The Witches Of East End - Season Two

"Witches of East End" is to witches what "General Hospital" is to doctors. It isn't realistic, but it's lots of fun. Like any good soap opera, "Witches" is pumped full of steamy intrigue, manipulation towards the forces of evil, half-naked clue seeking, and, of course, magic. It's "Passions" with street cred and better lighting.

Season 2 brings us back to the Beauchamp family where Season 1 left off: with hearts broken, fates unsure, peace restored. The stability promised by vanquishing the Season 1 antagonists is short-lived. The ladies (Julia Ormond as Joanna Beauchamp, M�dchen Amick as Wendy Beauchamp, Jenna Dewan Tatum as Freya Beauchamp, Rachel Boston as Ingrid Beauchamp) get into lots of unintentional trouble as they attempt to simultaneously live their witchy and human lives: they time travel, greet long lost relatives, battle demonic villains, and attempt to date. They do these things in wardrobe samples from the mid-90s and the highest of heels.

"Buffy" fans will appreciate that Tom Lenk returns as Hudson Rafferty, local librarian. Those same fans will be delighted to know that James Marsters joins the cast as recurring baddie Mason Tarkoff. Lenk is only a few token episodes but Marsters wreaks havoc in the second half of the season. Unfortunately, any sexiness Marsters could have delivered is marred by his character's rape-like, drug pushing tendencies. Creepiness abounds.

These DVDs are devoid of special features. In the box you get three DVDs and a case. It's as if, after "Witches" was cancelled on November 24, 2014, the studio execs packaged the season as quickly and cheaply as they could. It's a shame. With all the mystery, flirting, and CGI magic, there could be one doozy of a gag reel sitting in an underground basement somewhere.