Daddy Issues and Anagrams. Retrospective: Witches of East End - “A Parching Imbued”

Season 1, Episode 9

Airdate: Sunday, December 1, 2013, 10/9c on Lifetime.

Rating: ★★★★★

“Things are getting serious.” — Wendy

After the emotional maelstrom that was “Snake Eyes,” this week, “A Parching Imbued” raises the bar on Witches of East End as the Beauchamp ladies get closer than ever to unveiling the shape-shifter’s identity, and Freya (Jenna Dewan-Tatum) struggles with a life sans magic. “A Parching Imbued” fills in various plot holes from the “Pilot” and focuses back on the essential supporting cast, which also brings to the fold a surprising arrival.

Just A Little Sand and Magic

The Beauchamp ladies: Joanna (Julia Ormond), Wendy (Mädchen Amick), Ingrid (Rachel Boston), and Freya are standing alone on the beach. Dressed in ceremonial white gowns, they recite some incantations in a futile attempt to restore Freya’s magic. Afterwards, the ladies begin speculating on the shape-shifter’s identity as thunder suddenly erupts and Joanna asks Wendy if she caused it. When she denies it, they all realize their suspicions about the shape-shifter’s increasing powers are true.

Back at home, Joanna and Wendy turn their focus on the shape-shifter; this time having Freya assist them.

Joanna: “Every time a witch casts a spell, it leaves a kind of signature, like a magic fingerprint.”

Freya: “What does that mean?”

Wendy: “Just think of it as D.N.A. evidence.”

Joanna: “Exactly, so the shifter’s fingerprint may still be traceable in your blood, so we’re going to try and draw it out.”

Before Freya can react, Joanna whips out a vegetable knife and cuts Freya’s finger. It’s not severe damage, but think of it more like the paper cut from hell. This is the first of many events that befall Freya as she is the proverbial punching bag in “A Parching Imbued.” Seriously, this girl gets everything thrown at her in this episode from getting locks of hair chopped off by some psycho to feeling tortured in yet another spell to restore her powers. And if she’s not physically in pain, the strained relationship she shares with Killian (Daniel Di Tomasso) isn’t easy on her heartstrings either. Despite Ingrid’s attempt to console her with a pep talk about things being for “the best.”

Killian and Freya Forever?

Now that Dash (Eric Winter) has returned to wed the lovely Freya, there’s a slight problem: Killian. The dynamic and interaction between Freya and Killian is one of the best in the series; I’d have to say it’s up there with my appreciation for Adam (Jason Winston George) and Ingrid. That being said, it is a lot to take in when Killian essentially unloads all his feelings for Freya in an effort to stop her wedding to Dash:

Killian: “You dreamt about me before you met me, I dreamt about you too. I didn’t even think you existed until I met you at that engagement party. My whole life, I thought I was running away from everyone, everything…but now I realize, I was running towards you. I love you. I loved you even before I met you. You marry him, it’ll destroy you.”

Pressure much? I’ll admit, it’s a bit heavy-handed and late in the game but it leaves no doubt at this point about Killian’s feelings for her. Although, I can’t help but wonder if his admission is due, in part, to whatever he was prevented from telling Freya in their last dream together in “Unburied” when she takes a potion to stop dreaming about him.

Daddy Dearest

Meanwhile, Victor (Joel Gretsch), Freya and Ingrid’s absent father, makes a surprising return to East End when he learns from Wendy that Freya has lost her powers. Victor and a reluctant Joanna perform a dangerous spell to restore Freya’s magic. Their plan fails when Joanna cannot follow through with the ritual, much to Freya’s anger and disappointment.

It’s interesting seeing how Ingrid and Freya deal with their daddy issues. My only complaint is that I wish his appearance had come at a better time considering how heavily into Penelope’s (Virginia Madsen) storyline “A Parching Imbued” goes this week. But still, it allows a lot of great moments between Victor and his daughters; Ingrid has some misgivings but we see how this, again, adds growth for her character.

Magic(less) Mike

[SPOILER]

Mike (Enver Gjokaj ) continues his research into the witchy legends that exist in East End. It’s a total relief to see someone catch onto the Beauchamps’ suspicious behavior. Despite Ingrid’s denial of the existence of witches, Mike refuses to let it go and forces Ingrid’s hand by injuring himself so that she will heal him. Although his actions serve their purpose, and Ingrid does use her magic, it was still a crazy stunt; ultimately, it doesn’t win him any favors.

Mike’s actions don’t earn Ingrid’s trust but it sets up some pretty intense scenes later when we learn the anagram left in his father’s last journal entry, “A parching imbued,” spells out “Ingrid Beauchamp.”

Mike: “I know where the door to Asgard is, and I know how to get through.”

Ingrid: “There’s no way through. There was only one key, and it was destroyed.”

Mike: “The serpens clavem. Yeah, I know some things too, Ingrid. There’s a second key. This is what I’ve been trying to tell you.”

Ingrid: “Where is it?”

Mike: “Not where. It’s who. It’s you, Ingrid. A parching imbued is the other key. You’re the other key, and you’re going to help me open it.”

Gjokaj does a great job of depicting Mike’s obsession with and determination for finding Asgard without making him too much of a cartoon-like character. There’s a lot going on with Mike, and at moments, he seems to be somewhat shady; however, considering this is East End, I’m not willing to rule him out yet as being one of the bad guys.

Badass Witchery

The Beauchamps’ search for the shape-shifter’s identity is getting a little drawn out at this point but, if anything, it allows us to see the full extent of Penelope’s madness and obsession with destroying the whole Beauchamp family line. She even has her own crypt of crazy hidden in the Fair Haven catacombs, a lair complete with her daddy Archibald Browning’s (Matthew Del Negro) portrait on the wall—an image she constantly talks to while concocting her plans for “killing” the Beauchamps and returning home.

Penelope has gone from an overbearing prospective mother-in-law to an all-out monster-in-law, complete with magical, drug laced roses! But in “A Parching Imbued,” Penelope takes it to a whole new level now that she’s stolen Freya’s magic, and I absolutely love it. It’s been a long while since we’ve had a fun villain who walks along the grey lines.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I really liked “A Parching Imbued” but I’m still reeling from the heartbreaking scenes between Joanna and Wendy in “Snake Eyes.” What “A Parching Imbued” does, however, is provide more breathing room and a return to the immediate threat at hand. It was nice getting a look into the background of what makes the Beauchamp family tick, as well as their sordid past.

Although the amount of time it is taking for Joanna to identify Penelope as the shape-shifter is a bit frustrating. The only solace is Virginia Madsen’s devilishly fun performance as this season’s ultimate villain.

Then, there are the details surrounding Dash and Killian’s knowledge of their family legacy. How did Penelope pass as a human under Wendy’s test? If she’s not entirely human, will her abilities pass down to her children? Furthermore, not all witches are immortal; take Wendy, for example. She is Joanna’s sister but has a limited lifespan. Is it due to the curse or was she born without immortality? See, there are lots of questions but hopefully these will be answered in season two when the show returns in 2014.

For now, “A Parching Imbued” serves as a great lead-in to the season finale. I continue to love the great onscreen chemistry among the cast; the guest appearances are wonderfully cast; and the writing continues to be solid.