Salem (2014 series)
Summary
A sort of "Gothic soap opera" set in a 17th-century Salem, Massachusetts beset by plotting witches, inspired by the Salem Witch Trials.
Details
- Release Date: 2014-2017
- Country/Language: US, English
- Genres/Technical: Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Thriller
- Runtime: (generally formatted for a 1-hour commercial television slot)
- Starring: Janet Montgomery, Shane West, Seth Gabel
- Creators: Brannon Braga, Adam Simon
- Producer/Production Co: Beetlecod Productions, Prospect Park, Fox 21
- View Trailer: (link)
- TVTropes: (link)
- IMDB Page: (link)
Ratings
MPAA Ratings
- Rated: TV-MA (Violence, Profanity, Adult Content, Nudity, Sexual Situations)
Tentacle Ratings
A rough measure of how "Lovecraftian" the work is:
- S____ (One Tentacle: Debateably Lovecraftian; has almost no direct connection to Lovecraft's work)
Not very "Lovecraftian" at all. "Brown Jenkin" is a character, but the name seems to have been drawn from the same Witch Trial material by both the show's writers and by Lovecraft to get to two quite different destinations. Still, the 17th Century period setting should appeal to some Call of Cthulhu RPG gamers and fan fiction writers, as the time period is referred to by Lovecraft fairly frequently, and it wouldn't be hard to adapt some of the show's material to a more "Lovecraftian" setting by substituting Lovecraft's creations for Satan and the like.
Note: This rating is not intended as a measure of quality, merely of how closely related to Lovecraftian "Weird" fiction the work is.
Reviews
Review Links:
- (review needed)
Synopsis
Set in the volatile world of 17th century Massachusetts, 'Salem' explores what really fueled the town's infamous witch trials and dares to uncover the dark, supernatural truth hiding behind the veil of this infamous period in American history. In Salem, witches are real, but they are not who or what they seem.
Notes
Comments, Trivia, Dedication
Associated Mythos Elements
- character: "Brown Jenkin"
- location: Salem, Massachusetts
- race: Witches
- film and television - see also:
- The Witch (2015 film), set in approximately the same era and location
- Penny Dreadful (2014 series), a similar period supernatural Gothic soap opera, set in the 19th century, featuring storylines involving mummies, vampires, werewolves, demons, the Frankenstein monster, Dorian Grey, Jekyll and Hyde, Jack the Ripper, and various other Gothic horror cliches, in addition to witches
- Dark Shadows (1966 franchise), the original Gothic soap opera
Keeper Notes
- This show's 17th Century period setting should appeal to some Call of Cthulhu RPG gamers and fan fiction writers, as the time period is referred to by Lovecraft fairly frequently, and it wouldn't be hard to adapt some of the show's material to a more "Lovecraftian" setting by substituting Lovecraft's creations for Satan and the like.
