New Orleans is simmering with magic, death, and witch hunts in Mayfair Witches, the AMC drama that's equal parts sinister and stylish. Alexandra Daddario leads the series as a budding witch who's just beginning to understand her powers while carving out her own independence. Based on Anne Rice's Lives of the Mayfair Witches novels, the show carries the same haunted Southern charm that Rice fans adore. After its second season premiered in 2025, the series has already been renewed for a third, set to arrive in 2027.
For those who loved the flashy, fan-favorite American Horror Story: Coven, Mayfair Witches is the perfect follow-up. Both shows share a Southern Gothic aesthetic, are set in New Orleans, and follow a coven of witches guarding their magic as war brews. And with Mayfair Witches now streaming on Netflix, it's easier than ever to dive into this bewitching world.
What Is 'Mayfair Witches' About?
Daddario plays Rowan Fielding, a successful pediatric neurosurgeon with a mysterious gift that lets her heal nearly any patient she operates on. But when her anger flares, strange things happen—she accidentally injures one man and kills another, forcing her to confront the possibility that she has powers she never knew existed. Adopted as a baby, Rowan heads to New Orleans to find her birth mother and uncover the truth about her Mayfair heritage.
Harry Hamlin brings mischief to the role of Cortland Mayfair, Rowan's uncle, who lives in a lavish New Orleans mansion and once threw wild parties when Rowan's mother was young. Jack Huston portrays Lasher, a powerful spirit bound to generations of Mayfair women since the witch trials. Lasher amplifies the witches' powers but is also controlling and jealous, complicating things when he reveals himself to Rowan. Meanwhile, Tongayi Chirisa plays Ciprien Grieve, an empath and undercover Talamasca agent who enters Rowan's life, sparking dangerous games as anti-witch sentiment rises in the city.
Alexandra Daddario Comes Into Her Power
An untrained witch is a dangerous thing, and Rowan learns this in terrifying fashion. In American Horror Story: Coven, Taissa Farmiga's Zoe discovers her power in the worst way—killing her boyfriend during their first intimate encounter. Mayfair Witches has a similarly jarring inciting incident when Rowan, belittled by a chief surgeon, inadvertently gives him an aneurysm with her mind.
The show's horror is elevated by close-up shots traveling through the brain, the rupture of blood vessels made visceral, interspersed with Daddario's striking blue eyes—a signature trait she shares with her on-screen birth mother, played by Annabeth Gish. Rowan is a departure from Daddario's previous roles, and her anger is fiery, revealing a darker edge than we saw in The White Lotus or True Detective.
This clever juxtaposition—Rowan the healer versus Rowan the unwitting killer—drives her inner conflict. As the series progresses, it becomes a story of female empowerment, with the witches she meets in New Orleans teaching her to embrace her gifts rather than fear them.
A Dangerous Love Triangle Between Magical Beings
Daddario doesn't shy away from steamy scenes, playing a sexually liberated woman who knows what she wants. Lasher becomes a central force in her life, blurring the lines between lust and love, safety and danger. Huston's performance is invigorating—an undying spirit who has haunted and helped the Mayfair women for centuries. Their first meeting at a festival is electric, with neon lighting adding to the enchanting, Southern Gothic vibe.
But Lasher is dangerous, especially when Rowan forms a strong bond with Ciprien, the Talamasca agent sent to monitor her. Their connection turns to love, leading to one of Season 1's most thrilling episodes. Episode 5, "The Thrall," is a wild fever dream, fully embracing the show's fantasy nature with stunning visuals, time travel, and gore. As Rowan's deranged aunt Carlotta (Beth Grant) tries to kill her, all hell breaks loose—literally—when she sets fire to the Mayfair home. Ciprien comes to the rescue, but Lasher's jealousy turns the house into a funhouse of horror, with shifting rooms, tortured ghosts, and jump scares galore.
If you're looking for a weekend binge that mixes magic, mystery, and a touch of romance, Mayfair Witches is a must-watch. And for more streaming picks, check out our Netflix binge guide or our fantasy TV binge guide for even more options.
