‘Salem’ casts its spell with stunning debut

Apr 21, 2014

Janet Montgomery as “Mary Sibley,” Ashley Madekwe as “Tituba,” and Tamzin Merchant as “Anne Hale” in “Salem.”

When a TV network jumps into the original series game for the first time, they usually have to struggle to find their stride and put out programming on a par with most of the shows that are currently airing. And with its plunge into the original series game with “Salem”, WGN has not produced the show on par with its peers, but surpassed the great majority of them.

Yes, it’s really that good. In fact, even after several repeat viewings searching for flaws or elements to critique for improvement, I have to admit I found the pilot episode flawless.

Not Afraid to Get Dirty

Now, flawless doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best show on TV, as there is more to creating a winner than simply not making any mistakes. But there are plenty of really strong qualities to “Salem,” starting with the set dressing and costuming. Instead of going overboard making everything neat and pretty and frilly, the creative team that designs the look of the series things gritty and earthy, even in the simple luxury of the wealthy and realistic details you don’t normally see on TV or even the big screen. For instance, instead of glamorizing a possessed village girl, they shaved her head and give her some pretty gnarly teeth. Not fangs or sharpened teeth, but well, mighty unclean.

And for someone who has gone mad in that time period, that’s probably pretty accurate.

Leaving the Camp to Those Other Witches

Along with the earthy simplicity and edginess of the design of the show are very solid performances by the actors who take material that could easily become melodramatic and keep it real. Or it could go to the campy side like those other witches in that oh-so-popular series, but thankfully “Salem” doesn’t go for campy humor, either.

It does, however, dish out healthy servings of gore and violence, more so than your conventional TV channels. This is where channels like WGN have an advantage over the basic network channels, in that they have more leeway to delve into harsher material and a more graphic presentation of it. “Salem” takes full advantage and and may give the squeamish a bit of a pause.

But that certainly isn’t considered a bad thing around here.

The writing is solid and it may not be as showy with plot twists and turns as other shows on TV, but this is a more than respectable debut for WGN and a show that will certainly appeal to horror fans with a very good chance for a crossover to a more mainstream audience like “The Walking Dead” and “American Horror Story.” One particularly interesting bit of dialogue in the pilot revolved around our lead female character, Mary Sibley (Janet Montgomery), who crosses paths with a young ingénue in the local graveyard and gives her some rather menacing words of wisdom.

You know what killed nearly every woman here? Love. Most died in childbirth. So love is to a woman what war is to a man – the most deadly thing you’ll do. Only a fool runs quickly to war or love. You best watch yourself.

Breaking Bad

And around Mrs. Sibley, most everyone should watch themselves. Many characters have a great arc over the entire season of a show, but this lady has seriously broken bad right the beginning. I don’t want to spoil any more for you, because you should be watching the show, even if it means amping up your level of cable service. That may be huge hindrance to the success of this new show for WGN, but let’s hope enough folks will tune in to keep it around for another season.

It’s not only good TV, but it’s damn good horror. And a little Sunday reminder of the darker side of Christianity, with the warning to not let this bit of history repeat itself.