Motherland: Fort Salem Season 1 Review: Best PR For Witches In Ages

The first season of Freeform's "Motherland: Fort Salem" just concluded. It is currently available on Hulu. There are 10 episodes total. The series was created by Eliot Laurence and executive produced by Laurence and Will Ferrell (among others).

In this version of reality, witches serve as an elite US military branch. Enemy #1 is the Spree (who inflict mass casualties at every turn). The military is led by the ultra beautiful 300 year old witch Sarah Alder (played by Lyne Renee). In 1692 the witches agreed to protect the US in exchange for an end to their persecution. This pact was called the Salem Accord. Those witches' descendents (they have last names like Craven, Bellweather, Quartermaine, Ramshead and Collar) are conscipted on their 18th birthdays.

The premiere starts with a bang. A woman is in a crowded mall. There's a blue balloon floating in the air. She utters some words. The balloon bursts. Everyone in the mall starts flinging themselves off of balconies to their deaths. It is quite a scene.

The show focuses on three new Fort Salem recruits. They are blue blood Abigail Bellweather (played by Ashley Nicole Williams), naive and eager Tally Craven (Jennifer Sutton), and bad girl with a heart of gold Raelle Collar (Taylor Hickson). They learn to harness their abilities and work together as a team. Witches have a number of enhanced abilities including controlling the weather with a series of vocal tonations (called Seeds). There are 61 sacred seeds which allow witches to direct the forces around them. They can create windshears, windstrikes, etc.

Each young woman also has a special gift. Raelle is a very powerful healer (called a "Fixer). She heals a member of the Tarim. They are a tribe of witches whose seeds everyone wants. But they are too powerful--even for Adler. Raelle's girlfriend Scylla is a Necro (they have special abilities regarding the dead).

We know from the relatively early on that Scylla is working for the Spree. Well, that cant be good. It's seems the Spree wants Raelle for some unknown reason. The jury is still out on what Scylla's motivations are.

General Alder is always followed by a group of seven older women. They are referred to as the "biddies". They absorb her age so she can look young even at 300. When a biddy dies, she must immediately be replaced. It is a great honor to serve the General in this way.

Of course, as with any organization, there is conflict. There are human and witch casualties in a fight against the Spree. Some dont approve of the General's tactics. President Wade decides she will force Adler to retire. But when the President makes a televised announcement, Adler takes control of her and reverses her decision.

In the finale, Adler and Team Bellwether go to rescue the remaining Tarim. They are attacked by a group called the Camarilla. The Spree had previously tried to warn the witches saying "Our ancient enemy has returned". Hmm if they're worse than the Spree, the Camrilla are really bad. I cant wait to see more.

Grade: 4 1/2 Monsters (out of 5). I found "Motherland: Fort Salem" to be a refreshing YA take on the whole "witch" trope. Using them to protect the US is a very interesting idea. Sure, the show has a very CW vibe. Everyone is young and beautiful and filled with angst. And yes, this is a female dominated world. If you have a problem with it, look elsewhere. Production values are high. The story is compelling. We're not really sure who is a good guy or bad guy. The young actors are on point. The twist in the finale is not that surprising but that's OK. The show was just renewed for a season 2. That's great since there's much more to explore in this world. Count me in.