Witches of East End - Episode 1.04 - A Few Good Talismen - Review

What an action-packed and ultimately heart-breaking episode!  The Witches of East End have got their work cut out for them in picking up the pieces after this week's shock-filled hour...especially Ingrid.  Here's the breakdown:

Magic giveth and taketh...unfortunately for Ingrid.  The adorable librarian finally learned who would pay the price for her resurrection spell: Adam, the kind police officer with whom she'd been falling in love.  The episode pulled a bait and switch, first leading us to believe that Ingrid's coworker Barb and/or her unborn child fall prey to magical karma. That would have been tragically ironic, given that Ingrid cast the fertility spell that allowed Barb to become pregnant. 

However, events twisted, and after a beautifully romantic scene culminating with a kiss in the rain between Adam and Ingrid, the former fell stricken to the ground.  Whatever magic-contrived ailment grabbed Adam, it did so right after Ingrid learned that Barb and the baby were both fine.  The rain, which had seemed to signify sadness over Barb's ordeal, and then hope for Ingrid and Adam's love, ended up symbolizing the new life of Barb's baby and the grief Ingrid felt at losing her new beau.  It's horrible that she has to feel responsible for Adam's death. 

 I can't help but wonder if the show will find a way to bring Adam back...he was a wonderful match for Ingrid and it's terrible to see him go so soon...but maybe he's Witches of East End's version of a Sheriff Graham character (from Once Upon a Time)...killed early to show the real, harsh consequences of the magic in this world.

Wendy's shenanigans: Meanwhile, Wendy was up to some pretty fascinating and rather mysterious hijinks involving the wife of the man Joanna has been wrongfully accused of killing.  After spelling a totally icky little bug-like item into the widow's throat, Wendy later sent a butterfly into her ear.  What?  I cannot wait to learn of her intentions throughout these scenes, though surely her goal is to protect Joanna.

In order to obtain that pretty blue butterfly with magical qualities, Wendy had to seduce the adorkable bug professor played by Freddie Prinze, Jr, who is looking good.  These two had plenty of chemistry, and it's a fair bet this won't be the last time they meet.  Our cluelessness as to the meaning of Wendy's behavior added great suspense to this part of the episode, while her scenes with Leo sizzled.  

Joanna meets one shapeshifter, anyway...just not the one who framed her for murder.  Hey, how many shapeshifters are running around East End anyway?  With the handsome and helpful Harrison in tow, Joanna took on an enemy from her past, once again revealing that she's one tough cookie despite the low-key mom persona she often tries to project.  While Joanna has plenty of enemies from the past hundreds of years she's walked the Earth, I theorize that the big bad could be someone closer to her, someone that we have already met.

More Freya, Dash, and Killian: Freya's plotlines are getting to be reliable, with this love triangle continually keeping her busy.  After getting Dash and Killian to come to their mom's house for dinner at the same time, which took no end of hard work and dedication to mending their relationship and making her future mother-in-law happy, Freya was then unceremoniously ditched by the bros.  She remained admirably amicable to the situation, and at dinner seemingly smoothed out her own relationship with Penelope.  Virginia Madsen's mama character still seems wary of Freya...is it because she knows about Freya's true nature?  This was probably the least interesting part of the episode, but I'm still intrigued to see where this plotline is going.

Witches is keeping the surprises and the excitement going as Season 1 rolls on...what would you like to see happen for the ladies in future episodes?  Share your ideas in the comments!