The show begins with Esmie (Kerry Fox) receiving an unexpected visit from Soul O’Brien (Paul Ready). When she asks the purpose of his visit, he stares at her intently.

Kieran (Hector Hewer) lies awake while Jessica (Isobel Jesper Jones) sleeps beside him. He has a flashback of the carnage left from the recent Blood Witch attack. Jessica smiles while looking at Hazel (Harriet Cains) lying dead on the ground. Her smile fades away when she claims to have arrived too late. Back to the present, he looks over to see Jessica has shapeshifted into the Blood Witch (Dylan Devonald Smith) responsible for Hazel’s death. After being temporarily restrained, he lifts her arm off his chest when she shapeshifts back into herself. A call from Soul informs him of Rowan’s (Tim Plester) death.

Nathan Byrne (Jay Lycurgo) suggests working on strengthening his left hand. Ceelia (Karen Connell) informs him that his grandmother, Esmie’s committed suicide with a Scarlet Kiss potion. Tears run down his cheek as she assures him that he heals quickly.

While out for a run, Nathan has a flashback of Esmie assuring him that he’s a good boy. Heartbroken, he collapses on the ground. He and Ceelia are training when Soul’s entourage arrives. Soul says he blames his father for Rowan and Reutger’s (Franc Ashman) deaths. Nathan reminds him of how he’s being trained to kill his father. When Soul demands Nathan go with him, Ceelia complains that he isn’t ready. Soul orders the cadets to apprehend Nathan when a struggle breaks out. Nathan’s brought to his knees when a cadet squeals loudly. Ceelia asks who is in charge as Nathan is dragged to the vehicle. Soul says it’s still being determined.

Nathan asks if she attended their grandmother’s funeral. When she doesn’t respond, he suggests she was too busy with her new friend. He tells them that he loves their uniform which is like “Hitler youth does paintball.” Jessica demands he shut up when a large bird crashes into the vehicle in front of them. She orders the driver to keep going before assuring them that it’s Marcus. The vehicle behind them explodes, passes them, and crashes. An eagle emerges from the vehicle as they pass. They drive into a dense, dark smoke generated by unknown forces. Jessica and Soul are the last of the Fairborn Witches to survive the journey.

They force a handcuffed Nathan up the side of a hill where they find another road. Nathan says he assumed his father when Soul asks if he was expecting a hug. They take a vehicle from a young photographer. Nathan quietly takes one of Jessica’s hairpins.

Soul escorts Nathan into a building. When Nathan refuses to go any further, Soul drugs him. He wakes tied to a bed. After claiming to know he hears heartbeats, Soul calls him a “heart eater, a taker of power.” Nathan denies being his father. Soul appears to mix blood from two separate vials. Nathan asks who it belongs to. Soul has a short flashback of Rowan and Esmie. He says, “His own blood will kill the wolf” while slashing Nathan’s arm. He collects Nathan’s blood before cutting his own finger. He adds their blood to the bottle before utilizing it to tattoo a symbol into Nathan’s chest and another on his pinkie finger. As he walks away, Nathan asks where he’s going. Soul tells him that he’ll return to complete the spell. Nathan utilizes Jessica’s hairpin to unlock the handcuff.

A wall plaque to honor the victims of the “Search for Peace” crusade captures Nathan’s attention. Steve (Deka Walmsley) says to stay put as Nathan flees. While being held at gunpoint, Steve’s body explodes into tiny pieces. Covered in blood, Nathan looks up to see Annalise (Nadia Parkes).

In a flashback, Annalise approaches Nathan as he beats her brother, Niall (Misla Butler). Nathan turns to look at her before fleeing out the window.

Back to the present, Annalise stares at a photo of her and Nathan. She has a flashback of asking Soul if he’s heard anything about Nathan. Penelope (Liz White) suggests she forget him. Soul says Nathan might not want to be found. Later, David (Jake Dunn) asks if she’s going to the Revision Club. She visits Esmie to ask about Nathan. Esmie suggests she move on. While enjoying a beer, David says he believes his prediction that she wouldn’t kiss him was wrong. She describes him as being “cocky.” He asks if she likes it. She says not normally. He asks if she’s still longing for you-know-who. They make out in the back of a vehicle.

The flashback continues – Soul brings Annalise to her senses when he asks if she’s okay. She admits to being a bit nervous. He assures her that everything will be okay. She asks if he has any idea what her power will be. After teasingly suggesting it’ll be pond weed, he assures her that she’ll utilize it for great things. She hooks up with David after her 17^th birthday celebration. She wakes up in the hospital to discover they were involved in a motor vehicle accident. When she returns home, Soul informs her of Reutger’s death. He assures her that they’re safe. Penelope asks if she’s had any twinges of her power. Annalise says no. Penelope tells her that it’ll come. Annalise is alone when she hears David pleading with her to make it stop. She sees Soul sitting at his desk with a gun.

Annalise tries to make seeds grow when her pet rat bites her hand. She yelps and blood splatters on her face. What is left of her pet rat lies on the carpet. Shocked, she says, “Holy fu**ing sh**” before rushing down for cleaning supplies. Giving up on getting the carpet clean, she throws a mat over the mess. After failing to utilize her power to blast her father’s watch, she falls asleep. She dreams of David begging to make it stop before crashing his vehicle. Her father’s watch splatters into many pieces when it hits the floor.

While Annalise visits David in the hospital, Soul finds the bloody stain on her carpet. She asks if he has any recollection of the crash. As he tries to answer, she reminds him that he touched her leg. He admits to experiencing pain inside his body. Soul notices the rat’s cage is empty. She asks if it felt like his body was coming apart. Soul finds his watch in many pieces. She asks when the pain stopped. He says when they crashed. She suggests it was when she blacked out.

Annalise looks at a book lying on Soul’s desk. A magic spell, Decimation “The Undoing” captures her attention. While staring at a sketch of herself, she reminds Penelope suggesting she forget Nathan. Penelope asks what she’s doing in Soul’s office. She later returns to his office to find it locked.

Steve reluctantly permits Annalise to utilize the library during a lockdown. She’s walking down the hall when an emergency alarm is activated. Steve orders Nathan to stay put when she approaches. When Steve draws his gun, she utilizes her power to blow his body to bits. While leaving, they encounter Jessica. Nathan orders her to run. Jessica loses sight of them.

Nathan tries to comfort Annalise but she refuses him to touch her. She admits to not wanting to hurt him. Reaching for her hands, he assures her that she won’t hurt him. She describes herself as a “monster.” He tells her that it wasn’t intentional. She claims Soul told her that he ran away. He says they were training him to fight his father. She asks if they wanted him to fight one of the most powerful witches. He assures her that his training was going well when she notices the symbol on his pinkie finger. She recalls the book of magic in her father’s office before reminding him of his Giving Day when he’ll need blood. He informs her of the map Mercury (Roisin Murphy) etched into the palm of his hand. They scream “help” at the map. Geoff (David Webber) orders them to get out if they’re going to scream like idiots when an arrow appears in Nathan’s palm.

Annalise and Nathan follow the arrow to a multi-story building. Upon arrival, they discover there is no room 186. When he knocks, the wall crumbles exposing a door. Gabriel (Emilien Vekemans) informs them that he works for Mercury. Annalise says Nathan needs some of the family blood. Gabriel says Mercury has samples from all the witch families. She asks who is Mercury. He tells her that Mercury can get just about anything like rare gemstones, potions, and blood.  She asks if Mercury has the power to change a witch’s power. He suggests they clean up while he makes travel arrangements for Paris, France. She asks when can they expect to depart. He warns her that Mercury isn’t one for surprises so only Nathan will be taking the trip. She demands he give Mercury a heads up because she’s going. He rushes them into the bathroom while he gets dressed.

Nathan and Annalise are in the bathroom when Gabriel says to toss out their clothes if they want them cleaned. They’re making out when Gabriel demands they not have sex in his bathroom.

Gabriel identifies himself as an alchemist. Annalise asks if he makes potions. He assures her that his powers are much more complex when someone knocks on the door. Nathan warns him that the Fairborn Council is after them. Two Fairborn Witches knock down the door. Gabriel fires his gun. Nathan takes both witches down. Handing Nathan an orb, Gabriel tells him to bite down when he jumps. Annalise asks where is her orb. He claims to only have two. Nathan says he won’t go before giving his orb to her. Soul orders them to send his daughter out unharmed. Gabriel asks if she’s his daughter before demanding she hand the orb over. She pops it into her mouth. The Fairborn Witches inch their way into the apartment. After popping an orb into his mouth, Gabriel grabs Nathan before they jump off the balcony.

Soul asks Annalise to go with him. After a bit of hesitation, she jumps off the balcony as the episode comes to an end.

 

The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself Review

Soul killed Esmie while claiming she utilized a potion to take her own life.

Kieran witnessed a sleeping Jessica shapeshift into the Blood Witch that took Hazel’s life. He had a flashback of her smiling while staring at Hazel’s lifeless body. He appeared to question her claim of arriving too late.

Nathan is heartbroken over Esmie’s death. Soul forced Nathan to return to London against Ceelia’s advice. On the return trip, Nathan stole Jessica’s hairpin. Nathan’s father, Marcus Edge murders all the cadets excluding Jessica. They utilized a vehicle belonging to a photographer to return to the Fairborn Community.

Soul casts a spell, Decimation “The Undoing” by mixing his blood with Esmie, Rowan, and Nathan’s. The spell isn’t complete giving Nathan an opportunity to escape. He didn’t get too far when Fairborn Witch, Steve nabbed him. Annalise who just happened to be in the building approached as Steve pulled his gun. She utilized her unfamiliar power to break his body into many pieces.

Utilizing Mercury’s map, Nathan and Annalise made their way to Gabriel’s apartment. The Fairborn Witches track arrived as they arguably prepared to leave for Paris. Nathan subdued two witches before Soul arrived. After some prompting, Gabriel made his extraordinary exit, leaping off the balcony with Nathan. Soul tried to encourage Annalise to go home with him when she followed Gabriel’s lead.

The episode was partially wasted on Annalise’s unnecessary flashback. Precious airtime is invested in rehashing much of what happened in episode 2. The flashback added little to nothing to the story.

The episode deserves a 6. Get more The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link.

 

The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself Cast

• Nay Lycurgo – Nathan
• Paul Ready – Soul
• Karen Connell – Ceelia
• Nadia Parkes – Annalise
• Isobel Jesper Jones – Jessica
• Kerry Fox – Esmie
• Liz White – Penelope
• Hector Hewer – Kieran
• Emilien Vekemans – Gabriel
• Franc Ashman – Niall
• Jake Dunn – David
• Tim Plester – Rowan

Where was The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself Filmed? The filming took place in Scotland and London, more specifically Inveraray and Kent.

Where Can You Find The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself? It’s currently airing on Netflix.

When Was The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself Released? Netflix released the pilot episode on October 28, 2022.