Buffy vs Charmed

[TrueVengeance]

Just a little something I've had fun talking about on other boards. Which is the better show?

They're so different...it's hard to compare. And I hope there's no one here who'll jump on me for saying I think Buffy's a better show. (Yes, people have started yelling at me for this)

The writing was better in Buffy, IMO. It also made more sense, and stuck with what they wrote. Charmed tended to change the laws of magic, just so they could fit in what they wanted. For example. I believe it was Holcus Pocus, and Henry wanted Paige to watch the baby until he found the father. Paige didn't have time for it, so she just scryed for the father to save time. In "Mr and Mrs Witch", we learn that you cannot scry for nonmagical beings....hmm...

Also, they overdid the killing off of the characters. And as some people mentioned already in this thread, they didn't take risks like Buffy did. Piper and Phoebe died like...9 times or something like that. It got a bit old after a while...in fact, whenever a sister died, you weren't too effected by it, because you knew they were coming back in the next scene.

Hope this doesn't cause any bashing or anything....people tend to take it seriously on some boards

[Drama]

Both shows have good and bad parts in my opinion. Something the same is that both shows' final seasons sucked, in my opinion.

I can't really say which is my favorite, though. I feel like my obsession with Charmed will beat out Buffy. Plus, Buffy/Spike is my most hated couple, even worse than Phoebe and any guy after Jason. At least those latest for a few eps. Spuffy was just *gags and washes eyes out* Gross.

[Astral Echo]

I never really got into to Buffy like how I got into Charmed, Charmed became an obbesion while Buffy remained to be something I would watch if nothing else was on. I haven't even watched barely any of the series. Plus Charmed all felt a little more believable and I do like the realism that Charmed had and Buffy lacked.

[Xenith]

I thinks it's a really hard call to say which one is better? Especially if you were to compare the shows at their best S1-S3 only of each. (Some may argue S4 of Charmed, and parts of S4 Buffy were also on the whole good at least for their arcs...although seriously "Beer Bad"? Really Joss? *shudders*)

Also, they overdid the killing off of the characters.

Not exactly sure exactly what you meant by overdid killing off characters? (As in permanently on that show) Both are pretty equal on that by my count of non-demon characters that people cared at all about:

Charmed Death Count: (Major) Andy, Prue, Cole, Chris
(Minor) Drake, Kyra, Bianca, Inspector Davidson, Inspector Sheridan, Christy

Buffy Death Count (Major): Jenny, Joyce, Tara, Anya, Spike*
(Minor) Jonathan, Principal Flutie, Principly Snyder

[Angel was a different show so I'm not counting anyone who latercheated death by appearing on that show, nor Buffy characters who died on that show (who actually even survived Angel's run? Talk about killing off...]

(I nearly wrote Jenny under Charmed...wishful thinking. Also I nearly forgot to write Christy. Wonder if anyone would have noticed?)

I haven't even watched barely any of the series

Then you may not have given it much of a chance, for the longest time all I ever saw of Buffy was an occassional episode on TNT rerun. I saw episode like Wrecked, Beer Bad, Life Serial, and Sleeper. I had no idea what was going on and really couldn't care about the characters or get into it. It was only after I sat down and watched the series starting with episode 1 that I found myself getting hooked. (Honestly if I had just seen bits of Charmed from S6-S8 I probably wouldn't have thought I'd care for the show much either)

Charmed all felt a little more believable and I do like the realism that Charmed had and Buffy lacked.

That's certainly not an argument you hear too often... Typically it's the other way around, Charmed is the show that really almost became a campy parody of itself, while Buffy is the one that stayed dark, too dark actually...Spuffy *vomits*. Buffy's greatest weakness to me was that the big bad's for each season mostly sucked after S3 sucked. The First was really the only one that had any potential to me and that mostly went to waste...


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Anyways for the heck of it how about we do compare some specific things that both show had in common and pick which one you liked better and give that show a point.

If a category has more than one item for each show listed then just pick the one that best fits for you for that show.

Finally if the category is about something bad then name which one is worse and give the point to the other show (for not sucking as much in that aspect)




EPISODES:[/U]

Episode that Made You Cry the Most:
The Body/The Gift/Becoming Pt2/Chosen/Wild at Heart
vs.
Awakened/Charmed Again/Vaya Con Leos/All Hell Breaks Loose/Hell Hath No Fury/Long Live the Queen

Worst Episode:
I Robot, You Jane/Bad Eggs/Beer Bad/Doublemeat Palace
vs.
Mr. & Mrs. Witch/Lucky Charmed/ Nymphs Just Want to Have Fun

Funniest Episode:
Once More with Feeling/Tabula Rasa/Storyteller/Him/Gone/Bewitched Bothered & Bewildered
vs.
Chick Flick/Sense & Sensibility/That 70's Episode

Alternate Reality Episode:
Dopplegangland vs Morality Bites

Series Premiere:
Welcome to the Hellmouth vs Something Wicca This Way Comes

Season Finale:
Prophecy Girl vs All Hell Breaks Loose

Series Finale:
Chosen vs Forever Charmed




CHARACTERS

Most Annoying Love Interest in the Credits:
Riley vs Dan

Unwanted Teen Character:
Dawn/Andrew vs Billie/Jenny

Bad Guy to Good Guy:
Angel/Spike vs Cole

Good Girl to Bad Girl:
Dark Willow vs Queen Phoebe

Ultimate Evil:
The Master/The First vs The Source

Ultimately Annoying Evil:
Glory/The Trio vs Gideon/Billie & Christy

Best Couple:
Bangel / Spuffy / Buffy+Riley / Xanya / Xandelia / Willow+Oz / Willow+Tara/Giles+Jenny
vs.
Pipel+Leo / Phoebe+Cole / Phoebe+Coop / Phoebe+Drake/ Prue+Andy / Paige+Glenn / Paige+Henry

Worst Couple:
Bangel / Spuffy / Buffy+Riley / Xanya / Xandelia / Willow+Tara/Giles+Jenny
vs.
Pipel+Dan / Phoebe+Jason / Phoebe+Coop/ Phoebe+Leslie / Phoebe+Dex / Paige+Richard / Paige+Kyle /Prue+Jack/

Worst Character Assassination:
Buffy/Willow/Xander vs Phoebe/Paige/Piper



OTHER:

Contrivance Alerts:
The Initiative vs Magic School

Credits
Buffy Credits vs Charmed Credits

[leo]

You all make good points but I have to say for my self that each show had it's fine moments and cry scenes. The only true winner of the two is the one who had the most tearful, fearful, adventure, I can't believe this is happening moment before the seasons went to hell. So think back to each of the best season they both had and think which had the best finally and then will you have your winner. I hope this helps.

[TrueVengeance]

To Xenith about killing off the characters. I meant the killing of Prue/Piper/Phoebe/Paige. Piper died 9 times, and the show was only on for eight years!

Good point Leo. Here's my rankings for the seasons of Buffy:

5
6
3
7
2
4
1

For Charmed:

3
4
2
5
1
6
8
7
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