Pictured in 17th-century Massachusetts, Salem reimagines the infamous witch trials with a rivetingly dark twist. Richard Shepard’s innovative choice depicts the trials with both occasional historical accuracy and a gripping secret power play. Behind the mass hysteria terrorizing the townspeople, a secret society of vengeful witches is unraveling their plans, with the coven’s leader, Mary Sibley, played by Janet Montgomery, at the helm. The show expertly captures pure spellbinding entertainment painted through a gorgeous gothic-horror lens. Nearly twelve years later, the almost forgotten series is deeply deserving of a modern wave of recognition.
As is the case with a ton of wildly entertaining shows, Salem received a rather yawn-worthy critical reception, but a notably successful response from audiences. According to Rotten Tomatoes, critics gave it a quite literal middle-of-the-road response with a lackluster 48%. However, audiences favored it with 71% on the tomato meter. In particular, the show has been revered for its almost American Horror Story “Coven”-esque campy nature. Think Scream Queens, except instead of Chanel Oberlin pulling the strings, Salem has a ruthless enchantress calling the shots.
Hulu’s Thrilling Horror Series ‘Salem’ is Pure Unadulterated Fun
Image via WGN America
Critics pointing to the kitschy, guilty-pleasure qualities are not without merit. Practicing Wiccans looking for an accurate portrayal of American history, or even witchcraft enthusiasts, may find their search for entertainment falling flat here. Rather, it appears the target audience for Salem is likely the soap-opera addicts. It leans heavily into explicit sex and melodrama, and in fact, it appears to be sort of the whole point of the show. That, and the absolutely gorgeous costuming and set design, despite the fact that both are frequently splattered with blood or engulfed in flames.
In short, the plot follows Mary Sibley. Publicly, Mary is the doting wife of a wealthy townie, George Sibley. Unknown to her neighbors, behind closed doors, Mary is unraveling a plan to use fear and violence to summon the devil. Why? One might ask. Well, in a creative, “good for her” twist, these acts of violence are Mary’s way of seeking vengeance against the repressive Puritan leaders, with whom she has a mysterious and increasingly dark history. However, Mary’s plans are complicated by the return of her lost love: John Alden, played by Shane West. Thus, all at once, she’s forced to grapple with her past while attempting to maintain her control over Salem.
After a long, tangling story of sacrifices, dark magic, and spell-binding action, seemingly the only fault of the series was its inability to gain a steady audience. Other period pieces, which were much more palatable for the time, seemed to skyrocket. Take the hugely successful Downton Abbey franchise, for example. The show amassed 120 million viewers worldwide and was still churning episodes five years after its initial release. Perhaps due to the subject matter, the abject gore, or even the sexuality of the show, it was too taboo for mainstream popularity. After debuting in April 2014, it hit a notable high of 2.3 million views; however, it steadily declined over its three-year run, ultimately leading to its cancellation. Cut to 2026, where audiences are not only forgiving but gripped by themes of the like, Salem has untapped revival potential.
- Release Date
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2014 – 2017
- Writers
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Brannon Braga, Adam Simon
