Mayfair Witches Recap: Fall of the House of Mayfair

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Alright everyone, let’s get this show on the road! The Mayfair Witches really shine when it brings its characters together, so when I found out that “Cover the Mirrors” focused on Rowan and Cortland hosting a compulsory family gathering, I was hooked. This episode delivered on all fronts – suspense, drama, emotional depth, and more. It also featured an initial scene with a vampire sporting curly hair – for those who remember Felix from season 2 of Interview With the Vampire, you might recognize him. However, we can’t dive into the possible crossover hint today because there’s simply too much action happening!

After three relatives have passed away, the Mayfair family understands there’s something or someone pursuing them. The gathering Rowan called for at short notice, under the guise of a family reunion, serves as a protection charm in reality. However, what the Mayfairs are unaware of is that Rowan’s protective spell is merely symbolic, making them all more vulnerable to Lasher, who is drawn to the Mayfair clan by their unique scent. Additionally, they are oblivious to the fact that Lasher is the deadly predator they have yet to identify.

It seems that one aspect I particularly enjoy about this plan is the common consensus that Rowan, regardless of whether a free spirit or a dangerous psycho, will not abandon the Mayfairs without the guarantee of a well-stocked bar and appetizers being passed around. Even under such enticing circumstances, they might still arrive fashionably late. As Cortland explains to a relative on the phone, “Absolutely, there will be cocktails and cheese platters.” Jojo even brought crawfish-filled beignets!

If free Prosecco, appetizers, and a protective charm aren’t enticing enough for your family, Cortland has also hinted that Lasher, who many regard as their spiritual leader, will be present and open to private conversations. This unconventional tactic doesn’t sit well with Rowan, but she is warned strongly against disclosing the truth about Lasher or her intentions to either eliminate him or control him. However, given that her weapons seem malfunctioning, achieving either outcome could prove challenging.

By the way, this isn’t a group of Scooby-Doo characters we’re dealing with. There are some issues brewing within Rowan’s inner circle. For instance, there’s a lack of trust towards Cortland due to his unsavory reputation. Dead Aunt thinks Rowan should keep the truth about Lasher hidden from the family, but secretly hopes for a gruesome end for him, similar to what she did to her sister. Eww! Dolly Jean is tight-lipped and won’t share important details unless specifically asked, like when Rowan queries, “Where in the world is Evelyn, and why are you ignoring my calls?

Regarding Jojo, Rowan pulls her into the house without informing her that Cortland, who she referred to as both “your” and “our” father, is actually upstairs instead of being stored away in the basement as Rowan had assured her. Remarkably, despite being laden with crawfish beignets that she obtained precisely because she was aware of the Mayfair household rules, Jojo lets Rowan off lightly with a terse, “I relied on you.” Jojo is far too noble for this world, considering this incident is only one of many instances where Rowan mistreats her in this particular episode.

Rowan is dressed up for the evening like a junior PR assistant managing the door, rushing to ensure every distant relative is there while engaging in forced conversations. However, it’s no surprise that Jojo isn’t the only Mayfair who avoids Cortland. The rest of the family is getting restless in the living room, but Evelyn hasn’t shown up yet, despite numerous messages from Dolly Jean. It’s only when Dolly Jean finally admits it that we learn Evelyn likely won’t come because Cortland is there, and “things happened” between them. This would have been useful to know an hour ago, Dolly Jean. We don’t know the specifics of these “things,” but it seems they were unpleasant and may be Cortland’s fault.

In the bustling atmosphere of my own establishment, a cozy bar, I find myself serving glass after glass of milk to an enigmatic character named Lasher, while blatantly disregarding persistent calls from Dolly Jean. Strange, yes, but such is life as a movie critic who’s got more on her plate than just popcorn and films.

In my previous summary, I proposed an unusual control Lasher had over the Mayfair women he’d wooed and murdered might not be entirely normal. However, it seems that Evelyn is resistant to any supernatural influences in her encounters with him. It’s possible that his persistent milk orders or simply his disconcerting demeanor has turned her off. So, much like an intoxicated patron at a bar ignoring the bartender calling last call, Lasher refuses to heed Evelyn’s warnings and instead grabs her arm. I was concerned this could lead to trouble again (as it often does), but Evelyn manages to fend him off with help from her son, who nearly suffocates when Lasher attempts to strangle him. Alonso, sent by Rowan to collect the unruly Evelyn, also arrives in time to aid them. Rowan has kept Cortland confined in his father’s room, assuming it’s essentially the same as locking him up elsewhere.

Aside: Who’s Alonso? Is he someone familiar to us? How did he manage to join Rowan’s close circle, and what events led to this happening outside of the main storyline?

Moving on, let’s revisit Rowan’s gathering that seems to be faltering. She isn’t finding much success in winning over her cousins except for Daphne, who is still grieving her mother. On the other hand, the promised protection spell hasn’t been initiated, the beignets are growing cold, and there’s no sign of the anticipated messiah. All these factors are causing unease among the Mayfairs. Worsening the situation is Moira, who carries an aura of hostility. It’s evident that Moira had no desire to attend this event. Moira doesn’t trust Rowan and wasn’t inclined to join her in whatever private endeavor she’s undertaking. However, Albrecht Escher, a mid-ranking Talamasca administrator with an interest in brain injuries, instructed her to do so for the sake of justice.

Moira dons her delicate floral dress and heads to Rowan’s, yet she seems less refined than the secret agent role within the magical bureaucracy might require. Instead of maintaining a composed demeanor, Moira arrives and quickly becomes a bother due to her overly assertive behavior. To be frank, I can’t help but see it as she is portrayed as a nagging woman whose valid opinions are merely an annoyance to the storyline’s progression. However, this isn’t the exploration of feminism we anticipated with this series, right?

Moira promptly enters the room and declares, “Everyone, I have news that suggests she’s been deceiving us. Lasher is not present.” This explains, in part, why she’s not everyone’s beloved relative.

Under duress, Rowan leads Moira into a secluded area to include her in their secret group, as Moira is ill-suited for the covert role of a double agent within their organization. Despite her naive belief that Rowan should reveal Lasher and her assassination intentions to all, Rowan, who has been advised by Mayfairs with superior records of dealing with the family, must keep silent about it. Lastly, Moira is strictly forbidden from disclosing their plan to Sip (the Talamasca), as they have a tendency to disrupt everything if informed.

In this situation, Moira faces a dilemma: Should she place her trust in Rowan or Sip? Considering her circumstances, would you make a different decision if you were Moira? She’s uncertain about Rowan because her family is involved in a magical death cult and they harbor ill feelings towards her. On the other hand, Sip appears to be on her side. Unaware of it, she confides in Sip, leading him to unintentionally cause chaos.

Before taking any action, Rowan inadvertently creates chaos for herself, which seems to be her inherent nature. In an unexpected turn of events, she chooses to confess about Lasher to the Mayfairs, and initially, their reactions appear less hostile than anticipated. However, when young Daphne learns that Rowan has been dishonest, she feels deeply hurt and attempts to leave. Jojo steps in to prevent her departure, and in an overzealous attempt to keep them both inside, Rowan accidentally creates a trance-like state in front of the entire family, unintentionally trapping them.

Regrettably, Rowan won’t have the chance to confront Lasher immediately as he has just arrived. Tragically, we don’t learn what action Rowan intended towards Lasher – whether it was to kill, enslave, or rescue him. This is because Sip rushes forward using Albrecht’s purple smog blaster, unintentionally incapacitating Rowan instead. The Talamasca agents quickly arrive in unidentified vehicles to apprehend Lasher and transport him away.

Additional Questions, Comments, and Concerns

Hypothesis: Could it be that Lasher never actually “bestowed” powers upon Rowan, but rather stopped drawing power from her during his rebirth?

Could it be that by wearing his father’s old garments, Old Man Cortland might take control of Cortland’s physical form instead?

Despite no one actually requesting it, Lark remains in town, delighting in the “brass melodies,” and he’s chosen to forgo his flight and linger awhile longer since Rowan mentioned that she might finish dealing with her familial matters by tomorrow at the latest.

Currently, there seems to be some connection between Albrecht’s activities and Cortland. But who exactly is Ian, and where is he located, specifically in relation to Amsterdam? It appears that someone, presumably Albrecht or Ian, is keeping something from Sip. The question also arises as to why Sip doesn’t have the courage or self-respect to leave a potentially harmful work environment.

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2025-01-20 07:54