The Good Witch – Podcast
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Are You a Fan of Hallmark Channel’s The Good Witch?
Instead of talking about a Hallmark movie, I thought I’d speak a little bit about The Good Witch. The Good Witch is a series on the Hallmark Channel. I’d never really watched it until recently. I saw that it was on Netflix. I’m not a huge fan of witches and witchcraft. However, the few times I’d stumbled upon an episode on Hallmark, I was intrigued enough to watch.
Hold on…do you like to read fiction? I’m a Christian romance author and have published several contemporary and historical titles on Amazon. You can view all of my titles here. ceceliadowdy.com Now back to The Good Witch…
So, when I saw that the entire first few seasons was on Netflix, I thought I’d watch. I like the small-town feeling of Middleton. I also like how the townsfolk know one another and want to help one another out and show their support. The one thing about the town that somewhat bothered me was that everybody was White. No Black people at all. Wait, I do recall them showing an African-American couple exiting a restaurant once. I think the series needs more diversity – however, this may have changed in later seasons. I’m currently on season four.
I also like Grey House. A bed and breakfast with beautiful scenery is a nice backdrop for a story. Cassie is a witch and her cop husband has died. Someone on Twitter mentioned that there were movies made before the series. I was surprised to see that some of the characters in the series were children in the movies. Meaning, the same actors that played the character as a child, had now grown up and they played the same character (from the movie) who’d grown into adulthood. I’m speaking of Cassie’s step-children. I saw the same 2 actors in one of the Good Witch movies – except they were much younger in the movies.
The romance between Sam and Cassie was refreshing. They’ve got good chemistry and I can see them moving forward and getting married – which I know they do in future episodes. Sam is a doctor and Cassie is a holistic healer. They have clashing views about healing and it makes for some good chemistry and conflict between them. I thought that the problems that Sam had with his ex-wife, and his son Nick, were realistic.
I also enjoyed seeing Nick’s interaction with Cassie’s daughter, Grace. Grace is such cute, nice teen and both her and Nick deal with their share of teenage angst, like dating, falling in love, friendships, relationships, school issues, etc.
I was surprised that I enjoyed watching this series more than watching Hallmark romance movies. The scenery was nice and I liked seeing the different shops in town.
Cassie’s Bell Book and Candle Shop was…strange. I thought that the concept of her shop was totally unrealistic, yet, the concept worked for this series, if you know what I mean? She didn’t really have much of a theme for her shop. Like, most shops will sell a certain…something. Like a clothing shop sells mostly clothes. A candy shop sells mostly candies. But Bell Book and Candle? Cassie sells some herbs and spices, but, she also had a host of other theme-less things that didn’t necessarily go well together. She uses her powers to just know what her customers are seeking. It can be anything from paint brushes to books to ginger candies or maps!
Cassie’s cousin, Abigail, is an intriguing combination of good and well…naughty. At first I thought she was more or less a villain, but, later, it just turns out that she’s, well….complicated. She can be nice when she wants to be.
If I were a writer for this series, and I had to change something – the only thing (outside of the diversity issue) that I would change would be the mayor. Mayor Tisdale…well…I must be honest. She adds absolutely nothing to the series, at all. She’s flighty and nonsensical and I just don’t quite understand her role. Whenever she steps onto the scene, the background music changes. If you haven’t noticed this then pay attention the next time you watch it. The music switches to this nonsensical tune, as if you’re about to watch some kind of comedy or something? Is Mayor Tisdale supposed to be comic relief?
Also, I feel like I’m watching someone play the role of a mayor. What I mean to say is – when you are watching a movie or TV show that you enjoy and like, you can really get into it. You don’t feel like you’re watching actors playing a role. You feel like you’re actually watching a true, real scene, that’s really happening right in front of you. When I watch Mayor Tisdale, I feel like I’m watching someone trying to play the role of mayor. Almost like watching a high-school play or something from a local amateur actor’s guild.
I think the story would’ve been much stronger if they’d had a “real mayor”. What I mean is, someone who acts as if they are truly a mayor. Like, somebody campaigning for a cause or….I don’t know. Mayor Tisdale talks about such silly things and her tone of voice is so totally unrealistic that it’s nerve-wracking! I think if she were in the role of something else, like, maybe a clothing shop owner, or maybe a restaurant owner, I may like her a bit more? I also didn’t like that person who was added as her sidekick later, her male assistant, to whom she continuously dictates. Makes me cringe.
I also didn’t like how Mayor Tisdale was stripped of her mayoral title because the town’s boundary line had changed? The plot point where Abigail (who is in some kind of temporary role) suddenly has the power to strip Mayor Tisdale of her mayoral role, and then she (Abigail) becomes mayor?? Abigail is mayor for several episodes. I found it hard to watch her in that role, and to see Tisdale stripped of her role. The reason I found it hard to watch is because I felt the entire plot point was so unrealistic and implausible.
After Tisdale lost her mayoral role – well – think about it. If you were to lose your job, yes it would affect you, you’d be worried about finding another job. Especially if you need the money to survive. But, she wants her mayoral title back, but, her suffering was…was not the way a regular person would suffer in the real world after losing their bread-and-butter job! She just kind of went to different businesses and “helped out”. I felt that this plot point would have had a lot more meaning if it’d been written more realistically.
I highly recommend this series for those who want to watch something light and somewhat serious – at times serious. I tend to occasionally fast forward past the mayoral parts. But, other than the mayor, a very enjoyable series.
I also watched The Good Witch Movies. Come read about the movies! Leave a comment!
So, are you a fan of The Good Witch? If so, what do you like about it?
Do you know any Hallmark Channel Fans? Tell them about my Hallmark Movie blog by sharing this link: Hallmark Movie Reviews | (ceceliadowdy.com)
I love the show. I believe Mayor Tisdale’s role is comedic relief. We always laugh at her scenes. All in all a great show without any magic, just sensing things.
Yes, Robin, I’d noticed that as well, regarding the sensing things. You don’t really see much magic in the show, per se. Like, I don’t see anybody casting spells or anything. Both Cassie and Grace sense who’s coming into the room with their backs turned. It’s implied that they may disappear, or travel quickly, when they suddenly appear out of nowhere. But you don’t actually see how they happen to unexpectedly appear out of nowhere like that. I’m almost finished watching season 3.
No Black or Hispanic person has ever stayed at Gray House or ever had a Guest role on the show. So, I stopped watching after Five seasons. Hallmark is shameful! How writes and cast this stuff
Hi, Jocelyn
Thanks for your candid comment. I noticed the lack of diversity as well. I believe in later episodes there were a FEW diverse characters. There was one episode where an African American man and his son are staying at Gray House. The son wanted a career different than what his dad wanted him to do. I want to say the son played piano and was going to enter a competition?
The other episode, there was a group of people staying at Gray House. The group were co-workers. They were working on a special project. I want to say that one of the characters in this group was Indian?
I just did some quick research and found the episode – the one which I believe had the African-American father and son. The episode is entitled: “The Road Trip” and it’s episode #6 of Season #5
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I agree
Same here very disappointed at the lack of diversity. Sad in a country like America you would think Hallmark would use there platform to embrace diversity and showcase how all people can live harmoniously in Middleton rather than a white washed town
Hi, Di!
Thanks for commenting. I believe a new season of The Good Witch is now (or was) on Hallmark? I’ve not yet tried to watch it because I prefer binge-watching. The new season is not yet available on NetFlix or the Hallmark Movie Channel (to which I subscribe).
I’m unclear if Middleton has more diverse characters in the new season.
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i agree. my wife and i stopped watching after two seasons- no black or other person of color ever appeared in even a minor role. shame on Hallmark.
Hi, Alan
I believe Hallmark has started adding more ethnic characters to their movies within the last few years.
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They begin adding more diverse characters beginning in season 5. Can’t believe it took that long, but they got there…
Yes, I was glad to see that they got there. What did you think about the most recent season?
I didn’t like that season. It wasn’t written very well. I’m referring to the season where you only see Grace for a few minutes.
Also, Cassie has a distant cousin who comes to her bed and breakfast.
I warned up to Mayor Tisdale and find that her character has evolved throughout the series. Her heart is definitely in the right place. Abigail has become an ever more annoying character who puts herself first and pushes everyone else to put her first as well. I agree with Middleton being the kind of town that would be nice to live in. Bell, Book, and Candle – I wish the name was different as it’s meaning is not goid. But I find it to be a fascinating store where you never know what you’ll find. Like going on a treasure hunt each time you go in.
Hi, Diana
I just watched an episode tonight. It’s the episode where Sam proposes to Cassy. The mayor didn’t bother me as much in this episode. Not sure why. I noticed that her sidekick, the irritating man to whom she dictates, was absent during this episode. I might be getting used to Tisdale. Don’t know.
One thing about the episode that I watched tonight – one of the plot points seemed a bit strange and unrealistic. Cassy is trying to get Nick and Grace to become friends again since the two of them (Grace and Nick) have had a big argument. She gives them a project to work on. Apparently, the board games and puzzles that are in the closet are all mixed up – pieces of the puzzles are mismatched with other puzzles. The pieces of the board games are placed into the wrong boxes so you have a boxes of games with mismatched pieces. I can’t imagine this happening – unless you have a bunch of extremely young mischievous children who go into closets and mix things up! I would’ve had the two of them to work on something else together, like, simply cleaning out the closet or cleaning out the garage or something. I also thought it was unrealistic that Nick’s library card had been used in a Monopoly game as a Get Out of Jail Free card! Grace helps him find the missing card but…whoa! I would’ve thought of something better than that to get the two of them to make up!
Do folks still play board games and assemble jigsaw puzzles? I’m not sure!
I do agree with you about Cassie’s shop. I wish I could visit and she magically gives me what I need!
I do remember that episode, and you are so right. You will find a lot of things unrealistic in this show. But for me, I just view it as part of the creative freedom taken on this show. I like the fantasy and getting away from real life / real world drama sometimes.
I have been watching the good wit h since it’s first episode. I’m a fan of Catherine Bell the actor that plays Cassie. I like the show because it is light and airy.
Hi, Frances! Yes, I do agree that the show is light and airy!
Thank you for the great post about the Good Witch. My family started watching it from the first movie. The movies had a much different feeling to them than the series. I like the series, but it’s different. I really liked the movies’ focus on Cassie’s empathy, intuition, and lessons learned in life. The series seems to be delving more into the he supernatural, although, yes, still lightly. Things seem much more shallow and bland, too, and rely too heavily on Cassie’s apparent family history. The series could certainly use more diversity, too, but it is gentle and fun and always shows people learning to be kind and understanding.
Melissa, thanks so much for commenting. I’m glad you mentioned that the tone of the movies was a lot different than the series. As I’d mentioned, I’ve only seen a portion of one of the movies. I’ll need to watch the rest of the movies and perhaps blog about them – if I enjoy them. You are so right, the series does focus a lot on the Merriwick women’s family history. They’re always discussing some Merriwick family secret, finding some sort of family heirloom or treasure. There’s so much Merriwick family history that seems to pull the story forward. The series is gentle, fun, and enjoyable (with the exception of Tisdale – IMHO). Have a great week!
I love Mayor Tinsdale and enjoy her personality greatly. But agree this show needs more diversity in their characters. The only Black characters I have seen are in the background and seemingly, are interracial couples. Not realistic! There truly are more Black couples with like partners than what this show depicts. I wonder what their end game is on showing mainly interracial couples or Black single parents?
Hi, Cheryl
I’m glad you commented on my blog. I’m not sure about the single-parent angle, in regards to diverse parents. Both Sam and Cassie are single parents – Sam due to divorce and Cassie due to her her husband’s death. I think Hallmark is just feeling its’ way into having more diverse characters on their movies/series? I know I’d read an article a few years ago, where Hallmark didn’t want inter-racial couples in their movies. I believe the article went viral, and Hallmark has tried to rectify that by creating movies with more diverse characters.
Used to be, the main characters were always white. The Asian, Black, Latino, etc. characters were always secondary characters – someone’s best friend, someone’s boss, etc. After so many complaints, I feel that Hallmark felt it was time for a change.
What a wonderful series-one that lets you escape for awhile from the problems of our times and watch episodes that leave you feeling good for a change. I love each of the characters and for me Mayor Tinsdale is so very entertaining and it’s wonderful to see her progression as well as that of the others. My only sadness has been the total lack of diversity but I am on Season 4 and have hopes that this error will be corrected by Season 5 and beyond.
Hi, Suzy!
Thanks for leaving a comment on my blog post about The Good Witch! I did see a few diverse characters on later seasons. Others commenters have said the same as you, regarding Mayor Tisdale. I just can’t seem to get into her, but, I still enjoyed the series overall!
If you like light stories with diversity, then please try Sugar and Spice! It’s a heartwarming love story that’ll make you smile! I promise! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NAGUHWV/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i8
I have been binging the show lately. I find it a relaxing destress. But I have noticed a few things….
-I am assuming Middleton is a redline town, which would explain the lack of diversity. Though as it is filmed in Canada, maybe they dont have available POC actors available.
-For a ‘small town’, Middleton is surprisingly large with a bustling main street able to support more than basic needs shops. Gilmore Girls is set in a small town, Sweet Magnolias is set in a small town.
-Bell Book n Candle should be renamed ‘the McGuffin Store’ as it always seems to have the necessary prop.
-the Location Scout and Continuity need to improve.
1st season, Sam’s office is ground level storefront, and now its in an upper storey of a professional building’, and Middleton seems to have an accountant and a lawyer, but any lawyer roles are ‘visiting on business’
Sam n Cassie check out a lakehouse Sam is thinking of buying. Next season they visit the Lakehouse. They talk about Sam having it remodelled, which is a poor explanation for using a very different house.
Stores all seem to have changed signage and the flower shoo has changed position.
Hi, Bambusa
Did Sam ever purchase the lakehouse? For some reason, I don’t recall his buying it. I do recall their going to visit the lakehouse, though.
I didn’t pay close attention to the props/setting changes.
Have you watched all of The Good Witch movies?
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I “LOVE” the show I can watch it over and over and over, now there’s not much to say b/c the very beginning writer had said it all, and yes..No need for Mayor Tisdale, I don’t see her part needing to be in there, but I guess they needed something more to add. I came across this ad b/c I wanted to know WHY there’s NOT enough BLACKS on here and How “I” can APPEAR on the show saying a few words…Also I LOVE..LOVE…LOVE the MUSIC!
Hi, TamiaJ!
Thanks so much for visiting my blog and for leaving a comment! I enjoyed your reading what you had to say. If you like stories with diverse characters then give my books a try! You will love them!
I agree. Watching from Australia and almost finished season two. It’s easy to watch so I enjoy it and love the styling but today it dawned on me do any black, Asian, indigenous , gay or lesbian people live in this universe? Was this show made in the 1960s??? It’s not really realistic. You shouldn’t have token people of colour, ( that it’s self is outdated) but I’d be a bit offended if I wasn’t from whitey white land
Hi, Samantha
Thanks for commenting. Have you seen The Good Witch movies? https://ceceliadowdy.com/the-good-witch-movies-1-7/
Catherine Bell is half Iranian, so there is that. There are some black extras in scenes, but no voice roles yet. It became glaringly obvious in the first few episodes the lack of diversity. The mayor can be funny/silly/”karen” but it also seems like they missed a chance to show a woman in a leadership role seriously.
Hi, Debra
So glad you left a comment on the blog. Have you seen season 7? I’m currently watching it. I’ll blog about it once I’m finished.
Hey, if you like good wholesome stories then you should try Loving Luke. It’s a Christmas romance that’ll remind you of a Hallmark Movie! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0151OX1HS/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=ddpllc-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B0151OX1HS&linkId=14503ffa8abd6df12c73b524bcc0182e
Great post! I just started watching about a month ago and I’m on season 4 episode 9. I noticed that they always have a black person going in someplace or leaving someplace but it hit me that no one was ever staying at Grey House. So I was just curious if anyone else thought it was odd. No one but white people seem to actually be guests of Grey House 😔 I like the show and I like the mayor… She grew on me. She reminds me of a mayor of a small town in California. This mayor actually happens to be black but she is built kind of like mayor Tuesday now😆 Abigail is irritating at times and I hate to know that she took the mayorship from Tisdale. Anyway… It’s a good escape during these times but sad that I’m not seeing any other races of people stay at the beautiful bed-and-breakfast 🤦🏽♀️
Hi, Tracy
Thanks for commenting. Please check out my novella, Loving Luke. If you like good wholesome stories like Good Witch then you’ll enjoy this story. It’s available on Amazon and it’s CHEAP! Here’s the link: https://ceceliadowdy.com/loving-luke/
I watched all of the seasons that are available.
They do have some people of color to stay at Gray House later.
One twosome was an African-American father and a son.
The other person was Indian(?) I think?
I watched the final 2 seasons but I did not blog about those. The reason being, I didn’t care for the final 2 seasons.
The last 2 seasons made no sense to me.
Cassie becomes a professor, and I found that storyline highly implausible.
On the last season – nothing made sense. The plot was…well, it was silly and nonsensical. Also, the characters were different. What I mean to say is, you know when you watch a show, characters act a certain way and you just KNOW them.
The last season, the characters, the way they acted and the way they just WERE was different. Also, the plot was awful. Cassie is depressed and upset the entire last season. Plus, she talks to dead relatives that she sees – you didn’t see her act this way during the other seasons. The story lines looked like they were just patched together in a few minutes. It was a mess. I could give examples but it would take me too long to type everything out. Stuff just randomly happens out of nowhere and the storylines didn’t connect properly.
If you watch the last 2 seasons then please let me know what you think.
I found this article because I realised the show didn’t have any black characters, besides the extras they show in the background, and one patient of Dr Radford in season 3 who played in the string quartet.
I will stop watching since apparently it’s not going to get better.
Will check out your books.
Hi, Kersha!
Thanks so much for reading my blog post and for leaving a comment!
I did finish watching the series. I saw a father and son who were black – they were guests at Cassie’s bed and breakfast.
This happens near the end of the series.
Have you watched the most recent season of Good Witch?
I didn’t like it at all! That’s why I didn’t do a blog post about it.
I thought the last season needed better writers. None of the storylines made any sense. The plots were like a patchwork of stuff thrown together in a non-sensical manner.
Yes, I’d love it if you’d check out my books! You might want to start with Loving Luke. It’s a sweet story that reminds you of a Hallmark Christmas movie – only BETTER! Here’s the link for Loving Luke: https://ceceliadowdy.com/loving-luke/
Tell your friends by sharing that link! Have an awesome day!
Im tired of everyone injecting diversity into fiction. Like and enjoy the writing, casting, episodes or not. Your opinions are warranted and democratic, but you people are missing the point of diversity. Forcing black or hispanic into a fictional story is wrong, when diversity has been in the story since day one. Catherine Bell is part Iranian. Does that mean that you not only are forcing the show to be reverse racist, but are also claiming not enough diversity? Not too intelligent. The story is diverse enough if you watch the whole story and the script was written already. Dont like it, dont watch it.
Robert, everybody is entitled to their opinion.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with asking for diversity.
I’ve been involved in the book publishing industry for almost three decades.
Before that, I’ve always been, and still am, an avid reader.
I’ve spoken with readers, African-American readers, who wanted books that had characters that physically resembled them.
For years, publishers refused to publish books with Black characters because they said, “Black people don’t read books.”
Nothing could be further from the truth.
When Terry McMillan’s Waiting to Exhale was published, the publishers were shocked when African-American women clamored to get a copy.
These women were so excited to get a copy of a book about regular everyday women who were Black like them.
The success of Waiting to Exhale made the publishers realize that African-American women were an untapped market and that their reasoning had been wrong.
Oh, regarding the blog post, if you don’t like it, don’t read it!
Have a wonderful day!
Thank you Robert. Unfortunately, some people just can’t relax and have to find fault in a simple fictional TV program. Not everything needs to be a crusade. I enjoy this escape from the problems of our society in this day and age, and am happy to watch programming not forcing the problems of society in my face for an hour. Middleton seems like a nice place to live.
Hi all, I really enjoyed the Good Witch series, something different, a escape and wholesome from other type of shows I watch. Of course I noticed right away there were no blacks on the show. Didn’t bother me that much, but that’s how I stumbled upon this blog. I think I stuck with it longer then most because you do start to see black ppl and other ethic groups on the show on season 6, yes the last season. Hallmark could have done better with there casting, but didn’t take away from the show for me.
Hi, Tina!
I’m so glad that you stopped by and left a comment!
Did you enjoy the last season of The Good Witch?
At this time, the last season is Season 7.
In Season 7 a new character is introduced – a young woman who stays at Cassie’s Bed & Breakfast.
I didn’t like Season 7 AT ALL.
It wasn’t like the other seasons – totally different.
The storylines were weird – it was almost as if somebody different wrote the 7th season.
Also, the characters were strange. Cassie talks to dead relatives and she’s not upbeat and positive at all, totally the opposite.
You only see Grace once – via a Facetime call – for a few minutes.
I strongly disliked it, but, did not want to trash the last season on my blog – so I didn’t create a blog post for it.
I’d be interesting in hearing what you thought about season 7.
Leave another comment or email me if you prefer.
Also, if you like nice, sweet, wholesome stories, such as The Good Witch, then you should check out my novels!
Try Loving Luke – a good wholesome romance novel that’ll make you want to curl up with a cup of hot chocolate and cookies during the holiday season!
I’m with you on that one, season 6 got real boring and slow. I ended up skipping to the last 2 episode of season 7 today. I just added your book to my cart, can’t wait to check it out. 🙂
Thanks for responding Tina!
Enjoy the book!
It’s been getting some wonderful reviews on Amazon!