The quote that Rowan says to her colleague "The slow blade penetrates the shield" is a reference to "Dune (1984)".
In one scene, Lasher showers a younger Dierdre with rose petals. The showrunner Esta Spalding said that rose petals are really one of the ways that Lasher showed love for Dierdre. It was a particular language between the two of them; A form of seduction. This is may be an allusion by Anne Rice to the Wiccan practice known as the Rite of Roses. The ceremony is a rite of passage, the first time when a girl menstruates, and is conducted by a coven where the young girl recites her maternal family line, has her face brushed by a water soaked rose petal by her mother, followed by a stroll and chanting in the moonlight. It's really about coming into womanhood, your power, your beauty, your authority, your eroticism, and connecting with the other women of your community.
The Witching Hour is the time late at night when the powers of a witch, magician, etc., are believed to be strongest.
Medical Terminology:
- Prone - Lying face down on the stomach; related concept is supine which is lying face up on back
- AVM- short for Arteriovenous Malformation occurs when a tangle of blood vessels in the brain bypasses normal brain tissue , which it nourishes, and diverts blood from the arteries directly to the veins. The reason why it is an issue is that these abnormal and weak blood vessels dilate or stretch over time and may burst from the high pressure of blood flow from the arteries.
- Ventricle - cavity or open structures which lie deep inside your brain. The fluid-filled ventricles helps keep the brain buoyant and cushioned.