Mayfair Witches moderately mystifies audiences
Mayfair Witches is a wickedly engaging, yet partially flawed AMC television show based on Anne Rice’s hit book series of the same name. The television consists of eight episodes airing on streaming service AMC+. It first aired on Jan. 8 and concluded on Feb. 23 of 2023. The series is an adaptation of book one of the trilogy; “The Witching Hour” with season two already being renewed.
The series stars Alexandra Daddario as main protagonist Rowan Fielding, Tangayi Chirisa as Ciprien Grieve, Jack Huston as Lasher, as well as many other people such as Beth Grant, Annabeth Gish, Harry Hamlin.
The story starts in San Francisco with Fielding working as a neurosurgeon in San Francisco beginning to untangle her dark supernatural gifts. While elsewhere, at the same time, we meet her family in New Orleans, set in the past, with a horribly toxic and unhealthy family situation to say the least. While in the background the audience is introduced to the source of the darkness; Lasher. An evil creature appearing to be a demon, who is controlled by while simultaneously controlling the head of the bloodline of this family, a person called a designee. We learn the bloodline of witches traced back many generations.
The show covers three major timelines, following members of this family which started in the 1600s. Meanwhile, there is an organization called the Talamasca which is meant to protect the witches.
With the scene set in the least possible detail, the show is definitely enjoyable but not without its problems. It does have a decent storyline, is undeniably intriguing but painfully slow. The setting of the scene does take its time to stretch its legs, making the ending somewhat feel rushed. Understanding the limitations of time, one who think the creators would organize in a stronger and more head-on way.
Though the show is meant to be somewhat confusing and meant to leave the viewer questioning intentions, details, and whatnot, I felt myself not understanding enough without outside help.
As painfully frustrating as some aspects of the show can be, I still found myself glued to the screen waiting to see what happens next. I got very drawn into the story and very curious about the history of this family, though we don’t get a huge amount we get to see and meet three of the 13 designees in more detail.
Another positive aspect is that though I was trying to guess what would happen next, I was always far from the truth. I found the plot to be entirely unpredictable. With many twists and turns I hadn’t anticipated.
The show is not without its flaws, but it’s an exciting watch nonetheless, and made me interested in reading the books, though I’m not much of a book-reader. It’s definitely worth a watch, and left up to each individual for a self-evaluation. It’s an exciting, fantastical, macabre, and sultry world full of lore anyone could get sucked into.
