Salem Season 2 Episode 7 Review: Increase Mather I Call You From Hell

Mary seems to think resurrecting Increase from the dead is a good way to combat the Countess. I'm not so sure. In "The Beckoning Fair One" Mary talks to Increase's severed head. She does a spell and then kisses it. Yuck. I dont think I would like being a witch. They do some nasty stuff. Anyway, Increase later mysteriously gets a body (since he cant do much damage as a head just rolling around Salem).

Where has Increase been? He's been in Hell tortured by demons wearing his own face over and over and over again. Wow, that's heavy. I'm sure he was hoping for chillaxing in Heaven on a fluffy cloud.

Tituba Has Her Own Agenda... But I'm Not Exactly Sure What It Is

Across town Tituba has John Alden strung up. She examines his tattoos. She says "do they even warn you of the price you will pay for such power". Tituba plans to use John as a weapon against Mary.

Mary invites the Countess and son Sebastian over for a dinner. She does this so Increase can board her ship and try to find the object that keeps Marburg from aging. Meanwhile the Countess has sent Anne to find her father's Book of Shadows which is in Mary's library.

Mercy is all healed thanks to poor Dolly's "contribution". She is now indebted to the Countess. Mercy will lure children to be drained for the Marburg's blood baths. Sebastian is jealous of Mercy but Marburg assures she has bigger plans for him-- Mary Sibley (whom he is infatuated with).

Anne is still pining for Cotton. She tells Brown Jenkins that she wants Cotton to escort her to Mary's dinner. There's a knock at the door and Cotton appears. That was fast.

The dinner begins. We have Mary, Tituba (as the servant), Cotton, Anne, Countess, Sebastian, Weinwright and Hawthorne in attendance. We havent seen Weinwright since he and Mary... well ya know. He's pissy because they're enjoying a nice dinner while the plague is raging outside. He's probably actually upset because Mary doesnt pay enough attention to him. Cotton stands up during dinner and proposes to Anne. She excuses herself to hide in the library.

While Hawthorne blathers on about whatever, Mary and Marburg telepathically communicate with each other. That was fun to watch. John Jr runs into the room. Mary passes him off as George's nephew. Uh oh. Marburg instantly recognizes what Mary loves most in the world. The Countess had previously said "Sacrificing what we love most is the key to opening all doors." Marburg also knows that Mary's Baby Daddy is... her Dark Lord.

Yes I See The Family Resemblance... Especially Around The Cloven Hooves

The Countess and Sebastian return to their ship to find Mercy has drained all the blood from the girl she captures for the Countess. It's going to be hard to keep anyone on hand with Mercy around. Marburg plans to send Mercy out the next day to retrieve John Jr. Uh, all Hell is about to break loose.

At the end of the episode, Increase appears to Cotton (who of course screams like a little girl). Haaa. That was funny.

Points To Ponder:

Tastes Like Chicken

What was for dinner at Sibley Manor? Why it was George of course. Everyone raved about the delicious roast. When Mary asked Sebastian if he disposed of George, he says "We just did" and looks at his plate. Mary turns pale and looks like she might vomit. Across the table the Countess is stuffing more roast in her face and scowling. Poor Mary is seriously SO out of her league.
The innards of plague victims seem to liquefy into a black acidy ooze. Did this remind you of "Alien" blood? There's going to be a lot of homes in Salem with holes in the floors. That cant be good for resale values.

Favorite Quotes:

"Increase Mather I call you from hell"- Mary.
"Each man's hell is as unique as his crimes. What was yours?"- Mary to Increase.
"A bone from Mary Sibley-- Satan's favorite whore."- Increase (well, he always did have a way with words).
"I did not save Anne Hale from you. I saved you from her."- Tituba to John.
"Mrs Sibley you are indeed a wonder for the ages."- the Countess.
"Mary Sibley what a pot of piss, pox and poison."- Mercy.
"I still remember your last visit and your taste for all things Elizabethan."- Mary to Weinwright after their last encounter when they... ya know.
"This roast is most delicious." Little did they know that they were eating George Sibley.
"Sacrificing what we love most is the key to opening all doors."- Countess to Mary (telepathically).
"Do you know how long it has been since I had a glimpse of my Dark Lord's face?"- Countess to Sebastian.

I've Got My Eye On You

Grade: 4 1/2 Monsters (out of 5). Undead Increase should really lively things up. He's currently terrorizing Cotton. I also greatly enjoyed the telepathic conversation between Mary and Marburg at dinner. I would watch a whole show of just that.