Salem Season 2 Episode 11 Review: On Earth as in Hell
Samantha McAllister
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Bring on the nightmares!
On Salem Season 2 Episode 11, there was even more build-up to the impending war and the dark lord making a scary return.
The hour started off slow and didn't take off till the very end, but it looks as though things are finally heading in the right direction, and we're finally going to get this war we've been hearing about all season.
Let's not waste anymore time and discuss the events of, "On Earth as in Hell."
Even though Magistrate Hawthorne gets on my ever-lasting nerves, he did bring up some good points about Mary. You know she isn't a good person and, really, she was getting exactly what she deserved when she was put in front of the residents of Salem as a "painted whore," but she didn't deserve to have things thrown at her, despite everything she's done.
What did John expect from Cotton regarding the exorcism? It's not like an exorcism can be easily done – there are precautions to take and dangers involved in exorcizing a demon.
It wasn't a total shock when little John called John his father – you knew it was going to come out eventually and thankfully they didn't drag it on. And Cotton's reaction was surprisingly calm.
The story John was telling his son was extremely sweet and showed an entirely different side to him. You know, even with everything that has happened, there is always going to be a part of John who still loves Mary – even though she's not the woman he fell in love with.
It's a shame their son never got to know who Mary was before she turned to the dark side.
John: Did you have any friends?
John Alden: Well let's see. There was a boy, Isaac, he was a kind and simple soul -- still is, but do you know who my dearest friend, the one I loved most already, even when I was your age?
John: Who?
John Alden: Why, the girl who turned out to be your mother.
John: I miss her.
John Alden: Me too.
Thank goodness Cotton was there to stop John from untying his son. You knew once Cotton asked him to recite a prayer, little John wasn't going to be able to say the words which further proved a demon was inside the child. Though, I imagine, the complete freak-out little John had proved Cotton's point rather nicely.
Why did Mary think it was a good idea to essentially tell Countess Marburg about the exorcism? You'd think this woman would have learned to keep her mouth shut about such things. This is why I have such a hard time getting behind her as a character – she constantly does stupid things.
Isaac probably gave the most honest speech about the people of Salem and how they are all corrupted and guilty of evil. It was heartbreaking, again, to watch him cradle Dolly and cry over her lifeless body.
Isaac is the only character on this show who has ever shown a lick of sense, and unfortunately, history has shown people just aren't willing to believe the truth – even when it's staring them right in their face.
Isaac: You're all fornicators; screwing each other every day of the week, including Sabbath. I swear, if Jesus Christ walked the streets of Salem, he wouldn't find a man worth saving.
Magistrate Hawthorne: This is vile blasphemy and you will hang for it.
Isaac: Go on then, hang me! Hang me! Done died on those stocks years ago. You all so busy looking for where the evil came from, you brought it with you.
How can Sebastian still be so enamored with Mary after everything she's done? Of course, thanks to his obsession, he was able to find Mary quickly and I found myself feeling bad for him for a few seconds. He's never felt what love truly is, especially with a mother like Countess Marburg, and hearing Mary wax poetic about her love for her son was twisting the dagger in his black heart.
Anne finally showed up about halfway through the episode and she was basically there to try to give Mary a confidence boost, which was exactly what she needed. Anne has really grown as a character, and a witch, and I'm happy she is trying to help and not give into the darkness you know she has inside of her. Please let her and Cotton have some happiness, because they both deserve it.
The whole possession scene was equal parts chilling and creepy to watch and listen to, but you knew the exorcism wasn't going to go smoothly – at least John was trying to get through to his son. A lot of people may look at the whole scene as cheap thrills and shock value, but it was a well-constructed scene and all of the actors involved did a phenomenal job, especially Oliver Bell who convincingly played a child being possessed.
In the end, Cotton had to take little John away to protect him from Countess Marburg, but things took a turn for the worse when he unknowingly gave the child over to the Countess who was posing as Anne. Meanwhile, Sebastian seemingly killed John.
What did you think of "On Earth as in Hell"? Do you think Sebastian really killed John?
Make sure you take time to catch up on the show before the season finale in a couple weeks. Go watch Salem online now via TV Fanatic and make sure you come back to let us know what you think of the episode.
Samantha McAllister was a staff writer for TV Fanatic. She retired in November 2018.
