Mr. Gold/Rumpel.  While Hook innocently flirted with Emma from the start, his love for her allowed him to grow as a character and to learn from his wicked past.  More importantly, he transformed from a classic fairy-tale villain into one of our favorite anti-heroes.  Hook was always used to taking the easy way out and making decisions based on how well it suited him.  Emma changed this perspective, however; proving that he could be a selfless man.  When Hook realized his strong feelings for Emma, he even backed down and explained that she should be with Neal so that Henry could have his family all together.  Hook truly loved Emma at this point, but was willing to sacrifice this so that she could find happiness.  Later, when they did end up together, Emma’s power became too great and evil corrupted her heart.  The only thing that could bring her back to goodness was Hook’s love for her.  Emma and Hook had one of the most beautiful relationships on television, but Hook’s growth into a hero is what made him truly stand out.

3

Damon Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries.

damon 1 5

“I don’t mind being the bad guy.  I make all the life and death decisions while you’re busy dealing with collateral damage.” (Damon to Stefan in The Vampire Diaries)

This list would not be complete without Damon Salvatore.  He embraced the role of the bad brother, refusing to apologize for what he was and how he acted.  Unlike Stefan, Damon was reckless and dangerous.  He also possessed a magnetic quality about him that just reeled in the ladies with barely any effort.  Damon’s initial mission was to free his love Katherine from a tomb, however; he soon realized that Katherine was not the epic love he thought she was.  Damon’s jealousy for Elena and Stefan’s relationship reached new heights at this point, but he quickly realized that his feelings involved more than envy.  He grew fond of Elena and fell in love with her, which quickly tamed the vampire beast within.  Damon didn’t lose his “bad boy” charm, but put Elena before everything else, truly learning what sacrifice means.  While the love triangle between Elena and the Salvatore brothers became complicated, Elena eventually followed her heart straight to Damon, allowing her own darkness to reach the surface as well.

2

Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

spike 1 5

“What can I tell you baby?  I’ve always been bad.” (Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

I have to admit it was extremely difficult for me to choose between my top 1 and 2 picks for this category.  After all, Spike was the very epitome of the bad boy redeemed by love.  Like Damon, Spike was a soulless vampire, only interested in power and his deranged and misguided love for Drusilla.  Over the seasons, Spike proved to be a worthy foe of Buffy, constantly coming up with ways to stop her while having a little bit of fun in the process.  In season 4, Spike is captured by a military order experimenting on supernatural creatures and a chip is placed in his brain which prevented him from harming anyone.  While this brought on quite of bit of laughs, Spike eventually became a sort of honorary member of the Scoobies, trying to bring down evil, but still holding on to his own agenda to destroy the slayer one day.  Like the other bad boys on this list, Spike was redeemed by his love for Buffy.  What makes this love so special, however; was the fact that Spike still did not have a soul when he fell in love with Buffy.  Sure he had the chip in his brain, but his thoughts and desires were the same as they had always been.  Spike grew into an anti-hero that we rooted for above others because he learned how to get in touch with his humanity, with having literally no humanity within him.  In season 5, he sets off to kill Buffy and finds her crying on the porch after she has learned about her mother’s illness.  Spike puts aside his anger and sits on the porch next to her, offering his support without any hidden agenda.  He revealed how much he truly cared for Buffy, as his feelings only grew stronger and stronger.  Spike eventually came to realize that Buffy may never love him the way he wanted her to, but accepted this, realizing his destiny to be an unlikely hero for good.

1

James Ford…aka Sawyer from Lost.

Sawyer 1 5

“I’m a complex guy, sweetheart.” (Sawyer to Kate in Lost)

So my number one pick for best TV bad boy redeemed by love has to go to the charismatic and hilarious, Sawyer.  When the survivors of Flight 815 crash on the island, Sawyer was revealed to be a con-man with a jaded past.  He quickly shifted into survival mode, hoarding many of the supplies for himself.  Sawyer wanted everyone to hate him, mostly because he didn’t feel like he was worthy of the love and compassion of others.  He even put together several schemes, putting the Losties against each other and making deals that only benefited him.  While Jack represented the good hero we came to know and adore, Sawyer proved to be an unlikely hero as well.  In season 3, Sawyer returned to the Losties after being captured by the others and the survivors looked to him as their leader.  Sawyer showed some promising signs of change, attempting to help out and to protect his love, Kate in the process.  He also began to reveal signs of selfless behavior, jumping off the chopper so that Kate and the others could be rescued.  While this seemed like a heroic gesture, Sawyer was still running away from his destiny.  When Kate and the oceanic six said goodbye to the island, Sawyer was left behind with Juliet, Jin, and Miles.  In episode, “LaFleur,” Sawyer put his con-man skills to good use and saved the day, convincing the Dharma Initiative to let them stay with them for a while.  Juliet wanted to get on the sub and leave, but he asked her to stay with him.  “Who’s going to get my back?” he asked, revealing the first real spark between them.  It took traveling back in time for Sawyer to finally embrace the goodness that was there all along.  His love for Juliet was pure and selfless, but he was no longer running away from himself or his feelings.  Sawyer was finally ready to settle down and lead a simple life with the love of his life.  The bad boy was truly redeemed, proving that love can help point our moral compass in the right direction.

I hope you enjoyed the list and please feel free to post your thoughts and comments below on some of your favorite TV bad boys redeemed by love.  Thanks for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe.  Thanks for your support!

 

Ranking the top 5 siblings from television: Family is where the heart is.

As we are in the midst of the holiday season, it’s a time to re-connect with family and remember what’s truly important in life.  Many of us have an unspoken bond with our siblings, whether it is inside jokes or a similar laugh, which is natural when you have all grown up together and faced many of the same challenges and shared similar memories.  This really got me thinking about siblings on television and how difficult it must be to create that connection instantly.  The actors on these shows already have the complicated task of portraying their roles and diving deep into what makes that particular character tick.  However, when you also need to add on a believable and real connection as siblings, this becomes even more difficult to capture.  For today’s topic, I am going to be ranking my top 5 siblings from television.  The siblings I chose are not just cast well.  Rather, they become so believable as siblings that I have to bring up Wikipedia on my phone just to double check that the actors are not related.  Please note spoilers are ahead.  My top 5 siblings from television are:

5

Brandon and Brenda Walsh from Beverly Hills, 90210.

The Minnesota Twins!

Who could forget when twins, Brandon and Brenda Walsh move from Minnesota all the way to glamorous Beverly Hills, California.  While the twins quickly realize that West Beverly High is not like any other high school they have ever seen, they fast-track into a superficial bubble where they are faced with difficult decisions.  Luckily, the twins have each other to support one another.  Some of my favorite moments on the show are when Brandon or Brenda would make a huge mistake and they would end up meeting in their Jack and Jill bathroom, relieved to see their other half so they could confide in them.  Brandon and Brenda share quite a bit of fights along the way and introduce new friends like Kelly and Dylan into the mix, but there is something about their bond as siblings that is wholesome and unbreakable.  Fans were disappointed when Brenda left the show, wondering where that would leave Brandon now that his beloved sister was gone.  While Brandon still kept viewers hooked with his charm and good sense of right and wrong, the earlier episodes with the Walsh twins had something truly special that could not be so easily replaced even with new cast members.

4

Fiona, Lip, Ian, Debbie, Carl, and Liam Gallagher from Shameless.

“Hey, sometimes life throws a couple swings at you. But we’re Gallaghers, okay? And there’s two things that we’re really good at:  knowing how to get back up, and knowing how to party.” (Shameless)

This list would not be complete without the Gallagher siblings we have watched grow up over the years.  Fiona has the difficult task of taking care of her five younger siblings since their parents are rarely present…and when they are it’s like they are children too.  While this forced Fiona to grow up very quickly, she has always made it clear that family comes first.  The Gallagher siblings may appear to be a group of untamed misfits, but at the end of the day they are truly there for one another.  The family faces many problems over the seasons ranging from losing their house to Fiona winding up in jail.  When Fiona was not around, Lip and the others recognized that they now needed to step up.  Whether that meant collecting money in a jar for the electric bill or making sure that Liam was actually fed breakfast, the siblings are forced to grow up fast in a world that seems to be against them, but they are resilient and strong.

3

Michael Scofield and Lincoln Burrows from Prison Break.

“I’m breaking out, and you’re going to make sure my brother goes with me.” (Michael from Prison Break)

How many of us would tattoo our entire bodies with the blueprints of a prison and commit a crime so that you could help break your brother out of prison?  Seems extreme, right?  But Michael Scofield is a genius and will not stop until he frees his brother, recognizing that his brother was framed for a crime that he didn’t commit.  While this show keeps viewers on the edge of their seats with each new challenge that gets in the way of the escape, what keeps you coming back for more is the undeniable connection between Michael and Lincoln.  Lincoln is the older brother and used to take care of Michael when he was younger.  Michael feels like he owes him and has guilt about turning his back on him previously when he asked for help.  He sacrifices everything to help him escape, redefining what unconditional love means in the process.  Michael and Lincoln always have each other’s backs and their physical resemblance is uncanny.  Even though they are not related, I found myself repeatedly searching online to see if perhaps they were distant cousins to no avail.

2

The Halliwell Sisters from Charmed.

“The power of 3 will set us free!” (Charmed)

Charmed has always been a guilty pleasure of mine.  I always enjoy watching shows that feature a supernatural premise, but this series goes beyond that.  The sisterly bond between Prue, Piper, and Phoebe Halliwell is so heart-warming that you truly believe they are sisters.  In moments where one of the sisters faces an unstoppable evil or comes close to death, their heart-breaking tears even get me crying.  Through all of the evil monsters and demons they face as witches, they take the time to bond and fight over things normal sisters would, such as trying to stealing the other one’s boyfriend or remembering to ask before borrowing a favorite outfit.  This light comedy combined with some intense drama and action along the way makes this show truly unique.  Much like 90210, Shannen Doherty left the show, which had fans wondering how Prue could ever be replaced.  You couldn’t just recast her because the sisterly bond is what captured so many viewers.  Fans would have been put off if they just tried to pretend like another actress was the oldest sister. The producers and writers were smart enough to add in a new story-line where Piper and Phoebe discover that they have a half-sister they never knew about previously who could help re-establish the power of 3.  Whether you were on board with this or not, Paige stepped in seamlessly to fill the void Prue left and the sisterly bond continued to stay strong.

1

Dean and Sam Winchester from Supernatural.

“You saved my life over and over.  I mean, you sacrifice everything for me, don’t you think I’d do the same thing for you?  You’re my big brother.  There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”  (Sam from Supernatural)

So my number one pick for best siblings on television has to go to my favorite brothers, Sam and Dean Winchester.  The series has lasted for 13 seasons and is still going strong.  Like Charmed, this show features a supernatural premise…hence the title.  Sam and Dean are forced to grow up quickly when their mother dies when they are young and they follow in the shadow of their father’s footsteps to become hunters.  The brothers travel from place to place to take on cases and help save innocent lives, but deal with some powerful obstacles along the way.  Whether it is getting trapped in hell or purgatory or working with angels or demons, the brothers refuse to let death get in the way.  They support each other no matter what.  When one brother is going through a difficult time, the other recognizes that he needs to step up and help pick up the pieces.  Out of every show I have ever watched, the bond between Sam and Dean is the most real and uplifting.  You don’t doubt for a second they are brothers and you never give up on them.  What’s so great about the brothers is that they also have quite a few hilarious moments together as well, ranging from running away from an adorable Yorkie to reluctantly facing a child-hood fear of clowns.  This reminds viewers that the brothers are human and while their calling is to fight the good fight, they are not afraid to share some laughs too.  Fans love when the brothers show up posing as FBI agents, wondering what new dynamic duo they will pretend to be.  Like our own families, Sam and Dean portray the good, the bad, and everything in between, truly representing what it means to stick by one another through thick and thin.

I hope you enjoyed the list and please feel free to post your thoughts and comments below on some of your favorite siblings from television.  Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl