Witches of East End – “Boogie Knights” Retrospective. What Goes Around Comes Around.

Flashback to Alex, Joanna, and Freya in the 1970s with a side of fondue!

Season 2, Episode 5

Airdate: Sunday, August 10, 2014, 9/8c on Lifetime

Rating: ★★★★★

Witches of East End pulls out all the stops in “Boogie Knights,” starting with flashbacks to one of Freya’s (Jenna Dewan-Tatum) past lives in the 1970s, as well as the harrowing dilemma Ingrid (Rachel Boston) faces with the tentacle beast called a “mandragora.” There are several key points that serve not only as game changing events, but provide an insightful parallel to the series’ mythology setup in season one. Critically acclaimed choreographer and Emmy® nominated actress Debbie Allen directs “Boogie Knights” and her stamp is clearly seen in the amazing dance scenes that give Saturday Night Fever a run for its money. Allen also does a brilliant job of setting up the scenes with great suspense and drama.

Déjà Vu?

The consequence of using magic to control one’s fate plays a big role with Dr. Dash Gardiner (Eric Winter) when he accidentally resurrects one of his patients from the dead.

Ingrid: “There’s a natural cosmic balance in the universe. Nothing disappears completely and nothing goes to waste…there’s a lot we can do, Dash. We have a lot of incredible power but when it comes to life and death, there’s always a price.”

Those who have seen the first season of Witches of East End may remember Ingrid doing something similar to her Aunt Wendy (Mädchen Amick). Don’t worry, Ingrid totally takes charge and comes to Dash’s rescue again.

Ingrid and Dash continue to grow closer. #DashIng

One of the things I love about Dash and Ingrid’s growing relationship is how they both love to explore and learn more about their abilities. They’re almost like kindred spirits in a way, minus Dash’s unfortunate ability to wreak havoc with his magic. Eventually, I think Dash and Ingrid’s powers will balance one another, not only with a mutual trust but because the mapping of their brains is the same. But it’s not only magic and chaos; there’s a budding romance in the works that’s getting hard to ignore, especially with the exchange of suggestive stares and promises to help one another. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for them.

Meanwhile, with the aid of a little magical elixir, Freya is finding solace after the heartbreak of losing Killian Gardiner (Daniel Di Tomasso). Again, referencing events from season one, Freya explains to Ingrid that she switched up their magic brownie recipe to a more concentrated liquid form in order to remember her past lives. And, as it turns out, the Gardiner men played a vital part in all her past lives leading to the same tragic end — a fate as sad as the curse inflicted upon the Beauchamp women. Apparently, every life Freya shared with Killian always ended horribly for both, a sign they are star-crossed lovers. I wasn’t sure how to feel about this new information, but I wasn’t surprised after how Freya and Dash’s engagement turns out. I’m just glad Ingrid’s involvement with Dash is somewhat lessening his bitterness about Freya.

Burn, Baby, Burn

My oh my, I was not expecting to see so much drugs, sex, and magic in “Boogie Knights;” when it comes to Witches of East End, the show certainly knows how to pack a punch! It was really fascinating to see the drastic difference in ‘Disco Freya’ versus the one we know in the present day. The way Freya’s addictive personality plays along with Dash’s past life threw me for a loop. The episode pays a bit of homage to Scarface with the amount of cocaine and the matter of a large desk. But the production and design is what I really liked!

In contrast to Freya’s experience, the search for the mandragora brings Joanna (Julia Ormond), Alex (Michelle Hurd), Frederick (Christian Cooke), Dash, and Ingrid into the line of fire. The revelation about Ingrid’s relationship with the mandragora changes everything for her. As Joanna has said many times about her daughters, “this is the longest” they have ever lived. The idea that Ingrid may die by her own family’s hand because of the mandragora is not only horrific but all kinds of messed up.

Key Points

Great guest appearance and work from Michelle Hurd, the powerful witch Alex who is quite the badass. But she’s not only a badass when it comes to magic; her intimate past with Joanna is a nice twist. I hope we see the two of them together more often throughout the remainder of the season.

The mandragora story line is going to be hard to watch knowing Ingrid’s life is at risk. But seeing how it will also impact Dash, I can’t wait to see what happens.

Once again, Frederick is acting shady. I found his reaction about the mandragora to be interesting. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he is trying to watch every member of his family die one by one. Also, the seizure he has did not bode well to me.

Alex and Joanna make a shocking discovery.

Bottom Line

“Boogie Knights” is my favorite episode so far because not only does it bring together key moments that impact the story lines, it also manages to maintain the heart of Witches of East End, which is all about family. I enjoy that even in the midst of so much chaos, there is a nice Beauchamp bonding moment. Again, I really love how Dash’s way of adapting to his powers creates such a better story line for him. He’s a lot more morally ambiguous now that he can use his powers. Let’s just hope he uses them for good. I also appreciate how great Freya’s story line has grown. It’s not just about love for this girl; it’s about learning to avoid past mistakes. Freya letting Killian go to be happy is a step in the right direction.

Overall, the story line remains consistent and the critical plot points are devised in an intriguing way in order to keep the anticipation high. Debra J. Fisher, who wrote “Boogie Knights,” knows her craft in balancing the tone and mood without being heavy handed with the romance.

Now that Ingrid’s fate seems unclear, Dash is in a precarious situation, while Freya is on the mend. The next episode definitely will be one to watch!

What did you think of the “Boogie Knights?” Let me know in the comments below or on Twitter @conallen.