The worst episodes of Salem
Ranked by viewer rating, lows first. Lit marks on the season rail place this list across the run. Vote on a placement to back it or contest it.
- 01
Mary initiates the second act of the Grand Rite; Alden returns to Salem.
- 02
Mary Sibley, the most powerful witch in Salem, faces both foreign and domestic challenges to her authority in the premiere of Season 2.
- 03
When Magistrate Hale discovers that it was Isaac who broke the witches circle, it's up to John to save him. A power struggle arises within the hive, forcing Mary to assert her authority with potentially deadly consequences.
- 04
Mary is a young, unwed girl pregnant with John Alden's baby in Salem, a Puritanicaltown. Believing her lover John was killed during King William's War, she is now faced with the Puritans' stocks and forehead branding, or giving her and John's child to the devil. Having chosen the latter, she marries the town's richest and most influential selectman George Sibley, claiming his wealth and power for herself by enslaving him. Reverend Cotton Mather is trying to stop witches from taking over America by killing them. John returns home to witness a witch-hunt, wherein Mary plans to use the trials to get Puritans to kill each other, allowing her to rule Salem.
- 05
Following the first death of the Grand Rite, Mary intends to sacrifice another innocent before the next full hunters moon in the form of a sign. Meanwhile, John works with Cotton Mather and Issac Walton in order to locate and stop the witches.
- 06
Following the discovery of The Malum, John acquires the help of Cotton to find out more about the Grand Rite. Mary tries to regain control of Mercy, and Tituba is tasked by the hive to finally discover the secret of John Alden that he has killed to keep.
- 07
After successfully capturing Rose, John and Cotton plan to extract information on the Grand Rite from her during the planetary alignment with Saturn. Mary assists Mercy in becoming a witch, and initiates her into the hive.
- 08
Mary must act quickly in order to prevent Increase from undoing the spell placed on her husband. Mercy and her followers prove themselves useful to the greater cause, and Cotton mourns over the banishment of Gloriana.
- 09
With the help of Issac, Mary devises a plan that she hopes will rid her of both Mercy and Increase. John has been falsely accused of witchcraft and awaits trial, while Anne learns a dark truth about her heritage from her father.
- 10
While Mary deals with Mercy's betrayal, Tituba must endure the torture inflicted upon her by Increase in his newly founded "House of Pain". Meanwhile, Anne stumbles upon one of her fathers artifacts and suddenly finds herself far from home.
- 11
The trial of John Alden is held, with Increase as his prosecutor and Cotton as his defense. However, the ordeal brings a few unexpected secrets to light, and Mary is ultimately faced with a difficult decision.
- 12
Mary rediscovers her passion for John, and her new apprentice Mercy could help accelerate the Grand Rite. Magistrate Hale tries to delay an possible threat to the hive. His daughter, Anne, becomes more suspicious of those around her.
- 13
Mary must choose between fleeing Salem with John or completing the Grand Rite, and Tituba reveals a long kept secret that could sway her decision. Meanwhile, Increase closes in on the witches, and the Hales prepare to go into hiding.
- 14
A face from John's past comes to Salem, and Mary's plans nearly come apart when she loses control of Mercy Lewis. Elsewhere, Mary's most trusted ally, Tituba, is forced to deceive John in order to eliminate a threat that endangers her mistress.
- 15
Upon his arrival, feared witch hunter Increase Mather wastes no time taking control of the witch hunt and Salem. Mary fears that Increase will discover her husband has been spelled, and enlists the help of Isaac to deter him from uncovering the truth.
- 16
Anne explores her supernatural side, while Mary receives a chilling warning.
- 17
In the Season 2 finale, Mary plans a last-ditch effort to overthrow Countess Marburg; John receives a serious message from a pair of allies; Mercy faces the possibility of a scary future; and Anne ventures down a more destructive path.
- 18
Mary and Alden have their love put to the ultimate test. Meanwhile, Anne becomes more deeply involved with dark magic.
- 19
Everyone reveals their true colors and some hearts get broken in the process.
- 20
Mary is hell-bent on keeping evil at bay when she leaves the comfort of Alden's arms.
- 21
Mortal enemies come together in order to keep all hell from literally breaking loose.
- 22
Survival is uncertain on the eve of Salem's demise.
- 23
Loyalties are tested when Mary makes a dangerous move.
- 24
Mary's penance for her betrayal takes a deadly turn while Cotton is forced to perform an exorcism of his own.
- 25
In the Season 3 premiere, the people of Salem come to the frightening conclusion that their only hope for surviving the hell that has risen is to raise the dead.
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