The Secret Circle "Witness" Review

Jake and Cassie aren't the first fictional characters to use magic to access memories. Magic was used to help Faith access the memories of Angelus in "Orpheus." Faith's journey into the mind of Angelus/Angel is one of the best episodes of ANGEL because it delves into the mind of the show's most important character, and reveals layers we didn't know were there. "Witness," though, is the most boring episode of The Secret Circle. Not only is nothing learned from the trip to the past, but nothing's even gleaned, except for the confirmation that Adam's father is secretly psychotic or something. I knew my expectations were impossibly high for the boat-fire mystery. The first two acts were sluggish (with goat meat) and the pace was agonizingly slow. The only revelation: John Blackwell LIVES. Every viewer assumed such already.

"Witness" began where last week's episode left us, with Jake descending the basement staircase to make his presence known to Adam and Cassie. A bunch of important exposition ensued about the whereabouts of the witch-hunters, their plan for Cassie, and how that plan connects to John Blackwell and Cassie. The exposition IS important, but it's not interesting. Just picture characters flatly exchanging information. Jake's most important piece of information concerns the fate of Cassie. The witch-hunters council plan to burn her at the stake, like they burned Blackwell. Jake also remembers the day of the boat fire, though the most important memories are blocked. We'll learn that the only memories he has is of the deck and his parents going inside. Anyway, Cassie asks Jake for more information which is how she learns about the spell that will not only provide access to his memories of the fire, but also, transport her to THE DAY of the boat fire. Ladies and gentlemen, I present your A story.

Again, a flashback's supposed to give one insight into characters we couldn't learn about in any other device but a flashback. Genre shows love flashbacks for mythology episodes. Most flashback episodes kick ass. "Witness" didn't provide understanding or insight. The biggest criticism of Batman Begins is the way Nolan chose to shoot the fight scenes. The fight scenes are extremely close, rendering the figures indistinguishable and nearly unwatchable. I remember loud noises, loose clothing, and gray surroundings of the compound. The most important scenes happen on the boat in "Witness." The boat's full of blandly attractive CW types. I couldn't tell who was who. The sound mix might've been bad, or the writing confusing, because the conversation between Jake's parents about the location of the other circle members did not register at all. A possibly important moment happened when a younger Adam's father walked through with the witch-hunters. The camera work, as well as the editing, left a lot to be desired. Cassie told Adam about what she saw, which confused ME as much as Adam. I felt detached from the action because of the poor audio and shoddy framing. Plus, the John Blackwell 'twist' wasn't shocking. Cassie learned two things: her dad's alive and a magic necklace can protect her from the council. Also, for a third, the circle is not safe, because unnamed witch hunter slit the throat of Jake's father.

At least the trip to the past gave Jake more depth. I guess Jake's always been written with some kind of depth; however, the actor never portrayed Jake effectively. I should amend my sentence: the actor showed more depth in "Witness." This is probably the most crucial thing in the entire episode. Jake's among the top five most important characters. Acting in a genre show takes a certain kind of commitment and portrayal. This actor wandered around like he was on the set of a photo shoot, delivering his lines in a monotone with barely any expression. Now, the character is written as a sort of blank but mysterious person, but a dude as charming and magnetic as Jake's supposed to be SHOULD have more charisma and verve. Cassie's unable to resist him. Faye once fancied him. Anyway, these memories should change Jake. For once, we saw him weakened and emotional. The dude didn't even shed a tear over his brother's death. Of course, his perspective was altered; he witnessed his parents' heroism, specifically his father's; remember that he joined the witch-hunters under a completely different idea about his parents. Perhaps the episode's best thought about through the lens of Jake, who experienced growth, reformation, and possible redemption.

Diana and Adam were interested in the boat fire. They were on the sidelines though. Meanwhile, Faye spent the episode in Lee's garage. She met Lee's old friend, Kellen. Kellen's a bad dude, with hair seen most commonly in Hot Topic, with a magic habit. Faye's a dumb teenage girl, so she's drawn to him rather than repelled. I'm already tired of her arc, which feels too long at three episodes. We all know Kellen's going to become a big problem. Faye's going to do a bunch of stupid stuff because she redeems herself through making a smart decision.

Dawn, Charles Ethan were back. Dawn used Ethan to get the stone from Charles. Ethan decided to use the stone for himself. As the flashbacks tried to show us, Ethan is a potentially bad man. Anyone who constantly talks about the fates and what the stars say isn't the sanest man in the first place. Bad Ethan isn't a jaw-dropping twist. I don't care about Dawn and Charles drama for the same reason I don't care about Victoria and Conrad's drama on Revenge--both sets of characters loathsome individuals. It's time to begin bringing the characters into the same plot as their children.

The Cassie plot is the strongest yet somehow the cataclysmic boat fire had all the narrative energy of a rock. The entire episode had the same energy though. The acting was stiff, the lines delivered in a monotone, and the writing or editing confused me during the most important scenes of the episode. Of course, there is narrative momentum heading into #114. Cassie will search for Blackwell. Ethan will be a bastard. Dawn will try to kill folk. The other members of the circle will do nothing.

Dana Baratta wrote the episode. Eagle Egilsson directed it.