The episode begins with Ceelia (Karen Connell) asking Bjorn (Fenhenti Balogun) if he believes the boy is the son of a wolf. Bjorn doesn’t respond as they reach their destination.

A cop (Hasan Dixon) asks if they’re the property owners. When they don’t respond, the officer orders them to move away from the house. Ceelia discovers blood on a shrub when the officer puts them under arrest. Bjorn blows dust at the officers before telling them to “fu** off.” The officers return to their cruisers.

Ceelia appears to freeze the door until it cracks into pieces. An infant can be heard crying in the background. After removing a smoking pot from the fireplace, Bjorn opens the window. The lifeless body of a girl lies on the bed.

Ceelia discovers the infant and a young girl in another room. When she picks up the baby, Bjorn suggests not touching it. She asks why. Holding up a greeting card with the message, “kill it,” he admits believing it’s true.

The children are dropped off at their grandmother, Esmie’s house. Bjorn informs Esmie (Kerry Fox) that the baby boy is a ward of the council that gives them legal rights. She says according to which laws. He says, “The laws of the council of Fairborn Witches” before promising to remove the boy when he becomes a threat to the community. She reminds him that the war is over. Ceelia asks what she’ll name him. Esmie claims the mum had intended to call him Nathan.

Esmie tells the children that Fairborn Witches and Blood Witches have always existed. She says witches and fains. Young Jessica (Kitty Anderson) asks what are fains. Esmie tells her that fains don’t have magic, which is nearly everyone. She warns fains must never know their secret. Jessica asks if they’re Fairborn Witches. Esmie says, “Yes.” When young Nathan (Theo Mason) asks if he’s a Fairborn Witch, she tells him that he’s her grandson.

While cutting young Nathan’s forearm, Ceelia says it’s possible to tell Fairborn Witches from Blood Witches by their faster healing time. He admits to sometimes having negative feelings toward Jessica. She asks if his feelings are linked to her being a Fairborn Witch. He tells her that it’s because she stinks. Ceelia says it took 35 seconds for his wound to heal like her.

Young Jessica tells young Nathan that their people shun them because his father murdered witches of all ages. After saying he removes their power by eating their hearts, she describes him as the “most evil Blood Witch” to ever live. She claims he impregnated their mum who committed suicide after his birth.

Nathan has a flashback of Ceelia asking if he gets angry quickly before becoming older. Ceelia asks how he’s sleeping.

Nathan (Jay Lycurgo) sarcastically says nude before asking her the same question. She asks if he has violent dreams. He claims to dream of being booed when his microphone failed while singing in the school assembly. When she ignores his question regarding the dream’s meaning, he suggests it had nothing to do with sex. She asks if he ever has negative feelings toward other witches. He admits having them occasionally toward her. She recommends he take it more seriously before leaving.

The teacher (Daisy Maywood) informs the students of a new student, Annalise (Nadia Parkes).

Nathan tells Jessica (Isobel Jesper Jones) that he wasn’t aware she got an invitation. After claiming all the students in the sixth form is there, she warns his friend’s house will be trashed. He reminds her that a costume was required before describing her choice as “embarrassing.” Someone says her brother is “cringe.”

Nathan’s friend warns two teens making out to be aware of the fluids. When someone vomits on the floor, he suggests another party host the next time. He suggests going to Nathan’s place. Nathan admits to living in a caravan that fits around five people before claiming to have secrets. Jack (Alhaji Fofana) asks what type of secrets. Nathan claims the entire family is a witch. Niall and Jack laugh. He assures them it’s true. Niall tells him to do a spell.

After Jack and Niall walk away, Annalise warns Nathan that he shouldn’t tell anyone that he’s a witch. He assures her that he was only messing around. She identifies herself as a Fairborn Witch before saying she isn’t supposed to talk to him. He asks who said it. She says her father is the Fairborn Council Protection Unit chief executive. They continue to talk until she disappears. He looks everywhere for her but turns up nothing. When Nathan calls for her, Kieran (Hector hewer) claims to know her before punching him. He warns him that they don’t want him talking to her. Nathan gets in his face when Annalise’s brother, Niall (Misia Butler) asks if he’s quick to anger before pouring a drink over his head. Nathan walks outside in time to see Annalise get in the car. The driver stares at him before getting into the driver’s seat.

Annalise describes her brother as a “dickhead.” He assures her that it’s okay. She questions what would happen if a “dickhead” gene was in her family. He suggests her brother’s right when she offers him a crisp. She tells him that her family doesn’t choose her friends. He asks how she’s so sure he likes her. She describes herself as “great” before reminding him that all the witches in school hate him except for her.

Annalise invites Nathan to hang out on Friday. He informs her that it’s Jessica’s 17^th birthday giving ceremony. She questions what power Jessica will be given. Niall reminds him of what he said about staying away from Annalise. Nathan asks if they’ll ever address the thing between them because the tension is killing him. He adds that Kieran’s getting jealous. Niall curses him while walking away.

Esmie gives Jessica a photo of her mother for her 17^th birthday. Cutting her wrist, she tells her to drink the blood to become whole.

Jessica receives an acceptance letter from the Fairborn Council Cadet training program. He asks if she’ll be a hunter. She tells him that she’ll protect the community from the Blood Witches. Esmie admits to being unaware she applied. Jessica says she read Blood Witches suffer in agony if they don’t get blood at 17. Nathan sarcastically agrees to suffer in agony if he never has to see her again. Esmie demands they stop before assuring Jessica that no Blood Witches there. Jessica reminds her that Nathan isn’t a Fairborn Witch. Nathan flips her the bird.

Jessica morphs into her mum to tell Nathan that he killed her. After slapping her across the face, Esmie says your mum would be ashamed. Jessica asks if she’d be ashamed enough to kill herself and them. Esmie demands she apologize to Nathan but she refuses. Nathan is shaken up.

After calling Nathan a Blood Witch, Niall tells him that he’s a traitor like his mum. Nathan head-butts him and slams his bike down on top of him.

Ceelia orders Nathan to go with her. She scolds him for picking a fight with the son of Soul O’Brien (Paul Ready). He tells her that Niall picked a fight with him. She informs him that he’ll meet some people at the Fairborn Council Building.  He says Jessica began training. Ceelia assures him that she’ll be a great hunter. He sarcastically says “massive hunt” comes to mind when he sees her. She asks if Jessica genuinely hates him. He says, “Yeah.” She suggests Jessica blames him for their mum’s death.

Nathan meets Soul and Reutger Sillwood (Franc Ashman) with the Fairborn Witches. Soul accuses him of attacking his son, Niall. Nathan claims he started it. Soul asks if Niall threw the first punch. Nathan says, “No.” Soul tells him that he started it. Reutger asks if he researched his witching history. Nathan says he’s aware of Harry shagging Hermione. Soul asks if he knows what the Blood Witches did to the Fairborn Witches. Nathan sarcastically says Harry shagged Ron when two invisible people, Frank and Rita Applewood enter carrying two bags. Nathan asks why they’re invisible. Ceelia says, “The spell can only trace the history of the objects it’s cast on” before telling him the bodies were never discovered. A noise outside grabs their attention. Rita urges Frank to be careful as he goes for a closer look. An invisible witch slaughters Rita and Frank before eating their hearts. Nathan watches in horror.

Soul tells him that Frank was a Fairborn Council member. Frank and nine other council members took an oath to make Nathan’s father, Marcus Edge for the “Wolfhagen Peace Massacre.” Reutger says she’s the last of the 10 council members alive before asking if he knows what took place at Wolfhagen. He tells her that his father killed them. Soul claims he tore them into pieces and stole their powers. After reminding him of his upcoming 17^th birthday, Reutger warns that his powers could be much darker than an average Fairborn Witch. He asks if they believe he will start killing people when he turns 17. Soul reminds him of his anger issue. She assures him that once his power awakens, he will change like every witch.

After confirming Nathan attacked Niall, Annalise suggests he should’ve cut off the brakes on his bike. Nathan teasingly accuses her of being evil even though she looks nice. She asks if he believes she looks nice. She tells her to be quiet. She watches a match burn her finger. He asks how she does it. She claims it has to do with telling yourself that it doesn’t hurt. He asks what her power will be. She admits to being unsure before telling him that her father’s power is botanical and her mother’s water. He informs her that his mum created potions. When they kiss, he hears her heartbeat.

Nathan tells Ceelia that he can’t hear her heartbeat. He sits quietly when Annalise bangs on the window. He chases her through the woods. Niall hits him as Jessica turns into herself. Niall hits him again and everything goes black.

Nathan comes through with his hands tied behind his back. Niall warns him that he’s going to prove that he’s his father’s son. Jessica orders him to do it. Niall slices his cheek. Niall says he knew it. Nathan assures him that it means nothing. Jessica orders him to do it again. When Niall raises his knife, Nathan charges him. Nathan turns over with the knife in his abdomen. Frantic, Niall asks what are they to do. She tells him to go home. Nathan pleads with her to help him. She asks if he’s rather die than be a Blood Witch before promising to go for help.

Esmie finds Nathan lying injured on the floor. After giving him a potion, she pulls out the knife. When he awakens, Esmie is asleep beside him. He enters the school and beats Niall until Annalise calls his name. He flees out the window.

Nathan tells Esmie that he’s a Blood Witch like his father. She assures him that he’s a “good boy.” He reads from a paper while she creates a potion. After inhaling the vapors, she morphs into Mercury (Roisin Murphy). Mercury identifies him as the “bastard son of the devil himself.” She asks when he’ll turn 17. He says in 10 months. She suggests he needs his family’s blood. He asks if she’s a Blood Witch. She says, “It takes one to know one” before etching a map into the palm of his hand with a knife. He flinches in pain while staring at the map. She tells him that they are still unsure what to do if it comes true. Kissing him on the lips, she tells him to call her when the time comes.

The Fairborn Council announce their arrival as the episode comes to an end.

 

The Bastard Son & The Devil Review

The show was surprisingly good. The cinematography and editing were the best I’ve seen in a while. While I do feel there is some miscasting, the characters developed quite nicely with Theo Mason and Kitty Anderson setting the stage. The roles are short, but the young actors are allotted enough time to start bringing Nathan and Jessica to life.

Nathan and Jessica are strong characters. After losing her mum at an early age, Jessica is left with animosity toward Nathan. The animosity grows to the point of hatred, which only heightens when they move in with their grandmother, Esmie.

Nathan grows up knowing his father killed Fairborn Witches. He finds out more in detail when he meets with Soul and Reutger. They demonstrate what happened to council member, Frank and his wife, Rita. It’s still questionable if he grasps the true brutality of the murders.

Nathan quickly makes friends with a newcomer named Annalise. He hears a heartbeat for the first time when they kiss. He conceals the important tidbit from Ceelia.

On her 17^th birthday. Jessica receives an extraordinary power that allows her to morph into someone else. She abuses her power to lure Nathan into a deadly trap. He’s beaten unconscious by Niall who later slashes his face multiple times to force him to turn into a Blood Witch. Jessica later retrieves Esmie who casts a spell to heal him. Irate, Nathan beats Niall unconscious when Annalise calls his name. He runs home to confide in Esmie. She morphs into Mercury to ensure he has help when or if he becomes a Blood Witch like his father. The Fairborn Council will decide his fate.

The episode deserves a 7. Get more The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link.