Eastwick: Pilot

By Lisa Fary

I should be opposed to Eastwick because it’s been described as “Sex and the City in Salem”. It looks like kind of show that throws fabulous clothes! and men! on screen while shouting, “Look at these empowered women!” for the sole purpose of courting the vagina demographic.

Eastwick does all of that, and it’s still so bloody enjoyable.

I’ve never read John Updike’s book, but the pilot episode follows the movie, The Witches of Eastwick, pretty closely, albeit with expansion. There is a whole season to fill, after all.

You know the story: three women in a small New England town, each facing a different plight. One is a struggling artist, one is timid and feels invisible, one is an unappreciated and bedraggled mom who takes care of everyone but herself. Then he sweeps into town with the ability to fix everything: make the struggling artist a success, show the invisible reporter her innate sexiness, take care of the bedraggled mom.

Sweetening the deal: he’s incredibly rich and wears sex like a halo. Darryl Van Horne is not the type I’d consider a dreamy feller, but his manner is attention grabbing. And his voice. . . dear god, his voice. I want to hear him reading Dresden Files novels in a dimly lit room (preferably one that’s less cluttered than mine; unless, he’s picked it up).

The pilot moved quickly, getting magic and the connection between Roxy, Joanna, and Kat off the ground in the first few minutes. Van Horne arrived minutes later and, by the end, Kat was getting divorced, Joanna was getting promoted, and Roxy was getting laid by Kyle XY.

Speaking of Roxy, I want her wardrobe and I want her kitchen (she can keep Kyle XY). I am seriously suffering a case of kitchen envy. I want to knead bread on her antique farmhouse table, want to chill sauvignon blanc in her vintage fridge. And all that space! I could roll out a properly sized pizza crust!

The first ep was a promising start for a fun show. My only concern at this point is that The Witches of Eastwick doesn’t strike me as suitable for the long form storytelling of a TV series. Eastwick runs the risk of fizzling out too soon, but for now, I’m going to enjoy it.

Lisa Fary is a graduate of the creative writing program at Florida State University and holds an advanced degree in Special Education. Her earliest influences are Princess Leia, Rainbow Bright, Astronaut Barbie, and her 6th grade teacher, Ms. Palmer. She’s angry that it’s almost 2010 and she still doesn’t have a hovercraft, but will accept a jetpack as consolation. That jetpack had better be pink with a rhinestone monogram.

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