Blame it on the Sopranos. Historians of the future will record that the Sopranos was a turning point in the history of modern entertainment, allowing the TV to be freed from the constraints imposed by decades of "formulaic" writing and sprint forward into unchartered territory.
The success of Sopranos spawned Breaking Bad, which took us forward to shows like True Blood and Dexter; and now in the present generation (this review written 2014) dozens of newer shows that, much like modern government institutions, know no boundaries and fear no limits.
I did a very positive review this series as a whole but this episode is marvellously entertaining for the way it sustains a pleasant light-hearted notion of "crazy" from scene to scene. Just when you think that the characters cannot become and stranger or more unpredictable, they surprise you.
What I also like about this show is that it never promised you one thing, and then delivered another. Contrast SALEM for example to shows like Justified or Longmire, that started their lives with wonderfully workable, if somewhat limited, story arcs, and then - in pursuit of big ratings numbers - went barking mad.
SALEM -- this is meant as a compliment -- was barking mad from the very first episode, therefore (oddly) remaining true to its nature even as the characters, having already chewed up the furniture, now turn on each other.
Wonderful entertainment. And while most of the cast is merely adequate, several are truly superb (Seth Gabel, Stephen Lang, Janet Montgomery).
