Talamasca: The Secret Order: Season 1 Episode 3 – Recap and Review
The 752’s importance finally gets an explanation, alongside being introduced to Doris and Olive at last.
Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
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Episode 3 “The Task At Hand” Details
- Director(s): Eva Sorhaug
- Writer(s): Donald Joh, Vinnie Wilhelm
- Public Release Date (AMC+): November 2, 2025
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Episode 3 “The Task At Hand” Storylines/ Recap
Since You Have So Many Questions: Helen, Olive, Guy, Doris, Detective Ridge
With seeing Archie and Keves’ dead bodies, naturally Guy has questions for Helen, and she is a bit more forthcoming than she was before. Also, we learn that the woman who said Guy was in trouble, who appeared to be a vampire, is Olive, Guy’s alleged handler, who just now decided to introduce herself. No matter, for what Guy cares about most is what is going on?
To sum it up, Helen reveals this is all about the 752, which is supposed to be the atlas, the codex, of all Talamasca knowledge. Many, like Olive, aren’t sure this thing exists, but Helen does, and with Guy seeing a book in Keves’ possession when they were at the bar, he thinks maybe she had it, hence her being hunted.
It’s hard to say, but with feeling connected to Keves, and learning she was a witch of a local coven, the St. John’s Wood, Regent’s Canal Coven, to be specific, Guy visits them to join in her memorial and runs into Doris, one of Keves’ friends. She picks up on Guy trying to read their minds and doesn’t take kindly to it, but the most important thing about their communication is that she clues Guy in on Soledad and sows further distrust regarding the Talamasca. She also reveals Keves was a spy for her coven, but that seemingly is never mind. But, as Guy is learning more about Keves, Detective Ridge slowly but surely finds herself more and more interested in Guy, especially as Olive seemingly tries to help cover his tracks.
There Is Always A Price To Pay: Gregory, Jasper, Checkers, Guy, Helen
Jasper’s hold over London seems to be because Gregory has cancer, is using his blood to heal, and, as seen by Checkers, Jasper is turning certain agents of the Talamasca into vampires. Of course, this is the price Gregory is willing to pay, even if it means Helen and others taking note of him, maybe even Talamasca HQ in Amsterdam.
But for Guy, Jasper is the least of his worries as he decides to confront Helen about Soledad, his mom, and while she is forthcoming about her own origins and that Guy’s mom was Talamasca, until she was punished, it isn’t clear what happened. This makes Guy want to end things, but Helen paints the picture; he is in too deep now, and he can either stay the course, full speed ahead, or meet a cruel fate.
Can They Be Trusted, Can You Be Trusted?: Jasper, Guy, Doris
Thus leading to Guy trying to make a deal with Jasper, after coaxing him to have a conversation, where the two will work together, with Guy wanting to make Helen and perhaps Talamasca at large pay. Jasper, entertained by the exchange, isn’t against the idea, especially since Guy wants to help him get the 752 from the person who killed Archie.
Meanwhile, as the conversation goes on, Doris watches from the outside, with it being unclear what she may do as she finds herself more and more interested in Guy and his role in what’s happening in the world of the Immortals.
Collected Quote(s)
- If it’s unusual, maybe the problem is with what’s usual. — Doris
New Cast and Characters
Olive (Maisie Richardson-Sellers)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: Olive is Guy’s handler, an agent who loves a good disguise, who isn’t necessarily a believer of the 752 but also recognizes there is so much she doesn’t know, even as a member of the Talamasca.
Doris (Celine Buckens)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: Doris is a witch who is part of Keves’ coven and was one of Keves’ closest friends.
Detective Ridge (Bryony Hannah)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: Detective Ridge is an officer who finds herself repeatedly coming across crime scenes dealing with Immortals or the Talamasca, but she isn’t aware how she is sticking her nose into dangerous things.
Checkers (Will Brown)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: Checkers is a member of the London office of the Talamasca who hasn’t been happy with Jasper’s new direction and, like many, he seems aware that Gregory isn’t pulling the strings, and isn’t afraid to be boisterous about it.
Review and Commentary
Highlights
The 752 Got Interesting [82/100]
A codex that contains all the knowledge of the Talamasca is an interesting goal for all those involved to find, mainly due to it not just holding history, but spells, amongst other things. It basically is a potential endgame book, and while the players currently looking for it are all dull as dirt, there is just enough intrigue presented for it to maybe set up something interesting down the line.
The Potential of Doris and Olive [81/100]
Despite Doris and Olive not bringing the energy Keves did, there is some level of hope that they can maybe do something to help poor Guy not be as generic as his name. Olive, with her being portrayed as a potentially good agent, could very well sleuth into places that can further the interest in the 752.
As for Doris? Her coven could be presented as a means to bolster the story, give us Immortals far more interesting than the majority still alive, and seemingly will play featured or series regular roles. But, as noted in the heading, these two only have potential right now, and it is hard to say whether it will be realized.
On The Fence
Jasper and Guy [74/100]
I think the main issue with Guy is that he is someone who may have heightened hearing, but compared to all the types of Immortals in the show, it makes him a bit difficult to accept as a lead, especially since he isn’t playing a lead who is a medium to far more interesting characters too often.
Case in point, Jasper, who is a vampire, the puppet master of the London Mother House, isn’t that interesting of a vampire. Compared to those we’ve met in Interview With A Vampire, he couldn’t hang. Yes, he is using his basement to make a bunch of rabid vampires for who knows what reason, and is in search of the 752 for ends which are currently unknown, but paired with Guy? Neither creates a spark. They are just two boring men, one fueled by revenge and the other, well, it is hard to say at this point.
The only thing that is clear is that neither are the selling point of the show currently.
Overall
Our Overall Rating [79/100]
In many ways, it feels like we’re settling for, I don’t want to say mediocrity, for that feels too harsh. However, I do think that Talamasca: The Secret Order ultimately may push the idea that anything beyond Louie and Lestat’s saga should be treated as optional, not must see TV, with Talamasca: The Secret Order really pushing the idea that outside of the more iconic figures of Anne Rice’s novels, the rest are just AMC using their license to her work for all they paid for it.
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