Mayfair Witches (2023) The Witching Hour (1990, by Anne Rice)

Deirdre Mayfair (played by Cameron Inman and Annabeth Gish)

Promotional stills from the fifth episode of 'Mayfair Witches', titled 'The Thrall'.

Ep 3 of Mayfair Witches, or The One in which Rowan tries to walk to a house but is stopped by the plot.

So my major issue with Mayfair Witches is that it doesn't seem to be aware of it's own episode count, so it feels like it can have filler episodes. It cannot, and all they've been successful at doing is making me think there's not a lot of story to tell here (book fans, how dense is this story? Does it require a lot of stretching to make if a viable long running tv show?)

Not a lot happens in this episode and that worries me because we're approaching the half way mark, and it feels like we're still doing set up! I think Rowan should've gone with Carlotta. Would it be the smart choice for her? Probably not, but:

1) It would illustrate her desperation for family and answers about both her mothers (which is the whole reason she came here) 2) She asks Cip to identify the house in the picture (and later tries to go to it) but she didn't need him to do this! In Ep 2 the tour guide already told her it's The Mayfair House. Carlotta identifies herself as a Mayfair! Go with her! She is a more sure bet of having the answers you seek than stalker guy!! 3) Going with Cip is used as an opportunuty to explain The Talamasca and his powers, and do we need this right now?? We kinda get the gist of them as a supernatural bureaucratic organisation already, and Cip's powers have been demonstrated enough that I don't think anyone is hankering for a play by play. This whole thing slows down the urgency of Deidre's murder. 4.) This show needs more Carlotta/Beth Grant. There's something kooky about her performance that's made it one of the more enjoyable parts of the series. And Carlotta is the character with the most well articulated motives. She is a God-fearing (very Catholic) woman who is/thinks she is protecting her family from evil, and is fanatical about her protection (as VERY religious people often are). I want to see what her dynamic with Rowan is. It's time for Rowan really get into the woo woo shit. Also just the vibe of the aunts is so creepy. I mean, twin beds?? Give me weird adolescent sibling dynamics, yes! 5) I think Rowan meeting the Mayfairs, and experiencing the kinds of manipulation and restriction that Deidre was subjected to would be good motivation for her to run to Cip, and engender more feelings of sympathy for Deidre, and make Carlotta a viable suspect for her murder. 6) And I'm sure the Mayfairs have more of an idea about why Deidre was murdered. What is this 13th Witch thing? Why did Carlotta try so hard to keep Rowan away? Would Carlotta tell her? Probably not, but she's more likely to get some idea there than with Cip. 7) Lasher meets Rowan on the road, drugs her, seduces her, and then lures her to (what I'm assuming) is the Mayfair House. Carlotta and Catholic Hilda (seriously, what is her name?) are trying to find a way to get her to them. ROWAN ALREADY WANTS TO GO THERE! She has expressed this want! She was on her way! Why is everyone acting like she doesn't? Why are we getting in our own way?! And why get her there just to bring her back?! It's Two steps forward, two steps back! We're not moving!

Don't get me wrong, I understand why she goes with Cip. The moment is scary, and he's the only person she kinda knows. But get her to the house at some point in the episode. I mean, I would've rather heard Carlotta's explanation of what Lasher is and the evil he represents to her, and see Rowan try reckon with that, than hearing Cip repeat the vague descriptors we've been hearing since ep 1. Cip can still live his inspector gadget fantasy, cause somebody's gotta get the whodunit rolling, but this is Rowan's story. Let her drive the action! Give her things to do!

I'm gonna keep watching because I am very curious about how they're gonna write the rest of this. Most reviews I've seen and read say episodes 1-5 are meh and unfortunately that's proving to be true, but I'm nothing if not an optimist, so I'm still waiting for this story to kick it into high gear, and there are reasons for my faith. The scenes between Delphine and Carlotta are, I think, the most chilling stuff this show has done so far. Delphine's palpable fear? Carlotta's completely unsubtle manipulations? The race and class power dynamics at work? Her crushed in head?! Horro! Thriller! Good shit! It puts Carlotta up as a front runner for primary antagonist. There is something here, there's potential here. Let's hope we're done laying the groundwork and are finally going to tap into it.

Minor Asides:

So how does Lasher work?? Cause the reason Carlotta betrays Delphine is to trap Lasher, but he's still free enough to set fire to buildings, and dance around a funeral procession with Rowan??

What exactly were the Talamasca's protections? Cause Lasher could still find Rowan, and Rowan could just leave the building, so what did they actually do??

Witch hunters..... yay? I don't know. One the one hand, potential for some action and aggresive witchy woo, but one the other hand seems like a set up for Rowan to girlboss feminisim at some Men, a tactic employed by many "Show For/About Women," which can sometimes feel rote.

Carlotta Mayfair 🤝 Louis de Pointe du Lac

throwing oil lamps at people

Spoilers for Episode 3 of Mayfair Witches if you haven’t watched.

The sheer audacity of Carlotta be like hi, I’m your great aunt and the dead woman was your mother why don’t you come back to my place. Knowing damn well she snatched Rowan from Deirdre then kept Deirdre in a catatonic state for thirty plus years then wanna be all woe is me I failed her, our family and god then jumps to oh look he’s looking for his whore but wait she’s made of stronger stuff than her mother. Bitch! Her words alone after the things she’s done make me despise her, but binding that innocent woman to Lasher knowing Lasher would kill her in one of the worst ways imaginable all because she did the morally right thing makes me be like I won’t be sad or sorry when you get pushed off that balcony.

How was Lasher able to leave the grounds if he was bound to the maid?

It was Cortland that killed her why else would he be in such a shock at himself like oh my god I did that combined with I know you’re upset I loved her too, but on the bight side you’re now free to bind with the thirteen witch and the fact Lasher was beyond pissed off at him.

So I was right about Ciprien getting there and Rowan deciding to go with him instead and about the safe house being what is keeping Lasher at bay.

Ciprien my dude don’t you know you never tell a woman how she feels even if you know how she feels and anyways it would have seemed like a invasion of privacy if someone told me I know what you feel I felt it when I touched you even if it was done on accident.

People can’t be that gullible to the point he can get into the crime scene and the morgue without much effort.

The medical examiner was an insensitive dick people really should do a thorough background check when hiring and then continuous ones throughout their employment.

Up until their final scene together Lasher and Rowan felt like a drugged girl awkwardly making her way down the block while some guy is taking advantage which I guess is what we’re meant to get from it. I was mentally screaming come on Rowan some woman is insistent you have a drink even when you told her no(when she popped up and started talking I was like who is this some old friend of Deirdre) then some guy appears after you have that drink in a mask. Stop and think about it that’s him. Inside the episode someone said he and Rowan bonded over shared grief I agree in the beginning when he was that woman they did.

He had absolute nothing to say for himself when Rowan snapped out of it and figured out wait this isn’t right you aren’t my mother it’s you it was you all along.

And girl what the fuck are you doing wandering around at night when there’s a psycho demon after you I would have stayed near that building and gone immediately back inside once it was all clear.

I was expecting those boys to follow Rowan then Lasher to swoop in and kill them all to appear the hero.

I wonder if Ciprien’s sister is going come back into play, those heels underneath the couch were a one night stand kind of moment, why is she working in heels pregnant, when she said are you seeing my brother I was like not yet she’s not, Rowan sweetie now is not the time to project your shit onto other people.

Cortland was going through Rowan’s belongings uh excuse you sir?

That last scene with Ciprien and Rowan was cheesy, cute, sincere and kinda intimate.

Love how we getting an expanse on magic and how the physical manifestation of Ciprien’s ability has adapted. In the first two episodes it was like a portal opened and he saw what was behind the object he was touching now it’s like we see a reflection of what he sees via his glasses.

Might add more.

This episode didn’t get me pumped for the next one which I guess is the point being it’s meant to be very solemn.

Was Lasher aware that Rowan felt what he was doing to Deirdre? Doesn’t seem so.

Why do I get the feeling Carlotta’s protection is putting and keeping Rowan in a catatonic state until she dies? Oh that’s right it’s what she did with Deirdre.

Ciprien’s directions were for your own safety don’t leave the apartment, but she ended up having to because of the fire now she’s thinking I won’t be able to go back inside for some time, but I can’t stay out here where Lasher can find me I know I’ll go to the Mayfair house because Carlotta said I’d be safe there. When in all honesty that is the absolute last and worst place she needs to be.

You remind me of her. Yeah exactly what a woman wants to hear(note sarcasm).

So let me see if I got this right when she took that drank it projected her consciousness into the ghostly plane where she could physically interact with Lasher and see other ghost but none of the other humans could see or interact with her or them and when she snapped out of it she came back to herself on the street corner where it began.

If you’re only separated for a minute why don’t you go find Deirdre and leave Rowan the fuck alone.

Anything could have happened to her while she was unconscious on that street.

I’ve heard people say all rowan does is cry, she looks a mess and is making poor decisions. Well in the first episode she was killing people with her mind and her mom was gaslighting her about it, in the second episode her mom was dead and her boss wouldn’t let her work and in the third her birth mom was murdered in both of her mom’s death she had to watch and could do nothing about it.

I think Lasher was scratching at the necklace through Deirdre but couldn’t get it off because she was so drugged.

Maybe that’s why Josephine was there to make sure nothing did.

Whatever you do, do not send another investigator to New Orleans—not now, not while that woman, Carlotta Mayfair, lives.

Anne Rice, The Witching Hour

Catching up on Mayfair Witches Episode 4

Josephine: Listen, Dad, we have to get serious Josephine: We need to get Rowan on our side Josephine: We need to show her WE'RE the good side of the family! Cortland: You're right. We have to be strategic. Cortland: We'll have to make sure she likes us best Cortland: We have to be nice, helpful, informative Cortland: I just hope we get to her before Carlotta Cortland: Sneaky, tricky Carlotta Cortland: who is probably ALREADY winning her over -later that day- Carlotta: RAAAAAAAAAAAAAH -tries to light Rowan on fire-

Someone booked a one-way ticket to Crazytown.

Grab your binoculars and look way over yonder. See that bit of shiny flash? That’s the rails Mayfair Witches just ran off of.

Yes, Deirdre was murdered. Who, how and why, I can’t figure out. None of the introduced characters could do it, as far as I can tell.

TBH, I’m not enjoying the show as much as being curious. What is Lasher’s motive? Cortland’s?

I’m just glad that “Tessa” isn’t the Tessa from Taltos. (I’m getting Mona vibes, but wouldn’t be entirely surprised if she is that Tessa)

FWIW, I’m always being vague to avoid spoilers. You’re welcome.

Having watched 3 episodes of Mayfair Witches I have concluded that it is as racist, gross and stale as I'd expect a show about a family of wealthy, powerful white women living in the southern US to be.

In the Source Link, you will find a gif pack of Beth Grant in Anne Rice's Mayfair Witches series.

Beth plays the sister of Cortland and the aunt of Deirdre - Carlotta Mayfair. Carlotta is a jealous and hateful woman who is behind a lot of things.

*This is a work in progress.

Source - FabledEnigma

The Witching Hour (1990) Mayfair Witches (2022) - Ep. 4 "Curiouser and Curiouser"

AMC has released new stills from the third episode of 'Mayfair Witches'.

she was so real for this

Mayfair Witches Ep 3

After the improvement of Ep 2, sad to say we're back to Ep 1's level of quality. Or even worse. That was the most awkward and jarring almost-50-minutes ep I've ever watched. Some actors really tried. I could see the actors of Deidre, Carlotta, and Cip are actually good, but those lines omg. The lines are really the weakest link in this show. They remind me of X-Men: The Dark Phoenix (2019) where all lines Jessica Chastain got in that movie really sound like one of those pitch presentation on Why You Should Turn Evil. They're that bad. No matter how great an actor is, they could only do so much with bad lines. I literally facepalmed on "are you kidding me?" (I like Alex, but she's really not convincing as someone who got into shock and lost).

Second weakest link is the editing. The transition between scenes are even more awkward in this ep than in Ep 1.

Third, chemistry doesn't exist in this show. I'm so sorry. Cip and Rowan are kinda cute at the end, but it's awkward because the cinematography screams at you "This is a profound scene!" but I didn't feel it. Again, everything the showrunner said sound good, but I feel bad because I can't see it in the episode itself 😭

Spoilers for Episodes 4 of Mayfair Witches if you haven’t watched.

Cortland’s weird and apparently sick, but he had a point in the end when he said Carlotta kept Deirdre hostage for 30+ years and somehow made herself out to be the victim.

I did love how he was like alright we can go now that I’ve said my piece and made the crazy come out my sister.

He wanted Rowan to follow him why else would he have looked back.

Cortland’s daughter in the last episode made no sense unless A)She actually knew the guy that passed or B) She’s like I go where the party is even if it is a funeral. It couldn’t have been at Lasher behest because I don’t think he knew Rowan would end up walking toward first st. and he wouldn’t ever need help finding her. Or it could be C) the directors and script writers wanted to say hey look out for this woman she’ll be important.

When Carlotta showed Rowan pictures of Ellie I was Rowan for a moment saying that isn’t my mother. I mean this is my mother, but not the one I came here wanting to know about you know the one this day is all about.

I think something gross happened to Carlotta when she was eight that makes her hate Lasher so much. I really hope not.

When Carlotta told the butler to gather the staff in the kitchen I was oh she’s going to do something to Rowan.

She really said fuck everybody and this house. She has had enough.

I thought she was going to poison her but when she finally got to it I was like Miss Ma’am she has the necklace around her neck how well do you think that’s going work out for you?

When Lasher appeared to say she’s already mine I was like And where the fuck have you been? Obviously I know where’s he’s been saying goodbye to Deirdre in the way we saw him saying hello to her in the first episode(the flying rose petals) and getting revenge for her murder.

When he came out the dudes body I was like no way(he killed her), but no he was just killing the guy that killed her.

Which I have questions about. How was there no struggle? How’d he get off the elevator?

Sip’s right there is a supernatural element to this and not just the elevator being wiped. One his bosses or maybe just that particular one he was talking to doesn’t want investigated. Could they or he be in league with Lasher?

If I was Rowan after a while I would have been like Well it was nice meeting you all, but I really should be going.

That scene of Sip and Rowan having sex then it switches to Lasher was a trip.

Should have known he was going to get hurt and potentially die when the blind woman was like don’t get hurt you’re one of my favorites.

Loved how at one point the screen split with her on one side and Sip’s head but blurry around it on the other. Showing her ability.

I would do what Rowan did to be honest the only way to learn a way to get rid of him is learn more about him and the only way to do that is to accept him. But I don’t think getting rid of him is why she put the necklace on.

Might add more.

This episode got me hyped for the next.

My one complaint is we shouldn’t be asking what do you want from me over halfway through the season.

The house is burning why the fuck are you locking them inside?

For the next episode I think he’s put Rowan in some sort of trance into a reality he built.

I don’t think she gave in for no reason. You got to remember Lasher has been plaguing her dreams for month.

When Sip was like I had weird dreams last night I was like uh-oh.

Or taken it and given it to the Talamasca.

I think the black woman that was like they aren’t like us to Tessa was Ellie’s mother or a closer relative to her then Carlotta.

In the second episode my sister said is that important in response to the news report of someone being found tied up and burned to death. I replied I don’t know well know I do.

That guy creeping in the bushes was apart of the anti witch rally or was he the medical examiner? Either way he has something to do with those murders I think.

Josephine completely dismissed Rowan’s refusal to have children.

Cortland hired the hitman.

My honey took me to San Francisco in 98 if only we knew you were alive we could have met. Uh lady she would have been seven and had no idea who you were.