Rowan Fielding & The Legacy of Mayfair Witches
Director: Michael Uppendahl, Axelle Carolyn, Haifaa Al-Mansour, Alexis Ostrander
Writer: Michelle Ashford, Esta Spalding (Screenplay)
Writer: Anne Rice (Novel)
Cast
- Alexandra Daddario (San Andreas)
- Tongayi Chirisa (iZombie)
- Jack Huston (The Irishman)
- Harry Hamlin (LA Law)
- Hannah Alline (The Hunt)
Plot: Follows a neurosurgeon who discovers she is the unlikely heir to a family of witches. She must contend with a sinister presence that has haunted her family for generations.
Runtime: 1 Hour Episodes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Verdict on Mayfair Witches – Season One
The Witching Hour (D. Michael Uppendahl)
The Witching Hour as promising surgeon Rowan Fielding (Daddario) has an unusual event at her work. She turns to her adopted mother for more answers about her real parents. However, the answer is the same as always. Elsewhere, Cortland Mayfair (Hamlin) continues to entertain at his parties. When Ciprien Grieve (Chirisa) starts investigating Rowan’s past learning as he continues to help protect her from the truth.
This is a great introduction to the series, showing the powers that are getting out of control in Rowan. All while highlighting how controlling the Mayfair family is. Each character is prepared for what is going to come next without learning anything about the existence of people around them. (3/5)
The Dark Place (D. Michael Uppendahl)
The Dark Place starts a Rowan gets a startling discovery about her adoption. She has been struggling with the death of her mother. Elsewhere, her real mother Deirdre (Gish) is starting to recover from her position left to her by her family. Meanwhile, Rowan finds the pressures of her work getting to her, until an unlikely visit from Ciprien offers to answer the bigger questions. However, Rowan’s search for answers grows as her connection to Deirdre grows.
This continues the build for Rowan to learn about her family. It shows how her mother has started to gain more strength and reconnect to the rest of her family. All while, her powers grow. We are still shimming along to the darker truth, but moving at a nice pace. (3/5)
Second Line (D. Axelle Carolyn)
Second Line continues to show an event from the older times, with one of the first encounters with magic. This continues what we have seen before moving back to the modern era. In the present day, Rowan deals with the shocking first encounter with her mother, in the moment she is murdered. As Ciprien offers shelter, Rowan gets her first encounter with the biggest danger she will face Lasher (Huston).
We continue to shimmer along without too much happening between Rowan and the threats. However, the darker side of everything is coming along nicely in the background. We get an interesting first meeting between Rowan and Lasher, which offers more questions than answers. (3/5)
Curiouser and Curiouser (D. Axelle Carolyn)
Curiouser and Curiouser starts as Rowan deals with her interaction, keeping it from Ciprien. Cortland prepares for the family to meet Rowan, while Carlotta (Grant) continues to offer up plenty of mystery. The family get together for the funeral of Dierdre and a series of unusual events continue to add mystery to the life Rowan is walking into.
This is the first episode we start feeling the family connection coming together. It continues to give us an introduction to Rowan’s point of view before things get too intense yet. We are left wondering more about each side in the battle leading to the bigger events to come later in the series. (3/5)
The Thrall (D. Haifaa Al-Mansour)
The Thrall is Rowan and Ciprien closer than ever caught in a world where they are a couple. However, not everything is as it seems following the events in the previous episode. The two find themselves trapped in a loop surrounded by the ghosts of the victim. They must figure out how to break the spell before becoming the latest victims.
This episode feels creepier than most of the ones we have seen. It absorbs us into the bigger threat we could be facing, which is good to see. This feels like the show is ready to kick on to the next level and present more horror elements involved within the world. (4/5)
Transference (D. Haifaa Al-Mansour)
Transference sees Rowan getting caught up in wanting to defend herself from Lasher who has found a way into her mind. Ciprien continues to help guide her through the new world she finds herself in. Rowan continues to try and navigate the world, which sees her getting closer to Cortland as each member of the Mayfair’s offers up different stories for her. Meanwhile, the truth about the bigger war between both sides is revealed and Rowan must decide where she stands in it.
This does continue to build up everything, focusing more of the reveal of what started everything. It shows that Rowan still isn’t convinced of who to trust and by the time she gets the closest encounter, she must face the truth. However, it does feel like more of a step back from the creepy environment created in the last episode. With a lot of almost things happening, rather than creating enough to make us want more. (3/5)
Tessa (D. Alexis Ostrander)
Tessa sees the newest holder of the key being held by witch hunters. Rowan wants to help find the missing member of the coven while dealing with her problems. Meanwhile, the witch hunters decide what is the best way to deal with their latest victim. Elsewhere, Ciprien goes face to face with Lasher, after he reveals himself through a series of memories.
This episode starts to show the much bigger war going on. It highlights how Rowan is willing to jump head first into solving the problems, while others have a much more long-term plan to get ahead. This still leaves plenty up in the air going into the final episode of the season and which side most of the characters are fighting on. (4/5)
What Rough Beast (D. Alexis Ostrander)
What Rough Beast starts as Rowan is still filled with rage after what happened in the last episode. It sees her unleash Lasher from his holding to do the dirty work. Lasher continues to try and help Rowan find out her family’s past. Meanwhile, Ciprien starts to learn more about the group he works for and their intentions with the Mayfair family.
For a season finale, this feels like an anti-climax. It doesn’t answer enough questions to leave things where they do. Sadly, it proves that the show slowly fizzled out to not very much. Most of the 8 episodes could have been condensed down more to have a much more engaging conclusion to the show. (2/5)
Overall – Mayfair Witches – Season One
Overall season one of this show struggles to get going. It shows Rowan learning more about the world she was never invited to. However, the mystery is created about who is fighting for which side takes over. It does feel like it gets dragged along too long, despite having a couple of creepy episodes. This all seems to leave more mystery than anything else, without giving us enough going through the show. Unlikely the much more interesting American Horror Story Coven, we get way too much drama for a show that wants to talk about the mystery of what is going on.
Where to Watch
Mayfair Witches – Season One comes to Blu-ray and DVD on 8 January 2024
Final Thoughts – Mayfair Witches – Season One spends a long time creating a mystery without solving enough of them.
