Anne Rice Horror Series ‘Talamasca: The Secret Order’ is Anything but Immortal on Rotten Tomatoes

by

Viewers who enjoy the world created by Anne Rice in AMC’s Immortal Universe have been looking forward to the new series, Talamasca: The Secret Order. However, early reviews on Rotten Tomatoes have been somewhat mixed. This spinoff is the third installment in the franchise, which started with Interview with the Vampire in 2022 and continued with Mayfair Witches in 2023.

The new series, Talamasca: The Secret Order, premieres on AMC this Sunday, October 26, 2025. It isn’t a direct adaptation of any of Anne Rice’s novels, but instead draws inspiration from various elements across her work. The Talamasca organization appears in many of Rice’s books, creating a link to her other TV series. However, initial reviews for Talamasca: The Secret Order have been mixed, with a 67% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. TV Guide’s Gavin Baker-Whitelaw described it as “visually and narratively unmemorable.”

Talamasca blends in with the numerous crime shows that come and go on television, offering nothing particularly unique.

Lyvie Scott at Inverse felt the new show had potential, but wasn’t fully realized, stating that the interesting show it could be wasn’t worth the wait. Despite the criticism, there’s some positive feedback for Talamasca: The Secret Order. Leah Marilla Thomas of The Mary Sue called it a good addition to the Immortal Universe, and Hunter Ingram from AV Club also shared positive thoughts.

Okay, so AMC really took a chance with this adaptation – they didn’t just stick to Anne Rice’s books. They actually gave the vampires’ shadowy organization and the people running things a bigger spotlight, and honestly, it mostly works. It adds a really fun, sneaky, and paranoid vibe to the whole thing, making for a surprisingly compelling thriller.

What Is ‘Talamasca: The Secret Order’ About?

Featuring Nicholas Denton, Céline Buckens, Maisie Richardson-Sellers, William Fichtner, and Elizabeth McGovern, Talamasca: The Secret Order centers on a group created by author Anne Rice that monitors and records supernatural events. The Talamasca have appeared in both Mayfair Witches and Season 2 of Interview with the Vampire, but this series puts them in the spotlight as they search for a new recruit.

Talamsca: The Secret Order centers around Guy Anatole, a recent law school graduate with a promising career ahead of him. His life takes an unexpected turn when he’s recruited by a woman involved with the Talamasca, a hidden group that monitors the supernatural. Guy soon discovers he’s been chosen for a dangerous mission: to infiltrate the Talamasca’s headquarters in London and expose a potential traitor who could destroy the organization and put the world at risk.

IGN Movies described the series as a thrilling and captivating spy story, while RogerEbert.com’s Kaiya Shunyata believes it has potential for future seasons to showcase even more of the strong performances from actors like Fichtner and Denton. Carly Lane of Collider also praised the new horror series.

It makes the universe more vibrant and engaging, and it gives fans something fun to enjoy while they anticipate the next season of the vampire series.

The first episode of Talamasca: The Secret Order will premiere on AMC on October 26th, with new episodes airing every week until the season ends. You can also watch the series on AMC+.

Read More

2025-10-23 17:48