So, because there has been so much debate in the charmed fandom about screen time and focus and everything, I decided to go down on facts and write down the actual screen time each main character have (by actual I mean approximative cause yes I’m very bored but I’m not a psycho so if a character was taking part of the scene I would write down the time of the scene and not only when it was on said character. The only exception is when the character was barely participating or was like, laying on the ground unconscious (happens more than you’d think)). It’s probably not right to the second but it’s close enough lmao. I saw someone do that with Supergirl in the past so I was like why not ?
Screen time for season 2
Macy : 5h35m57s (19/19)
Mel : 5h27m20s (19/19)
Maggie : 6h11m33s (19/19)
Harry : 4h32m15s + 21m10s as Jimmy (19/19)
Abigael : 2h19m46s (13/19)
Jordan : 1h38m49s (15/19)
Now as you can see, the screen time that both Abigael and Jordan get is barely half what Harry gets (for Abby) and not even close to half for Jordan (to be honest Jordan could get a little more). The sisters clear have more screen times than anyone else (rightfully, as it should). What they do with that screentime though is a different story because Jimmy for example doesn’t get a lot of screentime but was the center of others’ story. Same with Harry being a lot of Macy’s story, or even Abigael’s. The show definitely failed in using that screen time to develop their characters properly at times, but in terms of number only, there is no question the focused is definitely on the sisters, followed by Harry/Jimmy and further behind Abby and Jordan.
But my crazy ass didn’t stop there (yes I have issues I know leave me alone), so I also have graphs or their individual screen times through the season and as a comparative graph of their screentime for each episode.
Note: for Harry I included Jimmy in his screen time but Jimmy only appears in 7 episodes. His screen time (opposed to his place in the story) is rather small though except for one episode where his screen time is a bit above 10mins. More details coming.
And one graph with screen time comparisons by episode for each character.
Detailed screentime
And no. It still doesn’t stop here (someone should stop me though). I also put down with who each character spend their time with when on screen for each episode. Yes I know, something is wrong with me, let’s just ignore it and move along. Anyway. Screen shots of the graphs/tables are easier than writing everything because it’s long. I don’t know if anyone cares but I was like if I do it I’ll do it well
Note: group (2+) means any variantes of three people or more who are part of the main cast. So Macy, Mag and Abigael for example. Or Macy, Harry, Maggi and Abigael. Any group who doesn’t involve all three sisters at the same time.
So basically all of this, I think, resumes pretty well the construction of the episodes. The sisters are definitely the front and center with a screen time far superior to anyone else. So I truly don’t think the issue here is about screen time (I beg, can people stop acting like the screen time is the issue). It’s normal to have a couple of episodes where other characters will be a bit more put ahead, it happens in literally every show ever and it’s also not an issue as long as it’s only occasionally (which was the case for Jordan or even Abby. (For Harry during season 2 it was a bit of a bigger issue which seem to be going a little be better in s3). Honestly in terms of screen time, I’d say (purely on the numbers here) give a bit less to Harry and a bit more to Jordan (Jimmy is also gone so there is that screen time to add) and I think it could be a good balance for now as both Abby and Jordan are still separated from the main storyline so they won’t as involved until they more linked to it ;in S3).
I know season 3 already started but again, based on these numbers only, I hope Jordan will be a bit more involved in other characters than just Maggie. Abby had some time with Harry but thankfully they dropped that story so I hope they’ll reduce that screen time a bit and will give more Abby interacting with Mel and Jordan, as well as Maggie, they can be funny. I also hope the sisters will have more bonding moments, as a trio and in pairs. TCO is the biggest screen time but it feels like it’s mostly trying to kill monsters or in crisis, and we need more sisterly scenes, bonding time, so we can really get more attached to their bond.
SHIPS
There is another thing that I noticed while doing this, even thought it was not the point, is the difference of screen time between pairings.
Macy/Harry - 44 minutes 30 secondes
Maggie/Jordan - 52 minutes 49 secondes
Mel/Ruby - 10 minutes 48 secondes
Mel/Abigael - 13 minutes 22 secondes
I included abimel just cause there are chances they actually go there and it does count into the ground they built all of this on. I know Ruby is not a main so she will obviously not have the same screentime than others (which is why I’m not a big fan of this ship tbh) but even with that they still deserve more imo especially when you compare it to the heterosexual relationships of the show. It’s a strong unbalance the show needs to fix and that is clearly still going in season 3. I will probably talk more about it in the potential season 3 post but I do think attention needs to be brought on the issue. If they do go with Abimel, I also understand they won’t spent too much time on a ship that isn’t meant to last (which, story wise, seems to be the case) but it is still not a great look to have Mel in a relationship by name only and have others have these long development through the entire season. And same if they do end up making Abimel an actual couple. But that’s more of an upcoming because though they did hint at stuff during S2 it also wasn’t the focus.
Anyway, i don’t think anyone really cares but well. I also probably will do season 3 too. But that’s the end of this very long text and doing all this took me so much more time than I’ll admit 😪 gonna blame the lockdown on this one. I don’t think anyone cares but I did it anyway 😂 and I’m also blaming that one person who did it for other shows for giving me the idea. if you have read all of that (you’re dedicated), thanks for reading and if not it’s ok I understand.