12 Quotes From the 'Charmed' Premiere That Tell You Everything
The CW's Charmed reboot kicked off tonight, with a pilot episode that introduced magical sisters Macy (Madeleine Mantock), Mel (Melonie Diaz), and Maggie (Sarah Jeffery). Fans of the original '90s series were no doubt watching avidly for differences and similarities, and deciding whether the 2018 version measures up. One episode might not be enough to go on, but we certainly learned a lot from the premiere.
Here are of the most revealing quotes and what they mean for the show.
1 "This is not a witch hunt. It’s a reckoning, and I want him out."
One of the first lines in the show-and the first mention of witches-comes from Marisol Vera (Valerie Cruz), the sisters' mother. At first, it's unclear what she's referring to, but later we learn that Marisol was the head of the women's studies department at the local college, and that one of her colleagues is being investigated for sexual harassment.
2 "Take my boots off!"
At first we only meet two of the sisters: Maggie and Mel. Maggie's the younger one, and she wants to rush a sorority, so naturally she plunders her older sister's closet. Their dynamic seems to be pretty heavy on the bickering, but they also seem close.
3 “You're better together, your differences are your strengths, and nothing is stronger than your sisterhood. Nurture that.”
Knowing that Marisol is going to die in this episode doesn't make it any easier when it happens-and neither does this quote. Given the way Maggie parrots part of the line while Marisol is counseling her daughters, it's something she says a lot, and it foreshadows the bond the three young women will have to rely on to defeat all their future demonic enemies.
4 “Girls. Come home. Right now. Both of you.”
Actually, this is a text rather than a line of dialogue, which Marisol sends when she's worried for her daughters' safety. Unlike Piper, Prue, and Phoebe, these Charmed Ones are going to also have the power of instant communication.
5 “When it comes to consent, you can change your mind at any time."
2018's Charmed is very woke. Not only does the sexual harassment suit turn out to be relevant to the girls' search for the demon Maggie encountered, but Mel also finds the time to school a young couple at a sorority party in the finer points of consent.
6 “I read your article in Critical Inquiry-very well written, if a bit hostile. Reading it made me feel as if my penis had been torn from my body.”
Is that an invitation? This line seems designed specifically to make you dislike Harry Greenwood, who has replaced Marisol at the university after her mysterious death. And Mel doesn't like him much either-as she says to him, “They should never have hired a cis male to lead the women’s studies department." You tell him! This whole exchange is worth it, though, for the too-real moment when Harry boasts that he's been "retweeted by Roxane Gay." Congratulations!
7 “I think I’m your sister.”
Although we know there are three Charmed sisters, we don't meet Macy until later in the episode. She's just moved to town and lands on Mel and Maggie's doorstep, holding a photo of herself as a baby being held by their mom in front of their house. Lightning and thunder crackle murderously: Looks like something very powerful isn't happy that all three have been united.
8 “When the weakest of men reaches ill-gotten glory…suffice to say, it’s your current president.”
That's The Book of Shadows throwing a Trump burn in there, no biggie. But Harry-the annoying Women's Studies guy-has a bigger point to make when he reads this old prediction to the three sisters. He tells them that they're witches, and are destined to save the world. Obviously. Oh, and also, he's a white-lighter-in the original Charmed, white-lighters were like angels-who can heal people with a mere touch. Useful!
9 “Witches aren’t real-there’s a scientific explanation for this.”
All three struggle with the truth when Harry reveals that they're witches. Each sister has discovered her power: Macy is telekinetic and can move things with her mind (like Prue in the original), Maggie can hear people's thoughts if she touches them (unlike Phoebe, who had premonitions), and Mel can freeze the scene around her (like Piper). Macy, who's a scientist, probably has the hardest time accepting the idea.
10 "The anger got in the way."
Mel has a revelation when she sees her ex, Nico (Ellen Tamaki). The only way she can control her power is by not being angry. Which is tricky, since she's been feeling angry a lot since her mom died.
11 “Sodium bicarbonate neutralizes it.”
But after examining the supernatural goo the demon dog left on Maggie, Macy's scientific mind finds a very normal solution to their abnormal problem. These three witches don’t seem to be as bound to the Book of Shadows as the original sisters, who had to research every demon-defeating strategy in the dusty old tome.
12 “Don’t trust Harry.”
At the end of the episode, the sisters find a Ouija board and contact their mother, who swiftly tells them to watch out for the white-lighter. So who is he really?
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