Motherland: Fort Salem Season 3 Episode 3 Review: Oh Elayne…
The Marshalls hunt the Unit down at all costs on Motherland: Fort Salem Season 3 Episode 3, “Oh Elayne…”
Raelle wasn’t lying when she said The Marshals are not to be played with! Their powers and ability to track are terrifyingly impressive. If Anacostia and Petra get the chance, they should attempt to recruit them in the fight against the Camarilla.
With Nicte and Scylla on their own and Tally, Abigail, and Adil searching for Khalida, the episode makes for an entertaining hour. The episode keeps its momentum and level of urgency throughout, with no staggering moments of dullness at any time.
TONY GIROUX, KYLEE BROWN, ASHLEY NICOLE WILLIAMS
Where “Oh Elayne…” colossally succeeds is giving Amalia Holm the proper screen time she deserves.
Besides Raelle and Anacostia, Scylla is the only other character to appear in every episode of Motherland: Fort Salem, but her overall screen time is nowhere near the same length. Utilizing Holm and her mesmerizing acting abilities is a feat that the series doesn’t always achieve, but when it does, it’s glorious.
Amalia Holm and Kandyse McClure play off each other incredibly well, and their fight scene is a definite highlight. Arlen Aguayo Stewart may be the primary Nicte Batan we all know and love, but McClure is absolutely killing it. She’s proving to be a fun addition to the cast.
This episode also raises lots of questions as Alder makes her return, President Wade meets her untimely demise, and Raelle is a no-show.
JESSICA SUTTON, TONY GIROUX, ASHLEY NICOLE WILLIAMS
Lyne Renée is as mesmerizing as ever in her role as Alder, but there’s something off about this character iteration. The Alder we knew before was stern, forceful, got her point across, and most importantly, never ate.
I must admit, Alder eating a plate of nachos had me more perplexed than actually seeing her on-screen.
The Alder we’re introduced to is a complete 180 compared to our idea of the character, and it’s not all bad. But, as I mentioned a second ago, it poses a serious question: how is she back?
If the Mycelium has had enough internal damage to cause Raelle’s kidnapping, why is Alder brought back to life, and why is she taken away just as quickly? While it’s not 100% confirmed, it seems the answer to those questions is: the first song.
JESSICA SUTTON
Alder’s disappearance immediately after she and Tally find the bottle containing part of the first song indicates that that’ll be her mission this season. And while her disappearance is just as fast as her reappearance, I can’t help but be emotional over the Talder within the episode.
Alder’s orders were clear without the audience ever having to hear them uttered; get the piece of the song to safety. It could be nothing, simply a minor coincidence, but it’s hard not to recognize that Alder returns to the Mycelium after Tally secures the song in her grasp.
Alder knows that even in their darkest hours, Tally is someone who can be trusted, and that’s precisely what she does. She returns to the Mycelium only after relinquishing the song to Tally and, in turn, melts the hearts of viewers everywhere.
The only issue this episode has is the ridiculous ending where President Wade dies at the hands of a Camarilla attack. Wade’s animosity and hatred toward witches have been proficient throughout the series, so it’s incredibly frustrating for her to die instantaneously upon switching sides.
We’re only three episodes in – Wade’s death feels too premature for the season and long-term arc. It’ll be interesting to see how the series navigates from this point.
Stray Thoughts:
- Scylla’s emotional breakdown and falling into Tally/Abigail’s arms?? *chefs kiss* I hope time with Scylla without Raelle around will allow them to see Scylla truly is someone who only wants the best for their friend. She’d die for Raelle, and that’s one thing the three have in common.
- There’s no doubt in my mind that Hearst is the goo that destroyed the White House after his experimentations. Could he have mastered the ability of transmutation?
- Not one glimpse of Raelle the entire episode – why does Motherland: Fort Salem do us like this??
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 10/9c on Freeform.
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Cade Taylor
Cade Taylor is a television and film critic living in St. Louis, Missouri. He is a Senior Writer for Tell-Tale TV. His love for television developed at a young age, with a concentration on queer stories, sitcoms, teen dramas, and science fiction thrillers. In addition, he works full-time as a news producer, telling the stories of Missourians and helming "Produced in the Bi-State," a segment spotlighting actors, musicians, and entertainers from the St. Louis area. He can be reached by email at cade@telltaletv.com.