Mayfair Witches Season 1 Episode 1 Review: The Witching Hour

After the recent success of Anne Rice’s Interview with a Vampire, the anticipation for the adaptation of Anne Rice’s Lives of the Mayfair Witches trilogy has been substantial, and the premiere does not disappoint.

Mayfair Witches Season 1 Episode 1, “The Witching Hour,” is an entrancing introduction into the spellbindingly vast new world of Anne Rice’s work from its opening moments until the end.

As the episode’s name indicates, the premiere works to lay the story’s foundation and cement itself as a worthwhile adaptation of the first book in the book series, The Witching Hour.

We’re immediately introduced to Rowan Fielding, the strong-willed neurosurgeon played by Alexandra Daddario, who’s forced to endure and navigate a career full of entitled men. She’s belittled in front of the hospital board by her superior and behind closed doors, even after saving her patient’s life. She is disregarded as complacent and under-skilled because of her compassion.

Once her complacency and capability to put up a front begins to disintegrate, she discovers a destructive and frightening ability that poses a risk to her safety in the future unless mastered.

She’s unaware of the gift she possesses and the truth about her lineage, thanks to a “closed adoption.” As the episode progresses, it’s revealed that her adoptive mother, Ellie Fielding, is, in fact, her aunt, a Mayfair instructed to keep Rowan far away from New Orleans and the demon, Lasher.

Ellie was destined with the task to keep Rowan in the dark about her lineage no matter what, and she does just that. Within the span of “The Witching Hour,” Elena’s cancer progresses rapidly, and even in the moments leading up to her death, she keeps the charade.

With her death comes the brand-new character created for the series, Ciprien Grieve, played by Tongayi Chirisa, an agent within a secret society assigned to watch over Rowan. Before Ellie can take her last breath, he agrees to keep Rowan safe, indicating that he’ll play a significant part in the series’ future.

The premiere switches seamlessly from one timeline to the next, introducing multiple other crucial characters in the story. Among those are the different Mayfairs, such as Carlotta, Cortland, Millie, and the one and only Deirdre, who happens to be Rowan’s birth mother.

In flashes to the past, we’re given the essential background information on the relationship between Lasher and Deirdre. Once her mothers, Deirdre wears a key necklace that binds the demon, Lasher, to her like it once did her mother.

Lasher is confined to being with her for as long as she wears the necklace, but without it, he’s free to roam the world, something we get a small taste of in the final moments. In the present time, Deirdre’s been in a catatonic state since Rowan’s birth and Carlotta’s betrayal.

To keep Lasher far away from Rowan, Carlotta lies, claiming she died from a malformed heart, which ultimately causes Deirdre’s condition.

It’s thrilling to imagine what Annabeth Gish will bring to the role of present-day Deirdre. Cameron Inman is also exquisite in portraying Young Deirdre, cementing herself as someone to keep an eye on. Inman has few acting credits to her name but based on the impression of “The Witching Hour,” that will soon change after Mayfair Witches.

Harry Hamlin’s character is another I’m fascinated with and can’t wait to explore more.

Cortland’s effervescent personality makes him an alluring character from the jump, but it’s obvious something’s afoot. On the first night of Deidre’s defiance, he takes it upon himself to command some poor boy, Patrick, to attend to Deidre and ensure she has a good time.

Seeing how Patrick dies the following morning after sleeping with Deirdre begs the question: did Cortland pay Patrick to impregnate her? Was it a devious plan to help the poor girl in the long run or something more sinister?

Even for viewers who have yet to read the Lives of the Mayfair Witches trilogy, there’s plenty of material to keep them itching for more. The story is captivating enough alone to keep viewers intrigued.

While there are a few substantial changes from the source material, like an entirely new character and a few missing, it fulfills its job of pulling the audience in.

Michelle Ashford and Esta Spalding, co-writers of “The Witching Hour” and creators of the series, provide a bewitching introduction into the new world of Anne Rice that is bound to be the talk of the town.

Stray Thoughts:

• Lasher feels like a villain television has yet to see, and I cannot wait to see how they fully bring his character to life. While we have yet to have much one-on-one time, Jack Huston feels like an impeccable casting choice, and I am thoroughly excited to see where he takes the character.
• Tongayi Chirisa’s character might be a new addition to the series and one that book fans might be most apprehensive about, but I’m exhilarated to learn more about his character. I see him quickly becoming one of my favorite characters in the series.
• While Daddario’s portrayal feels stiff in many instances, I’m holding out hope that as we progress, she finds a way to become one with the character.

What did you think of this episode of Mayfair Witches? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Mayfair Witches airs Sundays at 9/8c on AMC.

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Tongayi Chirisa and Harry Hamlin Discuss Their Roles on ‘Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches’ [Interview]