'Motherland: Fort Salem' Episode 5 Review: Abigail has a score to settle as a Witches vs Spree war breaks out
Spoilers for 'Motherland: Fort Salem' Episode 5 'Bellweather Season'
After all the sex, the Reel dance, the male witches and the introduction of new characters, 'Motherland: Fort Salem' switches into full-fledged action mode and thrusts Abigail Bellweather (Ashley Nicole Williams) right in the middle of a bloody scrimmage against the Spree. The episode 'Bellweather Season' also sheds light on Scylla's (Amalia Holm) secret connection with the deadly foes, and heartbreak for Tally Craver (Jessica Sutton).
The major half of the episode sees Petra Bellweather and Abigail trying to make things right. After the latter is asked to attend her cousin Charvell's wedding with her unit, Abigail, Raelle (Taylor Hickson) and Scylla (uninvited) make their way to the wedding. Scylla, on instructions from the Spree, manages to crash the wedding, but the unit has its own challenges. For Abigail, it was impressing the dean of War College.
It isn't surprising the younger Bellweather gets a lion's share of the episode's screentime. The previous episodes were all about some fun and relaxation, something that is hard to associate Abigail with. Her determination to impress the dean is broken when she realizes the family name is the only thing that makes her a sure entrant. This guts the spunky and dedicated soldier. There's so much about Abigail this episode highlights. Being the daughter of the best Bellweather warrior, there's pressure to constantly succeed and be the best.
There's a bit more of Wiccan culture that's introduced in 'Bellweather Season'. Charvel's vows are based on a specific five-year timeline. It does seem the concept of marriage is more to ensure the family lines and that heirs are strengthened. Speaking of vows, Gerit Buttonwood (Kai Bradbury) is also at the wedding, except he's there for his own engagement — news that breaks Tally's heart. As far as Scylla's storyline goes, her secret meetings with the Spree are found out by Tally.
It is hard to look at Scylla as the bad person as her love for Raelle seems genuine. The hesitation in following the Spree's orders is one of the best examples to prove this theory. However, the biggest highlight of the episode is the action aspect that climbs up several notches higher. Abigail discovers the Spree has infiltrated the wedding when she sees Charvelle dead, with his throat slit wide open. Two Spree members give her a royal walloping. Meanwhile, more balloons appear outside the wedding hall leading the witches mounting a defense.
Petra rushes to help Abigail and discovers the attack. The scene with the mother-daughter duo taking the fight to the Spree is top-notch as it is choreographed to near perfection. The final takeaway from the fight: Abigail has nothing to prove. Beneath the cocky demeanor, she's an ultimate fighter who's shown she can hold her own. Scylla's missing in the aftermath of the deadly battle. And this is one of the questions the upcoming episode will have to answer.
Suffice to say, it will be an all-out war between the Spree and the witches, especially for Abigail and Raelle.
'Motherland: Fort Salem' airs at 9 pm ET on Freeform.
