So what's the deal with Mayfair Witches?

[Shermann]

I haven't read any Anne Rice novels but love the "Interview with the Vampire" series on AMC. The reviews on "Mayfair Witches", however, are mixed. So, what's the deal with that series? I have Season 1 recorded but don't want to invest my time in a stinker.

[zuul]

1. I've read most of Anne Rice's novels.

I liked the Mayfair Witch books, but over time they became sort of silly, especially when she introduced the Taltos.

The tv series Mayfair Witches follows the basic premise of the books, but the show writers have definitely taken some liberties.

And they’ve failed to make good use of the city of New Orleans. I live in New Orleans and there are so many fantastic shooting locations and this is a very film friendly city. Most of the New Orleans scenes in the show could have been filmed anywhere. What a missed opportunity.

After the first season, I’m not terribly impressed with the Mayfair Witches. I’m not sure if I will bother with the next season.

[LuvLoogie]

2. I highly recommend reading the novels

I love the vampire books, but the witch series really hit more deeply for me.

That said, I'm disappointed by what I've heard about the changes with the Mayfair Witches, e.g. eliminating important characters and creating new ones. I just wish that people would stay truer to Anne Rice's original work. Especially if your doing a series and not a feature length film.

[CrispyQ]

3. I only read the first Mayfair book & it was can't put it down good.

I loved Interview with a Vampire, too, both the book & the movie.

[Runningdawg]

4. If you've never read the books, the show is better than average

If you've read the books but others are watching with you haven't, you're going to have a hard time holding your tongue. I know it's picky, but this family has lived in New Orleans for centuries and not a one of them has a southern accent. The one saving grace is the actor playing Lasher, at first, I thought he was horrible, but he's growing on me. It is what it is...I don't expect anything great to come out of adaptations based on AR's work.
Hell, I've been waiting my entire life for Hollywood to film the original ending to I Am Legend.

[zuul]

6. I live in New Orleans.

No native New Orleanian has a southern accent. The most common accent here is Yat, and it in no way resembles a southern accent. It’s more like Brooklyn or the Bronx.

[Runningdawg]

7. Poor choice of words. The criticisim stands, they do not sound like they should. (to me)

[yellowdogintexas]

5. I devoured the Mayfair Witches novels,

I found them fascinating and really well told. They are my favorites of her books

The Taltos were ultimately the thing that ties everything together, the source of the haunting. Their connection to the Mayfair family is integral to the entire series.

From what I have read, the series takes too much liberty with the story. I have not seen it because I do not subscribe to that streaming service. However taking liberties with stories is nothing new in films. The movie of Relic completely leaves out the driving character in the novel: Pendergrast for example.

As is often the case, if you haven't read the books you might like the TV show a lot because you do not have anything for comparison.