WHO IS THE REAL LEADER OF THE SANDERSON COVEN IN 'HOCUS POCUS 2'?

There has been plenty of stigma around this film so far, and it's only been a week. Something, something. Crazy homemakers. Something, something, witchcraft. Something, something, evil coming through the screen. First of all, settle down, Martha. Similar things could be said about any movie if your look hard enough. That's certainly not what Thread of Truth or Hollywood Jesus is about.

Surface-scratching conservatives look for things to criticize. Meanwhile, I look for things to celebrate. Positivity through a story. That's what Christ did, so it's good enough for me. While the wannabe writers of my time post their intolerant, religious rants on Facebook, I have work to do. Here it is.

Fortunately, the meaning behind Hocus Pocus 2 aligns perfectly with its predecessor, Hocus Pocus (read here first). A new trio of witches rises to replace the Sandersons, just as the three sisters replace their predecessors. What do all these women have in common (other than magic)? They are all guided by the same leader. Not Satan. Not a puritan priest or anyone's parents. No. The real leader of the Sanderson trio was Book the whole time.

THE SANDERSONS' PREDECESSOR

"Magic has a way of uniting things that ought to be together."

It all begins in the Salem flashback. The superstitious town branded the three young orphans as witches before Book enters their lives. Daughters of the village apothecary, their only crime is being progressive, educated, and experimental. As scientists often are.

What people fear, they create. Because the Sandersons are different and don't fit in, they are treated with disdain. The village turns against them, forcing them to seek sanctuary in a dangerous setting: the Forbidden Wood. Betrayed and vulnerable, the young girls encounter a medieval witch. She's certainly not the Devil, a plague on a museum display is not guaranteed to be completely accurate. When has history ever been a perfect retelling? 

The witch spares their lives and gifts them the book when she recognizes the power residing in Winifred. Her anger makes it potent. Their like-minded anger at the treacherous world makes the sisters worthy candidates to carry on the witch's legacy until the time comes for witches to rule Salem. Freely. Openly. Without fear. Until then, it is Sanderson's responsibility duty to carry that legacy and pass it on to the next worthy coven. That Coven would not come until 2022.

THE SANDERSONS' REPLACEMENT

"One day, Salem will belong to (witches)."

The Medieval witch's prediction that Salem would become America's epicenter of witchcraft comes true, which leaves many contenders to replace the Sandersons. Plenty of crystal enthusiasts and aspiring spell casters roam the magic shops in town. Yet, few have the passion, while others remain superstitious. Only one group of friends; Becca, Izzy, and Cassie; have the power. 

This young trio is just like the Sandersons. Becca turns sixteen on the Halloween night that the Sandersons return. Lore indicates that a witch gets her powers at the age of sixteen. As Winifred receives her powers and Book on her birthday, so does Becca with her two best friends. The teens spend the night fighting the witches, resisting the evil they bring upon Salem. In the end, they are the only ones that can stand up to their magical counterparts.

While these two covens spend Halloween night chasing each other around Salem, Book is paying attention to these promising, young witches. Becca proves herself with her loyalty to her coven, passion for the craft, and inner power. Most importantly, she is willing to read the instructions. She intrigues Book, but he must wait for the moment the Sandersons fail their test.

MAGICAE MAXIMA - Book's Final Test

"Doomed is the witch that uses this spell."

When does Book deem a coven no longer worthy of its wisdom and move on? In my first review of "Hocus Pocus", I explain the importance of reading, and Winifred's intelligence makes her powerful. She loves reading and learning. She loves her book. As long as the relationship between Book and Winifred remains strong, her coven remains worthy of its wisdom.

Book leaves her for the new coven, but only because she abandons him first. She stops reading and misses the strong warning label for The Power Spell. Her thirst for ultimate power consumes her love for knowledge. The Power Spell is not a real spell. It's a test. If a witch fails that test, she suffers the loss of her coven and Book's loyalty. 

MULTIPLE, UNHEEDED WARNINGS 

"My doing has been my undoing. My folly. My fate."

When a witch casts Magicae Maxima, she becomes all-powerful. The major indicator is glowing purple eyes. Winifred is not the only one who has them. Her predecessor, the Medieval witch, has them too. She knows about the consequences of the Power Spell due to personal experience.   

With her coven gone, she is forced into a lonely existence. Who knows how long she suffers alone in those woods before passing along the legacy? What is the point of power with no one to share? It could be hundreds of years. With access to the Life Potion, she waits as long as she needs, but she does not enjoy it. She must wait for a worthy protégé before joining her coven in death. She must pass along Book.

After gifting the book to the Sandersons, she warns them against the Power Spell. It's vague as hell, but Winifred does make the promise. A promise is a contract, and Book does everything he can to remind her of that promise, including a warning page in big, bold text. It's her choice not to read it. Just as it is her choice not to keep her promise to her predecessor.

Becca understands the consequences. This time around, she sees the outcome firsthand and takes part in the remedy. Sadly, the Sandersons are not granted the same opportunity. One can only hope that it resonates with this new coven better than the witches before them. Becca can be wiser. She will not skip over the warning label. She will listen to Book.

MORE ON HOCUS POCUS 2