Salem

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Season 1
Season #: 3, 2, 1
User Score
7.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 116 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 87 out of 116
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 116
  3. Negative: 16 out of 116
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  1. ElPasoCrone
    Nov 22, 2014
    0
    I am appalled in the extreme!

    The promotional blurb says "This drama series set in 17th-century Salem, Massachusetts, explores what really fueled the town's infamous witch trials, uncovering some dark truths". Not only is this misleading, it is an outright LIE! I was hoping for a historical-based drama. What I got was some dark fairy tale based on belief systems 400 years out of    I am appalled in the extreme!

    The promotional blurb says "This drama series set in 17th-century Salem, Massachusetts, explores what really fueled the town's infamous witch trials, uncovering some dark truths". Not only is this misleading, it is an outright LIE! I was hoping for a historical-based drama. What I got was some dark fairy tale based on belief systems 400 years out of date.

    Did the writers and producers get their 'truths' from the Malleus Maleficarum or did they just collectively decide to throw history, truth and reason to the winds? Even Salem itself admits that what 'fueled the ... witch trials' was politics and greed. There is actual factual and physical evidence now available that proves beyond any doubt that the girls that started it all were, in fact, 'playing a joke' on the town because they were bored. Further documents confirm that Magistrate John Hathorne and Reverend Cotton Mather conspired with these girls to grab land and wealth since convicted witches forfeited all their property to 'the crown' who auctions it off to locals at bargain rates.

    Worse than the outright misrepresentation of the story-line, this show not only perpetuates, but actually embellishes upon the negative image of witches and witchcraft as devil-worshipers that was held in the 18th century. If you tried today to depict Native Americans as blood-thirsty savages, Black Americans as ignorant vicious voodoun practitioners, or Muslims as intrinsically violent woman-haters, the critics and sensors would be all over this show, shutting it down. But the writers and producers think nothing about a show that degrades and humiliates REAL witches - yes, they do exist - who are peace-loving, earth-protecting, animal-loving individuals who live by the law of "Harm None".

    Wicca, along with all other Pagan denominations is a Federally-recognized religion discussed in the Military Chaplains Handbook as a religion which "Worships the sacred as immanent in Nature, often personified as Mother Earth and Father Sky. It is very important to be aware that Wiccans do not in any way worship or believe in "Satan," "the Devil," or any similar entities. They point out that "Satan" is a symbol of rebellion against and inversion of the Christian and Jewish traditions. Wiccans do not revile the Bible. They simply regard it as one among many of the world's mythic systems, less applicable than some to their core values, but still deserving just as much respect as any of the others."

    It's about time people stopped degrading and misrepresenting both Salem and Witches for the sheer purpose of sensationalizing a money machine. I has taken 400 years for the hatred and violence caused by the witch hunts to begin to wane. Now this show purports to show us the 'truth' about Witchcraft as a Satantic, violent, blood-thirsty, power-hungry cult!

    I, for one, will NOT be watching this show and I am very sorry to see such talented actors, whom I have long respected, allowing themselves to become a part of this bigoted hate-fest that is targeting a very valuable section of the population and labeling them, yet again, as Evil.    … Expand
  2. shows
    Jun 16, 2014
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The trailer for Salem showed a lot of potential to be a supernatural, historic, sci-fi, mystery, horror and intrigue show. But this show disappointed me more than I would like to admit. After learning who the witches are in the first episode, and seeing them do witchcraft, I am sure nobody in the town of Salem is smart enough to catch them. I mean seriously (spoiler: Mary marries the most rich and powerful man in the Town, and right after she gets married to him, he becomes unable to speak; all his power with the Town residents are transferred to her.) It doesn't take a rocket scientist to suspect that something is up.

    In addition, John Alden's dad made a "Ned Stark" move by being executed before he could put dirt on Mary's hands. This could have been a bigger move if saved for later. Since the show just started, the audience doesn't care if someone dies, especially someone with only about 5 minutes of screen time.

    The villains in the show have no motive except to kill everybody, in which case they can end the show in about 5 episodes because of their demonstrated powers. There is no politics of power in this game. I don't get why Mary doesn't just gag everyone with a toad and kill them one by one. They would be too stupid to think it's her anyways. Even if I had no reason to suspect that Mary, I would make people believe she's the witch because she's a major **** to everyone in the show. She is constantly moody and I don't think anyone would mind if she died.

    Sometimes, a historical fiction needs to stray away from its historical roots and focus more on the fiction and vice versa. This show doesn't do it for me. The villains are too overpowered and the townspeople all hunt witches like Ned Stark plays the Game of Thrones (poorly). If this is your first horror/intrigue/mystery show, you might be able to stand it, but if you've watched anything good in the past, you know there's a lot better things to watch in the same genre.    … Expand
  3. DQ_Slotkins
    May 4, 2014
    2
    Howlingly bad, but — and here's the kicker — not in a funny way. It's painfully unentertaining.

    Historically it's remarkably wrong. Now, I usually don't care if a piece of historical fiction get things wrong, but this barely gets anything right.
  4. vyo476
    Jun 9, 2014
    3
    Manages to be compelling despite despite several obvious flaws. Acting is only mediocre; history is spotty at best (hypodermic needles in 17th century Massachusetts? No); and the diction used tends to switch between awkward attempts at Elizabethan English and modern usages.

    Probably the biggest issue with "Salem," though, is the metaphor. In reality, the Salem Witch Trials were a    Manages to be compelling despite despite several obvious flaws. Acting is only mediocre; history is spotty at best (hypodermic needles in 17th century Massachusetts? No); and the diction used tends to switch between awkward attempts at Elizabethan English and modern usages.

    Probably the biggest issue with "Salem," though, is the metaphor.

    In reality, the Salem Witch Trials were a means utilized by men to rob women of property; they were also a superstitious overreaction to fear of the unknown (and the strange and different). The so-called "witch hunters" were brutal, awful people who murdered others - primarily women - for enjoyment and personal gain.

    In the show "Salem," we see that evil witches "really did" live in 17th Century Salem; and while the show does show us the witch-hunting priest Cotton Mather "trying" and killing innocents - part of the evil witches' plan - he is overall cast as a sympathetic character, a young man in over his head who is ultimately correct about the evil in the town he wishes to save.

    "Salem" seems to be trying hard for a level of moral ambiguity it just can't seem to achieve, and therein lies its problem; despite the audience having sympathies on both sides, as Mather and Alden become more rational and get closer to the truth, the witches themselves continue to plot to murder innocent people in pursuit of their "Grand Rite," which makes the witch-hunters out as the good guys and the witches as the bad guys (again, even though several of the witches are definitely cast as sympathetic characters).

    The metaphorical issues with retelling the story of Salem with the justification that evil witches really did exist, and then also portraying the witch-hunters of the time in a positive light, are numerous and unfortunate. For comparative purposes, consider the implications of a television show in which Jews really were plotting world domination in the 1930s and a misguided but sympathetic concentration camp commandant attempted to stamp out the plot. Not an exact replica of the crimes against history "Salem" is committing, but still pretty close.

    If you can get by the relatively awful metaphorical implications of the show, and also manage to overlook issues in the acting and writing, you may have an enjoyable experience. I've only seen Janet Montgomery once before this but she remains compelling. Shane West's constantly simmering anger and taciturn personality aren't what awards are made of, but he is enjoyably watchable. Seth Gabel, whose portrayal of Cotton Mather is lampooned above, is probably the most watchable actor on the show; he brings more depth and conflict to Mather's personality than perhaps it deserves. Then again, Tamzin Merchant and Xander Berkeley are nearly unwatchable, especially together; Merchant's character has almost no depth whatsoever, whereas Berkeley's character is reduced to insignificant scheming, walking around looking for stuff ineffectually, bowing down to Janet Montgomery's character when he clearly doesn't want to, and bossing around his family. His tone during all of these actions is one of fear and resignation and none of it seems to be building toward anything.

    "Salem" isn't a good show. It's watchable and dramatic, and you might find yourself drawn into the love stories of Mary and John; you might be surprised by the offbeat romance between Mather and Gloriana, a prostitute (although, warning, he sexually assaults her and never so much as apologizes and once she's done slapping him for it she just seems to love him more - we certainly needed more of that in modern storytelling, right?). Unfortunately, the show's numerous and egregious problems - from concept to execution - prevent it from becoming anything of of real interest.    … Expand
  5. Chameleonshade
    Jul 5, 2014
    1
    Making a scene confronting or purposely disturbing to try and garner some sort of reaction doesn't make a great show. The acting is lacking and in general the story should be interesting, given the subject matter, but isn't. I am all for disturbing or dark, but when it doesn't add to the atmosphere or narrative, the point of the scene/show becomes moot.

Awards & Rankings

45
#45 Most Discussed TV Season of 2014
42
#42 Most Shared TV Season of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
49

Mixed or average reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 16
  3. Negative: 5 out of 16
  1. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Tim Goodman
    Apr 18, 2014
    70
    Not all of the acting works all of the time, but the cast holds it together when necessary, guided with assurance by Montgomery, who alone deserves another episode or two just to appreciate.
    Read full review
  2. People Weekly
    Reviewed by: Patrick Gomez
    Apr 18, 2014
    38
    The supernatural drama lacks in dramatic tension and suffers without the self-aware humor that made the similarly themed American Horror Story: Coven work so well. [28 Apr 2014]
  3. TV Guide Magazine
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    Apr 18, 2014
    30
    Welcome to Early American Horror Story, which could give you whiplash from all the clashing acting styles, from Seth Gabel's foaming-at-the-mouth over-emoting as zealot Cotton Mather to Shane West's monotonously mumbling and too-modern hero John Alden.
    Read full review
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