Anne Rice’s Immortal Universe has gotten bigger. While Interview with the Vampire and Mayfair Witches have eight episodes a season, this mysterious addition spans only six. With that, we decided to break this review of season one into two parts.
Now, at the mid-point of the season, we have more questions than before the show even aired. We wondered if Jesse and David (for you Queen of the Damned fans) would have a role. Which characters from IWTV and MW would crossover? Would we get to experience the obsession we’ve only gotten a taste of through David (Queen of the Damned) and Albrecht (MW)?
Before we snap into a review, let’s recap. A lot happened in the first half of this series.
Let’s Recap
In typical Talamasca fashion, episode 1 started off on a mysteriously supernatural-driven foot. Jasper, a vampire that’s taken over the London Talamasca HQ, eliminates an agent of the secret order, which means a new one would ascend.
Enter Guy Anatole, a law school graduate with an ability that could rival Cyprien (MW). This episode was an introduction of sorts. Guy, on the verge of accepting an offer at a law firm, met Helen, the head of the New York Talamasca HQ. Though she came across small and shy, she was clever. And, she was desperate for Guy to join the secret order. So, Guy was left with a choice. Join a law firm and try to lead a normal life, or join the Talamasca.
Did we learn anything about the Talamasca throughout this episode? Not really. Did we get to meet a really cool vampire named Burton? Yes! He was very mindful, very demure. And, he had a warning for Guy. Don’t trust the Talamasca.
As if that wasn’t convincing enough, Burton, in all of his theatrical glory, led Guy to a life-changing discovery. Guy’s mother is alive, and the Talamasca faked her death. A stellar cameo by Daniel Malloy – now a vampire – backed up Burton’s warning. The Talamasca is dangerous, and they’re impossible to bargain with.
At the start of episode two, Guy is not sure he wants to join the secret order. There are too many secrets and not enough information to convince him to take on a mission with no details. With his own agenda, Guy decides to accept Hellen’s offer to be a supernatural super spy.
Sent to infiltrate the London Talamasca HQ, Guy wasn’t given much to go on. The only way to get into the headquarters is to follow a fellow agent named Archie. But when Guy gets tied up with a cute little witch named Kevis, who may be key to his mission, things go awry. Especially when she turns up dead.
Neither his new boss, Helen, nor his handler, Olive, is any help by episode 3. Instead, they just complicated matters by flipping the tables on him. All of the stipulations he had made before joining disappeared. Do the work or meet a mysterious end. It came as no surprise. The Talamasca is well known for its manipulation, and many supernatural beings tried to warn him.
The logical response? Guy walked right into the London HQ and handed over everything he knew about his mission to Jasper, the vampire controlling everything and everyone in there. Could this be an amazing double-cross that would get him to his mother, or just the perfect way to infiltrate enemy territory and free him of the Talamasca?
But everybody’s after one thing, and Guy, stuck in the middle, may be the one to get it. Everybody wants something called 752. It’s shrouded in a lot of mystery and lore that has yet to be uncovered. We’re pretty familiar with how things like this go. Whether it’s a book, a slab, a strange object with strange vibes. Maybe just don’t touch it. Leave it alone. Give it back. It would be less trouble for everybody involved. Then again, when has anyone ever done that?
Let’s Review!
So far, the show has been mildly wowing. There is so much information and intrigue to absorb that the overall storyline has been underwhelming. We’re not holding onto that with much fervor since we’re only halfway through. There’s been so much exposition that the plot is still hazy. We’re hoping for an explosive ending for this season.
With witches and vampires circling Guy, it would be wild to encounter a demon or a ghost. Let’s not forget the zombies that Helen said weren’t real. Jasper’s pets in the basement of the London HQ are a grizzly kind of terrifying.
Speaking of Jasper, William Fichtner as a vampire was something we never knew we needed but are so glad to witness. He’s always had a unique stoicism that’s intimidating and alluring, and he’s capitalizing on it as Jasper. Talk about swooning for a villain. He definitely doesn’t have the drama of Lestat or the tragedy of Louis, and we’re not upset about it. We’re rather enjoying it and possibly pulling for him.
Who’s the Villain?
It’s a strange question to ask, but possibly one of the biggest. The lines are pretty blurred. Is Jasper the true villain? Jasper is harboring some ravenous version of zombies and keeping the head of London HQ under his thumb. Or, are we getting to watch the Talamasca unravel as the actual villain of the Immortal Universe? The secret order is pretty shady. They’ve even admitted to banishing Guy’s mother from the order. Let’s not forget they have Burton under their control. Who knows what else they’re capable of?
Whatever the case, this mysterious book: 752, is at the center of it. It disappeared from the main office of the Talamasca in Amsterdam after a fire engulfed it in 1972. Poor Guy for being pulled into this mess. He really should find a way out. Maybe he’ll become a vampire. After all, Jasper is helping the head of the London HQ by giving him vampire blood for his cancer. Maybe he’ll offer to turn Guy. Maybe Guy’s new friend, Doris, a witch from Kevis’s coven will come to his aid. Guy isn’t out of options, and he’s pretty smart on his feet. I’m sure he’s not about to let Helen and Olive break him.
One thing is certain: we still have so many questions, and with the nature of the Talamasca, we’re not sure they’re going to get answered, at least not in the first season.
Easter Egg Galore!
There’s no way we couldn’t gush over the amount of easter eggs throughout these episodes. These are only a few, and I’m sure there are many, many more.
One of the biggest is Guy. The introduction to his character and abilities was so similar to Rowan Mayfair’s of Mayfair Witches. It was right down to the way his mind-reading was interpreted with a sharp blur and tension all over. His mysterious background on top really had us wondering if he may be a witch himself. Maybe a long-lost Mayfair? We can’t wait for him to track down his mother in hopes there’ll be some answers about his heritage.
Another egg? Burton! His lavish prison-err-home, his taste in luxury, and his dramatic personality were showstopping. We can’t be the only ones that were reminded of Laszlo Cravensworth of What We Do in the Shadows? We hope to see more of him in the future. He’s absolutely delightful.
The final easter egg has to be the mysterious book that Guy only caught a glimpse of: 752. That’s a strange title for a book that holds endless supernatural knowledge collected over decades, possibly centuries. It reminded us of another book that was just as rare and important, the Ashmole 782 from A Discovery of Witches, also known as the Book of Life. Could the 752 hold similar secrets? We can’t wait to find out, though we kind of think leaving alone would be for the best.
What easter eggs got you excited during the first half of the season? Are there other characters you’re hoping to see?
What are you hoping to see in the second half of the season? Tell us in the comments below!