Review of the “Charmed” Season 3 Finale on The CW: The Curse of Being the Eldest Sister

*Please note that MAJOR spoilers are ahead if you are not caught up on the Charmed reboot series.*

“This was a life of sacrifice…”

The Charmed reboot just finished its third season and while the original series remains as one of my favorite series of all time, the reboot has been finding its way and its own voice over the seasons separate from the original series. I almost feel like the reboot should have been called something different so that one doesn’t make comparisons, but after watching the season 3 finale, I immediately began to make connections and parallels. The season 3 finale aired on July 23rd 2021. The show stars Madeleine Mantock, Sarah Jeffery, Melonie Diaz, and Rupert Evans.

Before watching the season finale, I read the news that Madeleine Mantock (Eldest sister, Macy) would not be returning to the show for season 4, which pretty much gave away the ending of the season 3 finale for me.

While I respect her decision to leave the show, I can’t help remembering how Shannen Doherty’s character, Prue also only lasted three seasons on the original series, which was one of the most heartbreaking moments of the show for me, but luckily Rose McGowan seamlessly stepped into the role as long-lost sister, Paige to keep fans invested.

Shannen Doherty’s departure was very sudden and there was a lot that I wish had been done differently if things had gone another way, but with Macy’s departure, we got to witness a beautiful episode that may be the strongest of the reboot series to date.

But does the season finale do enough to keep us coming back for more magic in the future now that we know that one of our key characters is not coming back? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of The CW

Clever use of what-if dream sequences.

It’s difficult to say goodbye to characters we have come to know and love. For me, the sudden ones stay with me the most. However, the Charmed reboot took a different approach with Macy’s goodbye after she defeated the Whispering Evil by basically sacrificing herself. We got to witness several dream sequences from a spell of her being able to do everything she wanted to do. We witnessed fun moments like on a carousel and sky diving, leading up to a beautiful Hacy wedding that actually had me in tears.

I thought this was a smart decision because it prevented the episode from feeling too heavy. I actually thoroughly enjoyed these moments. They were heartwarming and truly touching.

Images courtesy of The CW

Harry’s love is inspiring.

Love on Charmed has always been a roller coaster ride of emotions. When I think of what Piper and Leo went through over the seasons along with Phoebe and Cole, it seems hard to come close to these ships, but Hacy fans have a lot to celebrate and mourn in this episode. I think that one of the best parts of the reboot has been the relationship between Harry and Macy and while we got to see a beautiful moment with their what-if wedding, what does Macy’s death mean for Harry?

We got that cliffhanger ending at the end and learn that Jordan might actually be the new whitelighter so does that mean Harry will be leaving as well or is he destined to find a new path? While I’m deeply saddened that these two did not get to truly live out their happily ever after, you have to admire and respect Harry’s loyalty and love for Macy. It’s something truly extraordinary and I think the season finale captured this well, although I would have liked to see a little more screen time for these two together.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of The CW

The timing of the announcement.

I heard about the news of Macy’s departure from the show a few days before the season finale aired, which kind of ruined things for me. I went into the show knowing what to expect and I think that I would have loved this episode even more if I had gone into it not knowing what was going to happen to Macy. The episode was done well, but I would have liked to have been surprised.

While the episode was heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time, the impact felt different than when Prue died, which was such a shock. Piper’s reaction to Prue’s death was one of the most heartbreaking scenes I have ever witnessed and while I think the sisters stood by Macy in her last moments, I needed to feel a little bit more from them to truly understand and sympathize with the pain I had felt when we lost another Charmed sister years ago.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of The CW

I’m in for now!

In addition to the cliffhanger with Jordan, we also learned that there is another one out there to be a part of the power of three. So, do these sisters have a Paige waiting in the wings? We’ll have to wait and see, but it is enough to spark my curiosity so I will continue to watch for now, but I have to say that I am disappointed about Macy’s departure. For me, she was the strongest sister on the show and I’m not sure what this means for Harry now.

I also am going to miss Abby on the show, who played the villain you loved to hate with flair so I’m not sure if the power of two can keep things going.

Stay tuned for season 4!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Charmed in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

It was only supposed to be temporary…but when Olivia Crewe accepts a new position that seems too good to be true, she soon discovers that twelve other girls previously had the same job as her. Only none of them lasted for more than thirty days. No notice. Nothing…right before they mysteriously disappeared without a trace.

My new supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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Final Thoughts on the “BH90210” Reboot on Fox: Fun Nostalgia Served at the Peach Pit

So of course my favorite zip code will always be 90210, but I had some mixed feelings going into the premiere of the reboot.  After watching all six episodes, I am happy that I stuck it out because although the reboot was different than I had expected, it provided us with some fun nostalgia while giving us a different take on reboots.

Beverly Hills, 90210 is one of my favorite series of all time and I am a proud owner of the entire DVD set!

90210 dvd set

If you do attempt a re-watch of the original show (and why wouldn’t you), I do recommend to space it out because there are so many episodes.  Remember when this show actually gave us summer episodes? So much fun, but it’s a huge time investment!

When I heard about the reboot, I guess I was initially under the impression that it would follow our favorite characters in the future, so I was slightly disappointed when I discovered that it would actually be a sort of reality/drama/parody following the actors as they attempt to get a reboot of their show off the ground.

Sounds complicated?  It sort of was, but I’m glad that I continued watching because once I got over that initial shock, I was pleasantly surprised with what came next.  Please note some spoilers are ahead.

What I liked…

BH90210 Peach Pit Fox
Images courtesy of FOX

The flashbacks and dream sequences.

Each episode featured a fun take on a flashback, giving 90210 fans everywhere a lot of Easter eggs, throwing it back to some of our favorite episodes.  For example, I loved seeing Steve and Andrea meeting up at the Peach Pit and asking if they could exchange an egg (throwback to episode U4EA).

We also got to see Jennie dreaming about being Kelly Taylor in the hallways, the girls re-creating their “Addicted to Clothes” group, Steve mentioning the Legacy Key, and David Silver performing “Forever,” which I surprisingly still know all the words to.  Don’t judge!

These Easter eggs and flashback/dream sequences were genius and they kept me invested throughout the entire show.  I mean, that’s why we are watching, right?  Because we’re fans!  So this was very much appreciated!

The tasteful tribute to Luke Perry was perfect. 

It wasn’t over-the-top, but it was done seamlessly, as the cast made a toast to Luke in the series premiere.  At the end of the episode, Jennie and Tori watch Luke and Jason’s scene from the start of the show, which brought tears to my eyes.

Welcome to paradise 1

Fun guest-stars.

I won’t spoil them all, but let’s just say that I was pleasantly surprised with some of the guest stars and I was super excited to see them all back in action.  I personally would have liked to see a few other cast members join in on the fun, but I appreciate that we were able to get a few surprises and twists here and there!

What I didn’t like…

BH90210 Fox Jennie Tori
Images courtesy of FOX

Some of the real life drama just didn’t work.

Sure, it was kind of fun to see Brian Austin Green married to a pop singer and some unresolved chemistry between Jennie and Jason, but it also just sort of confused me since this drama is loosely based on their real lives.  I appreciate that the cast was willing to make fun of themselves, but sometimes I just wanted to leave that drama behind and focus more on the nostalgia and some of the twists.

For example, the stalker mystery and the creepy stuff with Brian’s assistant was entertaining enough, so I didn’t necessarily need the rest of the extra drama on top of it.  Perhaps that just comes down to personal preference, however.

So am I in or out? 

BH90210 Fox Cast
Images courtesy of FOX

The 90210 fan in me is in because I would pretty much watch anything with this cast.  Overall, I was thoroughly entertained with the reboot, but I also wanted a lot more.  I guess I just saw so much potential and I wanted to see other things explored more, but I am completely supportive of this show.

BH90210 was the perfect summer show to binge-watch, reminding me why I fell in love with Beverly Hills, 90210 in the first place!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on BH90210 in the comments section below.  Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

**Do you love television shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Once Upon a Time, Lost, Charmed, The Vampire Diaries, and Supernatural?  Do you enjoy dark fantasy, fairy-tale retellings, paranormal romance, horror, and mystery?  Then you may like my book series, Dreaming of Wonderland…available on Amazon!  Thank you for taking the time to check it out and I appreciate any feedback as well.  I really hope you enjoy!

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