Reviewer Rating: 2.5/5.0
2.5
“Mayfair Witches” has a great cast and a moody atmosphere, but it quickly becomes one of those shows where the characters make poor decisions to advance the story.
The first season of “Mayfair Witches” was focused and cohesive, slowly introducing us to Rowan Mayfair and some of her very disapproving family members.
After the second episode of Mayfair Season 2, the show is already in limbo, and frankly, I’m struggling to care about where it goes next.
The biggest flaw is the characterization, which results in numerous characters being discarded before they make any real contribution.
Take Gifford, played by Thora Birch. She’s a great actress who stars in a few scenes, only to find her character dead after succumbing to Raschel’s temptations.
On the surface, Gifford seems too cool, cool, and collected for someone to show up at her house in the dead of night, but Rusher has a way of making Mayfair women crave his attention.
Had Gifford been a regular member of the show for more than just one episode, her death would have had an impact and tug at the heart. Ultimately, her death raises the show’s broader issue of wasted potential.
It would be a big waste to cast an experienced actress like Sora in such a lackluster scene, so here’s hoping Rashe has a way to reflect and maybe resurrect some of the people he killed.
Jack Huston steals the show in this episode as he can play every beat of the complex Lasher with ease.
Rusher is a difficult character to dissect because his actions don’t always line up with his emotions, but he continues to struggle after killing Gifford.
There’s a bigger reason for his presence in the real world than anyone knows, and the show needs to pick up the pace and give some answers before returning Mayfair Witches season 2 viewers to relax.
There are plenty of great stories to be mined in this world and the wider universe, but for some reason, Mayfair Witch can’t tell a solid story to save itself.
Alicia’s passing was unexpected, but in hindsight it was the easiest way to get Moira to trust Cyprien.
Alicia has been a recurring player since the beginning of the series, so it’s hard not to be angry about her death. I’m more interested in how it changes the dynamic as the season progresses.
Moira will probably be the best character in the show because she’s shown to be the smartest. I was impressed that she knew immediately that Cyprian was connected to Taramasca.
During their meeting, I think he had all the power, but Moira could tell someone was trying to pull the wool over her eyes, and she wasn’t afraid to say it.
Now that Rashel killed her mother, Moira will be even more passionate about hunting him down and killing him.
Moira may feel guilty about what she said to her mother the last time she spoke to her.
But we learn that Moira left her family and New Orleans because no one wanted to connect with her.
After all, she could read their minds. It’s definitely hard for people to know someone is in their heart of hearts, but Moira seems to resent everyone who does.
I’m still not entirely sold on her joining forces with Cyprien, but at least it’s one of the more interesting storylines.
Then there’s Rowan, who keeps making bad decisions because she doesn’t know if she can kill Rashel.
He is the entity that stalks the women of Mayfair for this generation, but his charm rubs off on her too.
Rowan feels guilty about Lucy’s death, so I can’t even imagine how she would think he killed Alicia now that her non-relationship with Moira might have hit a new low.
Then again, Moira might be able to convince Rowan that Cyprien and Taramasca are in the right this time, as their focus is on saving the people and preventing the supernatural beings from causing chaos.
Speaking of chaos, why did the show feel the need to bring Cortland back to the land of the living?
He’s a despicable man with zero redeeming qualities, and nothing he tells Rowan about Raschel has any basis in reality because he wants to manipulate people.
He reveals at the end of the episode that his attempts to redeem himself are ridiculous because nothing he’s said or done to his family over the years has been reciprocated.
It’s hard to get invested in this storyline, and the sooner he leaves, the better.
Over to you, Mayfair Witches fanatics! What are your thoughts on the show’s trajectory so far this season? Do you think it’s time to stick your fork in?
Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below!
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