2.04 - "BOOK OF SHADOWS"
Directed by Allan Kroeker
Written by Joe Menosky and Adam Simon
Reviewed by Gavin Hetherington
THE CHARACTERS
SEASON GUIDE
Click on a title to be taken to the review for that episode. Need a catch-up of season one before starting season two? Be sure to read the
ultimate catch-up review of season one.
2.01 - "
Cry Havoc" (April 5, 2015)
2.02 - "
Blood Kiss" (April 12, 2015)
2.03 - "
From Within" (April 19, 2015)
2.04 - "
Book of Shadows" (April 26, 2015)
2.05 - "
The Wine Dark Sea" (May 3, 2015)
2.06 - "
Ill Met By Midnight" (May 10, 2015)
2.07 - "
The Beckoning Fair One" (May 17, 2015)
2.08 - "
Dead Birds" (May 24, 2015)
2.09 - "
Wages of Sin" (May 31, 2015)
2.10 - "
Til Death Do Us Part" (June 7, 2015)
2.11 - "
On Earth As In Hell" (June 14, 2015)
2.12 - "
Midnight Never Come" (June 21, 2015)
2.13 - "
The Witching Hour" (June 28, 2015) -
Advance Preview
'BOOK OF SHADOWS' REVIEW
Salem's fourth episode (I can't believe it's four whole episodes already, I'm worried time is moving too fast and the season will be over before we know it) aired last night and I cannot stress how incredible and exciting this show is. I think I have sang this show's praises every single week but that's because it deserves it. The episode begins less out-of-this-world as the first three episodes but it still has an effect. It continues on from the end of the last episode - when the Countess used the water hag to kiss Mary Sibley so she can size up the competition - and sets in motion the main events of this episode, which is to find out who is challenging Mary. That's not all, of course, as in typical Salem fashion, something sick has to happen. The award goes to Tituba, who upon finding the militia man dead, proceeds to eat his eyeballs.
"Child, I can kill you a hundred ways."
 |
| "And this is the Burn Book..." |
The episode's title says it all and this episode introduces the awesomeness of the Book of Shadows. I will admit - my knowledge of the Book of Shadows comes from
Charmed and the many times I tried to replicate it. It's really interesting to note more mythology is added here for the witches. The book of shadows they have, if done right, can only be read by the author and if said author dies, the book finds its way to Samhain where the books are kept so the discovery of witches will not be a threat. I really do love that idea. It must be first signed with blood - the blood signature keeps it from being read by others. Mary comes to Anne who seems so interested in all this and she has always been a curious character. She seems fascinated by the idea of familiars and keeping a secret journal - but she's using this to the advantage of being good. By harnessing her power, she realises she can seek to harm none. This is very clever and I'm glad Anne is going this route. She remains in the good graces of Mary while using her to advance herself. I just wonder how far this will go before she goes too far.
I usually really like Cotton Mather, but in this episode, I really love him. I sang my hallelujahs the moment he strutted his stuff back into Salem and challenged Hawthorne from the very beginning. I now have hope that everything is going to get better in Salem. Cotton really is that ray of sunshine in a very desolate place - him and Anne, which is why I love the idea of the two together. At the time being though, it seems there's going to be more of a bromance between Cotton and Samuel, the doctor. Their little talks reminded me of the good old days of Cotton and John - days I've missed greatly. There are still feelings there, especially since Cotton shares some tears with Mary over the news that John is dead. He restores some humanity in Mary in that scene where they talk too - something that has kind of been missing from Mary this season. See? Cotton's arrival in Salem has already improved things.
"Not fit to lead a beggar's parade, let alone Salem."
The best parts of the episode comes from Mary's and Tituba's amazing team-up skills in finding what the hell is going on in Salem and who is behind the challenging of Mary. I loved the part where Mary goes to see Samuel as he is performing an autopsy on the man John killed in the last episode, the one working for Mary, so Tituba can cut off his finger for a spell. Mary is the biggest cock-tease in TV history in that moment with Samuel to distract him. I can honestly say Mary is one of my favourite female characters on television right now. The spell that she and Tituba perform is such a cool one, yet again. I really want a book of shadows of all the spells and magic used in the show so I can replicate it - I might actually make one myself if I was that creative. I'd pay good money for this. It leads Mary and Tituba to Knockers' Hole where John is. I'm glad we got to see what it's like for him to become invisible like we saw in the previous episode and I was quite mortified when the black lines appeared all over him and infested his body. It looked painful but it was enough to keep him from Mary's sight. I don't believe he was going to kill her there and then, even though he did have the knife, I just think it was for protection.
My absolute favourite moment of this episode comes in the form of Anne's initiation - but it's also my most hated for the sheer fact of murdering a poor kitty. I'll get to that in a second. Mary wants Anne to go down the well to stop the trespassing of the mysterious witch. It seems fair enough and Anne's totally game... until Mary brings a bag with an animal inside of it. I would have been totally fine not knowing what was in it - I would have just simply imagined it being a toad or something - but then Anne had to pull it out at the bottom of the well with that cute little "meow" and completely break my heart. I know it's not Anne's fault that she had to do it and Mary was the one who forced her, but this is something I can never forgive from either of them. You cannot kill kittens. It is literally one of the worst things you could do. Fortunately the kitty did not die in vain and Anne completed the spell. Again, I loved the spell and the whole set-up and the hag appearing made me jump, and then laugh because I was silly for jumping. But come on, my heart is torn in two.
Mercy didn't have an awful lot to do in this episode and what she did do was pretty horrible. Her only true friend - Dollie - seems to show more sympathy and humanity that gets her punished by Mercy. I sense Dollie possibly wanting to get away from Mercy in the future, especially since Mercy strikes her and treats her like vermin. Who does Mercy have left in her corner, really? It appears she is going to get back to her old self by using Isaac for her own wicked little magic. Poor Isaac. I say this every review but yes, poor Isaac. He is literally only there to be used and abused by everyone so I was glad to see Dollie show some sympathy for him despite her situation. Now please let him die in peace.
The ending is promising too when John appears to Cotton and knocks him out cold. Are we going to get a much-needed reunion between the two where they start working together? Is John going to tell Cotton about the witches, and that Mary is one of them? So many possibilities! Also, Mary gives in to Samuel's crazy fifty shades of grey fantasy? Ahh!
- Gross things to happen on
Salem: eyeball eating? Check! Tituba, you is nasty!
- I laughed so hard at the "beggar's parade" quote by Mary to Hawthorne. Hehe.
- How fitting for Anne's familiar to be a mouse since it matches her personality quite well.
- Not the kitty! Anybody but the kitty! Oh man, I'm never getting over this.
- Samuel is like the Puritan version of Christian Grey.
- The writing of this episode is pure poetry. "Shut up in your Puritan house like a Puritan mouse."
- No Lucy Lawless?
EPISODE VERDICT
Without a shadow of a doubt,
Salem's second season continues to deliver. This episode opened the show up to more mythology behind the witches and their backstory - giving them an anchor of realism that I find lacking in other shows revolving around the supernatural. This episode continued to prove why Salem is a fantastic television show and one that should be more popular than it is.
Cotton's return to Salem was a great highlight for me as he was much missed from the main drama. He promises a brighter future in the town and I cannot wait to see his interactions with John and what he is going to do next in this struggle in Salem. Best part of the episode for me was also the well scene with Anne and Mary, but that is also a double-edged sword because of the death of the poor kitty. Please spare me from this torture
Salem, though I secretly love it.
I am literally beyond excited to see Countess Marburg show up in Salem and it needs to happen ASAP. Fortunately I feel like I can wait for this because there's enough going on in Salem that she doesn't need to appear right away. I love watching the panic from Mary and Tituba at the prospect of a threat that could be greater than them so watching them go to extreme measures to ensure their safety is exciting to watch. It makes the suspense fever-pitch where I can literally die from the wait.
Keep this up
Salem because if I rated every episode out of 10 this season, this would be the fourth 10 given.
What did you think of 'Book of Shadows'? Let me know your thoughts on the episode in the comments and be sure to watch the next new episode on May 3 on WGN America at 10PM!
About the Author - Gavin Hetherington
Award-winning author of 'Abyssal Sanctuary: Remnants of the Damned'. Gavin joined SpoilerTV on August 9, 2014 and will be reviewing 2 Broke Girls, Mistresses, Orange is the New Black, Pretty Little Liars, Salem and Sleepy Hollow in the 2014-15 season. Gavin's favourite shows include Charmed, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Desperate Housewives, The Walking Dead, Once Upon a Time, Revenge, Scandal and much more. You can contact him at gavin@spoilertv.com.
Cotton's back! Anne is exploring her magic! Mary knows it's the Countess behind the attack! So much progression yet still so many questions. LOVE IT! What did you guys think of last night's Salem?
ReplyDeleteThe pace this season is excellent. We are building to teh arrive of the Countess and then to the war. I wonder in how much time Merci's friend will break and will run to Mary telling that Merci is aliev and what she is doing with Isaac which BTW the man have the worst luck ever, right?. I hope some saves him before it's too late.
ReplyDeleteIm liking this doctor, he is not around the bushes when he wants something.
Cotton and Anne. D: damn i ship them, i didnt want to but i do. Mary playing her and watching what she is writting was a great and low move.
Great review Gavin
Yay so glad we can agree on these things. The suspense is unreal for the Countess to arrive! I think Dollie will end up breaking very soon especially since she has seen Mercy change and isn't the same person she followed to begin with. Mercy has changed dramatically! I hope Mary saves Isaac and then sets him free - he needs some peace.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ron :D
Great review, as usual.
ReplyDeleteI liked that Dollie is breaking away from Mecy a bit, whether she (mercy) kills Isaac or saves him, I don't know, I also don't know what Mercy is doing to him exactly. I'm a bit done with watching him being tortured all the time, it was old last season and it's beyond old now when everyone else is part of the plot and not a victim. Hell, even George has some agency now.
I know the show likes to be shocking and gross, but I really didn't need to see the kitty. They could have kept it a mystery or given us a meow and we'd know, or show Anne looking into the sack and her reaction, without us seeing it. That said, I'm loving Anne this season, especially with her decision to be a good witch (we'll see if her magic will let her or if Mary/Countess let her). So did she do it wrong and that's why Mary could read her book or did Mary lie?
Eye ball eating was pretty gross, but it was typical of the show. Did the good Doctor not notice his dead patient is missing a finger? He was very condescending and sure of himself in his scene with Cotton, I can't wait to see him knocked down a peg or two when he finds out the truth. Assuming he's not too busy writing the BDSM manual or something.
I loved Mary's take down of Hawthorne and loved to see even Cotton stand up to him a bit. I really enjoyed Cotton's presence in Salem this episode. Did John only knock people out and free them, this episode? I guess it beats killing possibly innocent dock workers. I really want John and Cotton to be working together (possibly right up to when they discover the truth about Anne and have different reactions) but why did he knock him out? I enjoyed the Cotton-Mary scene, it brought back Mary's humanity a bit and reminded us John and Cotton were friends. We finally saw something about John's talisman, do the effects wear off or are those black veins something that's there even now, whether you can see it or not? So few answers about his ritual and how it changed him/what it did to him/what those black veins are.
I can't hear "bring out your dead" without thinking Monty Python and "I'm not dead... I'm feeling better!"
Salem does it again! :D Seriously, how can it just keep delivering such high quality, exciting and intense episodes like this? Surely there'll be a slump at some point? I sure hope not. I love that Dollie is starting to see that Mercy is cray cray but I'm worried for her when she eventually tries to break away from her (that's gonna happen, let's be honest). But poor poor Isaac, has he not suffered enough? I hate that he's suffering even more now but I am slightly intrigued about what Mercy is doing to him.
ReplyDeleteI'm really loving where Anne's story is headed, She's having to rely on someone who doesn't have the same morals as her and I think that's gonna be a huge struggle for her coming up because of the whole "trying to be a good witch" thing while having to do evil things, that scene down in the well was really creepy but I loved it, I swear I almost had a heart attack even though I knew the hag was coming anyway. That poor little kitty, I did not need to see it's cute little face and the "meow", noooo :(
Things are certainly heating up between Mary and Samuel, it was getting steamy at the end there! I wonder if she's gonna give him the goods soon or make me work for it. They have a great chemistry together. However, I must say the Mary/Tituba scenes stole the show. I also loved the spell they did together and the way it works with the finger pointing to the killer was so good, I was really hoping Mary was gonna find John but the writers obviously don't wanna make it that easy this soon. I'm gonna have to take a moment to mention the eyeball scene, that was vile! Salem continues to add in the little digusting scenes every episode, wonder what else we've got to look forward to in that respect.
I think the absence of the Countess was definitely felt but the episode didn't really suffer because of it, she's a scary, exciting villain but there's so much happening with the storyline that they afford to not have her in every single episode. But I do have to ask, why is her son part of the main cast when he's only appeared briefly in ONE scene since the start of the season, does anyone think he's gonna have some big important part in the show in the upcoming episodes because as of now his mother has had more screentime and she's only a "special guest star".
Yet again though, wonderful review ans I agree wholeheartedly with all your points. Great minds think alike aye? haha
I wonder if she's gonna give him the goods soon or make me work for it
ReplyDeleteNaughty, naughty thoughts. :P ;) :)
Thanks so much IvyB!
ReplyDeleteI think we will always agree about Isaac until something changes - it's the same thing every week with him isn't it? I'd like to see how Dollie can develop away from Mercy - if she gets away from her.
Totally agree about seeing the kitty too, I mean damn it why?! I think Mary lied to Anne about not seeing her diary entries because how would Mary know she did it wrong otherwise? It was a very specific spell for Mary to look into Anne's book of shadows, and it's very clever of her too since she now knows about the Countess.
You are absolutely right about the Doctor, thanks for raising those points. Can't wait for his smug little face to be brought down to earth! Haha the BDSM :P Maybe he won't notice Mary's third nipple on her leg since he probably didn't notice the freshly-missing finger on his body. He sees what he wants to see, not what's right in front of him.
I think you're right about John, that's basically what he did which is better than killing innocents. Maybe he knocked Cotton out to take him to Knockers Well without him knowing where he's been taken to so he can't share his secrets of his whereabouts? I don't know, it should be explained next episode when we see what John wants with Cotton.
Hahahaha oh my God I LOVED that Monty Python quote, I totally forgot about it and now I wish I used it for my tagline. Every time I'm going to think of that now, thanks :P
Always the same sentiments Adam - just how is it maintaining this quality? Sooo good! I hope there's no slump and we keep getting fantastic episode after fantastic episode.
ReplyDeleteYeah I'm worried for Dollie too. Anne/Mary in this episode was amazing, I love their chemistry because they both have very different goals yet they kind of need one another. It's so interesting and I just love both characters. I'll never forget that poor kitty :(
I'm not too sure of Mary's true intentions for Samuel but I don't believe she has feelings for him, they do have some electric chemistry but I see it more lustful rather than falling in love. Preach Mary/Tituba, the dream team. And yes, the eyeballs. Vile Tutuba! Vile!
I agree about the Countess and this anticipation is building up so much - it's going to be epic. That is a very good question and one I hope we see answered soon. I hope they incorporate Sebastian more into the show because he literally has had only 1 scene and I'm interested in seeing more.
Thanks so much for reading and sharing your thoughts, I love talking Salem with you :D Amazing minds think alike ;)
Haha I do hope that was a type, and supposed to mean "make him work for it", otherwise that is very naughty Adam haha.
ReplyDeleteI need the promo for next episode already. :(
ReplyDeleteWe're a bit of a broken record when it comes to Isaac, but in our defense so is the show, the guy has been victimized for two seasons now. I'm really intrigued to see what Dollie does/tries to do.
Yeah, Mary probably lied to Anne about the diary, so she can keep track of her and see if she's a threat and good thing too, since now she has the name of the bathtub kisser/drowner. I wonder if Anne has a third nipple now and where it is, her mouse was so cute.
LOL, yeah, maybe the good Doctor won't notice a weird wart on her thigh (though if he does, the doctor part of him should be intrigued) due to his passion. I'm still shocked he didn't ask her about the missing finger, he either didn't notice it or thinks someone is going around cutting off fingers , conveniently in the few moments he was outside and it doesn't make him curious.
"Good John, try knocking innocent "non-Witch" people out instead of killing them". I'm really hoping John didn't just knock Cotton out and disappeared or something, he has to talk to Cotton about what he's doing, tell him about Mary and the two could work together (if they work with Anne as well it'd be ironic, but doesn't John have a talisman to reveal a witch?).
I love Monty Python, and the Holy Grail is my favorite movie of theirs, my siblings and I quote is so often, so just hearing "bring out your dead" makes me think of it. *g*
I hate that there's never any promo right after on YouTube or anything, it's always a few days later.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah I never thought, Anne would get one to feed her familiar. And the mouse was so fitting for Anne, so cute. The doctor is just weird altogether I think, once we get more backstory on him he might make more sense. Well, one can hope.
You might be right about that talisman actually because he seems to know a lot more than we originally thought about who's a witch and whatnot. Maybe it will, though I would love some kind of John/Cotton/Anne thing since Anne also had a little connection with John in S1 too. He is going to be so conflicted. Part of me hopes his true intentions isn't really to vanquish all the witches in Salem including Mary. I hope he has a more developed plan behind that - that he's using the magic bestowed upon him to his advantage rather than that be the control of his life. I want John to have ulterior motives and not just be a heartless witch killer. He always struck me as a deeper, more open character than he's been this season.
I am making it my mission to put a Monty Python quote in the tagline, either from Holy Grail or Life or Brian. I've always loved "he's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy" from Life of Brian haha. So much I can use. Gonna see if I can make one relevant for the next episode review ;) (But Holy Grail is definitely an amazing film, I love it)
Haha it was a typo though I'll happily work for it ;)
ReplyDeleteThe Doctor is definitely an interesting character, a feminist and into really kinky sex and choking people until they glimpse the other side? I dunno how to feel about all that, I definitely hope we get some backstory on him.
ReplyDeleteI feel like the show is almost pretending John and Anne didn't have a connection in S1, since she's all about Cotton this season, while last season she didn't reciprocate his feelings. I guess we'll know for sure if the two ever interact, they can always excuse it by the change the two went through- Anne killing her folks and finding out she's a witch and John with the ritual. I would love some Anne-John-Cotton, since I loved them working together in S1.
I really hope John is conflicted if/when he finds out about Anne. I don't mind him wanting to kill all witches at the moment, because he hasn't seen a witch that was innocent yet- as far as he knows, they've all sold their soul to the devil, have killed innocent people, nearly killed him and are trying to wipe out the town. Why wouldn't he be a cold hearted witch killer based on all that and the personal betrayal with Mary? I do hope that once he finds out about Anne and his kid, he'll be more conflicted, but for now, I get it.
I like Life of Brian, but I love Holy Grail more and rewatched it more and can quote it better. Definitely try and sneak in a reference next review, if you can fit one in. How about Mercy and "it's merely a flesh wound"? That seems to fit.
Haha oh my God yes, that Mercy one, definitely suitable!!
ReplyDeleteNo matter what happens.. Mary must remain the leader and power. would be great if mary's son ends up the most powerful and protects him mom with bad ass powers.
ReplyDeleteI agree about Mary, and I'd love to see Mary's son protect his mother if/when she needs it, would be pretty sweet. But is he a sweet boy?
ReplyDeletelol... He seems to have an evil streak... also i hope they can save George...
ReplyDeleteI kinda hope George just gives in to Mary like he did in the last episode and stop fighting her. I love it when Mary wins :D
ReplyDeleteI was not happy when they hag dunked Mary in the tub, I'm like oh hell no.... Well at the end, they find George either died or dying from the old witch... i hope they bring him back so Mary doesn't have even more crap to deal with, with the towns people.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't watched last night's episode before I commented before but now I have and I hope they save George too. I was like "oh hell no" when the hag dunked Mary too haha, no one messes with our Mary, the Queen of the Night!
ReplyDeleteLOL... ya right about that... ...
ReplyDelete