Mayfair Witches – Julien’s Victrola

By: Mariah Thomas

Rowan (Alexandra Daddario) has entered the record player and has been transported to a cabin with a form of Julien (Ted Levine). Previously, Julien has interacted with Cortland (Harry Hamlin) and has not looked like the aging and frazzled old man Rowan sees. She was warned that he is a trickster, but doesn’t immediately see through this. After a few more moments, fear creeps in and she calls for Moira (Alyssa Jirrels) to “throw her a rope” and get her out. Moira immediately senses this and pulls her subconscious free. As she recounts her experience with Julien, Dolly Jean (Charlayne Woodard) and Cortland appear confused as that is not the version of him they have ever seen. Rowan seems winded, so they usher her into the kitchen for water and to sit down. It is soon revealed, Rowan is still in the record player with Julien. At least, part of her is.

Julien appears in the form he has to Cortland in the past and Rowan is confused seeing she is still there. He points out a miniature version of her house and she sees the scene unfold as Julien explains to her that only half of her was able to leave. In order to leave typically, Dolly Jean has to get ‘permission’ from him. He tells her only 40 minutes remain for them to figure out she is still trapped or she will die. She panics and attempts to call out for them all, but is not heard.

Back in the kitchen, Rowan is distressed about not being able to get information out of Julien. Cortland recounts stories of his father from the little information she did piece together. As he does, Moira is able to read memories in his mind that he does not remember. She explains how she used to be able to do the same thing for her grandmother when she was medicated. Fragments of the memory remain, even if gone. Cortland wonders if his father had his memory wiped by Albrecht (Dennis Boutsikaris) and Dolly Jean tells him there was no need for that. Julien had a way of erasing memories on his own with an elixir. Cortland wanders upstairs to read his father’s spellbooks to understand exactly what was done to him. Rowan goes to follow, however is too weak with her other half unknowingly missing.

As she walks to sit in the parlor, Moira follows and is able to read her mind. Before, she hadn’t been able to so she notes it is odd she can now. Moira chalks it up to the newfound trust between them. Rowan watches her other self almost piece together that she’s not all there but not fully figure it out. Inside the player, Rowan and Julien finally talk. She tells him she wants to discuss Lasher (Jack Huston) and calls him her son. She uses the argument of having been his lover and then mother to give him a body, bonds them. Julien quickly retaliates; she didn’t know him for long and he did the same. Allowed Lasher to use his body in the past. They continue to bicker and Rowan attempts to get more information from Julien. He tells her she has already pieced together far too much already. This confirms to her that there is a way out as he is fearful to tell her too much. He implies herself on the other side is the only one who can get her out.

Julien and Rowan watch as Lark (Ben Feldman) approaches the house to check on Rowan. With what little control he has, Julien uses his powers to open the doors for him to enter. Rowan rushes downstairs to greet him before he can investigate the house any further. He explains the door just opened for him. She tries to get rid of him but he is persistent. He confesses to testing her DNA and she is distraught to learn about the betrayal. He shows her that she has four extra chromosomes, the same Lasher had. As a genetics expert, he has many questions. Rowan tells him to stay put and runs to get advice from Dolly Jean. She asks her to whip up some of Julien’s elixir, knowing Lark will keep digging.

Rowan proudly watches herself in the miniature house knowing she will do the right thing. Julien isn’t too sure she will go through with giving him the elixir. Rowan tries to bargain a bet Julien on if she will actually do it and he does not agree. She continues to watch as her other self tells Lark the truth about being a witch. She is baffled and shocked. She proves to Lark about her powers with her ability to see new scars on his body long after their break-up. He is impressed and believes her. She grows tired using her power as Lasher is not near.

With what little information she has, Rowan attempts to get Julien to open up. He tells her more about her great-grandmother and the daily’s Scottish origins. Julien seems bewildered that Rowan seems to know more than he realized initially. He tells her she is quite clever but “cleverness without conviction means nothing.”

Upstairs, Moira helps Cortland sort through more forgotten memories. She walks him through an association tactic to help him remember. She says a word and he associates it with another. This helps him back into the memory in small pieces. He remembers he took a trip to Scotland with his father through remembering his shoes. He can see them in various locations. In the midst of a happy memory, he grows antsy as a boy walks into the foreground of the memory. He feels fearful of him.

In the study, Rowan continues to reveal information to Lark. She tells him about the young girl with cancer she healed and more about the family. Overcome with emotion, she kisses him and he kisses her back. The other version of Rowan watches herself do this and is convinced it is not her. Julien reminds her, it is merely part of her. She realizes she doesn’t feel any emotion in the moment and the other self only feels. Julien explains her ‘head’ and ‘heart’ have separated. So the Rowan back in the real world is acting purely from a place of emotion while her ‘logic’ remains trapped. Lark comes up with an idea to make a concentrate from Lasher’s DNA. This could possibly replicate his cells and allow for Rowan to harness her full power to free Jojo (Jen Richards) and Daphne (Olive Abercrombie).

Rowan wonders aloud why Julien is treating her like an enemy when they should be allies. To him, protecting the family comes first and that is exactly what she is doing. He remains smug knowing there is still something she is missing. Back upstairs, Moira and Cortland revisit memories of the boy. Cortland remembers the boy’s name was Ian. This triggers him to remember he has a brother. Watching the miniature house, Rowan confronts Julien. He doesn’t care about the family in New Orleans, he cares about his other family in Scotland and that is where Lasher is going. Julien simply says, “Ian would love you. Too bad you will never meet him.”

After the attempt to harness her power with Lark fails, she reconvines with Dolly Jean in the kitchen. After making a sappy comment about Lark, Dolly Jean informs Rowan exactly what the elixir will do. Not only will he forget the events of the day, he will forget every moment he spent with her. Rowan looks heartbroken as her other self watches and says, “You are not complete, you need me.” She worries her emotional self will not make the logical decision to give him the elixir. Back in the study, after handing the tea to Lark, she smashes the cup out of his hand. She is unable to go through with it being controlled by love.

In this chaos, the others come down to talk to Rowan to update her about Ian. As they walk to the parlor, she falls down in pain as the hour is running out. Both Rowan inside and out of the record player are feeling weaker as the sand falls in the hourglass. Julien offers her a final drink while the other Rowan finally pieces together she is still inside. She asks the others if she has seemed different and they note how overly emotional and open she has been. She wonders if Julien did something to her and Cortland says, “Of course he did. That’s what he does.” Dolly Jean notices the hour is almost up and tells her whatever happened, needs to be fixed now. She realizes she has to be her own rope and pull herself out. She chants the spell as the other Rowan tells Julien  she will have that final drink. As she picks up the glass, she puts it down just as quickly and pulls up the bottle. The label is revealed to be a family business in Scotland. This gives her the location of where Lasher most likely is. Although it seems to go against his plan, Julien seems impressed with her. With seconds to spare, she is pulled back fully to the real world. Once back, the others seem worried still but she hugs Lark and asks him to go with them to Kilbride, Scotland. This opens up more memories for Cortland.

In a castle in Kilbride, Lasher and Albrecht are in a room together. Lasher seems uncertain and fearful while Albrecht tries to soothe him. Lasher says this place doesn’t feel like home. The newly discovered Ian (Ian Pirie) is introduced to Lasher. As they leave him alone for the night, he is locked in his room. Albrecht tries to convey that Ian needs to earn his trust but it is plausible. He begins to ask about a ceremony and his throat is slashed by Ian.