Jeri
Jacquin
Currently
playing on HULU from creators Brannon Braga and Adam Simon is the haunting
series that has three exciting seasons when telling the story of terror in
SALEM.
It
is the 17th Century, and the puritanical town of Salem is experiencing
the punishment for going against the church. Leading the way to seek out more
punishment is George Sibley (Michael Mulheren) who seems to enjoy his
leadership role. Not afraid of what is happening is John Alden (Shane West) and
makes his feelings plain stopped only by his friend Giles Corey (Kevin Tighe).
Going off to war he says a final goodbye to his love Mary (Janet Montgomery)
and does not know that she is left behind to face motherhood.
Helping
her is Tituba (Ashley Madekwe) and into the woods they go to do what is clearly
against the church. Upon hearing the news of Johns death, Mary once again must
make a decision that will change her life believing John has died. Imagine the
surprise when years later John returns alive, and war torn. Drowning his
sorrows, John finds himself helping Reverend Lewis (Thomas Murphy) with a
little problem of the young Mercy Lewis (Elise Eberle) possession, but he does not
believe in it.
Magistrate
John Hale (Xander Berkeley) is trying to learn how Reverend Lewis plans to weed
out the witches he claims are still among the people of Salem. Isaac (Iddo
Goldberg) who was branded before the war, seeks out John and tells him that the
witches are real. They need to look no further than Mary herself when she is
responsible for the condition her husband George is in as an act of vengeance.
Hale’s
daughter Anne (Tamzin Merchant) is fascinated by Captain John Alden and his
experiences with the Indians. At a dinner hosted by Mary, she and John have a
chance to be alone and talk about what has happened the past few years. Sad by
it all, it is Tituba that reminds Mary of what she has gained and what she has
to lose and, more importantly, what is to come during the night.
Reverend
Lewis is working with a young girl tries to tell him who are the witches in
Salem. Since she can not speak, Lewis chains her and takes her out among the
townsfolk to point a finger at all those responsible with disastrous results. As
John intends to leave Salem, Isaac shows him a hideousness in the night at the
same time tat Tituba performs the Grand Rite with Mary. Now more lives are in
danger!
When
John learns that Giles is being punished by Lewis, he becomes enraged but what
he does not know is that Mary has plans for Salem. Plotting to use a sad birth as
a way to declare a religious war against the midwife and townspeople as everything
that is deep and disturbing could very well be the end of the faithful of
Salem.
Montgomery
as Mary is a woman who had been living with a broken heart until the return of
John Alden. One night in the woods turns a sweet young woman into something
that will bring terror and mayhem to the town of Salem. Montgomery gives her
character strength and the will to do what Tituba thinks necessary to keep her
power but there is also the part of her character that remembers a love that
haunts her. This is a powerful series and Montgomery does her character
justice.
West
as Alden is a man in love but going off to war. When he returns there is
nothing left of the Salem he remembers, instead there is chaos, fear and a
woman who no longer resembles the young girl he left behind. West gives his
character a no-nonsense attitude and a disbelief that is about to be changed in
a major way. Admitting there is something happening, West’s character also
knows when to call out wrong.
Berkeley
as Hale follows Mary’s instructions, but it is clear he does not share in the
way she wants things done. Trying to find a middle ground, he many of his
family members suffer a fiery fate and is trying to keep the family he has left
from. Berkeley always turns in a stellar performance. Goldberg as Isaac is the
town man marked with the F and everyone stays away, everyone except Alden.
Turning to him for help will not keep him safe but he is a strong character who
is going to give the town a run for its coin.
Murphy
as Reverend Lewis gives us the duality of character that does not mind
screaming from the pulpit and pointing at sinners when he partakes of the thing
he preaches against. Murphy gives his character complexity and lots of
confusion as to what he truly believes. Mulheren as Sibley started something
that has turn against him. Not a liked man in the beginning, what goes around
comes around and it is harsh.
Merchant
as Anne is a young strong-minded red-headed woman who does not know her father
has a bigger role in what is happening than she could ever imagine. Questioning
everything puts her at odds with Mary and puts her life in jeopardy. Madekwe as
Tituba knows how to deal with the forces of darkness and leads Mary through it
all. She is smart and does not take kindly to being questioned, and actually I
would not think it a good idea at all!
Other
cast include Azure Parsons as Gloriana Embry, Stephen Lang as Increase Mather,
Morgana Shaw as Mab, Christopher Berry as The Seer and Diane Salinger as Rose
Browning.
Hulu
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Award-winning originals such as The Handmaid’s Tale and The Act. For more of
what Hulu has to offer please visit www.hulu.com.
SALEM
is an absolute binge-watching series. The story deals with an era of fear and
finger pointing of witchcraft with results that became legendary. Each of the
characters has a role that is equally important in the telling of the story
created by Braga and Simon. The world they have created is harsh and a struggle
to survive and when you add the story of witchcraft well, terror abounds.
There
are very few characters that can be taken at face value and very few characters
that are not in service of the darkness in one way or another. The shadows are
around every corner and never have a drink with anyone else find out you have
been given something that could put you on the pyre.
The
set design and costuming is perfection as again I am drawn to watching anything
that has such an amazing unspoken character that blends in beautifully without
saying a word. Instead, it shows itself to be an unstoppable visual treat from
start to finish.
So,
if you are looking for an very cool three season binge-worthy series, might I
suggest you become a fly on the wall to view what is happening in SALEM.
In
the end – everything in Salem has gone to hell!
