# Salem (2014)

> In 17th century Massachusetts, witches are real and the Salem witch trials hide a supernatural war.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/54338

## Facts

- Seasons: 3
- Episodes: 36
- Episode runtime: 60 min
- Status: Canceled
- Genres: drama, horror, fantasy
- Created by: Adam Simon, Brannon Braga
- Network: WGN America
- Cast: Janet Montgomery, Shane West, Seth Gabel, Tamzin Merchant, Ashley Madekwe, Elise Eberle, Xander Berkeley, Iddo Goldberg
- TMDB rating: 7.1/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2963254/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: strong
- Complexity: layered
- Violence: moderate
- Tone: brooding, dark, gothic, paranoid, dread-filled

## What critics say

Audiences rate the series as mixed, with its dark witch-world concept and strong lead performances praised while its uneven seasons draw faults.

## Synopsis

Salem (2014-2017) is an American supernatural period drama series created by Adam Simon and Brannon Braga for WGN America. Set in the volatile world of 17th century Massachusetts, the show reimagines the infamous witch trials of colonial Salem as a battle hidden behind a veil of the supernatural. Mary Sibley (Janet Montgomery) is a witch navigating a town ruled by fear, while John Alden (Shane West) and Cotton Mather (Seth Gabel) are principal figures entangled in the hunt. Tituba (Ashley Madekwe) and Anne Hale (Tamzin Merchant) add further tension to the uneasy alliances. The engine of the series is a constant struggle between witches who must hide their powers and the puritan authorities who seek them out, with every episode layering political scheming, faith, and dangerous secrets. Across three seasons and thirty-six episodes, the story moves through a serialized mythology that rewards close attention. The mood is dark, gothic, and dread-filled, with sensual and violent moments set against austere colonial landscapes. Fans of Penny Dreadful and The Witch will find resonance in its blend of historical horror and occult intrigue, and viewers of gothic witch fiction will feel at home in its brooding, paranoid atmosphere.

## Shows like Salem

- [American Horror Story (2011)](https://ember.film/tv/1329)
- [Mayfair Witches (2023)](https://ember.film/tv/129995)
- [The Order (2019)](https://ember.film/tv/70177)
- [Outcast (2016)](https://ember.film/tv/56980)
- [Motherland: Fort Salem (2020)](https://ember.film/tv/77899)
- [Penny Dreadful: City of Angels (2020)](https://ember.film/tv/71368)
- [Jamestown (2017)](https://ember.film/tv/62344)
- [Midnight, Texas (2017)](https://ember.film/tv/59627)
- [Charmed (2018)](https://ember.film/tv/68465)
- [The Secret Circle (2011)](https://ember.film/tv/34635)

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