The show creates a rich, Gothic atmosphere, it draws you into the Mayfair legacy, the Southern setting, the hidden magic, the family secrets, the supernatural feels slow-burn, layered, with teasing clues rather than instant jump scares, the pacing gives space for mystery, letting the strange and uncanny settle in, there is an elegance to how magic is introduced little by little so that when transformations or supernatural moments happen they have weight. The shapeshifting, the demonic presence of Lasher, the ancestral witchly power, these are handled quite impressively, while some reviews complain that the horror or magical effects are not as flashy or traditional, there is power in restraint, when Rowan’s powers manifest, when things shift and change, those moments land because the groundwork is there. 

Alexandra Daddario as Rowan Fielding carries much of the emotional burden, her conflicts, doubts, fear, and growing power are believable and compelling, the supporting cast adds texture, family dynamics, betrayals, and secrets all combine to make character arcs meaningful. There are several strong emotional beats, discovering heritage, confronting family sins, fear of one’s own power, dialogue at its best captures internal conflict, moral ambiguity, and the pain of legacy, scenes where Rowan must confront both external threat and internal transformation are standout. 

The transformation of Lasher into a human in Season 2, the tensions of power, the legacy burdens, these plot points raise the stakes, they force Rowan to face not just supernatural enemies, but her own values, relationships, and identity. 

Sometimes the show drags, some plot threads feel slow or under-developed, for viewers not deeply familiar with Anne Rice’s lore, or who prefer more immediate clarity, this can be frustrating, as with many adaptations some of the source material is changed, simplified, or reinterpreted, that will bother purists, character motivations, certain relationships, key events may not align with the books, some critics feel the show lacks the stylistic punch or striking visuals that might elevate it beyond good supernatural drama, the horror isn’t always visceral, effects aren’t always awe-inspiring. 

Despite its flaws, Mayfair Witches succeeds impressively in areas that many similar supernatural dramas only aspire to, emotional resonance, the sense of real transformation, mystery, and gothic richness, it doesn’t rely heavily on traditional horror tropes like jump scares or overt gore, but the threat, the magic, and the character changes are powerful nonetheless, it keeps you glued not only by what’s happening, but by who’s grappling with it, how it changes them, and the secrets that unfold.

For me this deserves a solid 9/10, those emotional arcs and transformations are more compelling than flash, with slightly better pacing or more consistent visual style, it could have been a full 10/10.