AMC’s ‘Talamasca: The Secret Order’ Is Top Tier Supernatural Storytelling

Welcome to the table,

Over the last year or so, I have taken a lot of joy in watching Anne Rice‘s Interview With A Vampire television adaptation. Based on a collection of novels referred to as The Vampire Chronicles, the program follows the exploits of a French aristocrat-turned-vampire named Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid).

While some of the earlier novels were a part of my youth, and the film starring Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise was one I was familiar with, the AMC production has been something we have watched through the first two available seasons of multiple times. They stand out as some of the best supernatural drama storytelling committed to the small screen.

Interview With A Vampire is not the only offering in Rice’s slowly expanding, but connected universe of shows. Mayfair Witches premiered in 2023 and has seen two seasons, with a third currently in production. Mayfair Witches follows a doctor who learns she is part of a legacy of powerful witches. There are some demonic-like personalities and other such supernatural happenings paired with soap-opera level romances and strange moments of tension that can feel, at times, out of place.

Because I did not feel Mayfair Witches was as successful as Interview With A Vampire, I didn’t have high hopes for the third addition to Rice’s connected Immortal Universe — Talamasca: The Secret Order.  And that’s even though one of my favorite characters from IWaV, Danial (Eric Bogosian), was shown in the early previews to be in at least in a scene or two of the show.

This third series is centered around a clandestine group of humans who chronicle, track, and observe the various supernatural forces that are active in the world. As I said, I did not have super high hopes, but when the first three episodes premiered on AMC+, I settled in to watch them for no other reason than finding Bogosian very entertaining, especially in this role. What I was not expecting was one of the best supernatural horror spy thrillers I have ever seen.

Created by John Lee Hancock, Talamasca stars Nicholas Denton as the main protagonist, Guy Anatole, alongside Maisie Richardson-Sellers, who plays Olive, a Talamasca agent who serves as Guy’s handler as he gets acclimated to the machinations of this secret organization. Additionally, the wildly talented Elizabeth McGovern plays Helen, the leader of Talamasca’s New York Motherhouse.

McGovern is an absolute powerhouse in the role. While not serving as the “main character,” her presence is felt in almost every scene, giving the show a feel that the protagonist Guy, and by extension, we, the viewers, are never completely aware of how much her influence is affecting every moment.

The story up to this point has seen Guy, who has a strange clairvoyant ability that they have not fully explained yet, joining Talamasca and being sent to London. There, he gets caught up in the death of a local witch who may or may not have been in possession of a very ancient and powerful book that holds a multitude of secrets. It can be used to expose, track, and possibly control all sorts of supernatural individuals hidden within the various rungs of mortal society.

Where this show shines is the very human feel of it all. I adore comics like Hellblazer, where — for the most part — the main character is just a guy who happens to have some minor magic abilities, and is more resourceful than anything, as he is dealing with entities who are far more powerful than he is, both in influence and in supernatural ability.

The villain in this show is a powerful and fantastic one as well. Portrayed by William Fichtner, Jasper is a vampire who has taken over the London Motherhouse of Talamasca and is puppeting its entire staff by manipulating its leaders, Greg Owen (Jonathan Aris). Greg has an aggressive form of cancer, and Jasper is providing him with his vampiric blood to keep the cancer at bay. In exchange, Jasper has complete control over the finances and agents of the London Talamasca branch.

It truly feels like each plot development is some kind of strange spiraling dance that drags both Guy — and us — on this brilliant, mysterious exploration of the strange and seedy supernatural-soaked society that secretly stalks the shadowy streets of stormy old London.

I believe Talamasca has been so incredibly effective in its first three episodes (all released on the same night) because, unlike the other offerings in the Anne Rice universe, this is a completely new story. I have no idea where it is going or what is coming next. Much like Guy, we as an audience are unsure who we can trust or what exactly is going on in the larger world.

With the fourth episode coming out soon, I, for one, am excited and delighted to see what is going to happen. It’s been some time since there was a TV series I looked forward to watching week-after-week rather than binging it all at once when it had completed its run.

There are so many secret lore bits and uncovered secrets that I think we will start getting more insight into, so expect my next bit of coverage on the series to have a bit more about the grander story unfolding. For now, though, if you like mystery, monsters, and secret societies, you should head over to AMC+ and check out Talamasca.

Until next time, a human put up against strange forces he does not quite understand, really brings me joy. This show is special. I can feel it in my bones. I can’t wait to see what happens next, but I can for sure tell you that this is going to be something way bigger than even I think I realize.