Past Lives and Blood Magic. Retrospective: Witches of East End - "Potentia Noctis"

Season 1, Episode 6

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

Rating: ★★★★★

Witches of East End outdoes itself again with “Potentia Noctis,” an episode so chock full of sex, intrigue, and magic, it leaves some lives fair game for ultimate disaster. “Potentia Noctis” is not only a game changer, putting all the pieces of the puzzle together about the elusive shape-shifter, but it sheds light on the cause for Joanna (Julia Ormond) and Wendy’s (Mädchen Amick) 100-year estrangement.

All About Ingrid

If you told me Ingrid’s (Rachel Boston) storyline would capture my attention the most—more than the search for a shape-shifting serial killer and Freya’s (Jenna Dewan-Tatum) complex love life—I’d call your bluff.

Leave it to the great minds behind Witches of East End because everything is not always what it seems to be in East End. Take Ingrid, for example, she could have faded into the background as a somewhat tertiary character while Freya’s steamy love triangle and Joanna’s battle with the shape-shifter take center stage. Instead, the writers follow through with a great story arc for Ingrid. What I love about this unexpected attention to Ingrid’s character growth is that it allows her to transform from the unassuming daughter/sister into the dark horse of Witches of East End.

“Potentia Noctis” takes Ingrid on a journey searching for a link between her past life and Fair Haven when photo of her from the early 20^th century comes to her attention, courtesy of Mrs. Penelope Gardiner (Virginia Madsen). Believing the answers she seeks will come only from delving into her past life memories, Ingrid decides to perform some magic of her own again. This time, however, she uses her culinary skills to conjure up a batch of magical brownies that take her on a trippy little adventure. And boy, is it an eye-opener! Ingrid’s confidence from her former life shines through, and Boston does a remarkable job showing the subtle differences with her mannerisms. We also learn Ingrid’s life included an intimate relationship with Archibald Browning (Matthew Del Negro), founder of Fair Haven and alleged cult leader. His powers of seduction make for a memorable opening scene. Archibald’s life is as salacious as it can get, complete with an orgy of naked bodies performing all kinds of sexual acts. The amount of adoring women swirling about Fair Haven is enough to give Hugh Hefner a run for his money!

But don’t let their sordid love affair distract you, or you just may miss the fact that when Archibald does a bit of his blood magic on Ingrid, he traces the image we’ve been watching throughout the entire series. Yes that’s right, the “Malus Amlio,” the symbol Joanna described in “Today, I Am A Witch”—“Malus Amlio draws in the dark and magnifies the power of evil.”

This is interesting as you have to wonder if drawing the symbol on Ingrid is what brings out her dark side. That said, since Ingrid reawakens full of memories from her past life, will they have an impact on how she adapts to her burgeoning powers?

Later, Wendy meets Ingrid in their family’s apothecary shop, and tries to persuade her wayward niece from helping Archibald with his devious plans. Let’s just say, Ingrid gets caught in the crossfire when Wendy tries to take out Archibald. Although Joanna arrives too late to save her daughter, she is just in time to prevent Archibald from choking the life out of Wendy. It is in the aftermath of all the deaths, especially Ingrid’s, which Joanna blames on Wendy, that the Beauchamp sisters go their separate ways.

The most fascinating element in “Potentia Noctis” is the opportunity for us to observe Ingrid as a witch raised to know and use her craft, and not as the librarian hiding from the world with her nose in a book. This is one of the reasons I love seeing so much more of the confidence Wendy described weeks ago by the lake whereas Freya is the melodramatic one with the self-assurance to make things happen for her. Ingrid, however, watches life from a distance. Executive producer and writer of “Potentia Noctis” Maggie Friedman, does an excellent job integrating Ingrid’s story with the shape-shifter plot.

Death & Potions

Even though Ingrid headlines the episode, Freya also experiences a turning point as the specimen taken out of Maura Thatcher’s (Gillian Barber) throat proves to be a plant so toxic, whoever touches it will die if not treated quickly enough. And last we saw of it, the iron, woolly- looking glob was kept in the lab where Dash (Eric Winter) works.

This a great subplot because instead of seeing Freya in a more sensual role, we see more purpose in her character. Freya’s relationship with the Gardiner family came out strong at the beginning of Witches of East End, relying heavily on her love triangle with the devilishly handsome brothers Dash and Killian (Daniel DiTomasso) Gardiner. Even then, Freya’s slow induction into the Gardiner family offers some intrigue as well. Fair Haven has a lot of dark history with rumors of its founder, Archibald Browning (Matthew Del Negro), performing Satanic rituals and orgies.

We see Freya becoming empowered by her magic but, for once, she’s the one to save the day by creating the potion to save not only herself, but Dash and his colleague Amy (Tiya Sircar), as well. This all leads to some surprising discoveries in the Gardiners’ family estate in Fair Haven. One of the most vital is the reveal of the shape-shifter behind all the attacks on the Beauchamps.

Overall

I love “Potentia Noctis.” It boasts some great costumes and design, and opens up the storylines in a whole new direction. The pacing of the series has been nearly flawless in balancing the plot and the action, and this episode is no different. Sure, the love stories are sexy and engaging, but the entire premise of the series is about so much more than romance. I never feel like the importance of family is far from the heart of the story; the team behind Witches of East End is really creating something special in these strong Beauchamp women.

It’s about empowerment, and the legacy of a strong family whose paranormal abilities can be used for both good and evil. The way Witches of East End has been treated thus far, plot wise, is thoughtful and delightful. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, and when it does, it’s like a punch to the face. After this week’s episode, it can only get better!

Tune in to Witches of East End, Sundays at 10 pm ET/PT, only on Lifetime.

Follow the series on its official site: http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/witches-of-east-end/ where you can also watch full episodes.