Review: Charmed Season 9 Volume 3 (Comic)

THE DETAILS:
Pages: 184
Genre: Graphic Novels, Fantasy
Publisher: Zenescope Entertainment
Release Date: 24/04/2012
I bought it online.

THE DESCRIPTION:
The years have passed quickly for The Charmed Ones since they learned of their magical heritage. In only one decade they have experienced so much love and loss, joy and sorrow, failure and success. But time marches on and new challenges will be met as Phoebe is haunted by her past, Piper must deal with the present, and Paige is forced to cope with the future. But none of those events will prepare them to face the truth behind a family secret that could change everything for the Warren line.

THE REVIEW:
I was really excited to read the next volume of 'Charmed'. I have been re-watching the show, but I decided to read this one so that I could see what was going to happen next. The story-line picks up where it left of last time (well, kind of) and this volume definitely didn't disappointing.

I've noticed with the first two volumes that some of the things occurring in the Volume were very similar to some of the things that occurred in the show. I guess I'm being a little vague, but I don't want to reveal too much. Call it the supernatural consequences, or side-effects or even evidence - it really depends on the episode-  but, if it whatever it was happened in the volume also happened in the show, then these supernatural leftovers/indicators are exactly the same. What I liked about this volume was that there were a few differences and some new parts of the "mythology" were introduced.

There was also a little bit of a cliff-hanger to keep me interested, but nothing so major that would annoy you if you had to wait for the volume to come out. I am really excited to read the next one and hope that volume 4 won't be the last one.

Overall, I have rated this comic 5 out of 5 stars. The charmed comics are great for people who really enjoyed the 'Charmed' show and have really convinced me to start reading other comics. The artwork is great and the story-line is set out very similar to the television show.

Your Favourite Blogger,
Natalie

Review: Charmed Season 9 Volume 2 (Comic)

THE DETAILS:
Pages: 184
Genre: Comics/Graphic Novels, Fantasy
Release Date: 20/09/2011
Writer: Paul Ruditus
Artists:
Tess Fowler
Marcio Abreu 
Carlos Granda
Publisher: Zenescope Entertainment
Bought online.

THE DESCRIPTION:
The girls are back in town Season 9 of Charmed continues in the pages of this graphic novel from Zenescope. Follow along everyone's favorite trio of witches as Paige, Phoebe, and Piper continue their adventures from the hit TV series.

MY THOUGHTS:
While I really liked Volume 1, I was having a hard time with some of the artists depictions of the characters. and I didn't think the story progressed quickly enough. I enjoyed Volume 2 much more, but I'm not sure if this was because of the comic itself or if I have just become more accustomed to reading in this format, this time around. Regardless of whether you think comics are for you, if you are a charmed fan you'll probably enjoy this.

Though there is still a change of artists through the story (many times) I didn't have any problems figuring out who was who like I did last time. I was actually quite impressed with some of the depictions of the characters, especially the minor characters and I didn't know if this might have had anything to do with getting permission from actors to use their likeness for the face of the characters. I was also quite impressed with some of the composition and some of the ideas for the drawings. For example there is one instance where the girls are talking Telepathically and each of their bodies from the bust upwards are shown coming out of the triquetra. 

I feel like I'm getting used to the comic format now as it was taking me a while to figure out with the first volume that I couldn't just read left to right and that there is up and down as well. I think I've still got to tell myself to slow down, because these books aren't very long and I'm not going to get to enjoy the artwork if I just keep reading through it quickly like some sort of maniac. 

I like that the story is more exciting this time around and that it seems to be well formatted. Each Chapter seemed to fell more like  a "chapter" than a group of pages separated by another title page. I think there was more story in each chapter too. I can imagine that the people buying the original comic books rather than the volume would be more pleased with these chapters than the first book.

I also really liked where the story was going. We get to learn more about the 'Charmed' world (or the witch world) and meet up with some old characters again. I am hoping that some of the characters on the show that didn't have such a happy ending can finally get theirs in the next two volumes. 

Overall, 5 out of 5 stars. I really like the artwork and story-line of this one and it helps that I'm starting to get more used to reading this kind of format. Can't wait to see what happens in Volume 3.

Your Favourite Blogger,
Natalie

First Graphic Novel Review: Charmed Season 9 Volume 1

THE DETAILS:
Pages: 154
Genre: Graphic Novel/Comic Book, Fantasy
Release Date: 14/12/2010
Writers: Constance M. Burge, Paul Ruditus
Artists: Dave Hoover, Marcio Abreau, Novo Malgapo
Publisher: Zenescope Entertainment
Purchased Online.

THE DESCRIPTION:
"Charmed Season 9" picks up where the TV show left off! With the source of all evil defeated, The Charmed Ones, three witches destined to be the most powerful force for good our world has ever known, have embraced a new life. One of new family, friends, and a future without the constant battle between good and evil...or so they think.

MY THOUGHTS:
I haven't really gotten into the whole comic book thing before now. I had considered it as there seems to be a growing trend with various YA series being converted into comic book format. I had even considered purchasing some 'Sailor Moon' comics as I was a huge fan when I was little, but everything was either overpriced or unavailable. After watching 8 seasons of 'Charmed' I couldn't just let it be and I decided to get myself a copy of volume 1.

So, this is my first actual comic book. Apart from a few comic excerpts in 'Total Girl Magazine' as a child and at the start/end of a 'W.I.T.C.H' book which I had read a whole three of in my primary school days. I know enough about understanding a comic or reading it in order, but I've just never fancied myself as much of a comic book reader. The only thing that I had to learn about was that there are issues and volumes. Unlike some of the YA-books-turned-graphic-novels circulating the reading scene, 'Charmed' is first and foremost a comic book. Originally it was released in issues, but the Volume consists of a number of issues.

The first thing that took me a while to understand was the who-is-who aspect of it all. Because the girls are sisters they all have similar looks. They are all brunette (or close to it) with brown eyes. So, when I first picked up this comic book I was having a little bit of difficulty telling the Halliwells apart. To top it off, the artist changes later on in the volume causing even more confusion, but once I figured out who was who I was fine. I think I prefer the work of the second artist as the pictures are more detailed and look a little less like a children's cartoon.

The volume is written in the same way as the show, so you'll have a bit about the scary demons and then the story will flick back to the girls and so on. So that was very familiar to me. The emotional and humorous aspects of the story were also great in comparison with the show. The only thing that I thought was a bit off was the action as it was displayed by phrases like "Kaboom". I found this a little cheesy at first, but then I guess I just got over it and accepted it as a part of the comic book format and its limitations.

I really liked some of the artwork in the volume. Even in the first chapters which weren't as great as the last ones,  there were some cool arty effects used to show orbing and rain which did carry on throughout the volume. At the beginning there is an excerpt from the book of shadows explaining briefly how the girls got their powers, what they have been up to for the past 8 years (for those that can't remember what happened in charmed) and some of the spells that have been used most frequently during the series. There is also a section at the back filled with the awesome cover art from the issues that make up the volume. From the perspective of someone who likes to draw and paint I found this all to be very impressive and inspiring.

The volume was a very quick read and the story lined up well with everything that has happened in the TV seasons. There was a lot going on in this volume, so I hope the girls can get it together because they have an awful lot of work ahead of them!

Overall, I am impressed. I think I may try out some more graphic novels in the future and I am definitely going to get myself some more 'Charmed' ones. While it wasn't perfect I can see myself rereading 'Charmed Season 9 Volume 1' many times in the future, just because I love the 'Charmed' world so much. I think I'll give it 4.5/5 stars. I don't know if I am really qualified to rate a graphic novel though...

Your Favourite Blogger,
Natalie

Forever Charmed (Part Five: In Conclusion)

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I've written four posts previously about the show. I've explained what the show is about, who the characters are, the magic that they do, the emotional aspect of the show, the sound-effects, the soundtrack and the guest stars, but in this post - the final 'Forever Charmed' post, but hopefully not the final Charmed related post- I really wanted to talk about the major stuff. I wanted to write about the things that made 'Charmed' such a great show.

FEMALE EMPOWERMENT:

I'm pretty sure you guys have figured out I'm a feminist by now, right? But, the great thing about 'Charmed' is that the main characters don't automatically take "that" role; they explore it. During the eight seasons of the show the female characters become dependent on men, they give up on dating, they have problems in their relationship, they go on a rampage to destroy the opposite sex and one of them even becomes a man. The Halliwell sisters all cross from one end of the scale to the other as the series goes on. The way that they explore these different ideas, gets us (as viewers) to think about it.

But, it's not just about the battle of the sexes. This is a story about sisters, daughters, mothers, grandmothers... It's about girls working together to save the day, And, how unusual for a paranormal show to be cast with so many female leads. Piper, Prue, Paige and Phoebe were all "real" women. Don't get me wrong- The actresses who played the part were/are all beautiful women, but these women weren't fake. From what I could tell, none of them had been surgically enhanced before/during the making of the show, they weren't stick-thin (but they weren't overweight either), And they weren't always "dolled-up".

The show is a great metaphor and example of "girl power". This show is about discovering who you are and learning to accept it,  gaining/regaining confidence, facing your fears, helping others/helping yourself and overcoming obstacles. I think the reason the show is so popular is because women can identify with the issues that the Halliwell sisters must face. There are plenty of male fans too; with three attractive females as the lead characters, And a kick-ass paranormal story-line who can blame them?

IT'S A SMART SHOW:

'Charmed' is a complicated show. It's not just the family aspect or the witchy aspect or the romance aspect of the show that make the show so great; It's the combination of that and more. The truth is, people like shows that are "realistic" or in this case realistic-as-they-can-be and in some cases that means a confusing story-line, because real-life is not simple. And, with 'Charmed' there is a lot going on, you've got family, friends, careers, romance, demons... Things are all happening at once (how "realistic" is that?!) and fans need to keep watching, paying attention to keep up with what's going on, because drastic stuff happens on the show all the time.

STRONGLY RECOMMENDED:

The reason I write reviews is to make it easier for people who haven't experienced it (whether it be a book, show or movie) to decide if they want to watch/read it. When I really like that book/show/movie I then recommend it to people that I think would like it. 'Charmed' is one of those shows that is so good, and so diverse that I can't think of many people who wouldn't like it. I can think of a few people that might snob the show because of the low quality special effects or the outdated wardrobe and soundtrack, but I would like to think most people could look past those things. 

Originally when I sat down to watch 'Charmed' I was sitting by myself. My sister joined me but argued that the show was a little scary, and my mother saw snippets of it. Further on down the track, my parents were walking in and out of the lounge room whilst I was watching the show, and they ended up watching it too. My Mum, Dad and I all agreed that it was a good show and I think it must be if it was diverse enough to suit all of us. 

I strongly recommend this show to anyone who enjoys books/shows/movies about the supernatural (especially if they're about witches) as well as anyone who likes family shows like 7th Heaven. If you appreciate a show with a bit of action, romance, witch-craft, family drama and career development; really, if you like a diverse show with a bit of everything and some emotional stuff. I think a lot of people missed out on 'Charmed' because the first season was shown in 1998 and that those people should give 'Charmed' a go.

This will be my final 'Forever Charmed' post, I am considering doing some more 'Charmed' theme posts, but that will all depend. I hope you've all enjoyed my 'Forever Charmed' posts and that if you haven't already seen the show, that you give it  a chance. 

Your Favourite Blogger,

Natalie

Forever Charmed (Part Four: Extras)

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Some of the very entertaining aspects of 'Charmed' were the extras. Things like soundtrack, the minor actors (who only play a few episodes), the origin of some of the other characters, And, the special effects. Sometimes it was because I recognised something, Sometimes it was because it was something ridiculous to laugh at, And, sometimes it was just really cool. So, this post is going to be about all the little cool things (and not so cool things) that added to the show.

THE SHOW IS A LITTLE OLD NOW:
Okay, so it's not extinct (not hard to find on DVD) and it's definitely not ancient, but it has been a while since the show debuted. And, even though the show only finished in 2006, which is seven years ago, many people have lost interest. And, in a time where everything dates so quickly I can understand why some people won't "get" this show. Especially if they are suckers for the modern world of HD, touch screens and techno music. I really would like to introduce more people to the show. I don't want to scare you all away, but I just want to let you know that you can be prepared for some interesting stuff as far as the extras are concerned.

The soundtrack and the wardrobe might seem a little scary to some. The Cranberries are featured in the soundtrack of one of the earlier seasons, The Verve are mentioned in the first season, And, a band called Dishwalla, which I was sure was a made up band (and apparently isn't) actually featured in an episode as a demonically fueled band. Some of the "interesting" garments worn early on in the show include: overalls, midriff baring tops, some very ruffled tops and at one stage socks-with-sandals.

At first the special effects were a bit embarrassing. They seemed a little cheap, but after a while I grew to like them. I liked the sound of Leo orbing, the sound of the elders calling to Leo, the way some of the demons were vanquished, the way the demons could "blink" or "shimmer"..etc. The whole outdated thing became cool. This wasn't just a supernatural show about witches; these women were superheroes, this was a show about superheroes. The special effects did improve slightly throughout the course of the show.

Pretty much didn't bother me, but I think it will get lost on a few people.

COOL STUFF:
And, like I said earlier, there were some pretty cool things about the show. Cool in a nerdy sense. One of these things were the guest stars. Throughout the show I saw some people who played well-know roles in movies or shows that occurred after the episodes that they starred in. Some of the most amusing were:

-T.J Thyne (Known as 'Hodgins' in the TV series 'Bones') guest stars as a Whitelighter in 'Once A Blue Moon' (Season 7, Episode 6)
-Rachelle Lefevre (Known as 'Victoria' in 'Twilight' and 'New Moon')guest stars as a ghost in 'Love's a Witch' (Season 6, Episode 5)
- Marcus Graham (Known as 'Harvey' on Australian TV show 'Home and Away') guest stars as a dragon warlock in 'Be Careful What You Wish For' (Season 2, Episode 22)
-Jamie Pressly (Known as 'Joy'  in 'My Name is Earl') guest stars as 'Mylie' the mermaid in 'A Witch's Tail' (Season 5, Episode 1)

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE RECURRING:
There are some things that I have noticed over the duration of the series- sometimes after just the first season- that are recurring instances. Sometimes things recurred because it was just the design of the show and sometimes things recurred because the story line just happened to go that way (again). These things didn't really bother me, because it felt like the repetition (in most cases) created a sense of "unity" where each episode was concerned.

Things I noticed:
-The show starts off with something happening, the theme song/beginning credits play ('How Soon is Now?' performed by Love Spit Love, Originally performed by The Smiths. Song was used for the first seven seasons.) and there is footage shown of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge with a song playing in the background. The show almost always starts like this, but sometimes not in that exact order.

-The Show usually ends with a get together at Quake or P3.

-The girls die and come back to life often. Or nearly die...

-The windows in the parlour (or at least that's what I'm calling it) are often being broken.

-The front door is repeatedly ripped from its hinges.

-The grandfather clock has been smashed and repaired many times.

-There is always someone after the book of shadows or tap into the charmed power.

-There is always someone scheming to destroy the charmed ones.

There are probably more instances that may be repeated throughout the show, but I thought those were the main ones.

Overall, I thought the extras really added to the show. While they definitely were "of the time" I don't think they made the show any less entertaining. I loved that the show had a lot of different guest stars because there was a new demon (and sometimes a new innocent) nearly every week. Keep a watch out for more charmed posts!

Your Favourite Blogger,
Natalie

Forever Charmed (Part 3: Feelings and Stuff)

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Like I said in the previous post; the personal aspect of the show was one of my favourite parts of the show. I think it's the mixture of Magical and Real-life dramas that makes 'Charmed' so special. So, in this post I thought I might explore the personal aspect of the show a little bit. Once again, I'm trying to keep this as spoiler free as possible. Sorry if any of it comes across as vague.

THE LOVE INTERESTS:

So like any other show the love interests or rather the interesting love-lives of the characters can draw a fair bit of fan attention. And, in eight seasons 'Charmed' has it's fair share of heart-throbs and heart-aches. What I like about 'Charmed' though, is that many of these relationships do last half a season or more. These are women who are looking for someone to settle down with, which I think a lot of women (fans) can relate to. However, when a Halliwell goes on a date with a guy that just doesn't suit - she doesn't stick around  for the sake of trying to "make" it work. 

The Halliwell sisters are often going on dates, because some boyfriends have no patience for the constant "family dramas" (secret witch business) and actual family dramas. And, let's face it, if you're a normal guy going out with a chick that just magically shows up out of  nowhere, disappears all the time, hears things, knows what you're going to do next, thinks you are in danger or is often accompanied by a number of things that go-bump-in-the-night, you might not be so keen either. Especially, when you don't know that she's a witch.

Many of the long lasting relationships in the show are ones that feature magical boyfriends (they understand) and/or forbidden (not just from a magical stand-point) heart-throbs. I think these lasted, not just because of the characters feelings for one another, but because of the hype that surrounded these kind of relationships. Fans want to learn more about the magical world of 'Charmed' and a magical relationship opens a door to that world. Fans want forbidden romances, bad boys and a magical Mr Right. Some of the most memorable relationships in 'Charmed' were:

Cole Turner and Phoebe : He's evil, he's not evil, he's evil again, he's got powers-but-he-doesn't-think-he's-evil-but-phoebe-does. Cole and Phoebe went through a lot for each other. They both travelled back and forth along the Good vs Evil scale for each other, they both nearly-died/died for each other and they both contemplated marriage for a long time. I think what made Phoebe and Cole's relationship last as long as it did was Cole's human half. I liked Cole because of his eccentricity and sarcasm (especially towards the end), though I have noticed that these tend to be supernatural bad-boy traits. 

Leo Wyatt and Piper : They are on again, off again, on again and he's a White-lighter, a human, a white-lighter, a human... Leo and Piper are one of the earliest relationships to start on the show. They definitely have their ups-and-downs, but they still manage to get through it, and, somehow I managed to still think that they were perfect for each other, And, to never get sick of their  little spats. I think Leo is the type of guy that  many girls dream about; he's a handy man, he can orb in when you need him, he can tell you any magical info about demons (not so practical in real-life) And, he can heal cuts, bruises and near-death-type injuries... Truth is, I can't think of anyone more deserving of Mr Right than Piper Halliwell.

Andy and Prue: It may have been short lived (sorry for the spoiler guys, but seeing as Prue doesn't make it through all 8 seasons I guess you probably figured that anyway), but it was an interesting relationship. Having taken place in season one, it made a big difference to how the show played out. Without Andy (who's a cop), the witches wouldn't have had as much to do with the Police and the girls attitudes towards revealing their powers to their boyfriends.

LOSSES and NEAR-LOSSES:

There were a lot of instances in 'Charmed' where a character would die and come back to life, or they'd nearly die, Or, they'd actually die. And, even when you it was major character (a Halliwell sister) and you knew it wasn't going to happen (at least not yet), because she was pictured on the cover of the next season's DVD, I would still end up feeling sad about it. Between the romances, the sisters themselves and the losses in the show, I think the producers really knew how to play with your emotions.

THE SISTERHOOD:

Like every other aspect of the Halliwell's personal lives, the relationships Piper, Phoebe Prue/Paige have with each other as sisters can be made difficult by the magical aspect of their lives. While, the magical side of things does bring them together (sometimes not by choice) because they need the power of three, It can take a toll on their relationships with each other. Because of the magical stuff, it can be difficult for the girls to make friends with normal people, so they end up spending way too much time with each other, living in the same house, And, fighting demons together. 

Sometimes it really really, takes a strain on the girls' nerves and one of them ends up trying to move out, or having arguments with another one. Sometimes, they blame it on a problem that the character may/may not have and they cast a spell  on the other sister which tends to backfire. Hello personal gain! The Charmed ones always find a way to make it work, to be there for each other, And, to listen to each other when it counts.

More posts to come!

Your Favourite Blogger,

Natalie

Forever Charmed (Part Two: The Magic)

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CHARMED MAGIC:

While the magic in charmed is often referred to as "Powers" or simply "Magic" in the show, there are sometimes mentions of the words 'Pagan' and 'Wiccan' in the show. I know a little bit about Wicca due to a book called 'Pop Goes The Witch' by Fiona Horn that had read early on in high-school and am quite pleased (and surprised) by some of the accuracies of 'Charmed'.  Wicca is a religion that is often mistaken as voodoo or satanism. It's actually a form of witchcraft and many Wiccans or Pagans refer to themselves as white witches.

Obviously, Wiccan people don't have active powers. They do cast spells and burn candles and mix herbs together, but they call on the power of nature and the elements to help them. Really, these spells are more like saying prayers and making wishes except the people of this particular religion call upon a different god/goddess to help them. The people of this religion are also encouraged to celebrate powerful dates on the calendar and they often get together with others (usually members of their coven) to do this. I'm not going to pretend to know everything about the religion, because I don't, but I thought I'd just give people a vague Idea.

 The way the girls practice magic in 'Charmed' is actually very similar to some of the practices of Wicca. The major differences are that the girls actually have powers (though, in the show they have had non-magical witch characters) and demons don't have much to do with Wicca at all. The similarities are that real life witches do keep a book of shadows, they do use a lot of natural herbs and oils and they often do gather in groups (some of the Covens shown earlier in the series for example). The rule with magic in charmed is that you can't practice magic for personal gain. In real life a similar rule exists where any bad magick cast comes back on the witch who cast it threefold; three times as bad. Real life witches can cast spells for personal gain, just not ones that will hurt other people. 

In the show the witches meet different members of the Magical Community. Fairies, Elves, Giants, Gnomes, Dwarfs, Mermaids, seers....etc. While some versions of Wicca (yes, just like Christianity there are different versions of the religion) do believe in the existence of some of these beings, none of them actually get to meet. While some of these creatures do exist in or are based on Mythology/Legends, there are some characters that are quite obviously made-up.

REALITY VS FANTASY:

One of my favourite things about this show is the personal aspect of the characters lives. Compared to some themed shows (whether they be about murder investigations or musicals) 'Charmed' has a fair bit of personal stuff in the show. The three women in the show  have the same personal dramas as many women out there (part of the reason the show attracted so many fans), things like finding love, the fear of losing love, losing someone who is important to you, work dramas and family dramas. It's also interesting to see how the current demon problem relates to the issues they are having in their personal lives.

The Magical aspect of the Halliwell sisters' lives affects their personal lives in a big way. Their personal dramas are somewhat magnified because a demon can strike at any time. The sisters' romances, jobs and friendships are often put on the line because of a "family emergency" (AKA there was a demon in the house again) and then there are more problems; the possibility of someone discovering magic and the constant legal dramas- "How come they are always hanging out at crime scenes?". There are a few times during the show when the witches consider giving up their powers to lead normal lives, but they decide that no, being "Charmed" is their destiny.

GOOD VS EVIL:

The show explores the ideas of what it means to be good and what it means to be evil many times throughout the series. Sometimes the Charmed ones become influenced by evil and have to learn to resist it. Sometimes the demons disguise themselves as "good" people; whether it be a date, a doctor, a little kid or a teacher. And, then there are innocents that think the witches evil, simply because they have powers or because of their preconceived ideas of witchcraft. I like how this aspect of the show really makes its audience think. It makes you question each character and their motive as well as asking "What Exactly is "The Greater Good" ?"

Your Favourite Blogger,

Natalie

Forever Charmed (Part 1: Introductions)

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If you've been following my blog's Facebook page or have been reading any recent hauls or updates you might know that I've been watching quite a bit of 'Charmed' in the past months. Even though I haven't bothered to do this with any other TV shows, I thought I might write some posts about this one. I was just going to write one big post reviewing and recommending the series, but it got too long, so I've decided to do the post in pieces. I will try and keep it as spoiler free as possible, but I know of some things that will most likely be spoiled for you (by some other source) anyway, so I find no harm in spoiling those particular spoilers here

FIRST IMPRESSIONS:

The first season of 'Charmed' aired in 1998, at the time I was in preschool and had no idea that 'Charmed' existed. As the seasons of 'Charmed' continued the show gained popularity and I found out about it. I was in grade four at school and I thought it looked like a cool show. I watched one whole episode on the upstairs TV at my Grandad's house when we were staying there. In high school I had had a friend who was very obsessed with the show and by then I had decided that I thought it was stupid (at the time I was more interested in books and shows about "reality"). Last year I came across a few seasons at one of the cheap shops and considered giving it a go. I had been reading fantasy novels and watching fantasy shows for a while now and maybe I'd actually like 'Charmed'. The shop didn't have the first season, so I ended up purchasing it online and I devoured it pretty quickly after it arrived.

WHAT ABOUT IT?:

The show ran for 8 seasons. It's about the three Halliwell sisters Piper, Phoebe and Prue who find out that they are witches and that it's their job to protect innocents from supernatural evils. The power of three makes them the famous (within the magical community) "Charmed Ones", which means that they can defeat some really powerful demons if they need to. They inherited their powers from their ancestors and they have a book of shadows that has been passed down through generations that has heaps of information about the demons inside. The three witches live in the Halliwell Manor, a large Victorian style home with stained glass windows and a power base of its own. 

The girls also meet other magical beings, talk to dead people, go back in time and turn into weird magical creatures...

MEET THE CHARMED ONES:

Piper Halliwell: (Played by Holly Marie-Combs) is the middle sister (at the beginning of the show). She has the power to freeze time and she's probably the least confident of the sisters. She has been in the most episodes and she is by far my favourite witch. She dreams of becoming a chef and she's always the mediator when it comes to Phoebe and Prue. 

Phoebe Halliwell: (Played by Alyssa Milano) is the younger sister who takes a while to get her feet on the ground. She's a bad girl gone good and she has the power of premonition. I probably liked her the least because her voice irritated me bit, but I didn't  hate her. She probably has the most complex love life out of the sisters.

Prue Halliwell: (Played by Shannen Doherty) has the power to move things with her mind. She's the oldest sister and she's the workaholic of the family. It's no secret that Prue doesn't make it through all 8 seasons. Many gossip shows speculated that this was due to fighting that occurred on set between Shannen and Alyssa. It was also rumoured that she would not be allowed act in any future Spelling productions.

Paige Matthews: (Played by Rose McGowan) is the youngest sister. Like Prue she has the ability to move things with her mind. She also has the ability to Orb because she is half-whitelighter. Paige is a pretty fun character with an interesting fashion sense.

So, that's the end of the first post, I just wanted to introduce the show first and  tell you a bit about it (if you haven't seen it before). I really enjoyed it, and I think if you like shows like 'Vampire Diaries' you could probably enjoy 'Charmed'. More posts to come about the show!

Your Favourite Blogger,

Natalie

An Update and 'Amelie'

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I've been meaning to write this post for about a week now, but my Internet wasn't allowing me to upload pictures. The interesting thing about this post is that it's an update and that even though I was going to write it a week ago, nothing is really all that different to how it was last week. Because I haven't finished reading my book yet and haven't been able to post a post about it I thought I'd tell you about a few interesting and rather wonderful things that have been going on in my life. I think sometimes it's best to not dwell on the bad things -avoid them at all costs even- and embrace the happy.

So far, 2013 has brought me some great things (that and, the Christmas of 2012). I've gotten heaps of new things for my room (I'm moving rooms), I got a stack of movies too large to fit into my DVD rack, I got some new tunes, I got more nail polish, I got, I got, I got... I haven't really bothered to do a haul yet, because I honestly don't know where to start, and I thought I might wait now, until I have finished my room and do a few different haul/tours of my room and collections of stuff (DVDs, CDs, nail polish etc).

I'm trying to embrace my arty side this year. I only really started painting again some time in June and I managed to paint a fair bit, so maybe this year, starting in January I can produce around the same amount (seeing as I'm anticipating a busier year and all). I also thought I'd try and have a go at some of the pictures I've been wanting to attempt for a while now and mucking around with a few different mediums. I'm also looking at a few more possibilities of how to turn my art into a profitable thing, so we'll see how that goes.

^My lead pencil drawing of  Lana Del Rey

I noticed that a fair few people who took the blog survey were selecting 'My Artworks' as a possibility of something they could see more of on the blog, so I thought I'd show you this one. Sorry about the watermarks guys (I hope they don't prevent you from seeing any of it), but I'm not really keen of putting an artwork up that isn't marked, because knowing my luck someone will try to claim it as their own. Lead pencil isn't my favourite medium to work with. I normally draw the outlines of my picture with lead pencil and use gouache paint to colour and shade the picture.

^This is what my nails looked like on Sunday.

After attempting to do a few different designs on my sisters nails and failing miserably, I decided to go for something really easy and simple. And I actually, really like it. It reminds me a bit of unicorn horns or candy-canes or carousel poles or something, but really it's just gold diagonal stripes (in some cases dashes). It didn't last half as long as my fancy nails usually last and I think it's because my nails had gotten so long that I couldn't do much easily without the nail scraping against something. I have since trimmed and filed my nails and while they aren't that long anymore, they do feel so much nicer now. 

SABRINA FAIRCHILD and AMELIE POULAIN:

Are two characters I have discovered somewhat recently. And, I absolutely adore them both. I watched 'Sabrina', the 1954 version with Audrey Hepburn because I want to watch all the Audrey movies and I thought it was great. It wasn't long later that I rewatched, And then I saw the 90s version with Harrison Ford (despite the fact that it was technicolour I thought it paled in-comparison. My mother thinks that's the Audrey Hepburn obsession talking). And then, I saw fabulous movie called 'Amelie' which is in french, and is one of the weirdest, funniest movie I've seen. I'm telling you about these movies, because I highly recommend them and I know that if you are anything like me you'll wish that you had discovered them much earlier!

'Sabrina' is about a chauffeur's daughter and her obsession with David Larrabee; the spoilt son of the family her father works for. He doesn't know she exists, she goes to Paris, returns with a new haircut, he takes an interest in her and the other brother Linus steps in to try and separate them so that David can marry Elizabeth  and the two families (who both own large companies) can work together on a merger. The Audrey Hepburn film features Audrey singing 'La Vie En Rose', a few fancy old cars, some pretty fifties fashions and a very cool haircut. It's in black and white (which some would consider to be a downfall) and it's just as upbeat as any modern day rom-com I've seen.

'Amelie' is about a dreamer who keeps to herself, but starts to interfere with other people's lives when they aren't watching. It's as much about helping others as it is about helping yourself. It's one of those movies that has a bit of a mystery as well as a bit of romance. I think many introverts will be able to relate with Amelie, and that the movie is very inspiring. Apart from inspiring you to help others and help yourself, the film also encourages you to question what strange mysteries exist in your own everyday small world. The only pitfall with this film was that it was in french and you have to read subtitles.

I'm still reading 'Tender is the Night' by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and am finding it to be a bit depressing. Normally I don't find books about mental conditions (or with characters who suffer from mental conditions) depressing, but because of the way it reminds me of some recent  occurrences in my family. Why is it that you start reading a book that you're fine with and something happens personally to make it seem less desirable.

I would have said that I'm still watching season 8 of charmed, but the Internet started playing up again and I ended up watching it last night. Keep a look out for a post about the show. It will take me a little while to write seeing as there were 8 seasons! I'm also trying to figure out how I want to write it. I want it to be relatively spoiler free, except for obvious spoilers. 

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Natalie