Last week (review here), Rowan reunited with Lark over breakfast but things ended abruptly when Mayfair business came up. In order to free Jojo and Daphne from their thrall and save the Mayfair house, Rowan enlists the help of a reluctant Moira. Lasher has been abducted by Albrecht and so they sought out Julien Mayfair, the only Mayfair more obsessed with Lasher than Cortland.
This week, magic went wild. Rowan was split in two. While a part of her connected with Julian in the victrola, her other half reconnected with Lark. Moira, Dolly Jean, and Cortland worked to uncover hidden memories and tried to keep their secrets while Lark is in the house. A game of chaos came to settle in the Mayfair house.
Let’s review!
Warning: It’s about to get spoiler-y!
Into the Victrola
Last week ended with Rowan (Alexandria Daddario) drinking a mysterious potion and going into the Victrola, leaving Moira (Alyssa Jirrels) to be her rope. What Rowan found was a withering Julien (Ted Levine), not the well-kept man that Cortland fed his arm to in “Two of Swords“. And, as we recall from that episode, Julien has been waiting for Rowan to visit.
When it looked like Julien wasn’t going to be any help, Rowan attempted to leave. Unfortunately, to the outside world, she awoke, but Rowan was still stuck inside the victrola. Because Rowan had tried to leave without Julien’s permission, she had split in two! Because of that, if she didn’t reunite her two selves (her head and heart), she would die.
Julien was nothing short of amused. For him, this was typical Mayfair magic and games.
A Walk Down Memory Lane
Outside of the victrola, Rowan recounts her short time with Julien to Moira, Dolly Jean (Charlayne Woodard), and Cortland (Harry Hamlin). They quickly learn through Moira’s power that Cortland was triggered by Rowan recounting of some pub she met Julien inside the victrola. With Dolly Jean’s help, they learned that Albrecht (Dennis Boutskaris) wasn’t the only one who had a talent for taking memories. Julien knew how to stifle them, too.
Cortland’s journey to recover his lost memories was a rough one. Moira was the only one who could help pull his memories out of him. Both seemed to struggle. Cortland has always been a man of secrets and letting a mind-reader in wasn’t easy. Moira didn’t want to dig around in his memories. Still, they needed to find a way to save Jojo and Daphne which meant taking a walk around Cortland’s mind to try and find the memories Julian took.
Cortland eventually recalled a trip to Scotland and a boy that he’d been afraid of. In a shocking turn of events, this boy was revealed to be Cortland’s brother, Ian. He was much more terrifying than Cortland. In the memory Moira managed to pull free from Cortland, both boys had been led to an altar where Ian had not only sacrificed a sheep but a young girl. Cortland is quite the master manipulator, but Ian isn’t afraid to get his hands bloody.
However, nobody was sure what Ian had to do with Lasher.
Throw Me A Rope
Though spending time with Julien was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, the Rowan (her brain) in the victrola wanted nothing more than to leave. That was especially the case since the two of them were watching everything going on outside the victrola in a dollhouse replicated from the Mayfair house.
For Julien, this was a game. While Rowan tried to pry information out of him about Lasher, they ultimately came to a stalemate. While she had been Lasher’s lover and mother, Julien had given Lasher his body to possess whenever he pleased. Rowan’s stubbornness and will of steel met its match with Julien. He couldn’t be more pleased and she couldn’t be more frustrated.
Listen to Your Heart
The chaos in the Mayfair house escalated when Lark (Ben Feldman) arrived. He’s quite good at showing up at the worst possible times. After immediately confessing to taking her DNA, Rowan (her heart) comes out about being a witch. Coming out with their secrets was almost like witnessing them confess their undying love for each other. Cute and humorous.
Inside the victrola, Rowan (Her brain) looked at her other half and wondered what was wrong with her, adding more comical relief to the episode. It was definitely a relatable situation, like that inner voice judging you.
The rekindling romance between Rowan and Lark almost came to an abrupt halt. Rowan admitted she needed Lark and his science to help balance her magic when it came to understanding Lasher and herself. Julien’s memory potion threatened to take that away along with every memory she and Lark shared. In the end, Rowan refused to take his memories. She needed this piece of her old life to join her new life.
All in all, Lark handled learning that his ex/not ex was a witch pretty well. Still, that may put him in a lot of danger, especially if Lasher (Jack Huston) learns about him. As we know, Lasher isn’t much of a sharer.
Family is Everything
As time passed throughout the episode, both Rowans grew increasingly erratic. The Rowan in the house became increasingly emotional. The Rowan in the victrola grew critical and struggled to form coherent thoughts. Her attempts to manipulate him into telling her about Lasher or to let her go failed and it looked like her time was running out.
At the last second, when it seemed like all was lost, Rowan managed to pull herself back together at the victrola. It was no surprise that it was at the very last second. That’s the most gut-twisting moment for an episode with a time-limited mission.
From the smug grin on his face at the end, Julien was nothing short of proud of her. She was exactly as he’d hoped unlike his son, Cortland. Not only did Rowan manage to get herself out of this fickle situation, but she also discovered where Lasher had been taken by noticing the bottle of whiskey he’d been drinking from throughout the episode. Rowan was earning her place among the Mayfairs.
The Mayfairs-plus Lark for some undeniable yet mysterious reason-are going to Kilbride, Scotland. That’s where Cortland’s memories were. That’s where the pub was. That’s where Albrecht took Lasher. That’s Lasher’s home, not that he recalls it.
It was also where Ian (Ian Pirier) was waiting for them. And, in a plot twist, he killed Albrecht. Whatever plans Ian has for Lasher are such a mystery that not even Lasher knows, and Talamasca traitors aren’t wanted. Yet, it makes for quite an ominous cliffhanger
What did you think of this week’s episode? Let’s chat in the comments below.
