Harry Potteris a beloved franchise of books and movies. Although some fans might feel it’stime to leaveHarry Potterbehind. Whether this is because ofdisappointment over J.K. Rowling’s problematic commentsor simply outgrowing the series, it is all valid. Still, it isn’t easy to recapture the magic of the Wizarding World in other stories.
Luckily, there are some alternatives toHarry Potter, one of which isMotherland: Fort Salem.This Harry Potter alternativeairs on Freeform and can be streamed on Hulu. The world of this particular show is full of magic – although it may go by a different name – and adventure, just like the world of Hogwarts. It also features a compelling cast of characters, just likeHarry Potter.Just as fans rooted for Harry, Ron, and Hermione, fans will root for the equally compelling trio at the center of this story.
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In fact, the world ofMotherland: Fort Salemmight be even better than the Wizarding World to a certain extent. It is more grounded in reality, which makes for interesting storylines.These storylines include romance, which was not exactly J.K. Rowling’s strength. Moreover, this show is not geared mainly towards children, so adult fans of the Wizarding World can enjoy it.
At the same time, it is not so complex that it couldn’t be enjoyed by younger fans looking foran alternative toHarry Potter. The story doesn’t deal with anything darker than the last fewHarry Potterbooks and movies; therefore, it would be perfect for fans. The world created in this show is equally appealing as the Wizarding World. It has well-written lore that will delightHarry Potterfans.
The first season of the showtakes place during basic training for an army made solely of witches. Centuries ago, witches made a deal with the U.S. government in exchange for the ability to live in peace. This deal means that witches will fight for the army and defend against threats both natural and supernatural. One threat is the Spree, who are witches who fight against joining the witch army and don’t seem to care who gets in their way. The show would appeal to Harry Potter fans for its inclusion of magic, but also so much more.
Though the magic isn’t exactly called that; instead, the witches ofMotherland: Fort Salemcall their abilities “work.” Another reason this show would appealtoHarry Potterfansis the compelling characters.The trio at the center of the showis made up of Abigail Bellweather, Raelle Collar, and Tally Craven.
Abigail’s mother and centuries of Bellweathers before her have been in the army and so all Abigail wants is to live up to that legacy. Raelle’s mother joined the army too, but she was unfortunately eliminated in combat so all Raelle hopes to gain is some knowledge about what happened to her mother. Yet she doesn’t really take things seriously, causing friction between her and Abigail. Tally joins the army despite her mother’s protests out of a desire to do some good in the world. Together, Abigail, Raelle, and Tally make up the Bellweather unit.
The world ofMotherland: Fort Salemis a bit more grounded in reality thanthe world ofHarry Potter,but both stories definitely make fans feel similar feelings. The world ofMotherland: Fort Salembeing so grounded is definitely an asset. It feels a bit more realistic than the Wizarding World, and that’s all for the best. However, the world ofMotherland:Fort Salembeing realistic does not take away from its magic.Abigail, Raelle, and Tally definitely provide magical adventures worthy of Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
Perhaps most importantly, Motherland: Fort Salemismore inclusive thanHarry Potter, as one of its main characters, Raelle, is a member of the LGBTQ+ community –a lesbian to be exact, and Abigail is a black woman. The show is also very focused on its main trio, which means female characters are at the forefront.
Of course,Motherland: Fort Salemwill not be a viableHarry Potteralternative for everyone. Still,manyHarry Potterfanswill likely find a lot to love if they give the show a chance. There’s only one season so far, though season 2 is coming soon, so it would be a quick binge-watch. The world is expansive, magical, and full of adventure. The characters are intriguing, and the romances written for the three main characters, especially Raelle and Abigail, are all interesting. Think Ron and Hermione rather than Harry and Ginny. So why not giveMotherland: Fort Salema try,Harry Potterfans? It might be a nice surprise since one can never have too much magic in one’s life.
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