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| "The Witching Hour" | |
|---|---|
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| Air date | January 8th, 2023 |
| Writers | Michelle Ashford; Esta Spalding |
| Director | Michael Uppendahl |
| Producers | Steph Accetta; Sarah Cornwell; Tom Williams; Lindsey Villarreal; Michael Goldbach; Sean Reycraft; Jessica Held; Michael Uppendahl; Anne Rice; Christopher Rice; Jeff Freilich; Mark Johnson; Michelle Ashford; Esta Spalding; Guin McPherson; Annie Rhodes |
| Starring | Alexandra Daddario; Tongayi Chirisa; Jack Huston; Harry Hamlin |
| Episode guide | |
| Previous — |
Next "The Dark Place" |
"The Witching Hour" is the first episode of season one of the supernatural drama series Mayfair Witches and the first episode of the series overall. It was directed by Michael Uppendahl with a script written by Michelle Ashford and Esta Spalding. It first aired on AMC on Sunday, January 8th, 2023 at 9:00 pm.
Plot[]
47-year-old Deirdre Mayfair is a mute invalid, living at her family's mansion at 1239 First Street in New Orleans. Doctor Vernon Lamb makes regular visits to administer Thorazine to her, but on this most recent venture catches a glimpse of a mysterious entity that some would refer to as "The Man". As Deirdre sits immobile on the estate's porch, she dreams of the life that came before. She recalls the many visitations by The Man over the years, and an affair at one of her uncle Cortland's lavish parties, which left her with child.
Meanwhile, 2,221 miles away in San Francisco, a young woman named Rowan Fielding works as a successful neurosurgeon. She lives an isolated life however, preferring one-night stands aboard the boat which she calls her home, and copious amounts of alcohol. At work, she gets into an argument with her superior, Doctor Norman Keck. As Rowan grows frustrated, she mysteriously causes a blood vessel to burst in Keck's head and he collapses to the floor.
Rowan's mother Ellie has a terminal illness, and Rowan tries to get her admitted to the Revenia Institute as part of their experimental trial program. Revenia's founder, Daniel Lemle, is not nearly as charitable as he pretends to be, and tells Rowan that the only way her mother is getting in is if she decides whose name on the list Ellie will be replacing. Refusing to do this, Rowan grows angry, and Lemle collapses much like Doctor Keck did... only this time, the injury is fatal.
Elsewhere, a mysterious man named Ciprien Grieve, who possesses psychometry, learns about Rowan and her connection to the Mayfair family in New Orleans. He journeys out to San Francisco with a promise to himself to protect Rowan.
Ellie Fielding passes away. Rowan grieves for her on her boat amidst more alcohol and the boom of thunder. Through a flash of lighting, Rowan catches sight of an image of a tall mysterious man. This is Lasher.
Cast[]
Starring[]
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Alexandra Daddario | Rowan Fielding |
| Tongayi Chirisa | Ciprien Grieve |
| Jack Huston | Lasher |
| Harry Hamlin | Cortland Mayfair |
Guest Starring[]
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Beth Grant | Carlotta Mayfair |
| Erica Gimpel | Ellie Fielding |
| Annabeth Gish | Deirdre Mayfair |
| Tobias Jelinek | Daniel Lemle |
| Cameron Jade Inman | Young Deirdre |
| Geraldine Singer | Millie Mayfair |
| Deneen Tyler | Delphine |
| Billy Slaughter | Doctor Vernon Lamb |
| Jordan M Cox | Max |
Co-Starring[]
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Melissa Chambers | Mawbel |
| Jim Gleason | Doctor Norman Keck |
| Danielle Lyn | Doctor Maya Kang |
| Joseph Meissner | Father Duffy |
| Sam Evans | Patrick |
| Carson Minniear | Joey |
| Annie Gaia | Surgical assistant |
| Monica Monica | Sister Elise |
| Alison Logan | Mayfair clan |
| Kamille McCuin | Mayfair clan |
| Taylor "Biscuit" Reynolds | Delivery nurse |
| Kyler Porche | Nate |
| Legacy Jones | Church school girl |
| Hannah Alltmont | Church shool girl |
| Karen Miliken | Helena |
| Russell Giacontiere | Thomas |
| Martin Covert | Butler |
| Chris Greening | Young man |
| Zachary Primo | Young man |
| Alfred Smith, III | Revenia waiter |
| Boyana Balta | Cake woman |
Notes & Trivia[]
- The Lives of the Mayfair Witches series of novels was created by author Anne Rice. They began as a three volume set, which began in 1990 with The Witching Hour, and continued in Lasher in 1993 and Taltos in 1994, as well as crossover works with Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles. The Mayfair Witches television series, which debuted on AMC in January, 2023 was developed for television by Michelle Ashford and Esta Spalding.
- This episode is rated TV-MA LSV. It contains strong language, sexual situations and subject matter related to mental health and suicide. Viewer discretion is advised.
- Co-producers Guin McPherson and Annie Rhodes are credited during the end-title credit sequence in this episode.
- Line producer Stephanie Accetta is credited as Steph Accetta in this episode.
- Actress Cameron Inman, who plays young Deirdre Mayfair in flashback scenes, is credited as Cameron Jade Inman in this episode.
- Actor Jordan Cox, who plays Max, is credited as Jordan M Cox in this episode.
- Actress Taylor Reynolds, who plays a delivery nurse in a flashback sequence, is credited as Taylor "Biscuit" Reynolds in this episode.
- Actress Hannah Goldie Alltmont, who plays a church school girl, is credited as Hannah Alltmont in this episode.
- Actress Karen Milliken, who plays Helena, is credited as Karen Miliken in this episode.
- Actor Zach Primo, who plays a young man, is credited as Zachary Primo in this episode.
- The character of Ciprien Grieve is unique to the continuity of the television series. He is an amalgamation of two characters from the book series, Michael Curry and Aaron Lightner.
- The first act of this episode takes place on the anniversary of when Ellie first adopted Rowan. "The Dark Place" establishes that Rowan was born/adopted in 1991, making her 32-years-old. Actress Alexandra Daddario was born in 1986 and is 37-years-old by the time the series starts.
- Deirdre Mayfair is 47-years-old in the beginning of this story. In The Witching Hour, it is said that she is 41-years-old at this time.
Allusions[]
- The title of this episode is taken from The Witching Hour, which is the first book in the "Lives of the Mayfair Witches" trilogy. It was published by Knopf in 1990.
Quotes[]
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Production Crew[]
See also[]
External Links[]
 This article pertains to an episode from season one of the Mayfair Witches television series. This template will categorize articles that include it into the Mayfair Witches season 1 episodes category. Episodes
"The Witching Hour" • "The Dark Place" • "Second Line" • "Curiouser and Curiouser" • "The Thrall" • "Transference" • "Tessa" • "What Rough Beast" Characters
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