EPISODE
SEASON
Salem - Season 1
Based on the popular witch trials held in colonial Massachusetts in the 17th century, Salem is a supernatural drama. John Alden comes back from fighting in the war, and finds out that the women he left behind got married to a rich village elder. Mary has now transformed into an extremely powerful witch in Salem, who utilises terror and paranoia towards her favour.
30 December 1984, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
5 August 1975, Tel Aviv, Israel
11 August 1971, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
8 August 2002, Houston, Texas, USA
20 February 1969, El Paso, Texas, USA
April 18, 2014
Salem sets the witches loose in a lurid and often ludicrous free-for-all of graphic sexuality and violent retribution.
April 17, 2014
In time and with a greater effort to be over the top, Salem could evolve into a guilty pleasure. But its first impression offers little magic.
April 17, 2014
At the end of the episode, we get an idea where the series is headed. But by then, Salem has failed to cast a spell.
April 22, 2014
What Salem is, though, is a surprisingly smart, well-executed and extremely scary new spin on a familiar trope. Enjoy it if you dare.
April 18, 2014
West and the rest of the cast perform solidly as well, and once we know the lineup, presumably we'll dive deeper into the game.
April 22, 2014
The collision of supernatural and colonial in Salem is far darker and spookier than in Fox's hit Sleepy Hollow.
April 22, 2014
Consider this initial effort a whiffed ball.
April 18, 2014
Salem gets off to a dark, creepy and occasionally melodramatic start.
April 18, 2014
Salem is replete with scenes that make little sense. It's mostly a jumble of decent enough special effects, less-than-decent acting, a script that also should be lashed with "10 hard ones" and lots of blood-curdling screaming.
June 09, 2014
...an unholy hybrid of THE CRUCIBLE and THE SCARLET LETTER, lacking the sophistication of either, but with just enough dramatic interest to hold attention.
