ADVANCE PREVIEW: Motherland: Fort Salem is a Powerful Addition to Freeform
Unity, power and sisterhood are just three words I would use to describe Freeform’s new show, Motherland: Fort Salem. The new series follows three witches, Raelle (Taylor Hickson), Tally (Jessica Sutton) and Abigail (Ashley Nicole Williams) who have entered the basic training at Fort Salem, where they will be trained to use their powers to help protect mankind against terrorist threats. However, in order to pass basic training, the three must find a way to work together to ensure they not only pass, but they don’t get removed from the program all together.
Freeform is once again dabbling in the supernatural with their new series. However, unlike a majority of their shows, Motherland does not focus on current day events, but it instead finds a new way to rewrite history. It takes the story behind the Salem Witch Trials and turns the outcome of it on its head. Instead of seeing the witches as evil, mankind enlists the witches to help protect them against external threats. While all this is going on, the writers also manager to entwine the story with themes that are affecting females today. From embracing one’s sexuality to equality, each theme seamlessly folds into the storyline creating some pretty fun scenes for our characters.
The first couple episodes of the series focuses on the new threat facing mankind and the world’s opinion on the witches, especially those training at Fort Salem. After that the series turns its focus to the ladies and how important it is that they work together. While all this is going on, the series also turns its focus to each of our leads coming into their own at Fort Salem.
Hickson, Sutton and Williams’ will become your new favorite trio after watching the series. The three were perfectly cast as our three leading ladies and will be fun to watch come into their own as the series progresses. The one thing I really liked about these three’s relationship is that they understand that even though they have the same common goal, it is okay for them to not to immediately be friends. They know that they need each other to survive basic training, but the series does not force them to be friends right out the gate. Instead, the series turns its focus to each of the ladies’ individual growth and what they are doing to survive basic training. It is through this focus that fans get to see the growth in their relationship.
Motherland: Fort Salem is a can’t miss for Freeform fans. No matter what kind of shows you enjoy, everyone will find something to enjoy about this show. The show will also leave you feeling powerful and wanting to fight alongside the ladies after every episode.
Grade: A