Mayfair Witches – The Innocents

By: Mariah Thomas

We begin with a  montage of the Mayfair’s Kilbride castle as Lasher (Jack Huston) talks to his bride, Emaleth (Henessi Schmidt). The newlywed couple discuss Lasher’s unsettled feeling wondering what is next for them. Julien is still taking over Cortland’s (Harry Hamlin) body without Rowan’s (Alexandra Daddario) knowledge. He pries for information and tries to persuade her to be less suspicious of what is going on. He grows quiet when Rowan asks a question about Julien. He seems to drug the coffee she is drinking. With the fast paced aging process, Emaleth is already in labor. As Rowan goes to check on her she begins to feel faint. Her vision goes blurry and she is able to see Julien in place of Cortland as she passes out. Julien and Ian (Ian Pirie) prepare for a post wedding feast. Ian discusses wanting to take Rowan out, and Julien insists they need her. When Ian threatens her life, Julien grows angry. He says she is a gold mine for the upcoming ceremony that will strengthen everyone’s power. Ian sends his son, Abel (Callan McAuliffe) off to persuade Lasher away from his bride.

Cip (Tongayi Chirisa) and Polina (Mariana Novak)  are imprisoned after their venture to the Kilbride countryside to see where Lasher previously died. Cip still has the patch intended for Moira to trust him in his pocket. If he can get it on the guard, they will be able to build trust and escape. Rowan is brought in by another guard into the prison. Cip realizes if they drugged Rowan to keep her away from Lasher, something big is happening and they need to get out by all means necessary. Polina calls the guard over and Cip is able to place the patch on his neck successfully. He convinces the guard to open the cell so they can help Rowan.

Moira (Alyssa Jirrels) is playing a card game with her cousin who is in charge of holding her captive. She is taking shots and getting comfortable with her. Moira convinces her to put down her guard as she sneakily grabs her knife. Although she has no intentions of harming her, she holds the knife to her neck and tells her she can tell her family she was overpowered. Moira locks her in a closet and is able to leave. Lark (Ben Feldman)  has been tied up in a barn and is shocked to see ‘Cortland’ come to his rescue. Back inside, Emaleth prepares to give birth and Lasher is whisked away. He is told there is a ceremony he must take part in to give strength to his bride and children. Lasher requests to see Rowan and is told she is already there waiting.

Rowan awakens in a cell, startled and confused to see Cip. Assuming the worst of him, she is immediately defensive. Polina introduces herself and attempts to soothe Rowan’s tension with Cip. She is still hesitant to trust the two of them. Rowan assumes Ian and Cortland are working together and does not realize Julien is currently in his body. Cip tells Rowan his findings about Lasher’s previous life. He knows he is good and an innocent soul that has been corrupted and exploited. At this moment, she believes they are finally on the same side and wants to know how he died. Cip reveals Lasher’s memory doesn’t even know how he died. His last memories are of waking up next to his bride and walking into the forest with a group of friends. Rowan quickly realizes history may be repeating itself. The three of them head back to the Mayfair castle.

Lasher approaches Ian’s sons in the woods with Ian and Cortland in attendance. He is confused to not see Rowan as he was promised. Julien uses Cortland’s body to his advantage as Lasher remembers him as Rowan’s father. He soothes his discomfort by saying she sent him to be there. He is able to persuade him to go on with the ceremony. They all kneel as Julien gives a speech thanking Lasher for his gifts to the world. There is a sinister feeling looming as Ian stands and cuts Lasher’s throat. They drain him of his blood and leave him there to die. It is clear now this has been the plan all along. Additionally, it has happened before. As his blood seeps into the ground, life is restored into that area of forest. The grass is instantly greener and flowers begin to pop up.

Moira is able to find a dress worn by the women workers of the house. She falls in line to find out information. While helping in the nursery, we see how many babies Em has had. The rapid growing process continues through the children as they are already in toddler stages. Moira reads the thoughts of the women in the room and learns about a feast that is to take place that afternoon. She is sent to go help set up for the feast. Rowan, Cip and Polina search for Lasher in the forest. As her power grows, she can feel that he is near. The group eventually stumbles upon the growing flowers and the trail leads them to his body. She is able to bring him back with her healing power. The group splits up to uncover more information about what is happening.

As she is helping with the set up, Moira soon realizes the purpose of the feast. The family intends to kill the children for the blood. As they are a product of Lasher, their blood contains the same magic. When the family drinks it, their own powers will grow stronger. The children have now grown into children and are fed to “fatten up” for the feast. Julien handpicks the child he intends to “feast” on. Moira rushes off to search for Rowan in light of her discovery.

Rowan and Lasher make their way through the woods to the castle. On the way, they bump into Moira who fills them in on what is happening. They know they have to act quick if they want to save the children. Walking up to the feast tent, Ian is angered to see Lasher is still somehow alive. To keep the group in line, they bring out Lark. Last episode we find out he is stitched into the family. Meaning, any harm upon them will only hurt him. Julien levitates over showing off his new power from drinking Lasher’s blood. He claims Lark is no longer connected to be harmed and Ian tests that out by cutting his hand. He is the one who bleeds and quickly realizes Julien undid the spell and has ulterior motives. Julien knows Rowan will be a stronger witch and if he can convince her to be on his side, he will be more powerful. So, he betrays Ian. Further showing he has never cared about the family and only himself. Now knowing Julien is seemingly on their side, Lasher sends a wolf to kill Ian. The wolf lunges at him and rips out his throat. This begins a battle between the Kilbride Mayfairs and New Orleans Mayfairs.

Moira and Lark head inside to find the children while Rowan and Lasher continue to fight outside. Ian’s wife throws an axe directly at Lasher’s heart and he falls in pain. Instantly, Rowan kills her in response. Inside, Lark is pulled into a room by Kilbride Mayfair and is forced to kill him in order to save himself. He instantly becomes a changed person in this moment filled with guilt. Rowan is not able to bring Lasher back to life this time.

Cip and Polina gathered more Talamasca members to rescue the children. They sneak onto the estate to search for them. Julien approaches Rowan and tells her she can save Lasher if she drinks his blood. Her power would grow even stronger. Already being strong on her own, Julien would want to use her powers to his advantage somehow. Seeing Cip trying to sneak into the house, she indulges Julien to distract him. One of the maids runs out and yells to him that the children are being taken. Julien realizes Rowan intentionally distracted him and he runs off to stop them. Cip and the other agents successfully get the children through a portal to safety but Julien kills Polina. Julien vanishes and Rowan walks back to Lasher’s body. She makes the decision to drink the blood. She instantly feels an elevated level of power.

Lark and Rowan argue as they wait for the ferry. He is overcome with guilt with having to kill someone and is worried for what is to come next. He believes Rowan will be lost in her newfound power and lose herself. He doesn’t want to be around to see it happenMay but understands how deeply involved he is. Rowan tells him she is able to make him forget her with the tea mentioned earlier in the season. He agrees to it. The pair share an emotional goodbye knowing Lark will forget everything about Rowan. Every moment together, gone. He makes her promise that if she ever sees him out in the world to say hello and maybe flirt a little. After knowing the tea was successful, Rowan leaves him and joins Moira on the ferry. Once they are home, she brings in the Victrola Cortland is now stuck in. With Lasher’s blood she is able to save Jojo (Jen Richards) and Daphne (Olive Abercrombie) who have been stuck in a loop in the house. The episode ends with Julien (still in Cortland’s body) watching the Mayfair house from a distance with a deep anger in his eyes.