Salem - Episode 1.04 - Survivors - Review

Everyone has their secrets and their shame. Some secrets were threatened to be exposed. Shame drove others to act in questionable ways. Only the strong will survive.

Unbeknownst to Mary, Mercy’s father successfully conducts an exorcism to free her from her possessor. Mary shares her plans with her husband on who will be the next to be accused of being a witch by Mercy. Later when Mary meets Mercy in the market place she is unable to control her. Mercy has a fit and collapses before she is able to point her finger at Mary’s next innocent target.

While visiting his parents’ graves, John runs into Anne who describes her feverish dreams to him. She shares that she saw her father remove a doll from her room while she was sick. When she asked him about it he denied it. Anne reveals that she doesn't entirely believe her father when John senses her doubt. After his conversation with Anne, John shares the belief that Anne was spelled with Rev. Mather. When questioned on who could possibly be responsible, John casts his suspicion on Anne’s father. Rev. Mather isn’t quick to believe the worst while John maintains that there is something not quite right about Rev. Mather. Their conversation is cut short when Rev. Mather becomes jealous of a stranger getting cozy with Gloriana. John is surprised to see who the stranger is, but he denies knowing him asked by Rev. Mather.

During a meeting with Rose and Magistrate Hale, Mary assures them that she is still in control despite what happened with Mercy and that she only needs rest. Magistrate Hale feels that John is a threat due to John’s suspicion of him. And he warns that he may be forced to deal with John. Rose tells him that he needs to find a way to earn John’s trust. After her meeting, Mary goes to see Rev. Mather and urges him to find out what was behind Mercy’s fit in the town earlier that day. When he is reluctant to force his way, Mary reminds him that she settled for her second choice when he arrived in place of his father.

John confronts the man he saw in the tavern who turns out to be someone from John’s past, Lieutenant Hook. He informs John that he can't leave town until the quarantine is lifted from the ship holding his cargo. He tells John that if he wants him to leave quickly, he can help by speaking to Mary since the quarantine is by her order. Lt. Hook ignores John's warning to stay away from Mary and asks her if he may speak to her husband. Mary denies his request and assures him that she and her husband are of one mind.

Magistrate Hale decides to hold a soirée with John as the guest of honor as a way of getting John to trust him. While talking to Anne at the party, Mary notices a charm Anne is wearing that was given to her by her father to protect Anne. Later on John speaks before everyone and brings up the idea of wondering what if the witches were really those Salem has entrusted to lead them. After the party, Magistrate Hale admits to John that Anne was bespelled and that he is only a father looking out for his daughter. John tells him that he is full of it and that he is dirty.

Meanwhile Rev. Mather finds Mary at the party and excitedly shares the news that he found no trace of demons when he examined Mercy earlier. When Mary asks him how he is certain, he reveals that he did detect evidence that an exorcism had been performed on her. Mary is enraged and accuses Rev. Mather of being distracted by drink and whores and allowing not only witchcraft but also Catholics to flourish in Salem under his watch. Troubled following Mary’s accusations, Rev. Mather finds Gloriana in the church. Gloriana suggests to Rev. Mather that there is more to his interest in her than he is admitting. Losing control, he rapes her and leaves behind coins as proof that he doesn’t see her as anything more than a whore.

Lt. Hook breaks into Mary’s house while she is gone and finds her husband. George had used Mary’s knitting needle to stab his leg and write a message in blood. He gestures to the message for Lt. Hook who opens it to find that it says “witch”. Mary arrives home to find Lt. Hook waiting for her. He threatens her with her husband’s note if she doesn’t let him board the ship to get his cargo. Mary relents, but when he leaves she tells Tituba to take care of him without leaving any trail back to them. Before picking up his cargo, Lt. Hook meets with Rose in the woods and assures her he’ll have her box and that he didn’t mention Rose’s name to Mary. Meanwhile Tituba goes to John and asks for his help in taking care of Lt. Hook. She tells him that Lt. Hook threatened Mary by saying he’d publicly accuse her of having an affair.

Earlier Mary pointed out to Magistrate Hale that Anne lusts after John. He confronts Anne and tells her that he forbids her to have anything more to do with John. He asks her what she thinks Mary will do when she finds out that Anne covets what Mary considers to be her own. Anne insists that she isn’t afraid of Mary and that she is married and John doesn’t belong to her.

Lt. Hook assures John that the parcel is his and that he isn’t stealing when John finds him on board Mary’s ship. John informs him that he isn’t there on Mary’s behalf. Lt. Hook inquires if settling old scores are worth it and asks John if he regrets the past. He reveals that in the past John murdered innocent people without remorse and only spared his life after he begged and promised that he and John would never see one another again. John admits that he only laments not killing Lt. Hook that day before he chokes him to death. Afterward, John opens the parcel that Lt. Hook was holding to find a wooden box inside with carvings on it.

Mary is determined to regain her control over Mercy. She visits her as the hag and tries to appeal to the part inside her that wishes to feel powerful over the people who would pity her. She encourages her to open her mouth and let the familiar back in which Mercy appears to do. Assured of her success, she steps outside to see John passing by. They discuss their past conversation in the graveyard before John left. John wonders if the promises they made that night were lies. Mary tells him no they were but wishes made by those who knew nothing of the world. And that now they know what they desire, and what they must do to survive are often at odds. She returns inside to see a vision of Mercy holding the snake in her hands as she tells her she knows what she is.

Salem continues to deliver each week. Again this week there was more development on the plot and the characters instead of more shock and gore which I really appreciate. Things are getting more complicated for everyone.

What did you think of this episode of Salem? Please share your thoughts below.

About the Author - Tracie

Tracie is a wife and stay-at-home mom of 2 residing in NJ. She likes to unwind with a good book or in front of the TV. She is an avid reader of romance books. She likes to cook and bake. She loves to exercise and is trying to live a healthier life style. She watches a wide variety of TV shows ranging from reality TV to scripted dramas. Some of her past and current favorite TV shows are Sex and the City, Charmed, The Good Wife, and Hart of Dixie.