Director: Hannah Macpherson
Cast: Jahkara Smith, McKaley Miller, Scott Porter, Annalisa Cochrane, Ciara Bravo, Jim Klock, T.C. Carter

Are you there Lilith? Instead of the episode being aimed at Labor Day which is what I expected it’s theme is International Daughters Day. Yeah who knew there was a such a thing? The episode, Pure, involves a group of teenage girls who are on a Purity Retreat with their fathers. If you are truly a blessed person then you have no idea what that means. So, let me destroy your bliss. At these said retreats young women are basically taught their sexuality is not of their own, they are to remain “pure” by not having any sexual thoughts or contact with anyone at any time prior to marriage. They are told their teenage lust and feelings (hormones) are wrong and it’s their fault. In this episode the pastor even compares women who aren’t pure to chewed up gum. I can’t roll my eyes hard enough at that.

Several teen girls at a Purity Retreat participate in a secret ritual, and they start to see a supernatural entity. The girls need to focus on the demon that they have unleashed, as well as their fathers’ expectations.

So, almost like clockwork anytime there are a group of teenage girls we do an automatic homage to ‘The Craft’ by having the young women summon an entity. This time they call on Lilith. In Jewish folklore, Lilith appears as Adam’s first wife, who was created at the same time and from the same clay as Adam. This contrasts with Eve, who was created from one of Adam’s ribs. Lilith is often envisioned as a dangerous demon of the night, who is sexually wanton, and who steals babies in the darkness. She sounds fun to me.

After they complete the ritual is completed one of the teens, Shay, starts seeing an entity around and bad things start happening. Actually, they are good things for the young women, but bad for the menfolk. Hat tips to all four of the young actresses in this episode, they managed to bring depth to each of their characters. The episode in itself isn’t in the least bit scary. However, it’s off putting – not in the supernatural element of the summoning of Lilith, but the ick and creep factor of the men in this episode. The concept of these men virtue protecting by controlling these young women is quite horrifying. The episode in my opinion has an unsatisfying ending, the men do get their comeuppance, however I’m skeptical of the what happens afterwards. Do these newly empowered young women go rescue their mothers from their oppressive lives of patriarchy?

Pure streams September 6th on Hulu. Happy Daughters Day!