Salem - Episode 1.01 - Pilot: The Vow - Preview
Apr 20, 2014
Reviews SalemSalem asks the intriguing question, what happens when witches are in charge of the witch trials that plagued 17th century Salem, Massachusetts? The answer is a griping tale with many twists and turns that kept me glued as many secrets were revealed.
Early on we meet John and Mary who are secretly in love. John has to go off to war and assures Mary that he will return in no more than a year. After he leaves, Mary is left with a secret that she resolves with the help of her companion, Tituba.
Seven years later, John returns from war to find that everyone thinks he has died in the war. Salem is in the middle of a witch panic. Cotton Mather has been sent in to see to the trials. John learns that Mary is the richest woman in Salem because she has married his enemy in his absence. Mary is a well-respected member of the town, but she has secrets of her own that if revealed could destroy her. Mary is torn between her past love for John and her secrets although she feels that John betrayed and abandoned her. John feels that Mary was faithless when she married in his absence.
Rev. Mather is challenged about his lack of caution when he insists that witches remain among the people of Salem. John clearly doubts the existence of witches. Rev. Mather has secrets of his own. He tells John that he spent the years in between when they last met becoming an expert of witches while John was off fighting in the war. While subduing a troubled girl, she reveals that a being she calls "The Hag" is responsible for her torment.
With the witch trials as the backdrop, there is danger lurking around every corner. Do the witches really exist, or are they just a figment of fear and imagination? How can anyone tell the difference? If there really are witches, what do they want?
I found the pilot to be very entertaining with enough action and surprises that it kept me guessing as to what would happen next. The production value was also superior with a very engaging cast. There are many secrets revealed in the pilot and I'm sure more yet to be unearthed as the season goes on.
Salem will premiere on Sunday, April 20 at 10/9c on WGN America.
Thanks for the review Tracie, glad you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteI thought the production values were very high.
excellent review. Seriously can't wait to watch this!
ReplyDeleteAaah you've seen the episode?
ReplyDeletelucky you!!!
It was really good. I recognized 2 of the actresses from other series I've watched. There were a lot of twists that I wasn't expecting. It really reminded me a lot of Sleepy Hollow so that is a definite good sign.
ReplyDeleteThank you. It was really good. I hope you enjoy it. I have to wait now to see the 2nd episode. The pilot was definitely good.
ReplyDeleteYes. I got a screener since I'll be reviewing the show this season so I was given an advanced copy to preview and review. The pilot is really good and intriguing.
ReplyDeleteSo Mary and tituba are the villains. Poor Alden. He can do better I think now.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review! I can't wait to see this. Funny that you compare it to Sleepy Hollow because the last show that got me this excited...was Sleepy Hollow. lol.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. Sleepy Hollow was the first thing that came to my mind as I was watching the pilot. They aren't exactly the same, but there are definitely similarities.
ReplyDeleteI think as the series goes on there will be more layers added on. I don't think that Mary is a pure villain. She was vulnerable and is conflicted. I could sense that already. And now that John has returned I feel it will only make her more conflicted.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review, this is one of the shows I'm looking forward to right now (this and Penny Dreadful) so I'm glad you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. I hope you enjoy it as well.
ReplyDeleteOwh, then I'm looking forward to watching it!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
I hope there are good witches but looking at the promos looks like there are none
ReplyDeleteMeaning not ones who have powers from the devil
ReplyDeleteGoing to wait a few episodes and see if there are supernatural elements to this.. I watched the promo for it and it seems to 'Jesus-y' for my liking but if its a supernatural show without being to conservative and has some romance I will give it ago.
ReplyDeleteGod, I can't wait to watch this show! So excited for it.
ReplyDeleteIt foes have a supernatural promo from the looks of the promos.
ReplyDeleteCan't. Wait. Hope it's available on Hulu though so I don't have to wait for the DVDs!
ReplyDeleteFor those who want to see this but don't get WGN America, it's been added to Google Play so they'll be selling it. I'm sure it's on iTunes too but I don't use it, so I couldn't say.
ReplyDeleteToday is the day. Thanks for the preview. The show looks really good.
ReplyDeleteWow Tracie, you're only ugly gal.
ReplyDeleteWell, it is not contemporary show, it takes place in 17th century, so i don't understand your complaint about it being conservative.
ReplyDelete