The episode begins with Soul (Paul Ready) staring intently at a painting. He asks Ceelia Bennett (Karen Connell) if she knew Caravaggio was a witch. When she suggests discussing Jessica (Isobel Jesper Jones), he questions if the manner in which she handled the pirate was disturbing. He says, unlike others, Jessica realizes they’re fighting for their lives before there is no more time to stop the chaos. After telling him that Kieran (Hector Hewer) detected Nathan (Jay Lycurgo)’s trail in a bar last night, she suggests he’s with Annalise (Nadia Parkes).

Gabriel (Emilien Vekemans) points out the Witch territories, Fairborn’s Dupont, Free State of Paris, and Blood’s Ozanne. He informs them of a nearby river that will lead them to Mercury in about a day. Annalise asks if the Bloods catch them will they be killed. He suggests they approach it with a positive attitude while heading toward the river.

Annalise asks if he and his boyfriend ever took romantic country walks. Gabriel says, “No.” Nathan asks if his boyfriend was a Fairborn Witch or Blood Witch. Gabriel tells him that he was a fain which worked well. He questions Nathan about being with a Fairborn. When Nathan doesn’t respond, Gabriel asks Annalise if she’s also a virgin. She says it’s none of his business. Gabriel suggests her response is “no.” Nathan has a puzzled look on his face.

Gabriel, Annalise, and Nathan encounter handmade pagan pieces hanging in a tree, a damaged adobe, and two burned bodies. Gabriel suggests it was raided by the Fairborn Witches. Annalise assures him that Fairborn Witches aren’t responsible. After asking why did the Blood Witches initially flee Europe, he sarcastically says that the Fairborn Witches asked nicely.

While walking along the path, Nathan detects a heartbeat. Gabriel asks what is wrong. When Nathan admits to having heard something, Annalise denies hearing anything. He warns them that they need to go before continuing forward at a brisk pace. They hurry along the path when three Blood Witches appear with weapons. Gabriel tells them that they’re just passing through. Odette (Philippine Velge) reminds him that they’re there uninvited before saying their family was killed by the Fairborn Witches yesterday. He assures her that they aren’t responsible.

Odette escorts them through the woods to an adobe where several Sylvie (Nissema Theillaud) and Henri Ozanne (Eric Godon) are waiting. She says they claim to be Blood Witches. Sylvie reminds them that they pass through Blood land without authorization. Gabriel tells her that they are fleeing the Fairborn Witches. She claims to have issued Mercury a warning about sending people through their land. After assuring her that Mercury isn’t aware of their being there, he says Nathan will need blood in five days on his 17^th birthday. When she asks their names, he says they don’t speak French. She informs him of their rules that force unannounced visitors to return the way they came. Annalise says that would mean not reaching Mercury as guns are drawn. As Nathan tells her that he’s the son of Marcus Edge, Bette (Sue Maund) emerges from the home.

Bette assesses his face before saying Nathan has Marcus’s face. After describing Marcus as a “great man,” Sylvie says they’re welcome in their home. She assures them that they’ll guide them along the river once they pay. Gabriel tries to retrieve something from his pocket, she says Odette and Max’s Giving Ceremony is tomorrow. Gabriel admits they don’t have time to waste. She warns him that it’s an order, not an option.

Odette tells Nathan that their fathers are warriors before questioning which one killed for Fairborn Witches. Gabriel questions why they’re being made to work. She says Nathan’s presence is an honor, not his or Annalise’s. Annalise warns him of what happened when the last Blood Witches found out about his father. He says Gabriel never tried to. She reminds him of how he tried to swap her for a book. Gabriel suggests she lay low so no one finds out that she’s a Fairborn.

Bernard (David Isiguzo) carrying a large log passes Nathan and Gabriel carrying a table. Gabriel admits he’d never tried to flee if he’d known Bernard was chasing them. Nathan assures him that he utilizes steroids. They discuss Faire l’amour, making love.

Nathan asks Annalise who she had sex with. She tells him that it was David (Jake Dunn). He tells her that David looks weird like a bee stung him.

When Odette discovers Nathan can’t dance, she offers to teach him. She and Max (Louis Walwyn) light their thumbs at the same time. Annalise asks if they got their powers before coming of age. Sylvie tells her that it’s because they share blood. Odette says there is only the need for one of them to drink blood at their Giving Ceremony. Henri asks Nathan if he has the ability to hear heartbeats. When he doesn’t respond, Sylvie says his father has the power and so will he. Nathan reminds her that his father stole powers from other witches. She informs him that a witch and her powers die at the same time. She says Marcus captures the powers so they can be returned to the witch someday.

Bette tosses a potion into the air. Sylvie tells them that Bette holds powers collected over the generations. She says Bette’s heart and powers will belong to her after she passes. Henri asks if he still believes it’s a barbaric act. Nathan reminds him that Marcus takes Fairborn’s powers. Sylvie suggests he only took what he believed was his. Annalise asks how when the powers were Fairborn. Sylvie says Marcus’ mother, a heart eater, was killed by Fairborn Witches. Henri tells them that it’s their fault they have the reputation of a devil. Lucy (Olivia Brown) gives Nathan a heart drawing.

Gabriel asks Nathan if he’s a heart eater. Nathan says he thinks so.

Nathan asks Gabriel what are his plans after they reach Mercury. He tells him that he’ll return to his life of debauchery in Paris.

Annalise tells Henri that she and Nathan will get the chickens from the henhouse. Gabriel suggests he accompany them. She assures him that they can handle it. He informs them that he’ll be sunbathing near the river. Before leaving, he warns Nathan and Annalise to not venture too far.

Kieran (Hector Hewer) sees Nathan, Gabriel, and Annalise walking along the path. Jessica reminds him that he hasn’t spoken to her all day. He admits what she did to the pirate was a bit too much for him.

Annalise and Nathan goof around while catching Henri’s chickens. Nathan admits to liking it there because he can fit in. She asks if he can hear heartbeats. He tells her that he’s always heard it. A flower and a wooden structure break into pieces while they’re making out. He assures her that it’s all right. She demands he not say it before suggesting they get back.

Gabriel, Nathan, and Annalise spot a group of Blood Witches walking a restrained prisoner (Christian Greenway). Odette describes the man as “Fairborn scum.”

Zale (Remi Pedevilla) tells her that two of the four Blood Witches got away. Odette asks what happened to the other hostage. He says the coward put a gun in his mouth. She introduces him to Nathan. After a brief assessment of Nathan’s face, he tells him that he’s honored.

Bette approaches the prisoner locked in a cage. As she chants, Sylvie tells Annalise to look regardless of what happens. Gabrielle holds her hand as the cage twists until blood spills out onto the platform. Flowers begin to bloom along the outside of the cage. Removing the prisoner’s heart, Bette says, “Let this give live on in the blood of our children. He is part of our future now” before biting into the heart.

Nathan collapses on the floor. Bette asks when did he get the marks on his body. Annalise tells her that it was four days ago. Bette orders arsenic, rum, and ash to be brought to her. Sylvie informs them that it’s a Witch’s Bottle, a parasite spell to steal his power. She says to be effective, it needs two deaths from the bloodlines of the witch that casts it and the witch it’s meant for. Lucy tells Bette that there aren’t any ingredients when Ceelia walks through the door. After claiming to be unarmed, she says her visit is to retrieve Annalise and Nathan. The Blood Witches refuse to let her approach Nathan. Annalise tells her that Soul is responsible for Nathan being sick. Ceelia warns them that Fairborn Witches have the house surrounded. When Sylvie accuses her of threatening her family inside her own home, Ceelia says she’s there to issue them a warning. The Blood Witches force her to leave.

Ceelia informs Bjorn (Fehinti Balogun) that they’ll need a healer. Bjorn tells the cadets that the barn is off-limits unless they come under fire.

Odette suggests they turn Annalise over to the Blood Witches. Zale reminds them that their powers stronger than the Fairborn Witches. Holding Lucy in his arms, he tells her to not be scared. She assures him that she isn’t before repeatedly stabbing him in the heart. Someone hits a man’s gun as he fires a shot at Lucy. The bullet goes through the window and outside. The Fairborn Witches open fire on them while Lucy cuts Nathan’s pinkie finger off. Shapeshifting back into herself, Jessica holds it between her fingers. The Fairborn Witches continue to rain down bullets on the Bloods. Gabriel and Annalise assist Nathan to a boat. Soul orders a cease-fire.

Annalise, Nathan, and Gabriel reach the boat when Ceelia approaches. She warns them that Nathan needs a healer. Gabriella tells her if she really cares, she’ll help them get him on the boat. Draping him over her shoulders before heading toward the boat. When she puts him down, a Blood Witch knocks her out with an oar.

As Soul asks about Annalise, Jessica holds out her hand with Nathan’s pinkie finger. She whispers, “We’re so close now.” He squeezes the finger in his hand while staring at Bette’s lifeless body. The episode ends.

 

The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself Synopsis

Soul shrugged off Ceelia’s concerns regarding Jessica’s behavior aboard the pirate boat.

Gabriel, Nathan, and Annalise are in the Ozanne territory when they’re taken hostage by Blood Witches. They’re taken at gunpoint to meet Sylvie and Henri. As Sylvie threatened to send them back in the direction they came when Nathan identified himself as Marcus’ son. After Bette validated his claim, Sylvie agreed to guide them along the river but they would need to attend Max and Odette’s Giving Ceremony the following day.

Sylvie provided Nathan with a different version of his father. Nathan’s grandmother, a heart eater, was murdered by Fairborn Witches. Her powers, along with the responsibility to keep the powers of dying witches were handed over to Marcus. The powers would someday be returned to their rightful owners.

Annalise confessed to Nathan that she slept with David. Nathan’s responded by questioning why David, he looks weird. They’re having sex when she utilizes her power (no explanation was provided).

The Blood Witches appeared to sacrifice a Fairborn Witch for Odette and Max’s coming-of-age celebration. Annalise watched in horror as the prisoner is crushed inside the cage. Bette removed the man’s heart and gave a speech before biting into it.

Soul’s spell, a Witch’s Bottle, began to impact Nathan. Lucy is sent to retrieve Bette’s ingredients only to return empty-handed. Zale comforted her when she repeatedly stabbed him in the chest. A Blood Witch fired a shot in her direction when someone grabbed his gun. Assuming the shot was for them, the Blood Witches open fire on the house. Jessica revealed herself after removing Nathan’s pinkie finger.

Ceelia, Gabriel, and Annalise assist a very sick Nathan to a boat. Someone clonked her on the head with an oar.

Jessica gave Soul Nathan’s finger as the episode ended.

 

The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself Review

The writing is consistently good, which is a rarity as of late. It’s impressive how well the actors adapt to different situations. Isobel Jesper Jones has done an outstanding job as Nathan’s nemesis, Jessica. She’s very easy to dislike.

The episode deserves a 7.5. Get more The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link.