Prime Summary:
Diana Bishop (Teresa Palmer) finds an ancient manuscript in an Oxford library, and begins her discovery of the magical powers she has hidden within.
FYA Summary:
Diana Bishop thinks the world is a place of science, where rules are followed and everything makes sense. That is until she begins her discovery of witches … and vampires, and demons. You see, she’s a witch, one of the three magical beings who live on Earth alongside boring old humans. She quickly finds herself immersed in a struggle between the three that’s been going on forever, made even more tricky by the fact that her new love interest is a vampire—and the two are expressly forbidden from being together. (Although, you know, love always finds a way.)
The world is so much more complicated than she could have ever imagined.
Familiar Faces:
Teresa Palmer as Diana Bishop and Matthew Goode as Matthew Clairmont
I hate to admit this, but before watching A Discovery of Witches, I thought of Palmer as just one of many lovely blonde white women currently acting; none of the previous roles I’d seen her in were all that memorable. But she brings a quiet ferocity to the role of Diana that made me really like her. Diana seems like a bit of a milquetoast at first, but she grew on me quickly. Goode, on the other hand, I knew from the classic Chasing Liberty, among other things. He’s certainly more grown up in the role of Matthew, and he, too, takes a while to like. But that’s more because his character is a bit of a jerk at the start. (Growly, overbearing vampires do tend to grow on you.)
Alex Kingston as Sarah Bishop
I adore Kingston in many of her roles, and she’s so lovely as Sarah, a fierce mama bear who would do pretty much anything to keep her niece Diana safe. She also breaks my heart with her palpable grief after a certain plot point happens; Kingston is obviously very good at what she does.
Couch-Sharing Capability: Call the Coven
Diana relies upon her fellow witches to learn more about herself and her powers, creating a found family that’s as strong as any blood bond. Call the friends who you’d want to be part of your coven to share in the enjoyment. (But maybe not all in one sitting; there are 25 episodes in the series, and they’re all around 45 minutes long.)
Recommended Level of Inebriation: A Robust Red
It might just be the idea of vampires drinking blood, or the fact that much of the later series is spent in a literal French castle, but I feel like a high-quality red wine is the best pairing for this show.
Use of Your Streaming Subscription: Worth the Wait
I first watched this series by utilizing a free trial to AMC+, but now that it’s on Netflix, I hope it reaches many more people. It’s a sumptuous, gorgeous show that is a solid adaptation of the All Souls book series and features a ridiculously attractive and talented cast and stunning settings. Even if paranormal creatures aren’t your thing, the show features complex relationships and societal/political intrigue that feels very applicable to the “real” world. There’s even a bit of time travel! Plus, much of the story is about repairing a book, which I think all of us can appreciate.
Overall, I felt like this adaptation was a bit silly, but they had me on day one because MATTHEW GOODE. Also, he and Teresa (who I actually did like in Warm Bodies) made the best of this material. The scenery and sets were top notch though.