Talamasca: The Secret Order: Season 1 Episode 1 – Recap and Review
The newest adaptation of Anne Rice’s work premieres, and while it may not be a hit out of the gate, the story holds promise.
Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
Additionally, some images and text may include affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission or receive products if you make a purchase.
Episode 1 “We Watch and We Are Always There” Details
- Director(s): John Lee Hancock
- Writer(s): John Lee Hancock
- Public Release Date (AMC): October 19, 2025
- Check out our page for this series, featuring more recaps, reviews, and articles.
Episode 1 “We Watch and We Are Always There” Storylines/ Recap
Secret Files & Secret Gifts: Soledad, Guy, Jasper
Things begin with meeting Soledad, a member of the Talamasca, who retrieves some kind of information from their London office and finds herself hunted by a man named Jasper. It isn’t confirmed yet who or what Jasper is; we are just left to assume he is supernatural. Because of this, Soledad hides the information she found and kills herself to avoid capture, torture, and perhaps being made into some kind of slave to Jasper.
Meanwhile, in New York, Guy has a big-time interview with a top law firm and uses his clairvoyant powers to get the job. But, despite no real sign when he is using his gift, it seems he has long been watched, groomed, or guided, and it seems now is the time when there is a subtle request for repayment.
An Introduction To A Pseudo-Secret Organization: Guy, Helen, Burton
Let us be clear, when Helen, a representative of the Talamasca, approaches Guy, she isn’t forthcoming that it was her organization that placed Guy with a specific foster parent after his dad left, and he assumed his mom died. Also, she doesn’t push heavily all that the Talamasca paid for or arranged to make Guy’s life easier. But, it also isn’t lost on Guy either, which causes some internal issues for him.
For one, while Guy can read most people’s thoughts and feelings, Helen is blocked off, and with her offering a job with a salary that would go beyond a top law firm, she has suspicious written all over her. Add in the reveal that the Talamasca observe and take note, sometimes interfere in the lives of the supernatural, Guy thinks she is a loon.
That is, until he meets Burton, a vampire, who not only proves the supernatural exists, but also affirms Guy’s suspicions of Helen and the Talamasca. However, with each answer comes more questions, and with Burton revealing that more may exist about Guy’s mom than he knew, this leads him to meet a familiar face.
They Have Money, But Will They Allow Answers?: Guy, Daniel, Helen
Specifically Daniel, mostly seen in the Interview With The Vampire series, who plants the seed that Anna, Guys’ mom, may not be dead. However, only the Talamasca may know if she is or isn’t, and for either path line, what happened since Daniel was a child.
So while the 752 and Helen aren’t necessarily topics and people Guy should trust in, with him intrigued and wanting answers, it seems he might be ready to make a deal with a possible devil.
New Cast and Characters
Soledad (Simona Brown)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: Soledad was one of Helen’s agents who, while on a job getting information, she was caught by Jasper, and after hiding the information she gathered, from the London Mother House, she killed herself to evade Jasper interrogating her.
Guy (Nicholas Denton)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: Guy is a clairvoyant young man, specifically able to hear both mortal and supernatural entities’ thoughts, who was an orphan, raised by foster parents, who has the credentials to be a lawyer, but Helen is hoping he’d rather work for the Talamasca than become a high-paid lawyer.
Jasper (William Fichtner)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: Jasper is a supernatural being who has minions he controls with some sort of clicking device.
Helen (Elizabeth McGovern)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: Helen is a member of the Talamasca who is hooked on investigating “The 752.” It isn’t clear who or what that is, but Helen seems slightly obsessed with it to the point of being willing to get in trouble by using the Talamasca’s resources to investigate and recruiting people, like Soledad and Guy, who are willing to risk their lives for answers.
Burton (Jason Schwartzman)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: Burton is a flamboyant vampire who is an associate of Helen, but, like most who have dealings with the Talamasca, he doesn’t necessarily trust her or the organization. Hence, he plants seeds in Guy’s head regarding them and tries to advise him to be careful with his gifts when dealing with those with similar or adjacent powers.
Review and Commentary
On The Fence
It Starts Off Boring But Picks Up [75/100]
To be frank, when the focus is on Soledad retrieving files, Helen looking for someone to replace her, and the initial introduction of Guy, it all falls flat. No one has that presence or charisma to command the show, and I’d even say, by the end of the episode, you may not see anyone as a hook. From what it appears, Talamaca: The Secret Order is far more story than character-driven.
Now, this isn’t a terrible thing, but I would be lying to you if I said that the story seems strong enough to compensate. Yes, Guy thinking his mom died when he was nine and her still being alive, with many a vampire forewarning him about the Talamasca, maybe even Helen specifically, could be interesting. Never mind Jasper and whatever the 752 is.
But something about the series premiere feels akin to watching something out of the MCU. It feels less like this, on its own, is meant to be good and noteworthy, and more that, in order to have the complete story of the Immortal Universe, you have to watch this show – and it’s feeling that sense of obligation which makes this all the more frustrating to watch.
Overall
Our Overall Rating [75/100]
With not being introduced to two of the series’ regulars yet, there might be a chance that Talamasca: The Secret Order may not end up completely reliant on its story in hopes of justifying its existence. But, I think it set itself up for an uphill battle, and it’s hard to say whether the hill is dry or wet, if the right shoes are on, and whether you’ll want to watch this season end in triumph or abandon it as it drowns at the bottom of the hill.
What To Check Out Next
Visit our main page TV Shows we’ve covered.
-
Talamasca: The Secret Order: Season 1 Episode 2 – Recap and Review
Just when there was a flicker of hope that the Talamasca: The Secret Order found something to hook viewers, it gets abruptly removed.
