Summary

• Charmed Season 6 failed by splitting up the Charmed Ones, prioritizing love lives over witchcraft, and creating a rift between sisters.
• Charmed Season 7 stumbled in the first half with a lackluster conflict, but redeemed itself with strong one-off stories and the return of Leo.
• Charmed Season 8 suffered from divisive characters and departures, but regained the classic ambiance and sister-centric focus that made the show great.

The fantasy drama Charmed ran for eight seasons on TV, but not every season ranked the same in quality and enjoyability. From 1998 to 2006, the hit series Charmed told the story of the Halliwell sisters – Piper, Phoebe, Prue, and later Paige – witch sisters who defended the world from demons, warlocks, and the Source of All Evil. The sisters prevented evil from overtaking the world with the help of friends like Andy Trudeau, Leo Wyatt, and Darryl Morris.

The show weaved together many magical storylines which vary in success. Some were ed as iconic, while the fandom universally maligned others. Multiple main characters in Charmed, like Leo, were praised, while others, like Wyatt, got the short end of the stick. Similarly, some seasons of Charmed were held up as the pinnacle of the series, while others weren't as beloved.

Where To Watch Charmed

8 Charmed Season 6

Charmed Season 6 Faltered By Splitting Up The Charmed Ones

Charmed season 6 committed the cardinal sin of literally and figuratively splitting up the Charmed Ones. Paige and Phoebe both became enthralled in their own love lives at the expense of their witchcraft. Piper struggled with the repercussions of Leo becoming an Elder. Phoebe moved to Hong Kong, putting half a world between her and her sisters. This created a problem because Charmed couldn’t balance individual character arcs with the show’s premise.

Additionally, the breakup between Piper and Leo in Charmed season 6 was unforgivable. The pair always had the barrier of their witch-whitelighter relationship, but they continually found a way to work through it. Because Charmed spent five seasons holding their relationship up as the pinnacle of love, the breakup felt like a slap in the face to fans of the series. Charmed season 6 also continued the much-despised storyline of the Twice-Blessed Child, introducing Chris and Gideon – two divisive Charmed characters.

7 Charmed Season 7

Charmed Season 7 Stumbled Through The First Half But Fixed Issues In the Second Half

Charmed season 7 included the most anticlimactic story of the entire show – the conflict between the Elders, Kyle Brody, Leo, and the Avatars. The show built up the Avatars as the major threat for half the season, but they never did much to cause problems. Additionally, their flawed Utopia only lasted a single episode. This disappointment was made worse because the Avatars had real potential to become a formidable Charmed villain.

The second half of Charmed season 7 started to regain its footing by adding strong one-off stories like “The Seven Year Witch” and the overarching villain, Zankou. The writing seemed more cohesive and traditional of Charmed. Moreover, Leo finally came back to the sisters after falling from grace. Unfortunately, the improvements in the second half still couldn’t save Charmed season 7 from being the second worst of the series, since the first half was that bad.

6 Charmed Season 8

Charmed Season 8 Suffered Due To Characters But Regained The Classic Ambiance

Charmed season 8 is widely regarded as the worst season of the entire series. This season mostly centered on Kaley Cuoco’s divisive character Billie Jenkins, who was insufferable due to her vapid personality. It felt wrong for a non-Halliwell to take center stage after seven seasons. The show also suffered due to Dorian Gregory’s Darryl leaving Charmed and Brian Krause only appearing in a handful of episodes.

Despite this, one factor saved Charmed season 8, ranking it third to last place. After three seasons of storylines that didn’t capture the magic of the show, Charmed season 8 returned to the original ambiance, demons, and sister-centric focus that made the show great. Billie and Christy might’ve had an extremely manipulative and toxic relationship, but their sisterly bond functions as a foil to the Halliwells.

5 Charmed Season 5

Charmed Season 5 Included Mostly Lackluster Storylines With A Few Standout Episodes

After Charmed’s soft reboot in season 4, the series struggled to maintain the excitement and newness. The actors couldn’t make up for the lackluster storyline and character development. Charmed season 5 also marked the introduction of Wyatt Halliwell as the Twice-Blessed Child – a storyline largely despised by fans of the show. Almost every episode in the second half of this season consisted of a demon trying to steal or corrupt Wyatt, making the season far too repetitive to enjoy. Additionally, this season included Cole even though he served no narrative purpose and didn’t raise the stakes.

Despite all these weaknesses, some Charmed season 5 episodes save this season from ranking lower on the list of the best Charmed seasons. “A Witch’s Tail Part 1 and 2” allowed Phoebe to grieve the loss of Cole in a fun and magical way. “Daddy Dearest” is one of Charmed's best-written and most emotional Paige storylines, allowing the half-witch-half-whitelighter to meet her biological father. Lastly, “Oh My Goddess Part 1 and 2” allowed the series to answer questions about how other legends and faith systems fit into the world of Charmed.

4 Charmed Season 1

Charmed Season 1 Was A Fantastic Start To The Series

Charmed season 1 was exceptionally well written, introducing audiences to each of the Halliwell sisters and their interpersonal dynamic. Rather than the characters immediately reconciling their differences, the writers give the trio time to work through their issues and grow closer. The season sets up the series-long romance between Piper and Leo, building up their connection before revealing the whitelighter-witch romantic conflict that would remain in place throughout most of Charmed.

The biggest downside to Charmed season 1 is the lack of stakes. Because it was only the first season, the writers seemingly swayed on the side of caution by not creating an overarching villain. This choice would’ve prevented cliffhangers if Charmed got canceled, but it puts the season below others which were just as good but included a big-bad for the Halliwells to fight.

3 Charmed Season 2

Charmed Season 2 Developed Fan-Favorite Characters

This series is one of the rare examples of a TV show that avoided a sophomore slump, with Charmed season 2 exceeding season 1. The show offered immense character development, allowing the Halliwell sisters to break out of their shells in their personal lives while also growing as witches. Leo and Darryl, two fan favorites, bumped up from recurring to main characters in Charmed season 2, adding extra excitement to the series. The scripts had a refined quality, honing in on the unique voice and personality of Charmed.

Unfortunately, Charmed season 2 included the same major downfall as the first season. While the villains had more punch, they still maintained the bad guy of the week format rather than implementing an overarching villain. This made it easier to pick up the series at any point, but it also made it easier to drop off without there being any story loss.

2 Charmed Season 4

Charmed Season 4 Was The Perfect Soft Reboot Of The Series

After Shannon Doherty left in Charmed season 3, this season mixed up the dynamic of the Charmed Ones by introducing a long-lost half-sister, Paige Matthews. This Charmed season 4 change forced Piper to take on the oldest sister role, and Pheobe became the middle child. The new dynamics kept Charmed feeling fresh at a point in the series where many shows often start to become stale and repetitive. Charmed season 3’s compelling main villain continued into season 4, keeping the stakes high for the Power of Three.

Additionally, Charmed season 4 masterfully integrated a massive betrayal within the Charmed Ones with Phoebe turning to the dark side due to her pregnancy with Cole. While risky, this division of the Power of Three worked, unlike the later attempt in Charmed season 6. Ultimately, the relationship developed between Cole and Phoebe and her personal character development proved strong enough to warrant her choice.

1 Charmed Season 3

Charmed Season 3 Offered The Best Of Everything

Charmed only got stronger through the first three seasons. The overarching narrative was cohesive and compelling, improved by making Shax and The Source of All Evil the overarching villains. Piper, Phoebe, and Prue all had distinctive voices that made them more interesting on their own rather than just as a group. They each also had a second power by the end of the season, allowing for massive character growth.

Additionally, while other great non-Charmed Ones characters existed earlier and later in the series, Charmed season 3 collectively included the best ones like Daryll, Leo, Cole, and Victor. This allowed for the best romance arcs between Leo and Piper and Cole and Phoebe. Because the series also included the spirits of Patty and Grams more, the sisters’ family background and dynamic became more fleshed out. All of these fantastic elements combine to make Charmed season 3 the best of the entire series.