‘Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches’ Recap: ‘Tessa’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Seven of ‘Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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When we last settled in to discuss the fascinating AMC series, Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches, we talked at length about how there was wonder to be found, in watching Rowan take hold of her agency and her destiny, and we also briefly discussed… how surprisingly easy it was for her to remove Lasher from her life. Because he really did lay down and walk away without giving it a second thought in that tale and time and reflection upon that episode… has made that decision quite unique in nature. Because clearly, the man/spirit is utterly obsessed with the Mayfair line and especially Rowan, and just disappearing and attaching to Tessa without giving it much thought… seems odd in retrospect.
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Well as it turns out, anyone who was concerned about that particular twist… was right to think that way. Because the next episode in this saga offered up all kinds of surprises regarding Lasher’s choice to leave, alongside dropping some surprises regarding the Mayfair family for that matter as well. A feat that ‘Tessa’ accomplished by having Rowan face quite the unexpected life development. In that, she sensed she was with child and used her powers to confirm just that, and well, that prompted her to return to the Mayfair estate and speak with Tessa. After all, Tessa was now the focus of Lasher’s attention, and could likely clarify what Rowan had seen in her mind and that of course… revealed the truth about the fact that Tessa was gone and with the horrible individuals that we met in the previous episode and that led to a grand assembly of the family to find Tessa, and thank heavens there was a sense of urgency surrounding this.

Because Tessa was indeed, in serious trouble in this story. For those individuals caged her akin to an animal and were eager to try and pick her brain and push her confess to her witchcraft to blow the world of witches wide open. Which she refused to do, repeatedly, thankfully, and she even went so far as to try and use her powers to subtly push the weakest individuals in this group to free her. But alas, she wasn’t able to properly push them to do her bidding and that brought her near the end of her life. Because this group was ready to burn her at the stake in the hopes of getting that ‘confession’ out of her, and without help she was going to perish, and well… that’s where our concerns about how easily Lasher relinquished his role came to the forefront of the story.

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After all, the man simply didn’t respond to Tessa’s cries for help, even though he was supposedly attached to her. Instead, it turned out he was toying with Ciprien in that space between spaces. Wherein he hoped to torture him endlessly for meddling in the truth. But thankfully, Ciprien found a way to escape the clutches of this monster and in doing so… a horrific truth was revealed to him and the audience. In that… Rowan’s family line has been marked by the family and the Talamasca as… an experiment of sorts. One designed to fulfill a prophecy and one that would involve giving Lasher whatever he wants really. A revelation that shocked Ciprien to his core because it also became apparent that everything that was happening… was part of a master plan to bring all this prophecy to fruition.
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Wherein Rowan would feel she had no choice but to summon Lasher and fully submit to him for help and well… sadly that plan appeared to fall into place. Because Rowan was the one that found Tessa first, and of course, she was quick to teach this group quite the lesson in humility… with blood no less. Since she used her powers to tear them apart from within. But just when it seemed she had the upper hand, it tuned out she was outnumbered and outclassed from a weapon standpoint. For the powers of magic have no guard against the savagery of man and the power of the pistol and her wounds, and the seemingly fatal wound to Tessa… made it clear that immediate help was needed before word got out, and that pushed her to call for Lasher.

All of which made this episode, quite incredible when all is said and done. Simply because… just like that, this story has taken on new life since we now know that Rowan has been something of a pawn. One that has been carefully watched from afar to see when little nudges would help the pieces of the puzzle to come together. And that’s allowed for her grief to be exploited and manipulated to do the bidding of old white men that have some kind of twisted agenda at play. As to what exactly that is, we still aren’t clear, but obviously the show is ready to reveal its secrets and put Rowan in quite the difficult situation. One that might only get darker, when season one of this intimate and dynamic story, comes to a close. Until next time.

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