The penultimate episode of Mayfair Witches Season 1, aptly titled "What Rough Beast," unleashes the familial saga's tempestuous crescendo, unraveling the omnipresent darkness that has been the Mayfair witches' perpetual nightmare across generations. The episode kicks off with a heart-pumping woodland chase, where Rowan, battle-scarred yet relentless, pursues Keith with an intensity fueled by Lasher's otherworldly influence. As Lasher metes out his brutal form of retribution upon Keith, Rowan witnesses the grotesque spectacle through a vision, a somber testament to the formidable might she now commands.
Meanwhile, Jojo confronts Cortland over Tessa's tragic demise and Rowan's enigmatic absence, only to be met with a veil of cryptic silence that shrouds his true intentions. Cortland's unhealthy obsession with Rowan becomes blatantly evident, as does his sinister entanglement with the prophecy's unfolding drama.
Ciprien's personal odyssey takes a breathtaking detour when he stumbles upon Albrecht's chilling ability to erase memories, a revelation that forces him to confront the gruesome truth behind Deirdre's murder and the Talamasca's sinister machinations within the Mayfair family's destiny. Ciprien's steadfast resolve to safeguard his memories evolves into a vital lever, as he recognizes his pivotal role in fulfilling the prophecy's foreboding script.
Rowan's arduous trek through the bloodied forest leads her to a profound confrontation with Lasher, who acts as her guide to the ancestral wisdom concealed within Suzanne's abode. As Rowan deciphers the ancient markings etched by her forebears, she unleashes not just her healing prowess but also mastery over the very elements, a surge of power that both exhilarates and empowers her.
The episode steeps into a sensual realm as Rowan and Lasher share an intimate moment, cementing their bond beyond measure. Yet, dawn reveals a breathtaking truth: the 13th witch stands as the portal, and Rowan carries within her the fruit of her union with Lasher—a child, the very embodiment of the prophecy.
Odette's chance discovery of a Talamasca card triggers a cascade of events, ultimately resulting in the erasure of her memories, a grim demonstration of the organization's relentless grip on the narrative. Enlightened by the truth, Ciprien confronts Cortland, peeling back the layers to uncover the shocking fact about Rowan's parentage, a revelation that irrevocably alters the intricate dynamics of the Mayfair family.
Jojo's mounting suspicions regarding her father propel her and Ciprien towards the enigmatic Mayfair mausoleum, where they unveil the prophecy's profound and complete significance. As Dolly Jean divulges the imminent ripening of Lasher, the race against the relentless clock transforms into a desperate fight to manipulate fate's outcome.
Rowan's odyssey through the labyrinthine halls of her ancestral home culminates in a stunning revelation from her mother, Deirdre, who uncovers the truth: Lasher is the very child she nurtures within her womb. The burden of being the 13th witch, the fabled gateway, weighs heavily upon Rowan's shoulders, and she awakens to the ghostly presence of Suzanne, a spectral midwife assisting in Lasher's miraculous human birth.
The episode draws to a thunderous climax with a confrontation between Rowan, Cortland, and Ciprien that echoes with the echoes of destiny. Cortland's quest for eternal life reaches its twisted fruition, yet it comes at the devastating cost of his humanity, as Rowan's wrath transforms him into stone. Ciprien's betrayal is laid bare, and Rowan's newly awakened power shimmers, as she stands defiant, reclaiming control over her fate and her son's.
As the rain cascades fiercely, Rowan emerges from the shadows of the mausoleum, a mother now to a child imbued with unimaginable might, her path ahead fraught with uncertainty yet her resolve as steadfast as ever. The final frame leaves viewers with a poignant blend of closure and anticipation, for the prophecy's fulfillment marks not just the end but the dawn of a new era in the Mayfair witches' epic tale. "What Rough Beast" serves as a fitting finale to the first season, weaving a tapestry of supernatural suspense, familial turmoil, and a profound examination of the corrupting embrace of power, leaving its mark on the heart and mind, blurring the lines between virtue and vice, and prompting profound reflections on the true essence of power and sacrifice.
