Ep 1. After the Fall

After the Fall, the first episode of Salem season 3, marks a dark turn in the history of the titular town where witch-hunts are still being conducted along with the vicious struggle for power among the witches. The episode opens with a terrifying and blood-curdling sequence showing a woman being burned alive for being a witch and everyone, including the witches watching from the woods, is left mortified by the brutal execution. As the camera pans out, we see the image of the legendary Devil, who has returned to Salem with a vengeance. The Devil, the ultimate symbol of darkness and evil, has come to wreak havoc, pull the strings, and stir up trouble in Salem.

The episode follows the various power struggles between the witches, each one trying to lure the Devil to their side in order to consolidate their own power. The Devil’s arrival means that Salem is slowly being transformed into a living hell, where the rule of law has been distorted beyond recognition, and good and evil exist on a knife’s edge. The witches try to bargain with the Devil, but soon realize that he is not a straightforward ally to have, and their attempts to control him only reveal their selfish motives, and desire for power.

One of the witches who finds herself pulled into the political turmoil is Mary Sibley, The former grand witch who is still grappling with her love-hate relationship with the Devil. While she initially tries to keep herself out of the politics, she is soon embroiled in it when she finds herself surrounded by enemies – witches who want her dead and her former allies who want her to re-join their side. As the battle lines are being drawn, it’s clear that Mary will have to make some difficult choices in order to protect herself.

The episode reveals the arrival of a new character, a young man named Sebastian, with a mysterious past and a potential love interest for Mary. While his presence adds an intriguing element to the show, his motivations remain unclear, and it’s not clear whether he is here to help or hurt.

As the episode heads towards its climax, we see a difficult moral choice being made by Mary. She must choose between her own life, and the life of one of her friends, who is accused of being a witch. It’s a heart-wrenching decision that pits personal loyalty against her own survival. The tension builds to a fever pitch as the Devil taunts Mary, and the witches’ fight for power becomes more savage by the minute.

As the episode comes to an end, we’re left with a sense that this season is going to be darker and bloodier than anything we’ve seen before in Salem. The arrival of the Devil brings with it a new level of danger that is sure to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. With a new love interest for Mary, new characters with their own agendas, and a deteriorating situation in Salem, After the Fall sets up an exciting, dangerous, and compelling third season.