Sunday, January 26, 2025

REVIEW: 'Mayfair Witches' - Rowan Pursues Answers About Lasher But Receives Very Little at the Moment in 'Double Helix'

AMC's Mayfair Witches - Episode 2.04 "Double Helix"

Rowan must find Lasher in order to right her wrongs. But even Sip doesn't know where Lasher is. 

"Double Helix" was written by Cat Davidson and directed by Sarah O'Gorman


Albrecht has never been loyal to the Talamasca. He betrays the organization tasked with keeping track of all supernatural creatures in the world. He believes he has a more important mission with Lasher. He knows precisely what Lasher is. He plans on taking him home. That's not New Orleans. He didn't share his plans with anyone. In fact, Julien was his partner long ago. They've been planning for this moment for decades. It survived after death. Moreover, Julien bonded himself to the victrola in the First Street house. That allowed him to live on. He is in complete control of that reality. He maintains agency and importance. He looms large over the proceedings. Cortland was his pawn. The continuation of the family lineage was a means to an end. It was all about bringing Lasher back to life. Now, Albrecht can put the next stage of the plan in motion. It doesn't require anyone from the Talamasca. He enjoys the freedom to make this escape. He doesn't have to suffer any consequences. He is armed with information. That remains elusive. The characters know who they need to contact for the truth. Yet so much is being withheld. More details are provided. However, they do very little to advance the plot. That makes this such a frustrating episode.

Rowan and Moira as partners is very exciting though. They are united in their desire to free Jojo and Daphne from the thrall. Rowan is no longer powerful enough to do so on her own. She needs Lasher. In a sick and twisted way, she continues to love him despite the pain he has caused. She wants to better understand everything that has happened. That has led her back to her humanity to an extent. The episode opens with Rowan and Lark as med students preparing for their futures. They were happy as a couple. Their lives simply took them in different directions. Rowan didn't reach out again until she needed something from Lark. She provides just enough clues for him to keep digging. He doesn't return to New York able to forget about everything she has revealed in New Orleans. He discovers that Rowan carries the same genetic anomaly as Lasher. That's a crucial detail. Of course, it doesn't particularly mean anything at the moment. It's more information that apparently is useful to have. The viewer doesn't have the appreciation for it yet. Everything is driven by the genetics of this family. Rowan found all of these connections. She wants to stop people from dying. That hasn't endeared her to any of them as they gather in search of a new designee. That's not exactly living in reality either.

Lasher gave the Mayfair family their powers. They are seduced by all that he has provided. He required them to be reborn. His story began before this family entered though. He's getting back to his own narrative. One that doesn't tie him to these people. It's also being forced upon him by someone who claims to know better. Everyone just has to go along with that. Instead of providing any answers, the narrative spends time with Sip being investigated for potentially helping Albrecht escape. It's understandable why people would be suspicious. He finds a clue and doesn't share it immediately. It doesn't mean anything. Moreover, Albrecht was good at covering up all traces of memories Sip could find. The only thing left behind was what Albrecht wanted Sip to know. That provides no clarity whatsoever. Sip can't even deliver what Rowan and Moira need right now. He remains loyal to the Talamasca. He expects things to comply with typical procedure. That just isn't happening. Everything grows chaotic and messy. He has to reckon with that. The destruction isn't quite expansive enough. Nor does it guarantee exciting drama to come. It's busy work to keep Sip engaged. It's nothing more than that.

And finally, Rowan continually opts to free Cortland despite knowing he isn't helpful in any way. It doesn't take Moira's mind-reading abilities to figure that out. He never questioned what was asked of him. That hurt plenty of people along the way. He was never kind to his family. He remains alive and free though. Bad things happen. Cortland always avoids them. He promises to help. He's really just trying to find a slick way out of anything that can be weaponized against him. It's brave when Rowan and Moira each touch the victrola hoping to find Julien. They are on a mission. They are driven by their love for the family. They want to save Jojo and Daphne from their fates. The home is crumbling around them. The life and stability of the Mayfair family is deteriorating. Their prosperity was only possible because of Lasher. Julien has been an outsized figure as well. Dolly Jean and Evelyn lift him up with praise. He was the only one to offer the family any direction. They love him. The family looks inward for all of these affections. That too is a twisted dynamic. One where everything has to be kept within the bloodline. The sisters are protective of each other's desires. But Julien holds more importance than their romantic desires. He has control over Rowan's fate as she steps into his world. That much is known. Yet any resolution will have to wait a week when everything might get sorted. It's more than likely only going to produce more ambiguity though.