Adventures in East End. Retrospective: Witches of East End — "Marilyn Fenwick, R.I.P."

Season 1, Episode 2

Airdate: October 13, 2013

Rating: ★★★★★

“The first rule of witch club: don’t talk about witch club.” – Wendy

Hold on tight, this week’s episode of Witches of East End “Marilyn Fenwick, R.I.P” ups the ante with more action, and intrigue surrounding the Beauchamp women. The cliffhanger at the end of the premiere last week left many of the characters in quite a bind: Freya (Jenna Dewan Tatum) remains trapped with a vengeful ex-lover, Doug (Neil Hopkins), inside a photograph, Joanna’s (Julia Ormond) arrest for murder couldn’t have come at a worse time, and Ingrid’s (Rachel Boston) lack of knowledge to fully use her magic gets in the way of everything she’s ever believed in. Then there’s Wendy (Mädchen Amick) whose unfortunate brush with Joanna’s shapeshifter left things quite messy in the kitchen.

With so much going on, it would have been easy for the series’ writer, Maggie Friedman, to spread the storylines too thin between Freya’s dramatic rescue to the ongoing tensions between estranged brothers Dash (Eric Winter) and Killian (Daniel DiTomasso) Gardinier. Yet, “Marilyn Fenwick, R.I.P.” manages to remain balance as it puts aside the romance to focus squarely on the bigger subject of family. Don’t get me wrong, the chemistry between Dash/Freya/Killian is too hot to miss out on, but I’d take a bit of Beauchamp family bonding over an indulgent love triangle; like most delightful things in life, it works better in moderation.

Practical Magic

Ingrid is really the go-getter of the family thus far, which is somewhat ironic since she is the last person to embrace the idea of magic. Yet, here she goes, quickly following her mother’s order by going into the mystery room where she finds the grimoire. Boston steals the scene with every comical expression and snappy one liners. She’s part of what makes the series endearing and providing contrast to Dewan-Tatum’s spunk and determination.

Like a good girl, Ingrid decides first to revive her Aunt Wendy from death using a resurrection spell from the grimoire, unaware of the nine lives Wendy has at her disposal. “There are consequences, Ingrid. You can’t bring someone back from the dead without consequences.” This sets off a chain of events that will be one of the major underlying plots of Witches of East End

Wendy: “There’s always a price.”

Ingrid: “What kind of price?”

Wendy: “If you resurrect someone you love, someone you love has to die. “

Who exactly will pay the price is not resolved by the end of tonight’s episode, however, it definitely adds for really good plot material which will be shocking by the season’s end—depending on how much the series decides to follow the original books by Melissa de la Cruz.

Family Ties

Since Freya’s current storyline, aside from developing her powers, revolves around her relationships with the Gardinier brothers, Killian and Dash, we don’t receive as many scenes with them this week. What we did get is some very peculiar interactions and innuendos.

Dash: “Haven’t seen you in five years, what do you want, Killian?”

Killian: “I don’t want anything from you.”

Dash: “You always want something from me, only usually you just end up taking it without asking…”

Meanwhile, Freya manages to escape the painting by knocking Doug out, and using a charmed blade. Unfortunately for her, getting out of the photograph also wipes out some of her memory. And what looks like Killian rescuing her turns out to be Dash. When Freya reveals that her last memory before being rescued was playing darts with Killian, Dash is none to pleased.

Next thing you know, Dash is showing up at the docks to essentially pay off his brother to get out of town. It is here I start to think Dr. Dash Gardinier may not be so perfect after all.

Dash: “Just take the check, Killian. You’re going to need it for when you leave town. The sooner, the better.”

Killian: “Just got here. Kinda like it. I think I’ll stay awhile.”

Dash: “You know, there was a time where I would have laid down my life for you. Now, when I see you, it’s all I can do not to rip you apart with my bare hands.”

Killian: “I know the feeling.”

Dash: “Careful, Killian.”

Witchcraft 101

Although I’ve never been a fan of info dump, it actually works within the context of the episode. There isn’t enough time, considering Freya and Joanna’s predicament, to hold back from full disclosure. That being said, it also provides some of the best moments and scenes of the whole episode. When Ingrid reunites with Freya, she gives her the skinny on their witchy legacy while driving to the cemetery. Meanwhile, Wendy (still in her feline form) sits in the back seat:

Ingrid: “…You and I have lived a bunch of times, but we don’t remember because there’s a curse on our heads.”

Freya: “What?!”

Ingrid: “And that is not Aunt Wendy’s cat…That is Aunt Wendy.”

Freya: “Oh this is not happening.”

Ingrid: “Also, mom got arrested for murder.”

Queue Aunt Wendy to shape shift back to human form, and elaborates:

Wendy: “Listen, people like us have all different kinds of gifts. Ok, some of us can shift into animal form like me. And others can make ourselves look like other people.”

Freya: “Can I do that?”

Wendy: “No.”

Freya: “Can I fly?”

Wendy: “No…”

Together, they all arrive at their aunt Marilyn Fenwick’s grave to literally dig up for money to bail out their mother from jail. Wendy tells the girls what they were like in their past lives. Freya has apparently remained as stubborn and dramatic. Yet, Wendy notes that Ingrid has never been scared like she is this time around. Ingrid admits she prefers a life without magic, but Wendy encourages her, “You’re so much more powerful than you know.”

Ingrid’s response to her new found reality is both funny and true to her nature. She tells Freya, who is furious their mother kept such a secret from both of them, “Let’s just say it’s been an extreme night of cognitive dissonance.” Not bad for a woman who used magic to resurrect her dead auntie.

Overall

Witches of East End is a great new series which, judging from “Marilyn Fenwick, R.I.P.,” there will be no skimping on the sexual tension and suspense in discovering the identity of the shapeshifter who is after the Beauchamp family. I know there are plenty of series dealing with the topic of witches or magic this season, it is October after all, however, what makes this show exceptional is its ability to not take itself too seriously. Witches of East End has the savvy sense to know its’ audience; viewers who tune in will be the ones who enjoy a bit of levity with such a dark and paranormal subject.

All in all, I look forward to learning more about the secrets surrounding the Fair Haven estates, the ongoing feud between Killian and Dash; most importantly, I can’t wait to see how far and badass the powers of the Beauchamp family will go this season.