‘Motherland: Fort Salem’ Recap – ‘But I Don’t Even Have a Dress…’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 309 of ‘Motherland: Fort Salem’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Normally the penultimate episode for a television series that is about to bid farewell to the airwaves… is either quite epic or quite bleak in nature. For this is the perfect time to set the stage for the series finale and invest the audience like never before and going dark, tends to pay off dividends regarding that. Which is why the penultimate episode of Motherland: Fort Salem is such an important story through and through because last night’s episode proved that it doesn’t have to be all gloom and doom. The next to last entry in a story can surprise us, bring us joy, and do everything it can to help the audience say goodbye in a somewhat happy manner since ‘But I Don’t Even Have a Dress…’ turned out to be a story that was supremely uplifting in nature.

Shortly after, a touch of darkness surrounded the Bellweather Unit. After all, they were on trial in this tale, and basically being treated as examples by the Federal Government and the Camarilla to stir up Anti-Witch sentiment so President Silver and his lackeys could be rid of Witches for all time. But a stirring speech from Raelle at the darkest possible moment of that sham trial, combined with the stunning return of President Wade… put an end to this joke and the war on witches. In fact, Wade’s return set the stage for a seemingly grand end to the Camarilla, since almost all of Silver’s lackeys were rounded up and arrested, as was the false POTUS, bringing peace and joy back to America at last and well… good times inspired Raelle and Scylla to seize the moment and do something they’ve been wanting to do for ages.

In that, the time had come to get married, and they expected Abigail and Adil to join them in a multiple union ceremony and well… that actually happened. Allowing for everyone to come together at last and do something that circumstances on this series have prevented for the past three years… and just enjoy life and all the wonder it has to offer. With Sarah Alder no less, since she survived the incident at the cavern and made it back to the world courtesy of Khalida, and this was just… wonderful. Because it allowed for this show to really lean into the lighthearted and bring characters scattered around the country (and globe) together at last and it was indeed wonderful to see unions happen, and joy to take place everywhere and well… this is where the series took the time to surprise us once again, courtesy of the return of Hearst. 

For he had gone missing shortly after Silver was placed in beautiful handcuffs and was simply biding his time to return to the forefront of the story. Wherein he and his henchmen released Silver from his cell and made their way to Fort Salem post haste to finish the work they started with the Mycelial network. A move that caught the Army by surprise and cost lives, including Izadora’s, and it of course, set the stage for the final battle after all. For the Camarilla have once again found a way to make themselves a nuisance by seizing Fort Salem and now the future of Witch-kind is indeed in jeopardy since the Camarilla are undoubtedly going to attack the network in a savage manner and do whatever they must to destroy it, so the powers that Witches enjoy can never be used again. 

Which means are indeed in for one grand battle between good and evil, one that will clearly be costly and painful and as epic as they come. But as we wait for our heroes to face off against the Camarilla one last time, we can bask in the wonder of a phenomenal penultimate episode. One that broke tradition and trope through and through to give us some much-needed beauty and joy, since these wonderful characters… really did deserve a bright spot before things get ugly, and they will, so it is best we soak up every single wonderful moment featured here. For now, that vows have been exchanged and first dances have taken place, the final battle between good and evil awaits, and it will be both epic and heartbreaking, and it will bring forth the end of a powerful and original three-year journey. Until next time.

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