Motherland: Fort Salem Review: Abomination (Season 2 Episode 2)

While scouting the Camarilla for Willa, Scylla has an unexpected visitor. Meanwhile, Raelle and Abigail are pushed to their limits to test for new abilities on Motherland: Fort Salem Season 2 Episode 2, “Abomination.”

Motherland: Fort Salem keeps the same momentum flowing from the premiere, pushing Raelle and Abigail to their limits and setting the tone for the season with the Camarilla. The Camarilla’s introduction in the Season 1 finale paints a pretty graphic picture of what they’re capable of.

Still, the number of members is staggeringly high, and that’s just coming to light. They’re actively trying to militarize anyone who has ever had a nasty run-in with a witch, and people are playing into it.

Fans will remember from Season 1 when Raelle touches the weird, necrotic wall and can’t figure out what it is, well now answers are finally coming to light. The bizarre wall in necro is called the Mycelium, and it has a mind of its own. Alder and Izadora have an odd fascination with it, including Alder calling it a “she.”

 

It’s interesting to think the Mycelium could potentially have its own working thought process. I’m not sure what that would mean for Raelle, seeing how the Mycelium has bonded with her on a molecular level and will not allow her to be killed. Is the Mycelium protecting her because that’s its normal function, or could it be actively working on its own to watch and defend Rae?

I thoroughly enjoy that the Mycelium is being explored more this season because it was a big mystery, for me, last season, and it was upsetting that nothing was revealed before the finale. There are so many questions to ask pertaining to it. It’s clearly protecting Raelle, but is the Mycelium its own singular thing, or is it some portal wall that contains a different species?

After it’s revealed that the man in the valley didn’t just die but was transformed entirely by Raelle’s power into something non-human, there’s no telling what this new power of hers genuinely holds.

Anacostia and Scylla’s team-up makes more sense the more you think about it after the events at the end of Season 1. Anacostia is beginning to see the errors in Alder’s ways and is taking a break from being her lackey by watching over Scylla and attempting to gain knowledge about the spree.

Anacostia is there to scope out the spree’s tactics, but that changes immediately once she realizes what Scylla is doing. Neither one of them wants to work with the others team, but if the Camarilla are going to be taken down, it will take some manipulation and intervention, which requires the two factions to work together.

What better two to do the job than Anacostia and Scylla? With the combined powers at their disposal, not many people can step to them and walk away unscathed.

Anacostia is the only one to see Scylla truly, and I love it because nobody else shares a personal connection with her on that level, not even Raelle. While Scylla may put up a front to act tough, it doesn’t phase Anacostia, and she can see the scared girl inside of her, the girl that regrets making the decisions she’s made.

Anacostia and Scylla share a bond because they were both orphaned at a young age, but that’s not the sole reason for her giving her a second chance. After infiltrating her memories, Anacostia can see that Scylla was lost and looking for guidance; that’s how she fell into the hands of the spree.

I hope that the team-up between the two doesn’t end after “Abomination” because it’s lovely to get to see a different side of Anacostia. It’s a known fact that she’s a badass and isn’t one to be messed with, but now we’re getting to see her in action, doing something that she’s passionate about and wants to see through to the end, not something that Alder is forcing her to do.

I’m not sure where I see Anacostia’s storyline going, but I hope it doesn’t include becoming a full-time minion again.

Even though Raelle has this new ability and could potentially be a new species, I don’t think her storyline is the most exciting this season. Tally’s connection with Alder is wild and something I’m genuinely ecstatic about watching unfold, even though initially I was not too fond of the idea of her being tied to Alder all season.

Tally has the potential to figure out just how the spree was formed and who could’ve been the one to do it all. Alder has so many skeletons in her closet I’m sure she’s forgotten about most, but one of her battle buddies, Nicte, being the creator of the spree is a major one.

The potential for the army and spree to join as one to fight the Camarilla is being foreshadowed heavy, but in the end, would that be a smart move? I guess we’ll soon find out.

What did you think of this episode of Motherland: Fort Salem? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Motherland: Fort Salem airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on Freeform.

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