Salem Season 2 Epi 9 Review: There Is No Gift That Is Also Not A Curse

"Wages Of Sins" begins with Wainwright and Mary post sexy times. Wainwright must destroy his notes on the plague (since they point to Mary's witchcraft). He begrudgingly does so. What a wuss.

Mary and Tituba exchange their usual bitchy banter. Tituba finds out Mary raised Increase from the dead (well really just his head). She's none too happy. Mary goes to wake up John Jr but instead finds the Countess. Marburg tells Mary that John is the sacrifice for the "Dark Lord's return". Things arent looking too good. Mary must give up the only person she truly loves or ELSE.

After a few episodes away, Hawthorne is back with a vengence. Haw wants Anne Hale all to himself so needs to get rid of Cotton. He was supposed to be banished from Salem anyway. Cotton says he's still needed though. He and Wainwright have found proof of witchcraft at the craigs. All the plague victims are turning into an oozy black substance in order to usher in the Devil's arrival on Earth. Hawthorne wants proof. Off they go to the body dumping ground-- but the tar pit is gone. In its place are decomposing corpses. Wainwright does not back up Cotton's story because he's in cahoots with Mary. He insinuates Cotton is a drunk and has mental issues. Poor Cotton. No one believes him. Cotton is again kicked out of town. Hawthorne tells the buggy driver to make sure Cotton is "accidentally on purpose" killed before returning to Boston.

That's One Way To Get Rid Of The Competition

Sebastian visits Mary. Wainwright arrives. The Baron psychically tells Mary to leave the doctor to him if she EVER wants to see her son again. Into the woods they go. Wainwright is ready to begin learning about the secrets of the universe (or so he thinks). Instead Sebastian pushes Wainwright into the black tar saying "Let your exploration begin...You shall be the first man since Dante to enter Hell alive. Fear not I will be there to comfort Mary in your absence." Is this the last we've seen of Wainwright? My guess is he'll pop up at the end of the season to save Mary. Otherwise why would we spend so much time on him?

Mary confronts Tituba about knowing that John Jr had to be sacrificed all along. Mary asks Tituba why she betrayed her. Tituba says she was treated as a piece of property by Mary's family. They were never really friends. Mary is delusional if she thinks otherwise. The two fight. Mary goes to stab Tituba but she reveals...cue suspenceful music... John Alden is alive.

Finally John Has Something To Do Besides Hang Around

Mary goes to see John. The poor guy has been strung up for several episodes. That has to be tiring on the arms. Mary frees him saying he must help her rescue their son. I almost feel sorry for Mary when she recounts her story to John. She was pregnant and alone when he went to war. She left the baby in the woods because she had no choice. The Essex witches rescued John Jr and sold his soul to the Devil... and you know the rest of the story.

Anne reads Magistrate Hale's Book of Shadows. "This is the truest malice a witch can perform. To kill at a distance with nothing but bare will...There is no gift that is also not a curse.. No gift without a curse and HE is the curse." Then the Devil shows up and chases Anne through the woods and possibly molests her.

At night, everyone sees the comet streak across the night sky. It is time....

Favorite Quotes:

"He was only born to be a vessel. Do not deprive him or yourself of that honor".- Marburg to Mary.
"Who got to you? You have sold your soul. You will burn in hell Wainwright!"- Cotton after Wainwright lies about their witchcraft discoveries.
"Come, there are secrets of the universe to unveil"- Sebastian to Wainwright and Mary.
"All true knowledge comes from the one they call the Devil"- Sebastian to Wainwright.
"Let your exploration begin...You shall be the first man since Dante to enter Hell alive. Fear not I will be there to comfort Mary in your absence."- Sebastian to Wainwright.
"None of us are what we once were. Are we?"- Mary to Tituba about John.
"Make sure he's (Cotton) dead by the time you reach Amherst"- Hawthorne to coach driver.
"This is the truest malice a witch can perform. To kill at a distance with nothing but bare will...There is no gift that is also not a curse.. No gift without a curse and HE is the curse."- Anne reading from Hale's Book of Shadows.
"Do not fear little one. Your father and I are coming for you."- Mary.

Grade: 4 Monsters (out of 5). Mary FINALLY finds out John Sr is still alive. They join forces to rescue John Jr. Wainwright descended to Hell so we may or may not see him again. There are four episodes until the end of the season. Does that mean we have to wait that long for the Grand Rite? If so, that's a lot of filler. Get on with it people! We've been waiting for almost two years.