"A Discovery of Witches" is a 2018 to 2022 UK fantasy series. It has three seasons total. It is currently viewable in the US on NetFlix, AMC and Shudder.
To catch you up to speed, the TV show is based on the "All Souls" trilogy of books by Deborah Harkness. Each season follows one book.
As the series opens, a woman heads to Oxford and finds a mysterious manuscript (Ashmole 782) in the library. This book is supposed to hold the secrets of the supernatural world. It is later referred to as the "Book of Life". Diana Bishop is a historian and witch who is just discovering her powers. She meets biochemist Matthew Clairmont (a 1500 year old vampire).
Matthew and his colleagues are researching why the supernatural creatures (witches, vampires and daemons) are on the decline. Witches are losing their powers. Vampires can no longer sire offspring. And deamons are suffering from mental illness.
The three groups have an uneasy truce thanks to each's participation is something called The Covenant. Their meeting place is an old castle hidden in a bay in Venice. Mixing amongst the species is strictly forbidden.
But of course Diana and Matthew fall in love. There is lots of angst initially (partially because Matthew is an old vampire and used to doing what he wants when he wants). There's also something that affects vampires called blood rage. This cant be controlled and runs the risk of outing them to the humans.
What I like about the series?
- The show has great eye candy. The leads are particularly attractive-- Teresa Palmer as Diana and Matthew Goode as Matthew. They have great chemistry together. Everyone in the supporting cast is also great.
- The production values are very high. The costuming and set pieces are exquisite. The show is worth watching just for this.
- I like that the leads are older and aren't teenage sparkly vampires. Diana is an independent woman with her own convictions. You have to be to go toe to toe with a centuries old vampire.
- I won't go into the specifics of the finale here in case you havent seen it-- but I do think it wraps up the series well.
What I don't like about the series?
- I know they're following the books (which I havent read) but I got lost in all the infighting and time traveling.
- I would have liked to have seen more of Satu Malin Buska is a magnetic presence.
- While this is a show about vampires I never really felt like anyone was really in danger.
- I loved season 1 but the pacing in seasons 2-3 dragged to me.
Grade: 4 1/2 Monsters (out of 5) "A Discovery of Witches" featured lots of attractive and sexy witches, vampires and daemons. I loved season 1. The pacing of later seasons was a bit off though IMHO. The show was canceled after three seasons since there were only 3 books at that time. Since then, Deborah Harkness later created two more books. Not sure how much interest there would be in resurrecting the show to cover those. I believe the series ended where it should have. I feel the story came full circle and tied up all the major plot lines.
Photo Credits: https://alphanewscalls.com/2022/01/18/discovery-of-witches-season-3/
TV: Heavy On Horror, Sci Fi, Fantasy & Adventure
January 2, 2025
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