Salem Season 3 Episode 7 Review: The Man Who Was Thursday
Justin Carreiro
at
.
Updated at
.
Did that just happen?!
We need to take a moment to breathe and process the development.
They actually did it...
On Salem Season 3 Episode 7, the dark lord was quite literally ripped apart at the seams in one of the best moments of the series. Their biggest enemy is perhaps dead. It was amazing!
Kudos to the special effects team and writers on Salem; this was a surprising curve ball in the final four episodes. I did not expect this twist yet. Did you?
Everything featured had the makings of a great climax. The location of the woods paired with the dark and dreary vibe added to the tension. And once the vines started grabbing him and ripping him apart, it worked perfectly. The prosthetics almost looked realistic.
Dark Lord: You think a few rotten vines can hold me?
Essex Elder: Once, you were the source of Mary's power. Not anymore! Now it will be OUR power coursing through our sister. You've never understood the real meaning of sacrifice nor its power. No one may sacrifice another...only themselves.
I'm going to miss the Essex Hive. They may be minor characters to the story overall, but they added an extra witchy flair to the secrets of Salem. And they gave our Queen Witch her powers back, so they must always be thanked.
Morgana Shaw, who played the Essex Elder, had a great presence all season whenever there scenes at the Essex Hive.
The writers must have loved writing for her character. The Elder didn't back down to no one, and she had great chemistry with both Mary and Tituba. It was fun having her back on Salem -- she played Mab in the first season.
The same can be said for Oliver Bell (the dark lord). He was menacingly evil and as mentioned before in past reviews, he has great chemistry with Mary and the cast.
Who do you think took his body parts at the end of the episode? My money is on Tituba. She wasn't around and the cloaked person did look like a woman.
I'm not sure how I feel about Sebastian and Mary's "relationship" at this moment. I've been back-and-forth on the idea.
He absolutely was despicable on Salem Season 3 Episode 6 by forcing her to sleep with him. She should NEVER have given him a chance after that. However, they have this strange love for each other; it's almost heartbreaking. (Keyword: almost.)
Sebastian: No kiss goodnight?
Mary: I hate you!
Sebastian: You cannot deny it was good.
Mary: And that is precisely why I hate you!
[Kisses passionately]
Sebastian: If that is what your hatred tastes like, I look forward to your love.
Mary: Do they make love in hell? Because surely as the sun is near rising, the boy will see you there before he lets me go.
John Alden is still my choice for endgame. The letter Mary wrote to him about her real intentions was touching and showed her undying love. That heartache doesn't ever go away.
But some clarification is in order: Can John read or could he not read Mary's writing in cursive? Cotton makes light of this, but it seemed surprising when he couldn't. There may have been a point that discussed this.
As compared to John and Mary, I'm completely reversed when it comes to Hathorne and Mercy's relationship.
She could do so much better without him. He seems like the type drawn to any powerful woman, and he might go back to the Countess if she does return this season. But Mercy has her own power: She has a business and loyal followers!
The design of Mercy's brothel has felt understated until this episode. It served as an afterthought; simply a background setting.
With the bright lights and standout shades of red/pink, it heightened the "lust" undertone of the business. And Mercy wearing an equally bold color made her look powerful. This was her "in-charge" moment over Anne. (And a good job is in order for the extras in this scene -- they must have danced in those cages for a while.)
Anne: Mercy?
Mercy: In the flesh.
Anne: But what are you doing here?
Mercy: You know what they say, "The only women in this world with any real powers are whores and widows."
Anne: So, you became a whore?
Mercy: Give it time...I may yet become a widow.
Speaking of Anne, does anyone feel sorry for her anymore? I'm torn.
Earlier this season, I praised her character for having one of the strongest developments the past two seasons. She became stronger, more determined and stepped away from the shy persona she once had. The new magical dark side to her was a good change of pace.
However, the second she inflicted Gloriana by taking her memory away, most of my compassion went out the door. She's become evil, and succumbing more and more to the dark side. This is not the same Anne we saw in Season 1 -- that person may be gone.
Mercy looks ready to hold this over Anne. It would be interesting to see how Anne copes with the added pressure of being blackmailed. And this secret has become the answer for Mercy being included in a main storyline.
Mercy: You'll owe me for cleaning up your mess...and congratulations.
Anne: What?
Mercy: I sense a yawning emptiness in her womb. All is fair in love and war, if there's really any difference.
Anne will regret not killing Gloriana and tying up loose ends. Somehow or some way, Gloriana may get her memory back or Cotton will discover her. This has the making of a tragedy.
Don't get me wrong: I like the drama and I'm waiting for it to happen, if it ever does! But this moment will come back to haunt her, just like all the evil she has inflicted. A karmic conclusion to her storyline would be an interesting ending.
Anne: Your bastard child would've been born out of wedlock and Cotton would have had no choice but to turn his back; deny his upstanding name to both of you. So you see, this is for the best for everyone.
Gloriana: You stole the life from inside me. God will strike you...
Anne: God will see one of his kind creatures saving another!
Gloriana: Lie for your own ear's sake. But you and I both know what kind of creature you truly are!
The same can be said of Isaac. His character development has been interesting to follow. But now as he's assuming a leadership role, he's turning into one of the monsters who condemned him in the past.
It would be terrible to see him grow power-hungry and corrupted; blinded by his own sense of justice. He's always been a positive force on Salem, like John Alden. If it were to happen, the town of Salem has corrupted another.
Though, with Black Sunday still around the corner, it would work in the Sentinel's favor. But with John Alden now armed with his mysterious weapon, and the dark lord's body parts missing, something is sure to happen soon.
What did you think of "The Man Who Was Thursday"? Is the dark lord truly dead? Will Anne regret giving Gloriana to Mercy?
If you missed the latest episode of Salem, you can watch Salem online via TV Fanatic. Come back here and let us know what you think.
Justin Carreiro was a staff writer for TV Fanatic. Follow him on X.
