Mayfair Witches Episode 4 is an exercise in frustration

I came into Mayfair Witches with some goodwill based on the subject matter, a leftover euphoric high from Interview with the Vampire, but that’s officially run out. We’ve reached the midway point of Mayfair Witches season 1, and all we’ve got to show for it is a lot of frustration and lost potential.

Like the previous two episodes, Mayfair Witches episode 4 starts with another flashback to Ireland. This time, we see the start of Suzanne’s witchy journey as she attends a “real” funeral that amounts to a creepy orgy in the woods. Even though the Ireland portions of the show haven’t really been working for me, I have to wonder if the series would have been more interesting as a kind of origin story.

Spoilers ahead for Mayfair Witches Episode 4

When we left Rowan and Ciprien in the previous episode, Rowan opened herself up to Ciprien so he could get inside her head and help her understand her powers. This episode picks up the following day. Rowan is having hybrid sex dreams about Ciprien and Lasher now. Honestly, I got more of a mentor/mentee vibe from Ciprien/Rowan, so the sudden romantic turn surprised me. I wouldn’t be against their pairing, but thus far, the groundwork hasn’t been laid.

Even more egregious is that Mayfair Witches skips over everything regarding Ciprien and Rowan’s connection. The last time we saw them, they had just started to trust each other, and now they’re acting like a couple. And we don’t learn anything about Rowan’s powers. They talk about what happened between them in such vague terms; it’s almost like the writers themselves don’t know what went down during their “connection.” Maybe they don’t.

It’s a baffling decision not to show any of this to the audience. What are Rowan’s powers? That she can see into brains and kill people? All we get is a scene of Rowan trying to visualize a gecko’s brain. That’s it. I’m starting to wonder if this show lacked a budget and couldn’t afford the CGI that showing on-screen magic would require.

A significant portion of this episode takes place at the Mayfair house. Rowan meets with her family for the first time at Deirdre’s funeral and then gets a crash course on Mayfair customs at her wake. She meets her Uncle Cortland and another relative, Josephine. Cortland and Josephine are happy to prepare Rowan for Lasher while Carlotta fights against it.

Poor Delphine is long dead in the basement, which seemed inevitable, so Carlotta sacrificing her feels even more meaningless. They must take new precautions to prevent Rowan from succumbing to Lasher’s thrall. It’ll be easier said than done for Carlotta because Rowan is the new Mayfair designee (also known as a matriarch). Josephine introduces Rowan to a room filled with portraits of former Mayfair matriarchs. It will next be Rowan’s turn to take her place. She will inherit the house and everything in it, including Deirdre’s skeleton key necklace.

Like a house on fire

Despite Carlotta’s efforts to keep Rowan safe by gifting her a rosary, Rowan finds Deirdre’s necklace and puts it on, which Carlotta sees. We already know Carlotta is prone to taking drastic action when she feels pushed into a corner, and that’s exactly what happens at the end of this episode. Seeing Rowan put on the necklace confirms that Rowan is a lost cause, so she traps Rowan in the dining room at dinner and sets the house on fire.

Ciprien shows up just in time to save Rowan, resulting in Carlotta stabbing him in the gut with a knife. As they attempt to leave the house, Lasher shows up, slamming all the doors and telling Carlotta that it’s too late. Rowan is already his.

Since we’ve seen Lasher repeatedly since the first episode, his appearance here is not shocking or scary. I feel like this show is going in circles. Every episode is just Lasher stalking Rowan while the people in her life warn her against him. Each installment hits the same story beats over and over again. Whenever something different happens that should move the plot along, like Ciprien and Rowan trying to work on her powers, Mayfair Witches skips right over it.

There are only four episodes left this season, and the overall plot of this show still hasn’t taken shape. I mean, now that Lasher controls Rowan, what does he plan to do? What’s his endgame?

The only other significant storyline in this episode deals with Deirdre’s murder. Ciprien gets a lead on the guy who killed her in the elevator. Lasher has been tormenting him for killing her, but the guy is just a patsy, a hired killer. We still don’t know who ordered the kill, and before Ciprien can find out anything else using his abilities, Lasher kills the assailant. You’d think Lasher would want to know who ordered the kill just as much as everyone else if he genuinely cared for Deirdre, or at least in keeping her alive. But character motivations on this show are murky at best.

Episode Grade: C-

To stay up to date on everything fantasy, science fiction, and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and sign up for our exclusive newsletter.

Get HBO, Starz, Showtime, and MORE for FREE with a no-risk, 7-day free trial of Amazon Channels.