A horror series hailed as ‘one of the best TV adaptations ever’ has rocketed up the Netflix charts just days after its release – and boasts ‘sexy and captivating’ scenes, according to viewers.
The spellbinding supernatural drama has become an instant Netflix hit, with critics hailing it as one of the finest literary adaptations in recent years.
Mayfair Witches, based on the novel trilogy Lives of the Mayfair Witches by Interview with the Vampire author Anne Rice, has soared up the streamer’s charts after landing over the weekend.
The gothic tale stars Alexandra Daddario as neurosurgeon Rowan Fielding, who learns she is heiress to a dynasty of powerful witches plagued by a sinister spirit.
The series follows Rowan’s journey as she leaves San Francisco for New Orleans in search of her newfound family and answers about her mysterious abilities.
Against the lush backdrop of the Louisiana city, she begins to uncover the truth about her lineage – and the dark forces that surround it.
![A horror series hailed as 'one of the best TV adaptations EVER' has rocketed up the Netflix charts days after its release - and boasts 'sexy and captivating' scenes [Alexandra Daddario]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/09/18/11/102244215-15110171-A_horror_series_hailed_as_one_of_the_best_TV_adaptations_EVER_ha-a-22_1758190642969.jpg)
A horror series hailed as ‘one of the best TV adaptations EVER’ has rocketed up the Netflix charts days after its release – and boasts ‘sexy and captivating’ scenes [Alexandra Daddario]
Mayfair Witches, based on the novel trilogy Lives of the Mayfair Witches by Interview with the Vampire author Anne Rice, has soared up the streamer’s charts after landing over the weekend
When the first season aired in 2023, reviews were mixed, yet several publications were quick to praise its performances and ambition.
ComicBook.com enthused: ‘Bolstered by nuanced and complex performances all against a gorgeous backdrop of New Orleans, this series is easily the best Anne Rice adaptation yet – and may be one of the best television adaptations ever.’
The Wrap described it as ‘a welcome addition to our screens, a dramatic and sometimes sexy saga that fully believes in the story it wants to tell.’
Meanwhile, THN celebrated its leading lady, noting: ‘Alexandra Daddario finally gets a rich role to sink her teeth into and helps make Mayfair Witches strong enough to stand aside Anne Rice’s other popular works of fiction.’
Viewers have also been enchanted. On IMDb, one fan admitted: ‘Having not read the books, I watched it without expectation or prior knowledge, and it blew my mind!
‘I’m not an avid fan of supernatural storylines, but I was swept away by the twists and turns and power play of Mayfair Witches. What an adventure!’
Another wrote: ‘If you enjoy the witchy, supernatural genre and keep in mind that this probably won’t compare to the books, then you should give this show a shot!
‘It has definitely kept me on the edge of my seat and wanting more!’ A third confessed: ‘I thought this was amazing – it really captivated me from the get-go.’
The gothic tale stars Alexandra Daddario (R) as neurosurgeon Rowan Fielding and Harry Hamlin (L) as Cortland Mayfair
The series follows Rowan’s journey as she leaves San Francisco for New Orleans in search of her newfound family and answers about her mysterious abilities
Now newly available on Netflix, Mayfair Witches has quickly climbed to the fourth most-watched TV show in the UK.
Despite holding only a 59 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, its popularity has surged, with viewers eager to immerse themselves in its darkly seductive world.
Season two, released earlier this year, is not yet on Netflix but is available to stream via BBC iPlayer. The drama has already been renewed for a third season.
Speaking ahead of the show’s premiere, Alexandra revealed she felt the weight of expectation from fans of Rice’s novels.
She told The A.V. Club: ‘I’ve been part of book adaptations and I’m well aware, as an avid reader myself, fans have a deep love of the story and characters and want it to be true to the books.
‘The idea is to go in with the best intentions and try to be true to the story; it’s why they’re adapted in the first place. It’s how we approached it.’
The series follows the success of another Rice adaptation, Interview with the Vampire, which debuted a year earlier and starred Jacob Anderson as Louis Pointed du Lac alongside Sam Reid as Lestat de Lioncourt.
In 2020, broadcaster AMC secured the rights to adapt 18 of Rice’s novels, signalling the beginning of a new era of lavish, gothic television inspired by her iconic works.
