Talamasca: The Secret Order Series-Premiere Recap: More Vampires, No Interviews

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I just finished the first two episodes of the show, and I’m really confused about what the central idea of Talamasca: The Secret Order is supposed to be. I’m surprised it’s not more obvious!

I’m saying this as a big fan of Interview With the Vampire (the show). I really appreciate how the writers have taken the story in new directions, and I think that approach can work well – we’ve seen similar things succeed on cable before. Talamasca is different from a direct adaptation of Anne Rice’s books, and as the first show in AMC’s expanded universe to do that, I truly hope it does well! I’m rooting for it.

I’m being sincere here – I’ve seen how this show is being promoted. It’s a spy thriller taking place in the world of Interview With the Vampire and Mayfair Witches, and it aims to blend appearances from characters in those shows with its own intricate storyline. The show clearly has a particular style it’s going for, and it generally manages to achieve something close to it.

I’m not convinced any of this really grabs your attention right away. It establishes the show’s genre, but doesn’t explain why you should care about the characters. If I break it down, the show seems to be trying to hook viewers with three things: a mysterious family background, over-the-top humor, and lots of references for fans. Right now, though, these elements feel either incomplete, contradictory, or both.

The story begins with a fast-paced opening scene: a hacker is chased through London, downloads a file, and desperately tries to escape before being cornered by a mysterious man and monstrous creatures. She ultimately throws herself in front of a train. We then meet Guy Anatole, the main character, in a sterile office setting. He’s a bit naive and seems to be searching for answers about his past. The actor, Nicholas Denton, doesn’t quite pull it off – partly due to a bad haircut, but also, well, just generally. We’ll discuss that more later.

Guy’s job interview at a prestigious law firm is going terribly, largely due to the interviewers’ snobbish comments. Just when things seem hopeless, he has a strange moment – almost like hearing a voice – and unexpectedly confronts his potential boss about his prejudice. He bravely shares the difficult details of his upbringing, including his parents’ struggles with addiction and their passing. The scene feels a little over-the-top and unbelievable. Later, in the restroom, a man who clearly embodies the “young Republican” stereotype tells Guy that his courage actually landed him the job. The man explains his reaction during the interview, saying, “I was silently urging you to defend yourself, and then you did. It felt like you… heard me or something. It was weird.” This show doesn’t shy away from dramatic moments.

A man walks by with the same annoyed expression Connor O’Malley makes in the “Honk If You’re Horny” sketch from I Think You Should Leave. He immediately bumps into Helen, a stylish agent from the Talamasca, an organization we saw briefly at the beginning of the show. Helen, speaking in the deliberately mysterious way supernatural agents often do, tries to recruit him, offering $5,000 just to talk about joining. He agrees, as he’s behind on rent. At Helen’s strange location – a mix of library, church, and apartment – she explains the Talamasca has headquarters in major cities around the world, observes global events, and is a non-profit focused on the supernatural. Guy, who can read minds, tries to hear Helen’s thoughts but finds nothing. Still suspicious, he takes the money and goes home.

He opened the envelope, and surprisingly found an old Christmas list from when he was a child. It included a request for “a friend,” which was meant to be touching, but honestly made him laugh. Feeling uneasy, he briefly Googled the Talamasca, then started looking at flights to Florida, hoping to ask his adoptive mother about the list. She hesitantly explained that the Talamasca had arranged for him to be fostered by her and had supported him ever since, even paying for law school. Back in New York, Helen confirmed this story and again tried to recruit him to the Talamasca, mentioning they had an urgent need for someone in London. When Guy remained hesitant, Helen took him to meet an old friend who might be able to change his mind.

Let’s quickly touch on the ‘Secret Family History’ storyline. While it’s currently a bit underdeveloped, it has the potential to be a really compelling starting point. Guy’s reasons for acting as he does, his past, and his personality aren’t fully fleshed out yet, but a talented actor could definitely bring to life the inner turmoil, feeling of displacement, and desire for belonging that the story hints at.

Nicholas Denton isn’t delivering a compelling performance. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly why – it could be the writing, the directing, or a combination of factors – but he comes across as flat, uncharismatic, and generally boring. Part of the issue is his American accent, which as an Australian actor, he struggles with, leading to lines that are either unintentionally comical or mumbled. However, the show has successfully used unconventional accents before, like Sam Reid’s performance as Lestat. Regardless, Denton portrays Guy as a fairly generic character you might find on a show like The Vampire Diaries, mostly just furrowing his brow when he’s meant to be showing emotion. Because of this, it’s difficult to connect with or care about his character, Guy Anatole, at this stage in the series.

About ten minutes from the end of the episode, things take a bizarre turn with the introduction of Burton, a flamboyantly queer vampire played by Jason Schwartzman. In just five minutes of screen time, Burton—sporting plum pants and a paisley jacket—immediately commands attention with his eccentric mannerisms. He reveals the existence of vampires to Guy, blocks his mind-reading abilities, playfully levitates him over Central Park West, and cryptically warns him that he’s being deceived. Though Guy briefly penetrates Burton’s mental defenses, he’s ultimately overwhelmed with fear and flees. This sequence, heavily promoted in the show’s marketing, feels tonally jarring compared to the serious direction Guy’s storyline has been taking—almost as if it belongs in a different show altogether. Ironically, these scenes are the highlight of the premiere episode.

Guy and Helen have a disagreement outside, and then Guy goes home to sleep. He has a strange dream where Burton cheerfully spins in an office chair while repeating unsettling things they’d discussed. When Guy wakes up, he realizes the chair from his dream was actually his own! It’s even spookier when he finds a copy of Interview With the Vampire left by Burton – the same book from the show that character Daniel Molloy wrote. A victim’s name on a list within the book is underlined in red: Anne Leamas, who turns out to be Guy’s biological mother.

The episode ends with a brief, intriguing scene for fans of the Interview books. A man confronts Daniel at a book signing, specifically questioning the page where Anne’s name appears, and is then invited for a private conversation. Daniel, seemingly without reason, reveals that the Talamasca were responsible for that page. He then shocks the man by showing him a recent photo of his supposedly deceased mother, hints that the Talamasca aren’t trustworthy, mentions a mysterious group called the 752, and vanishes. This short exchange doesn’t reveal much about either character, but it’s the most shared moment from the premiere – a telling sign, perhaps. The man returns home and studies the photo of his mother, then shares a meaningful, but ultimately hollow, look with Helen on a rainy street, a pattern that seems to define much of the episode.

Observations of the Order

Hi, I’m Lily, and I’ll be recapping Talamasca for you. Before this, I was recapping Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, and honestly, the third season left me pretty frustrated, so I might be a little skeptical about sci-fi and fantasy shows in general. Please bear with me!

To be honest, having lived in New York before, I have a lot of thoughts about Guy’s living situation and finances! I understand he might not want roommates due to the issues he’s dealing with, but his apartment doesn’t seem small, and his building appears to be in a pretty expensive part of lower Manhattan. I seriously doubt $5,000 will cover three months of unpaid rent.

I’m also really bothered by his old pull-out sofa. You can buy a decent new mattress for around $200 now, so it’s a bit much.

Okay, so I was at this book signing with Daniel, and it was a little awkward. Someone showed up dressed as Claudia – you know, the character from his book – and honestly, it felt really off. It just didn’t seem like the right moment, and it kind of put a damper on things.

One more thing about Denton in New York: he occasionally slips into a deliberately exaggerated American accent, which is often hilarious. His attempt at pronouncing “passport” – it sounds something like “piss-pahwtt” – is particularly striking.

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2025-10-27 04:56