By Sarah Osman

There are valuable lessons here, but I are afraid that this docuseries will be overlooked among all the more enticing, and sensationalized, witchy watchings. 

Witches are back big time and ready to sling some spells. These perennial subjects of curiosity have never gone away. But they haven’t flown across our screens this frequently since the mid-’90s, what with the flight of Agatha All Along and the soon-to-be-released Wicked. 

Of course, witches haven’t always been seen as fabulous. For centuries, they were real-life women (and in some cases, men) who were persecuted, tortured, and, in the most extreme cases, executed. In National Geographic’s new docuseries, Witches: Truth Behind the Trials, the experiences of some of these witches are examined — and they’re filled with darkness and depression. 

The first episode delves into the Salem Witch Trials, arguably the most famous witch trial (at least in America). I was already acquainted with the Salem Witch Trials, so I didn’t learn anything new from this episode. Still, for those who don’t know the nitty-gritty, a solid background is provided. Featuring interviews with historians and cheesy reenactments, the program explains the real motivations behind the Salem Witch Trials — and they had nothing to do with the fear of magic. Grisly details are supplied about the violence of the persecution: one man was literally executed by placing heavy rocks on him until he suffocated. Another disturbing fact: the ‘trials’ only lasted about 10 minutes and relied heavily on ‘supernatural’ evidence. The episode ends on a grim note: the residents only took away one lesson from the trials: to not trust young women. 

The remaining five episodes focus on the witch trials in Europe, including those in Germany, Scotland, Ireland, Sweden, and England. Each segment follows roughly the same format: charting the rise and fall of the proceedings and the horrific torture women meted out to women. Disturbingly, many of these misogynistic attitudes are prevalent today: women are not believed and should not be trusted with power or control. I was not as familiar with the cases in these countries, so I learned some intriguing information; I especially enjoyed the irony of one of the top judges in Germany being tried as a witch himself. 

That said, the series is informative, but not always dramatically exciting. Each episode is set up like a rather dry PBS documentary: the reenactments feature, depressingly, the same over-the-top acting often seen in this type of ‘historical’ fare. Surprisingly, the series doesn’t take the obvious opportunity to connect each trial to what is happening in today’s culture — even pop culture, where witches rule. Another disappointment: the lack of diversity. Throughout history, Europe hosted many witch trials, but it certainly  wasn’t the only area to do so. (For example, Africa) Or perhaps to counter the perpetual notion of women as victims, an episode or two could have focused on how some cultures have celebrated powerful women. 

Studying the past, and popularizing the results, is important given how ideologies and governments around the world are trying to erase or alter it. Presenting these facts as they are is dispiriting, but also necessary. The filmmakers didn’t shy away from the truth or try to sensationalize it. And that is to their credit. There are valuable lessons here, but I am afraid that this docuseries will be overlooked among the all the more enticing, and sensationalized, witchy watchings.

Sarah Mina Osman is based in Los Angeles. In addition to the Arts Fuse, her writing can be found in Huffington Post, Success Magazine, Matador Network, HelloGiggles, Business Insider, and WatchMojo. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of North Carolina Wilmington and is working on her first novel. She has a deep appreciation for sloths and tacos. You can keep up with her on Instagram @SarahMinaOsman.