Motherland: Fort Salem
2020
Original language: English
- sci-fi & fantasy
- drama
- action & adventure
The story
Set in an alternate America where witches ended their persecution over 300 years ago by cutting a deal with the government to fight for their country, the series follows three young women from basic training in combat magic into early deployment.
What it’s like
Clean, saturated studio colour with a retro-Americana edge: sun-bleached military greys, bright period-pastiche costumes, and a slightly stylised, glossy digital look that tips into pulpy fun. Scenes of barracks, drill yards and muster halls are lit evenly and cut briskly, while the magic arrives as crackling sigils, colour-shifted flares and sharp, tactile sound design that makes every spell feel like a physical event. The score leans on propulsive synth and drums, with quieter, warmer passages during the close-knit moments between recruits. The vibe is brisk, cheeky, and earnest, a mix of boot-camp grit and queer-inflected sisterhood that feels like a playful genre romp rather than a bleak one. Pacing is episodic and energetic, the arcs follow three young women moving from rivalry and resentment toward trust and chosen family. Violence is present, often in training and combat sequences with stylised magical impacts and some bloodshed, but it stays more action-oriented than gory, with brief moments of fear and peril. It suits viewers who want escapist witchy action with warmth, humour and LGBTQ+ representation.
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