There are many shows like AMC+‘sMayfair Witchesthat capture the dark, gothic tone of this supernatural thriller. Adapted from the Anne Rice novels,the series is the second installment in the network’s growing Immortal Universe franchise, which kicked off with the laudedInterview With The Vampire. Set in the same world, but following an as yet unconnected storyline,Mayfair Witchesintroduced viewers to Dr. Rowan Fielding, the heir to a powerful witch dynasty, brought to life through Alexandra Daddario’s capable lead performance. They also met Lasher – the ancient, malevolent spirit who holds a seductive power over the Mayfairs.
TheMayfair Witchesseason 1 finaleclosed its suspense-filled first season with a shocking Lasher twist. While the critical response toMayfair Witcheshasn’t been as strong as its partner series, scoring a 44% Rotten Tomatoes score in comparison toInterview With The Vampire’simpressive 98%, it has established its main themes well. It features a classic Ricean blend of sex, gender, and gothic horror, wrapped up in the tale of an intergenerational haunting. Hopefully,Mayfair Witchesseason 2will see the series find its swing – in the meantime,viewers can fill the gap with these similar supernatural shows.
Interview with the Vampire
Cast
Based on Anne Rice’s novel series that began in 1976, Interview with the Vampire is a gothic horror fantasy series that explores the life of Louis de Pointe du Lac through an interview with a journalist. Told through flashbacks of Louis’ life during the interview, the series examines Louis' relationship with the vampire that turned him, Lestat de Lioncourt, and a teenage girl named Claudia, whom he turns. The series is the first of Anne Rice’s Immortal Universe media franchise.
For those for whomMayfair Witcheswas their first introduction to the world of Anne Rice,Interview With The Vampireis an obvious next step. Perhaps the author’s best-known creation,Interview With The Vampire’scharactersare drawn from Rice’sThe Vampire Chronicles –most famously, Louis de Pont du Lac and Lestat de Lioncourt. The AMC series is an improvement on the already iconic Tom Cruise/Brad Pitt film adaptation. It has been particularly praised forits unabashed depiction of Louis and Lestat’s relationship as an overtly romantic one, something which was only subtly implied in the 1994 film.
While flashing back to the present-day interview between Louis and aging journalist Daniel Molloy, the first two seasons mainly take place in the past. So far, this has prevented the characters ofInterview With The VampireandMayfairWitchesfrom crossing over. Nonetheless,a strong connection between the series persists via The Talamasca, a shadowy organization that hunts supernatural beings. Viewers should also look out for athird Anne Rice show about The Talamascawhich is currently in development.Interview With The Vampirewill return for a third season, though its premier date has not yet been announced.
Penny Dreadful
Penny Dreadful is a gothic horror thriller series that follows characters forced to brave historic British literature creations in Victorian London. Centering on Vanessa Ives across the series, the show has Vanessa and her allies face-to-face with supernatural entities that will challenge their reality while dealing with their own personal demons.
This seriesis another must-watch for supernatural horror aficionados.Penny Dreadfulpacks book and movie referencesthroughout, featuring characters from the most famous works of gothic literature. Victor Frankenstein and his Monster rub shoulders with Dorian Gray and Dracula’s Van Helsing. The series is led byEva Green, who gives a blood-curdling performance as the show’s heroine, Vanessa Ives. One particularly chilling scene, in which Vanessa is possessed by an evil entity during a seance, demonstrates Green’s incredible talent, managing to terrify viewers without ever showing the creature onscreen.
Presented as a natural-born witch,Ives has parallels withMayfair Witches’heroine– like Rowan, who is plagued by the demon Lasher, Vanessa is tormented by the Devil, who lays a claim on her soul.Penny Dreadfullater reveals that she is a powerful supernatural entity in her own right: an incarnation of the goddess Amunet. The series depicts Vanessa’s harrowing journey to claim her role as the"Mother of Evil".Critics have widely praised screenwriter John Logan for this original character, and Green was nominated for a Golden Globe for her role in the show.
American Horror Story
American Horror Story is a Horror Anthology series created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. The franchise has seen stars like Connie Britton, Jessica Lange, Denis O’Hare, Zachary Quinto, Evan Peters, and Dylan McDermott. Each season follows a new premise and spans an array of horror genres like witches, ghosts, serial killers, and more.
Ryan Murphy’s long-running horror anthology series,American Horror Story, has taken several supernatural turns in its 12 seasons.Mayfair Witchesfans will particularly appreciateCovenandRoanoke,both of which adopt themes from the Southern Gothic genre. Covering the exploits of a band of witches descended from survivors of the Salem Witch trials,Covenencapsulates the creator’s characteristic brand of camp horror– not only doseveral Fleetwood Mac songs feature inCoven, but Stevie Nicks herself actually makes a cameo in the season.
ThoughCovenwasn’t to everyone’s taste,many viewers deemed itAmerican Horror Story’sbest seasonto date.Roanokeproved more controversial, ranked byVultureas the third worst season in the show.Roanoke’sambitious storyline took a meta turn with its show-within-a-show premise. One of its assets, however, is the return ofLady Gaga asRoanoke’switch villain. The pop-star turned actress memorably featured inAmerican Horror Story: Hotelas the fashionista vampire the Countess. Interestingly,Mayfair Witches’Alexandria Daddario also played a small role inHotel.
Lovecraft Country
Lovecraft Country follows Atticus Freeman as he embarks on a 1950s road trip across Jim Crow America with his friend Letitia and Uncle George. Searching for his missing father, they confront racial discrimination and supernatural horrors reminiscent of H.P. Lovecraft’s fiction.
For another thrilling, genre-bending twist on the gothic style,Lovecraft Countrymakes for an excellent choice. The short-lived series is adapted from the 2016 novel of the same name by Matt Ruff, and stars Jurnee Smollett and Jonathan Majors as its lead duo, Atticus and Letitia. Embarking on a road trip across 1950s Jim Crow America in search of Atticus' missing father, the characters encounter dark secrets lurking beneath a small town in which the infamous writer reportedly set his horror stories. LikeMayfair WitchesandPenny Dreadful,Lovecraft Countryadapts material from prexisting gothic fiction.
The series makes for challenging viewing in places, with its depiction of the racial violence of the era. The show’ssupernatural elements provide a metaphor for the man-made terrors the main characters must also endure.Lovecraft Country’sunflinching exploration of America’s racist past also draws renewed attention to the troubled legacy of Lovecraft himself, whose white supremacist ideology proliferates his work. Unfortunately,Lovecraft Countrywas canceledbefore a second season was made. Nonetheless, with the first season earning18 Emmy nominations, this fantasy-horror series is still worth revisiting.
Salem
Salem (2014) is a supernatural horror series set in 17th-century Massachusetts. The show explores the infamous witch trials, blending historical fiction with elements of the occult. Janet Montgomery stars as Mary Sibley, a powerful witch who holds sway over the Puritan town. Co-starring Shane West as John Alden, Salem delves into power dynamics, dark magic, and the societal tensions of the period.
Out of the manymovies and shows inspired by the Salem Witch Trials, 2017’sSalemis one of the most loose historical adaptations. Nonetheless, the supernatural horror series is an effective dramatization of a dark historical period. The show stars Janet Montgomery as Mary Sibley, a witch who engineers the trails to sow hysteria among the Puritan population of Massachusetts. Combining occult horror with the real terror of 17th century persecution,Salemis as sensual and disturbing as any Rice novel.
The female leads ofSalemrival many oftelevision’s most powerful witches. The series pulls off its horror scenes well, effectively capturing the terror that the occult inspired in colonial America’s superstitious communities. The flaws in the series' storyline, which becomes shaky in parts, are strengthened by its luscious visuals and period costuming.Salemseason 3’s endinggave the short-lived drama a shocking, satisfying finale,ultimately delivering onSalem’spromise to push the boundaries of the fantasy-horror genre.
Preacher
Preacher follows Jesse Custer, a Texas preacher, on his quest to confront the divine for abandoning humanity. Aided by Cassidy, a vampire, and Tulip, a gun-toting Texan, he wields the power of Genesis, a potent force born from an angel and a demon, to challenge celestial authority.
Anotherunflinchingly gory twist on the gothic genre,Preacherfollows Jesse Custer, a chain-smoking Texas priest whose newfound supernatural gift forces him to confront his sordid past. Accompanied by his trigger-happy ex-girlfriend, Tulip (played by Ruth Negga) and his vampire friend, Jesse embarks on a quest to find God, literally. Adapted from the Vertigo comic by Garth Ellis and Steve Dillon, this"obscene" Dominic Cooper showearned renewed attention after being made available on Netflix.
Preacherwill appeal to those who enjoyedMayfair Witches’more shocking elements. The gothic genre is characterized by its desire to push the boundaries of what is deemed socially acceptable; to disturb and entice its audience in the same breath. From start to finish,Preacherisgleefully debauched. It exists as a precursor to off-beat superhero shows likeThe Boys,butbalances its outrageous blend of horror and dark comedy with a well-crafted storyline.
The Haunting of Hill House
The Haunting of Hill House is a 2018 horror drama series that interweaves the past and present narrative of a family grappling with traumatic occurrences from their former residence. The story explores the psychological and supernatural elements of their experiences as they contend with haunting memories and events.
With successive masterpieces likeTheHaunting of Hill Houseand 2023’sThe Fall of the House of Usher,Mike Flanagan has emerged as the most prominent horror director of the last decade. Many of the director’s series will appeal to fans of the Immortal Universe, as he puts a modern twist on the works of classic horror writers. Among his frequent collaborators is the actorAnnabeth Gish, who features inMayfair Witchesas Rowan’s estranged mother, Deirdre. However,Flanagan’s most underrated show,The Midnight Club,deserves more attention.
Every Upcoming Mike Flanagan Movie & TV Show
After departing from Netflix to Amazon, Mike Flanagan is currently slated to helm four upcoming horror projects including a new Exorcist movie.
The series is set in a hospice, and follows a group of terminally ill young adults who meet each night to tell each other scary tales. These stories are depicted on-screen alongside the overarching plot. Alongside the mysterious witch-like figure, Shasta, who is central toThe Midnight Club’sbig Julia Jayne twist,the series includes many allusions to occult magic. In the sixth episode, “Witch,” Ilonka tells the tale of a modern-day witch who uses her powers to help her friends. Her story thematically compliments the Midnight Club’s own turn to the occult as they work to save Anya’s life.
The Order
Created by Dennis Heaton, The Order is a horror television series that follows Jack Morton, whose mother was murdered via mysterious circumstances. Seeking vengeance, Jack joins a mysterious society known as the Hermetic Order of the Blue Rose, where he’ll learn powerful magic. At the center of this order, however, he’ll discover a secret war brewing between practitioners of magic and werewolves.
The Orderis a supernatural teen drama which exceeds the expectations set by other shows of its kind. This fantasy thriller follows university student Jack Morton as he joins a secret society of magic wielders, known as the Hermetic Order of the Blue Rose. The storyline involves covert battle between warring factions of magicians and werewolves, and whileThe Orderdoesn’t do anything unexpected with the fantasy genre,its likable characters and effective visuals earned it an impressive 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
LikeMayfair Witches,The Orderis a series with dysfunctional family drama at its heart. In his quest to avenge his mother’s death, Jack uncovers dark family secrets surrounding his estranged father, the grand magus of the Order. Its second season upped the stakes even further, ending in a shocking cliffhanger involving the fate of one of its major characters. Tragically, fans of the show never got to see how this climatic twist played out:The Orderwas canceled before season 3 aired.
A Discovery of Witches
Beginning in 2018, A Discovery of Witches is a Fantasy television series that ran for three seasons until 2022. The series stars Teresa Palmer and Matthew Goode and revolves around a vampire and a witch that must work together to defeat all manner or magical creatures.
While the star-crossed love affair between a reluctant witch and a reclusive vampire may sound like stereotypical fantasy fare,A Discovery Of Witcheswrites it with a deft touch. The British series finds two excellent leads in Teresa Palmer and Matthew Goode, whose palpable chemistry sells the romance between Diana and Matthew. The series tellsa visually stunning tale that maneuvers smoothly between its present-day and historical settings.
LikeMayfair Witches,A Discovery of Witches’charactersare drawn from a literary source. The show adapts Deborah Harkness’All Soulstrilogy and takes its name from the first novel in the series. Thematically, Harkness' work has a lot in common with Anne Rice’s historical fantasy works. In fact, Harkness revealed in a 2011 interview withThe New Zealand Heraldthat she read Rice’s novels in her early 20s and"loved"them.It’s clear to see a Ricean influence running through this lush fantasy romance.
His Dark Materials
Based on author Philip Pullman’s beloved novel trilogy, His Dark Materials is a fantasy/drama television series that follows Lyra, a brave young woman from another world. Lyra’s quest to find her kidnapped friend leads her to uncover a sinister plot of a secret organization, encounter extraordinary beings, and protect dangerous secrets. Lyra will find that her life is inextricably linked with another as they discover they may be the ones to change the world.
His Dark Materialscould bethe most underrated fantasy TV show of the last ten years. The series isan excellent adaptation of the Philip Pullman fantasy series, and boasts a fabulous cast with several famous faces. Alongside actors like Lin Manuel Miranda, Andrew Scott, and James McAvoy, MCU fans will also recognizeDafne Keene as Lyra Belacqua: the actor’s breakout performance was as Laura in 2017’sLogan,a role she reprised recently inDeadpool & Wolverine.
AlthoughHis Dark Materialsis often marketed towards a young adult audience, that shouldn’t dissuade viewers. Neither the novel nor the television adaptation shy away from dark themes in their thrilling fantasy tale. Anne Rice is famed for her meticulous worldbuilding, and the alternate universe that Lyra and co-inhabit is equally rich.The witch Serafina Pekkala, brought to life by Ruta Gedmintas, is a beautiful, powerful sorceress. Alongside the central cast of Rice’sMayfair Witches,she isone of fantasy literature’s less remembered but most compelling female characters.
Mayfair Witches
Mayfair Witches follows a young neurosurgeon who discovers her unexpected lineage as the heir to a powerful family of witches. As she navigates her emerging magical abilities, she confronts a dark force that has plagued her family through the generations. Created by Esta Spalding and Michelle Ashford.
