Olivia Liang stars in "Kung Fu"

Fans are getting ready to give a warm "welcome back" to some returning CW favorites this week. Two reimagined TV classics are premiering brand-new seasons, beginning with the martial arts action/drama series "Kung Fu" on Wednesday, March 9, on CW, and later featuring the Power of Three in "Charmed" on Friday, March 11.

The updated version of "Kung Fu" is a reimagining of the 1970s series of the same name, but it seems to have placed more importance on authenticity and representation than its namesake franchise; something that began when Chinese-American actress Olivia Liang ("Dating After College") was cast in the series' leading role of Nicky Shen. Now back for Season 2, Liang has grown into a comfortable relationship with CW as, in addition to her role in "Kung Fu," she also stars as Alyssa Chang in Season 3 of the network's superhuman boarding school drama, "Legacies."

Liang's Nicky began "Kung Fu" as a Harvard dropout who struck out on her own by traveling to China to join a Shaolin monastery. There she learned valuable lessons that would help her keep San Francisco safe following her return home. A trailer for the upcoming season of "Kung Fu," released by CW, teases the pending arrival of an evil cousin, as well as a battle between Nicky and Russell Tan (Kee Chan, "Mortal Engines" 2018). After all, a series named for a martial arts discipline must deliver its fair share of action.

While Liang didn't have any martial arts experience before preparing to star as a Shaolin Kung Fu master, she did arrive with a strong athletics background of another type. As she told MTV News after the series premiere in April 2021, "With my background in dance, I'm able to pick up at least the choreography. Fighting in TV and film, it really is a dance." She went on to say, "It's really important to me that we honor the art form and the sport, and that I make our people proud."

One of the keys to respecting and honoring the art is relying on a professional to sell the most complicated, high-flying stunts in "Kung Fu." For that, professional stunt performer Megan Hui steps into Nicky's shoes. Hui has some impressive credits of her own, including 2018 blockbusters "Deadpool 2" and "Skyscraper," the recent 2021 superhero movie "Snake Eyes" and another CW series, "DC's Legends of Tomorrow."

While each of the women is responsible for conveying different aspects of Nicky, Hui's career as a competitive rhythmic gymnast (she competed for Canada in the 2003 Pan American Games) only helps to fuel the lithe martial arts work at the core of Liang's character.

From unbelievable action to otherworldly magic, CW keeps the thrills rolling this week with the Season 4 premiere of "Charmed," airing on the network beginning March 11. The witchy sisters are back for a new season and ready to keep the world safe through the pursuit of white magic.

Sarah Jeffery, Melonie Diaz and Madeleine Mantock from "Charmed"

Sarah Jeffery ("Shades of Blue") stars as Maggie Vera, the youngest of the three sisters who can hear others' thoughts. The middle child, Mel Vera, has the ability to freeze time and is portrayed by "The Breaks'" Melonie Diaz. Macy Vaughn, played by Madeleine Mantock ("The Long Song"), is the oldest of the three sisters. Previously estranged, the sisters reunite following Macy's arrival back in Milltowne, Michigan, to visit Maggie and Mel. This event sets off the sisters' previously dormant powers, and together with Macy's telekinesis, the siblings are anointed "The Charmed Ones," the most powerful good witches in the realm.

All at once, the sisters are reunited and must grieve the loss of their mother while taking on the responsibility of protecting innocent humans and creatures from evil forces. So far, the women have battled everything from demons to a group of monster-creating mortals while navigating their own personal struggles.

Adapted from the original WB series of the same name, "Charmed" has taken some liberty with details from the source material, including tweaks to their powers and, perhaps most noticeably, mixed ethnicities within the family. The witchy whimsy and quirky mystery have all carried through from the original, however.

A Season 4 trailer for "Charmed" that was released in January revealed a shocking twist for the upcoming season. Without spoiling too much for the uninitiated, the trailer's tagline is "Two will become the Power of Three … again" (something that may ring a bell for fans of the original series). While the teaser doesn't give fans much else to go on, the forces of evil will undoubtedly be after the Veras yet again as they rebuild their lives and improve upon their powers. Lucy Barrett ("Co-Ed") also joins the cast this season.

Don't miss the female-powered action when "Kung Fu" returns March 9 and "Charmed" follows suit on March 11, both on CW. And for those looking for a more business-driven source of female empowerment, the second half of "Dynasty's" fifth season also premieres March 9 on the network.