Last week’s premiere (review here) was a startling one. Lasher now has a body. His growth spurt was a terrifying one throughout the episode and Rowan struggled to decide if she must put an end to him or protect him.
More Mayfairs gather in New Orleans, and one in particular, Moira, has her sights set on ending Lasher.
This week, Rowan tries to stop Lasher when he leaves dead Mayfair women in his wake. Ciprien tries to gain Moira Mayfair’s trust in order to capture Lasher. The emotions ran high as every character seemed to be searching for something this week.
Let’s review!
Warning: It’s about to get spoiler-y!
In the Cards
The episode began on an ominous note with Gifdord Mayfair (Thora Birch) doing a tarot reading on the family. It was not coming roses either. The Devil and an upside down Ten of Swords were only two of the cards that came up in her full spread. Both are signs of trouble and more.
It wasn’t long before Lasher (Jack Huston) came knocking after breaking out of the house. Whether because of power or because he’s attached to the Mayfair line, he was drawn to her. However, it was obvious that Gilford’s intuition told her who he was. That didn’t keep her from falling under his thrall and then dying shortly after.
Lasher was heartbroken but not because he’d killed her. She hemorrhaged not long after having been seduced which looked awfully like a miscarriage.
Too bad she didn’t see that coming in the cards. I kind of liked Gifford.
Out of Control
Lasher is officially lost and out of control. After the affair with Gifford, he confessed that he wanted the comfort and love that Rowan (Alexandria Daddario) had given before he had attained his physical form. Though he couldn’t recall before it, that feeling remained and Rowan refused to give it to him. Seeking it elsewhere is not going well for him.
Lasher comes across as an innocent much like a child. While he hides away, terrified and alone, I still can’t forget about what he was before and what he’s done already. That became more apparent when he came to Moira’s mother, drawn to her like he was to the previous Mayfairs.
Trust
Ciprien (Tongayi Chirisa) set out to meet Moira Mayfair (Alyssa Jirrels), but he contemplated taking away her free will to trust in order to speed up the process of getting her to infiltrate the Mayfair household. Much to my delight, he decided against it in the end and just let Moira into his mind as an offer of his own trust. This is major for Moira.
Moira doesn’t have anyone she can connect with. With the way Moira’s mother is in a constant drunken state and how she continuously treats her like a pariah, or rather-‘was/did’ since she meets an untimely end just like Luce and Gifford did with Lasher. Though it’s universally understood to not trust the Talamasca, Ciprien showed that he wasn’t like the others within the society. He still cares for Rowan even though he wants to capture Lasher.
However, it looks like it’s going to take work to convince Moira to infiltrate her family’s core.
In the Power
Rowan is still trying to convince herself that she’s trying to kill Lasher and protect the family. Yet, when she had a chance after finding Lasher not far from Gifford’s lake house, she blew it. And on purpose by the looks of it. A strike of lightning only a few feet away and a few branches, didn’t bring the demonic force to heel.
Millie (Geraldine Singer), my favorite Mayfair ghost, haunted Rowan a little extra during this episode with a valid point. Rowan is really enjoying the power Lasher gave her in exchange for a physical form. It’s no surprise she doesn’t want to give it up. Rowan protested, but it wasn’t as if she was feeling too bad about Gifford’s death either. A little Mayfair slaughter for a little power? Sure. Why not?
This became particularly clear when Rowan brewed up a storm from her balcony, enjoying the thrill of controlling the elements. Well, that is until Lark (Ben Feldman) showed up on her doorstep suddenly.
Though he was only in the episode briefly, it’s very apparent that he affects Rowan. He could be a big distraction in her effort to stop Lasher. Larkin is adorable, but he might mean trouble. The two have a past and it looks like it may bubble to the surface this season. Talk about bad timing.
Look at You
Throughout the episode, Rowan debated freeing Cortland (Harry Hamlin) from his stone imprisonment. Jojo (Jen Richards) managed to hold her off for a while by reminding her of what a horrible person he was.
Inside, Cortland was forced to cater to his father, Julien (Ted Levine, Silence of the Lambs) repetitively in this otherworldly prison. Cortland was at Julien’s constant beck and call as he was reminded of what a disgraceful failure he was as a Mayfair. It even got so grisly that Cortland eventually served up his right arm to the man.
This was both satisfying and excruciating. Cortland is unforgivable for what he did to Dierdre, Rowan and all Mayfairs. Even Rowan states this when she pulls him from his stone prison at the end of the episode. Though this is such a bad idea, it does amp up the intensity of the show. You bring back an evil to take down an evil.
Yet, could Cortland help Rowan bring an end to Lasher? Or, will he join Dolly Jean and others and help protect Lasher in his own manipulative way? Personally, I’m hoping he’s learned something from all of this and proves himself. But these Mayfairs all have greed in them when it comes to power and to Lasher. So, Rowan better look out.
What did you think of this week’s episode? Let’s chat in the comments below and feel free to follow us on X here.
