![]() Dark magic (more staring, less chanting) was quickly introduced, and it watered down the issues the writers had with updating spells and enchantments for a modern audience.īut the biggest change-over, and one I applaud wholeheartedly, was the way the show dealt with its love triangles (yes, plural). This is pretty disastrous for any fantasy series, but can prove fatal to one that hasn’t yet found its footing elsewhere. While chanting and hand-holding worked just fine in the campy world of Charmed, here it seemed mis-judged and outdated, destroying any credibility the series had clawed for itself and highlighting the lack of special effects budget at their disposal. The magic itself, surely the backbone of any show about witches, took a little longer to sort out. To replace him they brought in male ‘totty’ Chris Zylka, who was a middling success, and made him a duplicitous double-agent for the villainous witch-hunters. The circle was unexpectedly bound in the second episode, making everything feel a little safe and boring, so they killed off a member – Nick – and magically upped the danger quota. We started to see a bravery borrowed from The Vampire Diaries, and things quickly changed. I fear that this shaky start was the ultimate reason for the show’s cancellation, as viewers turned off by early episodes quite possibly never tuned back in.īut if they had, they would have seen a show dedicated to improving, adapting, and pruning its various issues, becoming more confident and entertaining week by week. Say what you want about Charmed, but it put witches onto mainstream television in an original and entertaining way, and The Secret Circle had to up its game if it wanted to stick around. Where other fantasy shows had fast paced action and subversive rules and characters, this new arrival seemed intent on establishing its old-fashioned style. If I sound flip, that’s because the early stages of The Secret Circle were less than promising. We have Faye, the bitchy mean girl intent on getting as much power as possible for herself Diana, the resident nice girl who welcomes Cassie with open arms Adam, Diana’s boyfriend who happens to be destined for Cassie, and Melissa, Faye’s sidekick and floozy to Nick, the sixth and final member. Once everyone and their shifty parents, have been introduced, Cassie learns of her witchy heritage, and peril ensues. When she begins to explore her new home, several regulars present themselves to her in turn, establishing their stock personalities and potential roles within the titular circle. I’m not saying she’s a bad actress, but a series needs a capable, endearing protagonist, and unfortunately Robinson didn’t tick those boxes often enough. Cassie is played by Britt Robinson from Life Unexpected, the similarly cancelled CW series that was originally meant to be the ‘new Gilmore Girls‘ (sounding familiar?), and her portrayal of the character may have played a huge role in the show’s cancellation. Our protagonist is a normal girl who, in the first five minutes of the pilot, loses her mother to an arson attack and moves to Chance Harbor, the mysterious childhood home of her parents. Based on the success of the former, who can blame telly-land for thinking The Secret Circle would have the same cultural impact? ![]() Based on young adult novels from the same author, made for the same network to air on the same night, and produced by the same team (including Kevin Williamson of Scream and Dawson’s Creek fame), the two are sibling shows in the truest sense of the word. Was there something wrong with The Secret Circle itself, or is it a deeper problem with all things Wicca that turns people off?įirst, you’ll have to excuse me if a large amount of The Vampire Diaries comparisons slip into this season recap, as it’s hard not to pit the two against each other now they have gone in such different directions. The Secret Circle, designed for the CW as a direct sister show for the uber-popular The Vampire Diaries, was cancelled after just one season and, while hopes that another network will pick it up are currently brewing (excuse the pun), it’s just the most recent example of witches failing to tap into the public consciousness the way vampires, werewolves and other ghouls seem to be able to. Witches have always been the least loved subgenre of fantasy television, and last week another one bit the dust. This article contains spoilers for The Secret Circle.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |