Salem

:

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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User Reviews

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  1. Ereandrill
    Apr 28, 2014
    5
    The Salem Witch Trials have always been both one of the blackest and of the most fascinating pages in American history. It would not have taken long before popculture would have picked up on these gruesome but mysterious events. Too bad the Salem series WGN aired for the first time last Sunday is quite atrocious for my liking.

    The sneak peek they sent out into the world brought us a    The Salem Witch Trials have always been both one of the blackest and of the most fascinating pages in American history. It would not have taken long before popculture would have picked up on these gruesome but mysterious events. Too bad the Salem series WGN aired for the first time last Sunday is quite atrocious for my liking.

    The sneak peek they sent out into the world brought us a clear message : these would not be the nice and gullible witches from the Secret Cirkle, nor the funny kind we know from shows like Charmed. No, these witches were downward scary. Salem was bound to be a horror flick : WGN's answer to the success of American Horror Story. But they did not deliver at all.

    So where did it go wrong?

    For a start : the series did not succeed to put forward even one likable character. You could argue that John Alden is not that bad, but you wouldn't invite him to your dinner party either. He left his girlfriend in a hypocritical puritan hellhole where you get whipped and branded for having sex, to go and kill some Indians and still claimed he loved her. When the girl – Mary, discovers she has a bun in the oven, she desperately turns herself to the devil.

    Years later, when the brave war hero Alden steps back into town he finds the city is held by some sort of witch craze. Everybody is scared while the religious forces in the area seem to be happy to hang people from the highest tree out of fear they might have maybe possibly by chance been a witch. But as the episode enrolls, we find out that fear might have been well-grounded.

    And yes it all seems scary and yes there are some slight plot twists, but I still ask myself why I would take the time to sit down and spend one hour in front of TV when there is nobody to really root for.
    Besides, the especially bad acting of Seth Gabel ( John Alden) makes me puke a bit in my mouth every time he appears on screen.
    The storyline isn't that exciting either : we get to see some CGI scary stuff that made us shiver for a second or two and there were some scenes I enjoyed quite a lot, but there is nothing there that would lift the series out of the pit of damnation, better known as ' the average bin' .

    You could argue this is only a pilot, and that we should wait until the series has evolved a bit more. And I would agree. Still : it does not have the grandeur of American Horror Story, by far. When I peek at the IMDB page of the series I must note that there will be some more – and maybe even vital, changes throughout not only the cast, but also the series itself. I'll camp out for another episode or two because there is a lot of potential. Now just hope the creators find the guts to bring that potential forward.

    www.geekin.me    … Expand
  2. seriesscout
    May 8, 2014
    4
    Salem is not really bad, but so far not really good. After the first few episodes you already noticed that this TV show is not a reach maxmimale density. It is wasted potential because a lot goes too fast. One could build a nice atmosphere of good approaches, instead it relies more on more settings. Because the series will fail if you do not get into the handle. The theme of witchcraftSalem is not really bad, but so far not really good. After the first few episodes you already noticed that this TV show is not a reach maxmimale density. It is wasted potential because a lot goes too fast. One could build a nice atmosphere of good approaches, instead it relies more on more settings. Because the series will fail if you do not get into the handle. The theme of witchcraft gambled again.

    Except Blair Witch Project (1) it has never been done again to adequately implement the theme. So much potential, so little devotion. A shame.    … Expand
  3. LouWanda
    Jul 8, 2014
    4
    I tend to like things about witches and so forth. I like this show and I see that many others do, too. But please viewers: If you want the actual history of the Salem witch trials, read about it or visit Salem. This show is not that history! The witch trials were a true horror because they persecuted and executed their neighbors and fellow citizens who were innocent. These wereI tend to like things about witches and so forth. I like this show and I see that many others do, too. But please viewers: If you want the actual history of the Salem witch trials, read about it or visit Salem. This show is not that history! The witch trials were a true horror because they persecuted and executed their neighbors and fellow citizens who were innocent. These were ignorant, superstitious people. There were animosities, grudges and politics at the root of it. The real events were an actual nightmare, as opposed to this spooky work of fiction we watch.… Expand
  4. mexognosis
    Nov 18, 2014
    5
    Two of my ancestors were burned at the stake in Salem, so after literally stumbling upon this show randomly on Netflix, I decided to give it a go. Of course, the show is supernatural horror - you should know going in that you aren't going to get historical accuracy. But I actually think the balance of historical accuracy and complete outlandishness works well. We immediately like JohnTwo of my ancestors were burned at the stake in Salem, so after literally stumbling upon this show randomly on Netflix, I decided to give it a go. Of course, the show is supernatural horror - you should know going in that you aren't going to get historical accuracy. But I actually think the balance of historical accuracy and complete outlandishness works well. We immediately like John Alden because even though some of this show's witches are actually witches, he is skeptical not just that all of the condemned citizens are in fact witches- rather he doubts that witches exist period. The way, incidentally, that they frame witches as agents of the false witch hunt, works well--even if that plot point is never really matched by the subplot. Some of the historical inaccuracies can be annoying of course. The Indians don't look like they would have at that time--at least in New England, the Puritans would not be wearing some of the extravagant clothes worn here by the elites, and Salem would not be consist of German American architecture or have a social scene resembling the Manchester, England of Charles Dickens. But these are small points. A larger trouble is that the show portrays a small portion of victims of the witch hunt as actual witches. Their characters are fictional but the people on whom they are based were very real. This seems insensitive, and I almost wish they changed the names. These may be your ancestors after all. The plot lines also grow a bit tired toward the end, although the addition of a few new characters (especially Increase Mather) helps this a bit. Problems aside, I think I'll give next season a go.… Expand
  5. Sketch987
    Sep 18, 2014
    5
    Salem is a highly original TV show and the acting is good. Unfortunately the script is very weak and the characters simply aren't sympathetic. I think if better writers had been put on the project this could have been really great entertainment, but over and over again gratuitous gore is substituted for plot, and the final product reaches very little of its potential.

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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