Mayfair Witches Season 2 Episode 6, “Michaelmas,” whisks our heroes away to Scotland to track down Lasher. Ahem, I mean Saint Ashlar. We learn why Albrecht brought him there and Julien’s grand plan for him. This episode is one of the strongest outings in the show’s catalog. It emits major Midsommar vibes and feels more like I thought this show would be — eerie as hell. Who doesn’t love skin masks and weird, cultlike weddings?
RELATED: Read our recap of the previous Mayfair Witches episode, “Julien’s Victrola”
Mayfair Witches, “Michaelmas”
We open with Rowan (Alexandra Daddario) on the bow of a small vessel as it moves through the waters. She’s in Scotland. Moira (Alyssa Jirrels) and Cortland (Harry Hamlin) sit at a table inside the boat. Moira wonders why Albrecht would bring Lasher to the Mayfairs in Scotland. Wouldn’t he also be a danger to the women in their family? Cortland wishes he was privy to Rowan and Julien’s conversation in the Victrola, but Rowan still won’t speak to him.
Moira shows Cortland a text from Dolly Jean. All the window glass cracked in the First Street House, and birds have flown inside. Cortland worries if the house falls apart, they won’t be able to save Jojo and Daphne. Rowan insists that won’t happen. Once they get to Kilbride, Rowan will feel for Lasher, track him down and take a vial of his blood. Then, they can head back to the US. This will allow her to free Jojo and Daphne from the thrall.
He Who Comes Again
Meanwhile, at the Mayfair house in Kilbride, Lasher (Jack Huston) holds aloft a makeshift weapon to ward off Ian’s sons outside his door, Abel (Callan McAuliffe) and Ennis (Brooks Indergard). Abel refers to Lasher as “Ashlar” and explains that Albrecht is in Edinburgh. Lasher is Saint Ashlar, “he who comes again.” The last of the Taltos. That’s fun.
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Lasher asks to see Rowan, but Abel claims Lasher doesn’t need her. He needs his mate, who’s been waiting for him for 500 years. Listen, if I had to wait that long for anybody, I would simply give up. Abel vows to take Lasher to her; however, he must wear restraints.
Meanwhile, Lark (Ben Feldman), Rowan, Cortland and Moira head toward Kilbride in their rental car. Unfortunately, they get a flat tire. Rowan assumes this is Julien’s doing. Cortland can’t get a signal. Moira discovers that Kilbride is only a few miles away, though, so they can walk there. They abandon their vehicle to finish the journey on foot.
Kilbride
They make it to Kilbride, where the locals are celebrating Michaelmas. Lark has booked them a hotel room for the night. Cortland heads to said room to charge his phone. Lark tells Rowan he’ll try to track down someone who doesn’t terrify him to talk to. Rowan believes she sees Albrecht weaving among the revelers. She pursues him, but he vanishes. Rowan whirls around to find Moira is MIA. We see Moira observing a man in an oversized crimson cloak. It’s giving Sith vibes. She hears, “Taltos will end your suffering.”
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Lark reunites with Rowan to inform her that Michaelmas is a Catholic feast celebrating archangel Michael. The Mayfairs also bankroll the festival every year. Rowan shoots Moira a text to meet them at the hotel so they can regroup and hatch a plan. Meanwhile, Moira tails Cloak Man into the local pub, which looks an awful lot like Julien’s pub in the Victrola. The camera focuses on the crackling fire, hinting at Julien’s role in all this. Moira, you’re in danger.
In the Clear
Later, Ciprien (Tongayi Chirisa) and Polina (Mariana A. Novak) arrive at the Talamasca headquarters in Amsterdam. There, they meet Annamieke (Franka Potente), who’s seemingly high up on the Talamasca chain. Sip braces himself for his inevitable hearing. He insists he had no idea Albrecht would betray them. He doesn’t know the latter’s plans. Annamieke is silent for a spell before she reassures Sip that she knows he’s innocent. He’s officially cleared of all charges.
Annamieke claims she needs Sip’s help. After removing his wrist restraint, which presumably inhibits his powers, Annamieke admits they don’t know where Albrecht is, but they have clues. They need Sip to use his abilities to decipher them. Sip rejects her. He’s washing his hands of the Talamasca. Sip explains that the Talamasca took him in when he was young, but all they’ve done is make him feel like an implement in their toolbox instead of part of the team.
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Annamieke understands his feelings. Sip reveals he’ll help her if she gives him Albrecht’s old position as Head of the New Orleans Office. Annamieke reveals that’s above her, and it’ll take time to get a stamp of approval.
Meet the Bride
Then, Lark learns that the hotel doesn’t have his reservation. The receptionist calls a driver to take them to the other hotel outside of town. It’s the least she can do. Hamish (Cameron Fulton) arrives, but Rowan and Lark aren’t keen on going with him. Moira is now missing, and Cortland is also nowhere to be found.
Elsewhere, Abel takes Lasher to meet his bride, Emaleth (Henessi Schmidt). She sits astride a Highland cow, a veil concealing the top half of her face. Lasher is restrained by ropes. Upon seeing her, he starts lunging forward as if he wants to tackle her (sexually). Emaleth is also a Taltos. She and Lasher will wed, and their union will bring good fortune and prosperity for centuries to come.
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Emaleth leaps off the cow and milks the creature. Her companion brings a cup of cow milk to Lasher. He gulps it down hungrily. I never want to drink milk of any kind again. Meanwhile, in Kilbride, Rowan asks a few officers to assist in the search for Moira. One cop believes she’s probably in the pub, chatting up some fella.
A Reunion
Hamish calls out to Rowan and Lark again for that ride to the other hotel. They find Cortland in the pub, and our trio hops in the van with Hamish. Hamish loves blasting metal music, which is obviously Cortland’s favorite musical genre.
Then, the van parks in front of a sizable house. Ian (Ian Pirie) greets them. As it turns out, Hamish is his son, and this isn’t a hotel. Ian embraces Cortland — two brothers reuniting after decades apart. Ian urges the trio to stay for dinner and what’s to come (the wedding). Naturally, Rowan wants to see Lasher. She adds that Moira is missing, and their rental car has a flat tire. Ian reassures Rowan that his boys will check for Moira in Kilbride in the morning.
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Lark doesn’t want to stay, but Rowan knows Lasher is here. Cortland volunteers to get answers from his brother. After this, he and Ian drink and chat. They reminisce about the good ole days. Ian believes Julien, aka Father Dearest, tried to keep them apart for far too long. He also made it his mission to pit them against each other. While Julien told Cortland that Ian was doing “The Great Work,” he also rattled off the same thing to Ian about Cortland.
Ashlar and Emaleth, Sitting in a Tree
Next, Rowan encounters Bonnie (Martha Malone), a little girl dancing during the Michaelmas festivities in town. She’s also Ian’s daughter. Rowan compliments her dancing. Bonnie reveals she was dressed as Saint Ashlar’s bride. Rowan admits she’s unfamiliar with that saint. Bonnie’s thrilled to meet Ashlar the following day. Ian enters the room, and it’s at this moment that Rowan learns about the wedding.
Ian assumes Rowan and the others are here for Lasher and Emaleth’s impending nuptials. Ian insists that Rowan will love Emaleth. Rowan pivots, informing Ian that she met Julien. The conversation turns to the Taltos. Ian explains that these deities in Scotland possessed a vital life force, which Rowan surely felt with Lasher. They give life. However, humans drove Taltos to extinction, save Emaleth (and Lasher).
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After learning that Ian’s sons are searching for Moira (which is undoubtedly bullsh*t), Rowan asks why Julien didn’t tell her about her son’s wedding. Ian assumes Julien thought that Rowan couldn’t see the bigger picture. Rowan reveals the real reason they’re in Scotland — they need a vial of Lasher’s blood to save Jojo and Daphne.
A Joyous Time
Ian doesn’t believe her. He asserts she’s in Kilbride because she’s greedy, and she got wind of all the good coming to this family. Rowan stands up, demanding Ian take her to Lasher. She won’t ask again. Then, she utilizes her bio magic to choke Ian. Unfortunately, she chokes poor Bonnie. Rowan stops immediately. Ian explains that they’re all connected. So, if Rowan tries to harm him, she’s actually inflicting pain on Bonnie. Ian urges Rowan to cool her jets and join them for this “joyous time.” Sure, Jan.
Next, Rowan and Lark part ways during the party to gather intel. Rowan makes a beeline for Hamish, assuming he’s the only one in the family who doesn’t drink the Kool-Aid, as it were. She appeals to his sensibilities, claiming she understands what being the black sheep is like. After both of them toss axes at the fence for fun, Rowan offers to help Hamish with whatever he needs to leave. Hamish admits his dad is the problem and he’s a “lunatic.”
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Rowan tells Hamish she’s fearful for Moira’s safety. She’s certain Ian knows Moira’s location. Hamish urges Rowan to check the tunnels in the basement. That’s all he can say. Inside the house, Cortland reveals that Ian has a Victrola. He’s also driving Cortland to the rental car to fix the flat. Cortland can elicit more info out of Ian during their drive.
Comfortable in Someone Else’s Skin
Meanwhile, Lark chats up an older man about checkers and such. Rose (Isabelle Connolly), Ian’s other daughter, sits off to the side and spreads her legs for Lark. Lark stumbles out of the room, but not before finding a mask of Albrecht’s face on the floor. It’s made of real human skin. So, Rowan saw someone wearing Albrecht’s literal face in town. Ew.
Lark waits for Rowan to return to their room before suggesting they leave. This family is creepy as hell and probably murderers (they are). Rowan persuades him to stay. She assures him she can handle these people. They have sex.
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At the same time, Abel leads Lasher back to the house. He explains that Taltos’ urge to create life is significantly stronger than in humans. Lasher tries to thwart Abel. He insists he can’t marry Emaleth. Lasher is afraid he’ll hurt her. Abel decides to show Lasher something that might dispel his fears.
A Betrayal
While Lark sleeps, Rowan sneaks out of their room. She ventures to the tunnels in the basement per Hamish’s suggestion. Down there, Rowan believes she hears something. Suddenly, the door behind her slams shut and locks. We see Hamish locking it on the other side. Rowan calls out for help.
RELATED: Read our Mayfair Witches recaps
Mayfair Witches drops new episodes every Sunday at 9/8c on AMC and AMC+.
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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
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