A Discovery of Witches Season 1 Review. Wonderful Adaptation From Book to Screen

<i>A Discovery of Witches</i> Season 1 Review. Wonderful Adaptation From Book to Screen 1

Season 1, All 8 Episodes

Reviewer Rating: ★★★★★ 5 Stars

Streaming Date: January 17, 2019 on Sundance Now and Shudder

When I first learned that the All Souls Trilogy from author Deborah Harkness would become a television series, I became immediately interested. I had heard of the first book, “A Discovery of Witches,” but hadn’t yet read it. After researching and reading snippets of all three books online, I decided to purchase them all. I devoured the books in less than a week’s time and have become completely and hopelessly smitten with the two main characters, Diana Bishop and Matthew Clairmont, played by Teresa Palmer and Matthew Goode, respectively, in the new series A Discovery of Witches.

“It begins with absence and desire; it begins with blood and fear; it begins with a discovery of witches.” This is the opening quote of the series and it is mentioned throughout the trilogy of books. For those loyal to the books, there are a few components that are not well defined in the first eight episodes of season one. Diana is an admirer of tea and consumes “copious amounts” in the books, yet the television series doesn’t clearly showcase that aspect. There are other small nuances that slightly differ from the book, but thankfully the core story arcs and main plot points are wonderfully explored and brought to vivid life.

Whether you have read the books or not, A Discovery of Witches stands on its own merits as an amazing series with great acting, luscious scenery, drama, magic, and of course, romance. For those who have not had the chance to read the books, the series starts with book one titled the same as the series. There are witches, daemons (pronounced like ‘demon.’ Although these creatures are not demonic in the traditional sense of the word), and vampires living among humans. These creatures have been hiding in plain sight but things are changing: witches are losing their magical abilities and not bearing as many children; daemons seem to lean more on the manic side of their unique abilities as creative beings; and vampires are finding it increasingly difficult to sire others. There has always been an understanding among the supernatural species; they are not to mix and mingle, so to speak. There is a formal congregation made up of nine members – three from each species – that governs and enforces the laws. There is prejudice: witches hate vampires, vampires hate witches, and neither think highly of daemons.

Watch the Trailer For A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES

<i>A Discovery of Witches</i> Season 1 Review. Wonderful Adaptation From Book to Screen 2 — A Discovery of Witches — Aunt Em, Diana, Aunt Sarah

Diana Bishop has chosen to ignore the fact that she’s a witch and refuses to use her powers. She is a history professor studying alchemical references and lives her life mostly as a human. Raised in upstate New York by her Aunt Sarah (Alex Kingston) and Sarah’s partner Emily “Em” (Valarie Pettiford), Diana is currently living abroad at Oxford University where she is offered tenure. When Diana requests a very old manuscript called “Ashmole 782,” things begin to change and will never be the same again.

The casting couldn’t have been more spot on for both Diana and Matthew. These two are the heart of the series and having two incredibly talented, charismatic, and (let’s be honest) gorgeous actors to portray them is paramount. Teresa Palmer is Diana Bishop. Palmer embodies Diana’s slight awkwardness and reluctance regarding having and using her magic. Palmer does an impeccable job portraying the subtleties of Diana, including the way she dresses and combs her hair. As in the books, the series showcases Diana’s love of running and rowing.

<i>A Discovery of Witches</i> Season 1 Review. Wonderful Adaptation From Book to Screen 3 — A Discovery of Witches Season 1 — Matthew keeps a watchful eye on Diana as she rows (Matthew Good, Teresa Palmer)

Goode is Matthew Clairmont through and through. I couldn’t imagine anyone else playing this character. Goode personifies the lithe and gait of what I envisioned Matthew Clairmont to be from reading the trilogy. Tall, handsome, brooding, and a head full of thick, dark hair that you would love to run your fingers through. As a vampire, Matthew Clairmont doesn’t like to involve himself in anything but his genetics work, but when Diana opens Ashmole 782, magic is felt by all the creatures. Desperate for answers, Matthew knows he must discover who opened the book and where it is now. However, he doesn’t anticipate meeting Diana and the power she would soon have over him.

We meet a few more characters in season one, but I don’t want to spoil things—especially for those who haven’t read the books.

Marcus Whitmore (Edward Bluemel) – Vampire. Marcus is Matthew Clairmont’s son. Obviously, vampires don’t procreate in the traditional sense; Matthew sired Marcus a few hundred years ago. Marcus is also a doctor and works with his father in the genetics lab.

Miriam Shepherd (Aiysha Hart) – Vampire. Miriam is a friend and colleague of Matthew. She works with him in the lab doing genetic research. She’s beautiful, brilliant, stubborn, fierce, and very loyal to Matthew.

Gillian Chamberlain (Louise Brealey) – Witch. Friends with Diana, Gillian is also a professor and is currently waiting for a position to open up at Oxford.

Sean (Tomiwa Edun) – Human. Sean works in Oxford’s famed Bodleian Library. He has a bit of a crush on Diana, although it’s more implied than said.

Hamish Osbourne (Greg McHugh) – Daemon. A genius with numbers, Hamish is very influential in London and is a best friend to Matthew.

Peter Knox (Owen Teale) – Witch. An arrogant and impossible man who will stop at nothing to get Ashmole 782. He’s also a member of the Congregation.

Agatha Wilson (Tanya Moodie) – Daemon. Another member of the Congregation, Agatha tries to keep the peace but knows that something isn’t right among the species.

<i>A Discovery of Witches</i> Season 1 Review. Wonderful Adaptation From Book to Screen 4 — A Discovery of Witches Season 1 – Matthew Goode and Teresa Palmer as Matthew De Clairmont and Diana Bishop

As the season progresses, more information about the manuscript surfaces, and disturbing revelations about Diana’s parents, Rebecca (Sophie Miles) and Stephen (David Newman), come to light. The balance of the species starts to tip when Diana and Matthew begin spending more time together hunting for clues about the mysterious Ashmole 782 manuscript. With the population of creatures in the halls of the Bodleian increasing, their presence puts Diana in danger, especially since she is unable to control her burgeoning magical powers.

Is Ashmole 782 actually the mysterious “Book of Life” that holds the secrets to all the species? Could there be a spell to rid the world of vampires? Is the key to how vampires, witches, and daemons came to be locked in the pages of Ashmole 782? Only time (and the Sundance channel) will tell…and thankfully the series has been renewed for a second and third season.

Stream A Discovery of Witches on Sundance Now and/or Shudder starting January 17, 2019.

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Judy Manning

Dream chaser extraordinaire! Judy tends to be a tad sarcastic and kind of goofy! She is an avid admirer of all things supernatural, paranormal, celestial and mystical. She loves to read, write, and watches way too much TV. She enjoys many genres of film and music (and let's be honest, most music from the 80s). She also has a wicked sweet tooth. Cupcakes beware.