Salem Season 2 Episodes 1 Thru 2 Reviews: Let The Witch War Begin (Season Premiere)

The season 1 ending of "Salem" was one of the best finales in recent memory. Here's where the major players were when we last caught up with them. All hell had broken loose (or so the witches hoped). The plan was to unleash the Devil on earth by performing the Grand Rite. Mary (who was in constant danger of being discovered by the town folk as a witch) had forsaken John for her devil son. John appeared dead and was carted off by the local Mohawk tribe. Tituba had (thank goodness) survived torture at the hands of Increase. Mercy was pissed at Mary and had formed an army from the town's teenagers girls. Anne went crazy killing her witch parents and destroying their home. Cotton was tricked by Mary into killing daddy Increase. Whew! I'm tired just thinking about it.

In season 2's premiere "Cry Havoc" things are moving right along. The pox has descended upon Salem. It was designed to kill everyone except the witches. So far it looks like it's doing a pretty good job. The witches continue to prepare for the Grand Rite. The comet will be there in three days. And if all goes as planned, Satan will arrive.

JJ Or As I Prefer To Call Him...Spawn Of Satan

Mary spends some quality time her boy. He wants to be called John now. I'll refer to him as JJ or John Jr. They cant be together too long or he'll turn all white eyeballed. Tituba then takes him back to the elders. Next Mary heads over to see Petrus. Remember him from last year? He's that creepy seer that hangs out with dead animals in the woods. Petrus takes out his eyeballs and shows Mary what became to John. He was sent into the afterlife by the Mohawks. But psych! This is just what the Mohawks WANT Mary to believe. John is actually alive and well. He says "by the time she sees me coming all the witches in Salem will be dead".

If You Were Such A Good Seer, Maybe You Should Have Seen This Coming

Cotton is hauled in front of the Selectmen. They dont accuse him of killing his father outright, but he is banished from Salem. Cotton must continue his father's church work in Boston. Side note: Why does Cotton have big giant painting of Angry Increase at his house? Increase is even scary in death. That thing could give you nightmares. Too funny. Oh never mind, Cotton smashes it to pieces.

Some poor loser thinks he's getting lucky with a girl. Nope its Mercy and her white gowned girls. The guy loses his penis and instead gains a crow? I think. That was truly strange.

Meanwhile Anne tries to off herself in the bath but that doesnt work. Mary appears. That woman shows up at the most inopportune times. Mary tells Anne she needs to embrace her witchy self (and that the Puritans are actually worse than the witches). Anne wants nothing to do with Mary.

Mary holds court at the town meeting. She says the pox has affecting good upstanding citizens as well as the less desirables. It even took Anne's parents (but we know Anne killed them). Hawthorne interrupts telling the good citizens that they should stop listening to a woman (Mary) and instead only listen to the men. The pox has descended upon them because they have offended God. Women should know their rightful place.

So What's Your Story?

The newly arrives scientist Wainwright begs to differ. He says the pox doesnt care if you're male or female. He will find patient zero and save the citizens of Salem. We know the originator of the pox is Issac-- remember he opened the Mallum last year unleashing the disease. Wainwright finds Issac still alive and brings him back to town. This makes Mary VERY nervous because Issac can spoil all her plans.

And in the last scene Mercy speaks with the Elders. She wants to rule instead of Mary. They reject her and one spits in her face. Mercy retaliates by killing the elders and hanging them by their own intestines in the middle of town. She also leaves a little message for Mary by wiring war in fire outside her house. Let the Witch War begin!

In episode 2 "Blood Kiss" the crazy is ratcheted up even more. Anne tried to leave town but cant without a permit. She puts on Hale's mask and is magically transported to Boston. Anne tells Cotton what happened to her parents. Will those two kids end up together? I wouldnt be opposed to it.

I Was Hoping For A Little Alone Time

Countess Marburg (the fabulous Lucy Lawless) arrives at Cotton's for an unexpected visit. She touches Anne's hand. Anne is mentally transported to a tub in the woods. The Countess hovers over her trying to find out everything she knows about the witches. Anne doesnt know much but she of course is an old school witch. The Countess kisses Anne but not in a warm fuzzy way. It's more of a "I have all the power and you may end up dead" way. On a side note: we learn that the Countess is the witch Increase referred to in season 1. She almost completed the Grand Rite. She bears the marks of Increase's torture on her back.

Elsewhere Tituba sends Mary over to poison Issac but in the end Mary cant do it. It might be a blessing considering he has the pox but who am I to say? I was also surprised by Mary here. She doesnt have a problem killing lots of others but cant bring herself to off the only other person that can identify her as a witch? I might be naive but I dont think Mary is all bad. She was stuck in a bad situation and did her best to get out of it. Unfortunately that means unleashing the Devil.

I'm Digging Your New Look John

John has transformed by the Mohawk's into some sort of supernatural warrior. The shaman warns him that he will never leave Salem alive. The transformation scenes were interesting as something was blown in John's face, he got a big tattoo on his back and finally got a hair cut. Interesting camera work. Later John visits Petrus in the woods to find out what he knows. After the guy spills his guts, John repays him by slitting his throat. John isnt messing around these days.

Meanwhile John Jr tortures Mr Mary (ie George Sibley) by putting a pin under his nail...ouch! He later kisses his mom on the lips. I'm thinking the boy is more Son of Satan and less Son of John. I cant wait for him to lay a smackdown on everyone.

Smores Anyone?

Mary repays Mercy's killing of the Elders by sending the town folk to the craigs to shoot and/or burn all the witches. It appeared many died including Mercy. However, at the end of the episode, we see a charred hand rise from the ground. It's Mercy. You cant keep a good witch down.

BFFs?

I cant wait to see what happens next as the noose tightens. Anne is having trouble controlling her powers. Mercy is of course gunning for Mary. Mary may or may not have an ally in Tituba. John is gunning for Mary and all the other witches. And how long before the Countess arrives?

Favorite Quotes:

"Neither the world, the flesh, nor the Devil himself is like a Puritan's suit in only black and while. All is gray. And the Devil they fear is not the devil I know."- Mary to Anne.
"If you believe nothing else I say, believe this. If you defy me only horror awaits you. Unimaginable and infinitely painful. Hear me. That is no mere promise but a curse."- Mary to Mercy.
"I am deeply desirous of knowing who it was who performed the Grand Rite. My own triumph was stolen by that pestiferous, puss headed killer Increase Mather."- haaa, the Countess has a way with words.

Grade: 4 1/2 Monsters (out of 5). A great start to what I'm hoping will be a kick ass season. Mary continues to be a compelling character. Yes she's a witch and wants to destroy the earth, but I'm still rooting for her. Not sure what that says about me. The cinematography is outstanding. With its wide angle shots, we're starting to get a good feel for what the town of Salem looks and feels like. The show also continues to shock. I wasnt sure what I was seeing when that guy can a penis replacement. And I could do without children kissing their mothers. Two in one episode? Yuck. The CGI seems to be much better this year. The witch burning in the craigs was a great scene.