Before it became a global franchise, Charlie’s Angels was a groundbreaking TV show in the 1970s that captivated audiences and turned its three leading ladies—Kate Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, and Jaclyn Smith—into cultural icons. Over the years, the franchise has seen its share of highs and lows. From the blockbuster 2003 film starring Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, and Lucy Liu to the less-than-stellar 2011 TV reboot featuring Annie Ilonzeh, Rachael Taylor, and Minka Kelly, and even the more recent attempt at reinvention with Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, and Ella Balinska under the direction of Elizabeth Banks, the legacy of Charlie’s Angels remains deeply tied to its original roots. No matter what happens with the franchise, it’s the original series that continues to resonate most with fans, and its stars remain the ones we’re most curious about.

A Show That Grew with the Times

“When you revisit a show at different stages of life—whether you're in your 20s, 30s, or even your 50s—it takes on a whole new meaning,” says author Ed Robertson, who also hosts the TV Confidential podcast. “When I was 12, watching Charlie’s Angels was all about the excitement of seeing Jaclyn Smith in her iconic bikini. But as I grew older, I realized there was so much more to the show than just the glamour. What I discovered later, and had almost forgotten, was that the early episodes were much more grounded and serious. In the pilot and the first few episodes, before the show became the pop culture phenomenon we know today, Charlie’s Angels was about three detectives who were incredibly skilled at their craft. The fact that they were women was almost secondary, because they weren’t just good detectives—they were masterful at pulling off cons as part of their undercover operations. These early episodes were more sophisticated, with scripts that allowed for deeper character development. The pilot, in particular, was so well-crafted that it’s no surprise it sold. It was fast-paced, smart, and perfectly cast.”

charlies-angels-cast-1 — Moviestore/Shutterstock

“Back in the day, there were shows like Wonder Woman and The Bionic Woman, but it was Stephanie Powers who really set the stage for female superheroes in the 1960s with The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.,” recalls Herbie J Pilato, author of Glamour, Gidgets, and the Girl Next Door and host of Amazon and Shout TV’s Classic TV talk show, Then Again with Herbie J Pilato. “Charlie’s Angels took that concept to the next level. You had Farrah Fawcett, who was already a household name thanks to her Wella Balsam commercials; Kate Jackson, who had built a following from her roles in The Rookies and Dark Shadows; and Jaclyn Smith, who was relatively new to the scene. Each of them had their own fan base, and when they came together, it was like the stars aligned. It was the perfect storm of talent, timing, and charisma.”