Mayfair Witches // Season 1. Episode 1. The Witching Hour.
Mayfair Witches is AMC’s second foray into the world of novelist Anne Rice. After Interview with a Vampire here is Mayfair Witches adapted from the novel trilogy Lives of the Mayfair Witches which she released in the 90s. The famous Immortal Universe of AMC is not constant. When we see this first episode of Mayfair Witches, I must admit that we are very far from Interview with the Vampire. Mayfair Witches isn’t as fresh and endearing as the first series of the Immortal Universe. The problem comes from the narration. Esta Spalding and Michelle Ashford build a series following a fairly classic pattern, taking up the mechanics of all supernatural melodramas. The visual in particular, with its greyish and faded blue hues, is quite ugly. I had the impression of seeing a series produced by a very small department that wouldn’t have a penny to spend on its production.
A young neurosurgeon discovers that she is the heiress of a family of witches. As she comes to grips with her newfound powers, she must also contend with a sinister presence that has haunted her family for generations.
Mayfair Witches centers on Dr Rowan Fielding, played by Alexandra Daddario (The White Lotus). She is talented, beautiful but she will also quickly learn that she is a witch. Her latent powers will manifest when she is angry or overworked. With the death of his adoptive mother, Rowan will then begin to discover information about his own lineage. Rowan will then go to New Orleans to find his biological mother, Deirdre Mayfair, played by Cameron Inman for the teenage part and Annabeth Gish as an adult. Again Mayfair Witches struggles to do anything punchy or interesting. We then find elements that are quite boring and others that are poorly written. If Mayfair Witches seems excited at the idea of plunging us into the world of sexy witches and these bourgeois mansions, this first episode is nevertheless inert. There are things happening but nothing is really presented with passion.
We don’t really know which foot to dance on. The episode tries a whole lot of things, seeming to hope certain tricks work on the viewers. The world of romance and horror could have delivered something memorable but the universe of Mayfair Witches is quite hollow with beautiful characters, well dressed, but who don’t have much thrilling to tell us. Even the villains, supposed to bring a little spice to the story, fail to stand out. Beth Grant, playing Aunt Carlotta, is probably the most interesting element of Mayfair Witches so far. Admittedly, it’s only the first episode and the series has potential if we refer to the novels, but it’s far too thin in my eyes to make an impression from the first episode.
Rating: 4.5/10. In short, a bit too hollow and visually quite unambitious to be memorable.
Soon in France