SALEM AND EAST END: Let's Talk Witches

Witches may just be “en vogue” once more. Since the family drama “Charmed” aired its eight seasons from 1998 to 2006 on The WB, we have yet to see much in the way of successful witch-based television shows that have thrived beyond one to two seasons. Often times mixed in with the vampire and werewolf lore from other popular television movies, witches don’t always get the spotlight. There is hope, though, for witchy fans – like myself. In the past 2 years, we’ve seen a bit of a resurgence in the magic wielding side of the supernatural genre.

With the inaugural season of WGN’s “Salem” leaving us with quite the tantalizing finale and Lifetime’s “Witches of East End” making its season two splash – not to mention the horrific re-envisioning of witches by “American Horror Story: Coven” – the TV waters seem warm and inviting for these magical and, at times, not-so-magical creatures. So, let’s talk witches.

With nary two episodes aired, WGN promptly renewed its witch drama “Salem” for a second season, so those of us who invested our time in the show knew it would not lead to rampant nail-biting and disappointment over the possibility of cancellation. Considering the amount of shows I’ve recently fallen in love with only to lose on the proverbial chopping block, it was actually a rather gracious move. I honestly don’t know if it was sheer ratings or an approved plan from the very beginning, but it allowed me to sit back and watch the show without any concern over the show’s immediate future.

It’s a pretty novel concept amidst the other supernatural shows out right now. If you’ve ever imagined the Salem witch hunts in their historical context, complete with the hangings, torture, and finger-pointing insanity, then the show will not disappoint. The twist – witches are real, of course! Not only are they real, with their magical spells, potions, and teat suckling familiars, they are also behind the entire witch craze. What better way to remove the competition than to orchestrate a false witch hunt and point the finger away from your own wicked self? Brilliant!

By the way, if that still doesn’t sell you on the show’s dark and twisted plot – maybe you’ll at least appreciate the initiative to pull Marilyn Manson on board for the creepy theme song. It’s an intriguing juxtaposition against the puritan backdrop. Now the show does like to capitalize on some lusty, yet primarily inferred, sex scenes and they certainly aren’t afraid to show you a hanging victim letting loose their bladder. What really brings it all home for me, though, is the fact that they do take the time to highlight some of the actual torture devices and methods of the historical witch hunters – at times making them scarier than the witches themselves. I didn’t think they would go there, but the hated pear even made an appearance.

The Pear (of Anguish) – to be inserted and expanded. Use your imagination if you must.

Not to mention that they have attempted to give credence to those old witch hunting books that were meant to put the “fear of God” into people. Not sure what I’m talking about? Pick up a hefty copy of the Malleus Maleficarum some time and wade your way through the sheer insanity of that particular brand of hysteria. It was a dark period in history, when people were tortured, tried, and hanged as heretics and devil worshippers. People would confess and point the finger just to avoid death themselves. “Salem” does a good job of planting the supernatural seeds into a time period that was rife with belief that such devilish things were possible.

I admit that for me, it was a bit of a slow build through the season, but they definitely left the audience with plenty to keep them hanging on until next spring. The season finale, without spoiling too much for those who have not yet delved into this world, was a wild ride that left us with three major powers rising and a combination of characters being both separated and reunited. It will be interesting to see what they do with season two, they’ve definitely left themselves a broad canvas from which to begin again.

From the dark and macabre to the beautiful, ah, Lifetime…there’s a network I didn’t expect to visit on a weekly basis. When “Witches of East End” premiered in 2013, I was very intrigued by the concept. The show is based on a book series by Melissa de la Cruz. Admittedly, the book series has a small fan base and since I have not yet read it I will refrain from commenting any further, suffice to say that the reviews seem a bit mixed. It’s on my potential reading list, I just haven’t brought myself to place it near the top quite yet. Either way, we do have the author to thank for the concept so take that as you will.

When it comes to the television series, it can be a bit like a late night soap opera with all of the sexy bodies, drama, and angst-driven love stories one might expect out of a cable station geared to women, but there’s definitely enough supernatural fun taking place to keep me intrigued. The story focuses around the Beauchamp family of witches, whom we discover are actually Asgardians. They have been cursed and banished from their home, living on earth for centuries and cutoff from the rest of their people. What can I say? I love non-standard origin stories for supernatural beings. When Anne Rice fed us her vision of the vampire origins in The Vampire Chronicles book series, I ate it up like a last supper. Now, as we slowly learn more and more about these witches who hail from Asgard, I’m lapping up each new morsel.

What this show has going for it is actually something that I would have lauded “Charmed” for back during its run…and that’s family. Close ties, particularly those of family, always seem to bring a supernatural show down to a relatable place for the average viewer. Charmed really worked the sister angle. Supernatural has been working the brother angle. Buffy made its own little family, by way of a close knit group of friends – well, outcasts, as the case may be.

The Beauchamp witches may be beautiful, otherworldly, and incredibly powerful, but they are also sisters, parents, aunts, uncles, and children. Plus, they have to deal with the everyday problems of living like humans. This is what draws us in and gives us a reason to truly root for the characters. Each characters suffers from a unique curse and as their stories from the previous centuries unfold, it makes them even more intriguing than they were before. My favorite of the clan so far, is Ingrid. I love that she’s the sweet, bookworm who everyone refers to as the “anchor” of the family. They see her as the stable center, when it appears to the outside observer that she is actually the one who innocently drags them down into trouble quite frequently. If you’ve watched the first season, you’ll know what I mean. Season two doesn’t begin without potential problems from the reliable and innocent Ingrid either.

With these two drastically different series shows, we get a nice glimpse into the darkness and the glamour that makes witches so interesting. With a promised 2 seasons for both of them, let’s hope the lucky streak continues and that these witches will perpetuate many fun-filled stories to come. Cast a little spell if you think it will help!