Mayfair Witches (2023)

Watchseries; I didn't read the books. Didn't know there were books. I detest "reviews" that are actually more comparisons than review. I watched the premier episode of Mayfair Witches with a clean slate - having no preconceived biases, notions or expectations. The television show have every opportunity to "suck me in" and grasp my attention.. it failed.

I found the premier episode really rather dull. It came across more as a Lifetime channel soap opera than a mystery/thriller/super natural story. It simply seems littered with run-of-the-mill characters or over-the-top unbelievable characters - i mean... A neurosurgeon? But not just that.. also having to deal with misogyny? A *neurosurgeon*! So what's the message here? The cast is predominantly women, no problem , but then it appears they are making the male characters the "problems". - You go girl! Fight the patriarchy! Don't worry that your million-dollar production will alienate 50% of its possible audience. M'kay.. hello Lifetime? Ya wanna produce something?

As for the mystery and "tension" (what there was of it), I found it to be at a very rudimentary level. Often making so much more out of some specific plot aspect so as to "cement" it in the minds of viewers. As if there's no way an audience could figure out anything or retain some small snippet of information unless there are 5 scenes over 20 minutes to repeat the premise. Essentially, I felt as though the premier was "spoon feeding" some plot lines to viewers needlessly. It just all felt like shortcuts often seen in poor productions.

Albeit, this was written after just one episode. So, I'l give it a second episode to see if the start was just not well conceived.

After the first episode, I'm in no way vested in the story nor do I care how any of it moves forward. They've done a fairly miserable job of grabbing my attention.

Thus far, it's entirely forgettable. But, perhaps I'm just not the demographic they are trying to reach.

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Episode 2 was just more of the same - exceptionally overly dramatized scenes, unrealistic dialog, etc.. For me, the writing is just exceptionally sub-par and clearly relies on the viewer not being a critical thinker or having any understanding of real-world interpersonal communications. As well as being replete with misogyny and anti-male messaging.

I simply won't be watching any more past episode 2.

I didn't read the books. Didn't know there were books. I detest "reviews" that are actually more comparisons than review. I watched the premier episode of Mayfair Witches with a clean slate - having no preconceived biases, notions or expectations. The television show have every opportunity to "suck me in" and grasp my attention.. it failed.

I found the premier episode really rather dull. It came across more as a Lifetime channel soap opera than a mystery/thriller/super natural story. It simply seems littered with run-of-the-mill characters or over-the-top unbelievable characters - i mean... A neurosurgeon? But not just that.. also having to deal with misogyny? A *neurosurgeon*! So what's the message here? The cast is predominantly women, no problem , but then it appears they are making the male characters the "problems". - You go girl! Fight the patriarchy! Don't worry that your million-dollar production will alienate 50% of its possible audience. M'kay.. hello Lifetime? Ya wanna produce something?

As for the mystery and "tension" (what there was of it), I found it to be at a very rudimentary level. Often making so much more out of some specific plot aspect so as to "cement" it in the minds of viewers. As if there's no way an audience could figure out anything or retain some small snippet of information unless there are 5 scenes over 20 minutes to repeat the premise. Essentially, I felt as though the premier was "spoon feeding" some plot lines to viewers needlessly. It just all felt like shortcuts often seen in poor productions.

Albeit, this was written after just one episode. So, I'l give it a second episode to see if the start was just not well conceived.

After the first episode, I'm in no way vested in the story nor do I care how any of it moves forward. They've done a fairly miserable job of grabbing my attention.

Thus far, it's entirely forgettable. But, perhaps I'm just not the demographic they are trying to reach.

-----------------------

Episode 2 was just more of the same - exceptionally overly dramatized scenes, unrealistic dialog, etc.. For me, the writing is just exceptionally sub-par and clearly relies on the viewer not being a critical thinker or having any understanding of real-world interpersonal communications. As well as being replete with misogyny and anti-male messaging.

I simply won't be watching any more past episode 2.

Mayfair Witches watchseries. The mayfair series was my favorite Anne Rice creation. I have waited decades for literally anything..especially the witching hour...to be made into a film.

I can understand the "reimagining" of interview with the vampire because it's been done already. But why change everything about the characters looks and change the story and cast so badly when it's original is so rich and layered? Terrible transition to film.

I wish they would have done with these books what they did with the Harry Potter books and left the story and characters alone...they way they were dreamed up buying the writer.

I can only hope someone will, in the future, put Anne's original characters and stories to screen from this series and not change anything. They were perfect as is.

They could just have titled this AMC's Mayfair Witches instead of Anne Rice's Mayfair Witches as this series surely does not resemble Anne Rice's Mayfairs that have moved and astounded me in the books. I have hoped and waited for a movie (or TV) adaptation of the Mayfairs as it truly is such a deeply rich and compelling read - a force within a force in itself. But this series, plainly put, is a gross deviation. I understand adapting a story to modern times like perhaps driving a current brand of car or using latest cellphone models in there but to significantly move away from such a great story that has been so well grounded and writ and detailed as Anne Rice had done for the Mayfairs, is appalling - it's an injustice as like they are riding on the incredible ingenuity of a created story, then think they could "cooly" make it their own. Perhaps this kind of approach applies to many other stories out there but it certainly does not for Anne Rice's Lives of The Mayfair Witches. As for the actor choices, perhaps most of them are great in their own right and place - but none of them fit the actual Mayfair book characters, except maybe the one for Carlotta Mayfair that came close.

It's exasperating to have to accept this kind of adaptation and to see how the series creators talk excitedly about this be like.. my brain be bleeding for it. For anyone who's not read the books, I suppose be glad you are spared the disappointment of this attempt. There's only been two episodes out yet in this time of review and if I were to imagine watching this without having read the books, I would probably find this dithering between bland to mildly curious.

This series is an absolute abomination. Poor Anne Rice must be rolling over in her grave. Why buy the rights to a masterpiece of writing and then utterly ignore it's content? The Midnight Hour is one of my all time favorite books. The story, the beautiful prose and the historical research that that goes into all her books to make them utterly believable and authentic feeling. This is such a disappointment. This will definitely alienate the fans of her stories which are the exact audience they are seeking to make this series successful. This does not even resemble The Mayfair Witches story that Anne Rice wrote and so many of us have read. I don't understand and I'm so disappointed. After two excruciating episodes, I will be checking out.

I CANNOT be the only one here that found this completely boring. It was like watching Twilight only with a "witch" cast. They only difference is the first episode is sparkly vampires could half way hold my attention. I understand it's more of a drama but geesh, put some kind of action in there to hold someone's attention. I rated this a five because hopefully it will pick up through the season but if the rest of the season is like this first episode, there will not be a second season. Snoozefests like this episode are like something you find on Amazon and they turn into a C rated, terrible horror film.

As soon as I read that the Michael Curry and Aaron Lightner characters would not be in the series, I had my doubts, because they are both central and essential to the story. I love these books love them. Anne Rice not only tells a story, she creates an atmosphere. But, I decided to watch with an open mind. Sometimes adapted films and series can be better than the original, or at least as good. Terms of Endearment, Jaws, to name a couple. Atmosphere is completely lacking here. Granted, I've only seen one episode, and I will watch the second episode to see if it gets any better, but I do not have high hopes. Rowan is not Anne Rice's Rowan; not even close. I don't like this actress as Rowan at all. She played Constance in the film We Have Always Lived In The Castle (another absolute favorite book of mine), and did a good job, IMO. But she's not pulling off Rowan. Neither is Carlotta. It's like they are caricatures. Overall, the acting of all characters so far is very disappointing. Except Annabeth Gish. I think she captured the catatonic Deirdre very well. I haven't decided about Lasher yet. I'm so sad. When I heard The Witching Hour was being made into a series, I thought, it's about time, and I was so excited. Why do producers and writers think they can improve on a bestselling and beloved story by one of the most popular writers of my lifetime? It's such a shame.