With it having been so long, a recap may be necessary for some if you haven’t had the time to rewatch the series! Read on to discover our episodic recap, and if you want to go into more detail, click the episode title to read that episode’s recap in full!

The new season of A Discovery of Witches premieres January 8th 2021 on Sky One and NOW TV (UK) and January 9th 2021 on Sundance Now and Shudder (US & Canada). In Australia, fans will be able to watch new episodes on Binge.

Episode 1

Diana Bishop wishes to continue her research on alchemy by learning more from Elias Ashmole’s manuscripts at the Bodleian Library in Oxford. When she opens Ashmole 782, she discovers missing pages and hidden, scrambling words that brand her. It causes a flurry of feelings and interest amongst many, including the handsome vampire Matthew Clairmont as he has been searching for Ashmole 782 for centuries to help him learn more about their origins and he later introduces himself to Diana and both asks and warns her about the manuscript. Meanwhile, Peter and Satu visit Diana’s witch friend Gillian and Sylvia to find out what happened with the manuscript and learn of Diana discovering it, of whom he already knows of. Matthew begins to watch over Diana in hopes she will reveal the manuscript once more. 

Episode 2

Matthew went on a little hunting trip with his friend Hamish as he’s been craving Diana’s blood. After chatting to him, Matthew decides he must protect Diana. Meanwhile, Peter Knox and Satu arrive in Oxford and approach Diana about Ashmole 782, and Diana later has an altercation with the both of them. We are also introduced to Domenico, Juliette, and Gerbert in Venice who all seem to know Matthew. Diana and Matthew learn more about one another, along with Diana opening up about Ashmole 782.

Episode 3

Matthew and Diana spend the day together, which eventuated to Diana asking Matthew to dinner. All didn’t go to plan with Knox turning up, but Diana did get to kiss Matthew before he hastily left afterwards. We were introduced to daemons Nathaniel, Sophie, and Agatha and it seems Sophie may have a special link to Diana. At the end of the episode, Diana confronts Knox and her magic flares up with witchwind, and Matthew has to help her get it under control. With danger looming, Matthew decides to take her to his home Sept-Tours and he kisses her before leaving.

Episode 4

Matthew and Diana arrived at Sept-Tours where Matthew’s mother Ysabeau lives. The pair spent plenty of time together horse riding and dancing, all the while receiving disapproving looks and comments from Ysabeau. Meanwhile, the full Congregation met to discover Matthew and Diana, which resulted in a visit from Domenico at Sept-Tours. Domenico realised Matthew’s feelings and Diana learned that species intermix when it comes to the heart. After a break in at the lab and Diana professing her love, Matthew says he must go and leaves Diana in tears.

Episode 5

Matthew attacked Gillian after she broke into his lab, while Ysabeau took Diana hunting. Hamish pops up briefly to tell Matthew to essentially follow his heart, despite there going to be consequences, while Ysabeau uses Matthew’s past loves as a way to deter Diana. However, this doesn’t stop them and Matthew races back to Sept-Tours with Diana’s DNA results and his confession: he loves her. This results in some ‘bundling’ and Matthew saying Diana somehow shows way more markers than a modern-day witch should.

Episode 6

Diana is tortured by Satu, but eventually rescued by Baldwin and Matthew. While with Satu, Diana had a vision of her parents and recalled a story they used to tell her about a trapped witch and a dark prince. Upon returning to Sept-Tours, they realise Diana was spellbound, but after her ordeal with Satu, she is free. We also learn Sophie is actually born of witches, and her baby with Nathaniel seems to be a witch, even though she is a daemon.

Episode 7

Diana and Matthew headed to Madison to learn more about Diana being spellbound and we saw flashbacks to Diana’s parents who were the ones that did it in order to protect Diana. She begins her training, but in a moment of frustration, it seems Diana inherited her father’s ability to timewalk, while later on, Matthew tries to help Diana’s training in the woods. However, this just leads to a steamy scene for the pair. Marcus and Miriam arrive at the house to help and the house gives Diana a letter from her father, which includes a page from Ashmole 782. As for our other creatures, Juliette leaves Gerbert, Sophie reveals she is born to witches, Satu is captured, and Knox was the one who killed Diana’s parents. At the end of the episode, Diana comes across Juliette…

Episode 8

Juliette holds Diana hostage and she soon slices Matthew’s throat. Diana’s magic flares with witchfire that forms a bow and arrow, which kills Juliette instantly. Matthew is dying and so Diana calls upon the goddess to help her and agrees to anything in exchange for saving Matthew and so she is given a knife and forces him to drink from her. After recovering from the ordeal, Matthew is worried someone else will find them and he proposes they timewalk and to hide somewhere in time. Meanwhile, Gerbert wants to team up with Knox to destroy the de Clermont’s and find Diana.

At the Bishop household, Diana discovers a poppet and finds a pearl earring and Matthew recognises it as Ysabeau’s, which was lost hundreds of years ago. Matthew requests items from various times in order to determine when they should travel to. Sophie visits them and gives Diana a figurine and Em recognises it as Diana, the goddess of the hunt, but Matthew recognises it as a white queen chess piece he once used. He  realises the earring and chess piece are from the same night, All Souls Night or Halloween.

At her trial, Satu accuses Baldwin of working with Matthew to keep Diana from the Congregation, and that is why she did what she did. But in the end, only Gerbert, Satu, and Knox accuse Baldwin of treason.

Sarah and Em are headed to Sept-Tours, and Matthew gives Marcus a letter, which appoints him as grandmaster of the Knights. Now out of time, Knox, Gerbert, and Satu arrive at the Bishop household, so Matthew gives Diana a final item: Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe. The pair are headed to 1590 London when the door flies off just as their about to put their foot down and Diana spins around… Did they make it? (Well, we know they do because of the season 2 trailer, but nevertheless, it was still a cliffhanger for some!)

Are you looking forward to the second season? Tell us in the comments below!

The post A Discovery of Witches Season 1 Recap appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

During last week’s episode, Diana and Matthew headed to Madison to learn more about Diana being spellbound and we saw flashbacks to Diana’s parents who were the ones that did it in order to protect Diana. She begins her training, but in a moment of frustration, it seems Diana inherited her father’s ability to timewalk, while later on, Matthew tries to help Diana’s training in the woods. However, this just leads to a steamy scene for the pair. Marcus and Miriam arrive at the house to help and the house gives Diana a letter from her father, which includes a page from Ashmole 782. As for our other creatures, Juliette leaves Gerbert, Sophie reveals she is born to witches, Satu is captured, and Knox was the one who killed Diana’s parents. At the end of the episode, Diana comes across Juliette…

Playing With Fire

We see Diana (Teresa Palmer) find Juliette (Elarica Johnson) once more and Matthew (Matthew Goode) senses something is wrong and comes racing in. Holding Diana by the throat, Juliette says she left Gerbert and Matthew abandoned her to mate with Diana. Juliette wants to see Matthew kiss Diana and so they do, which only upsets Juliette more. It seems Gerbert sired and groomed her to be the object of Matthew’s desire and within a split second, Juliette whirls around and slices Matthew’s throat.

With blood instantly pouring down his neck, Juliette plunges her hand into his chest and Diana throws Juliette out of the way. Diana’s magic flares, but this time with witchfire, which she forms into a bow and arrow. She aims, releases, and kills Juliette in an instant. Matthew is dying and so Diana calls upon the goddess to help her and promises to do anything in exchange for Matthew and a voice speaks out and says there will be a price, and so Diana naturally agrees, and a blade appears in Diana’s hand. Meanwhile, Miriam (Aiysha Hart) and Marcus (Edward Bluemel) sense Matthew, and Em (Valarie Pettiford) and Sarah (Alex Kingston) also go racing at their own speed. They all arrive as Diana slices her wrist and a barrier of light forms around them as she gives Matthew her blood, but he won’t drink and Marcus says she can’t help. Diana asks the goddess once more, and Matthew then bites into her neck and we see flashbacks of Matthew trying to control himself from the previous episodes, but he manages to pull away eventually.

They give Diana a blood infusion and Miriam and Matthew sit by Diana’s bedside where Miriam is quite surprised by Diana’s courage along with her witchfire as that wasn’t in the DNA results. Diana eventually comes to and asks about who Juliette was to him and that she doesn’t regret killing her. Matthew is worried someone else will find them and he proposes they timewalk and to hide somewhere in time.

A Little Scheming

Domenico (Gregg Chillin) goes to see Gerbert (Trevor Eve), who asks about Juliette followed by enquiring about Matthew and their need to find them. However, Domenico entices Gerbert with Satu (Malin Buska) and so they go to see her. Domenico asks about Meridiana and Satu tells him she let her go as she’s been enslaved for centuries and that Diana may be even more powerful from Meridiana.

Baldwin (Trystan Gravelle) heads to the Congregation and wants them to convene to decide Satu’s fate. He calls Matthew and says their time is running out as discussions might resume with the Congregation gathering. Meanwhile, Gerbert enters the Witches Archives quoting the prophecy to Knox and that the witch mentioned must be Diana. He wants to team up with Knox to destroy the de Clermont’s and find Diana. Later on, Gerbert and Knox discuss getting rid of Matthew and Baldwin, as Marcus would be the next de Clermont on the Congregation.

Help Is On Its Way

At the Bishop household, it begins to rattle and a poppet, which witches use to cast spells, falls from the fireplace. Matthew recalls Diana’s ancestor Bridget having an issue with a poppet as it convicted her at the Salem witch trials. In the poppet, Diana finds a pearl earring and Matthew recognises it as Ysabeau’s, which was lost hundreds of years ago. Meanwhile, Ysabeau (Lindsay Duncan) and Hamish (Greg McHugh) are in Philippe’s study gathering things Matthew may need.

The group try to figure out where Diana and Matthew should go and that they require three things, which is why Matthew has been requesting things from various times. However, his concern is returning to the present. Em and Sarah help train Diana to see if she can timewalk, however, her first attempt fails as she’s focusing too much on other things and should focus more on Matthew. Meanwhile, Matthew is stressing about Diana, but then the next thing we know, Diana is there in his arms and they’re elated at her timewalking, much to the disgust of Miriam.

Hamish arrives with Matthew’s items, along with Sophie (Aisling Loftus) and Nathaniel (Daniel Ezra). In the kitchen, they all gather and Sophie gives Diana the figurine and Em recognises it as Diana, the goddess of the hunt. However, Matthew recognises it as a white queen chess piece, one that he lost ages ago in a wager. Nathaniel wants to leave, however, Sophie wants to stay and tells them about her heritage. Matthew realises the earring and chess piece are from the same night, All Souls Night or Halloween, which is coming up…

Marcus and Nathaniel are getting into fierce conversation, while Sophie carves pumpkins with Em and Sarah. They know Sophie has been upset and she tells them of her bad dreams about the Congregation and they promise to help her. Nathaniel then receives a call from Agatha (Tanya Moodie) as the Congregation is reconvening. Meanwhile, Matthew and Diana are about to go back 25 days to the night they danced at Sept-Tours, and they find themselves there and they repeat that night once more.

Diana and Matthew return to the present where they have a lovely dinner with everyone and Miriam wants to test the DNA of Sophie’s baby to find out whether it is a witch or a daemon. Later that night, Matthew speaks with Hamish about the Knights as Matthew will have to give up his post as grandmaster as he might not ever be able to come back. Hamish is surprised Diana doesn’t want to know where they are going just yet, except she just wants to be in the present for the time being and he warns her that Matthew will not be the same man where they go.

A Witch Trial

Satu’s powers are coming back and just in time for her trial. During the trial, Satu accuses Baldwin of working with Matthew to keep Diana from the Congregation, and that is why she did what she did. Gerbert and Knox begin to stir the pot, especially when Gerbert brings up the Knights of Lazarus and gives that as the reasoning as to why Baldwin had to help Matthew. Gerbert demands Baldwin steps down immediately, along death by beheading and fire apparently. However, Agatha says they must vote, but first they will have a break. The Congregation reconvenes, but only Gerbert, Satu, and Knox accuse Baldwin of treason. Then, Knox demands to know where Matthew and Diana are. Afterwards, Baldwin thanks Agatha, but he now owes them a debt.

Time For Goodbyes

Hamish, Sophie, and Nathaniel are returning home, and Matthew tells Nathaniel to take Sophie to Sept-Tours if they are concerned at all. Hamish speaks of Ashmole 782, and Matthew believes they might find it in its entirety in the past.

Sarah and Em are headed to Sept-Tours and Em gets quite emotional about saying goodbye. However, Sarah starts off with telling Diana to listen to her teachers, followed by a proud moment that Diana will be using her powers before saying goodbye. Finally, Marcus and Miriam collect some final samples and plan to head off so Diana and Matthew can have some time alone. Matthew gives Marcus a letter, which appoints him as grandmaster much to his shock and he doesn’t want to accept it, but Baldwin can’t have it as Philippe wanted the Congregation and Knights separate.

With everyone gone, the pair stand outside and Diana happily uses her magic to light the pumpkins when Matthew says it’s time. All dressed for their time jump, Baldwin leaves a message on Matthew’s phone to say they’ve run out of time and to leave, right when Knox, Gerbert, and Satu arrive at the Bishop household. Matthew gives Diana one last item for their travels, which is Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe. Matthew tells her they are headed to London in 1590, while Satu tries to break through the spell on the house. The door flies off just as their about to put their foot down and Diana spins around.. Have they travelled? Or did they stay? Only time will tell with Season 2 AND 3 coming our way!

Overall Thoughts?

What a jam-packed episode! So many characters and scenes to enjoy, it really felt like a much longer episode. While again, the graphics weren’t the best, it was great seeing Diana kick ass with her witchfire and call on the goddess, plus let’s not forget saving Matthew! While I would have enjoyed a little more timewalking, the scenes were beautiful, especially with Matthew dancing with Ysabeau once again and it feeling more like a farewell. There were some truly heartwrenching scenes in this episode, so of course we have to commend all the actors for the excellent portrayals once more.

We are so excited that a second and third season were announced today, which means we’ll being seeing the whole story! Personally, the second book Shadow of Night was my favourite and can offer many exciting scenes and moments for fans to enjoy! Perhaps they might split it? Otherwise we’ll get each book as a season, just like they did with this first season.

I’m quite thrilled overall with the first season. While there were things, mostly visual and dialogue wise, that could have been better, it was a truly remarkable adaptation!

What did you think of the episode? Tell us in the comments below!

The post A Discovery of Witches Recap: Episode 1.08 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

During the previous episode, Diana was tortured by Satu, but eventually rescued by Baldwin and Matthew. While with Satu, Diana had a vision of her parents and recalled a story they used to tell her about a trapped witch and a dark prince. Upon returning to Sept-Tours, they realise Diana was spellbound, but after her ordeal with Satu, she is free. We also learn Sophie is actually born of witches, and her baby with Nathaniel seems to be a witch, even though she is a daemon.

Onwards To Madison

Matthew (Matthew Goode) and Diana (Teresa Palmer) bid farewell to Ysabeau (Lindsay Duncan) and Marthe (Sorcha Cusack) as they head to Madison, New York. When they arrive there, Matthew senses there is nobody there and Diana explains her aunts left to give them a few minutes with the house, which begins rattling. Apparently the house is known for misbehaving with new people so of course it’s haunted because they are witches. The house is known for slamming doors, flickering lights, and even making the second floor of the house disappear.

Em (Valarie Pettiford) and Sarah (Alex Kingston) return home in their car marked with bumper stickers such as ‘I Am Pagan and I Vote’, ‘My Other Car Is A Broom’, and ‘Wiccan Army: We Will Not Go Silently Into The Night’. They are beyond happy to see Diana, but she cuts straight to the point and wants the truth about her. She asks if they know she was spellbound and Sarah is shocked, however, it seems Em had guessed she might be and that it was Diana’s parents who did it. Em explains that Knox was obsessed with seeing if Diana had inherited her mother’s powers and he didn’t want to wait until Diana was of age.

Unfortunately, Diana is upset by the truth and walks away. Sarah tries to go after her, but Matthew won’t let her and so the house decides to show them a memory of the time Knox found her parents. Rebecca (Sophia Myles) and Stephen (David Newman) begin spellbinding her and Rebecca tells Diana again of the story of invisible ribbons and the prince. Later that day, we then see a brown-haired and younger Knox (Owen Teale) look at Diana’s powers. Another memory sees Rebecca and Stephen leave Diana with her aunts, but sadly they never return.

Diana runs off and Matthew seeks her out and she explains that the binding was tied to need so if she needed it, should could use it. They also remark about how Matthew was in their stories and it was tied to her need of him as well. Meanwhile, Em tries to talk to Sarah, however, she’s upset Rebecca didn’t trust her, but realises that Rebecca knew them too well and she would have gone after Knox.

Time To Get Witchy

Matthew is annoyed by the trivial spells and wants to know how Diana can learn ones of self-defense, but apparently they haven’t worked in generations. Diana tells Sarah she’ll go back to basics, while Matthew can teach her to defend herself. The first lesson? Lighting a candle. Eventually it begins to smoke, but instead she lights up something else. Meanwhile, Matthew admires a box that was a gift from Stephen to Em, and then Matthew realises Stephen was a timewalker. He enquires about how it’s done, and it’s not easy and requires things like three objects from the right time period.

Sarah and Diana are getting frustrated with one another when Diana zaps out of existence, and Matthew races out to find her in the barn. She explains she wanted to step outside for some air, and he asks if she thinks she just timewalked as he couldn’t sense her at all.

Matthew and Diana take to the woods at night in order to get Diana’s powers to work and he ‘attacks’ her, which causes her hand to bleed. She taunts him and reminds him of the time he told her not to run. So what does she do? She runs. After a growl and annoyed exclamation of ‘fuck’, Matthew races after. When he catches up to her, Diana flies into the air and eventually lands on top of him. The next minute, they’re back in the house, the clothes are coming off, and things get quite steamy. Afterwards, Matthew tells her of two human women that he once loved and he worries that Diana will also wind up hurt, but she tells him nothing like that will happen.

Trouble Within The Congregation

The Congregation are angered that both Baldwin (Trystan Gravelle) and Domenico (Gregg Chillin) were unable to retrieve Diana, and Baldwin notes Agatha’s (Tanya Moodie) keen interest and she has to cover for herself quickly. Baldwin tells them that Satu has Diana, and Knox confirms this as the spell they performed confirmed she is with another witch. They also wonder why Gerbert isn’t present and send Domenico to find out. He arrives at Gerbert’s and Juliette (Elarica Johnson) says he must go, and he taunts her with Matthew and the possibility of knowing where they are.

Meanwhile, Knox wakes to find Satu (Malin Buska) in his room and she accuses him of killing Diana’s parents and also knowing that opening someone up would affect the spellcaster’s powers, as it had happened to him because that’s what he did to Diana’s parents. He denies it, and Satu tells him that Diana is spellbound. Knox said Rebecca was headed to lead the Congregation, but Stephen was apparently secretive and selfish by keeping Rebecca for himself. Satu wants to know if her power will come back, which will take time, before she tells him of the prophecy and they need to get Diana away from Matthew.

Agatha goes to see Hamish (Greg McHugh) and explains that Sophie (Aisling Loftus) was born to witches. Agatha says Sophie believes Diana could be the saviour to daemons and that cross-species relationships could be possible.

Gerbert (Trevor Eve) and Juliette attend a church mass where Baldwin is waiting in the row behind them. Gerbet throws Juliette under the bus and said she gave the go ahead of using La Pierre to hold Diana, but Baldwin doesn’t believe him. When Gerbert asks Juliette to tell Baldwin of what she did, she stands up for herself much to the amusement of Baldwin.

Domenico comes across Satu and she’s at a dead-end without any powers to help her. Domenico has Satu and wants to know what Baldwin plans to do, and he wants to see her suffer. However, Domenico plans to hold on to her for a bit.

A Discovery

Miriam (Aiysha Hart) and Marcus (Edward Bluemel) arrive in Madison and while Sarah isn’t thrilled about more vampires, Em welcomes them eagerly. While all sitting in the lounge room, Sarah looks at the vampires and wonders aloud how anyone could think that they’re human. Sarah then wants to know what Marcus’ deal is, but he just says Sarah looks so much like her ancestor Sarah Bishop. He says that Sarah Bishop taught him how to set a leg during the Battle of Bunker Hill, but Sarah shuts down Em’s questions. She starts to get angry about vampires protecting Bishop land when the house begins to shake when an envelope addressed to Diana from her father flies out of the wall. Diana opens it and it’s one of the missing pages from Ashmole 782.

The depiction shows a man in black robes and a woman in white robes, when Marcus notes the woman is wearing Matthew’s insignia. Sarah takes the page to perform a spell, when Diana recognises her father’s handwriting from being in Ashmole 782. She remembers an inscription in the front: In two parts – the first anatomical, the second psychological. Matthew wonders if that’s why only Diana can summon the manuscript.

At the end of the episode, Diana has her eyes closed while Matthew flits around telling her to allow her powers to sense him. When walks towards the barn sensing a vampiric presence, but instead she finds Juliette who grabs Diana by the throat.

Overall Thoughts?

Well, what a fantastic episode! Naturally when a whole bunch of characters who have been working their way towards each other finally come together, it’s quite exciting! Alex Kingston and Valarie Pettiford portray Sarah and Em perfectly, and it was wonderful to see them interact with Matthew and Diana and show their different natures. At this stage, with one episode left, this could easily be my favourite episode of the season with witchy magic, steamy scenes, and excellent interactions between the cast.

Unfortunately, next week will be the season finale, but thank the witches that Season 2 is supposedly meant to start filming in March according to Matthew and since Teresa Palmer has recently announced her pregnancy, she has said in posts that she is meant to begin shooting in July 2019, which may change the entire production schedule.

What did you think of the episode? Sound off in the comments below!

The post A Discovery of Witches Recap: Episode 1.07 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

During last week’s episode, Matthew attacked Gillian after she broke into his lab, while Ysabeau took Diana hunting. Hamish pops up briefly to tell Matthew to essentially follow his heart, despite there going to be consequences, while Ysabeau uses Matthew’s past loves as a way to deter Diana. However, this doesn’t stop them and Matthew races back to Sept-Tours with Diana’s DNA results and his confession: he loves her. This results in some ‘bundling’ and Matthew saying Diana somehow shows way more markers than a modern-day witch should.

Ruins and Tears

Diana (Teresa Palmer) is flown through the air by Satu (Malin Buska) to an old castle, where Gerbert (Trevor Eve) awaits with his box containing the witch’s head. Gerbert inspects Diana and can detect that Diana’s scent has intermingled with Matthew’s, but Satu warns him to stick to what they agreed. Satu doesn’t understand why Diana’s family didn’t teach her magic, especially since she’s so strong, and so she would like to help Diana. She says Diana should cooperate as Gerbert will soon have his turn with her, and that Matthew is only there for the book and tells her that Gillian is dead by Matthew’s hand, but Diana can’t accept that. Satu uses her powers on Diana, and hers instinctively flare up to defend her. She continues to taunt Diana about her parents, resulting in her witchwind starting except it does not affect Satu and if Diana’s parents were supposedly killed by witches, then it must be that they were keeping secrets.

Satu casts a spell calling upon the elements to try to show Diana’s power and flings Diana threw the air and on the ground multiple times. Diana hangs upside down in the air with a ring of fire beneath her when Satu begin burning a sigil into her back to see what Diana is hiding. After much screaming, Diana collapses along with Satu.

A Man On A Mission

Matthew (gorgeous Matthew Goode) slowly awakes to an empty bed (despite vampires not really needing to sleep) and realises Diana is gone. As he races down, he hears something which must be the sound of Baldwin’s helicopter landing. Matthew attacks Baldwin (Trystan Gravelle) and bites into his neck demanding to know where Diana is when Marthe (Sorcha Cusack) comes in to tell them she caught Diana’s scent with another. Matthew, Ysabeau (Lindsay Duncan), and Baldwin realise they must have flown, but it wouldn’t have been Knox as he isn’t strong enough. Baldwin calls Knox to ask him what he’s done and where the other Congregation witches are, and he lies that Satu is there too. Matthew and his family begin to think about where to search, and Marthe tells him they would be nearby as witches are only capable of flying short distances. They realise that they may be in Gerbert’s territory and Matthew is worried as he knows what he is capable of.

Em (Valarie Pettiford) tries water scrying again and sees two plumes of smoke, one light and one dark. She knows Diana is in pain, and yells out to Sarah (Alex Kingston). Matthew then receives a call from a distressed Sarah and he informs them she has been taken by a witch. He asks Em what she saw and she mentions an old castle, and Ysabeau remembers La Pierre, a ruined castle where Gerbert kept a witch enthralled there.

Time For A Story

Satu wakes and drags Diana deeper into the castle and drops her into a deep hole when Gerbert comes running to find out what she’s done. He wants Diana out, but Satu says she can’t as her powers are gone and so Gerbert shows Satu the witch’s head as a warning when he spies the helicopter and races outside. Satu approaches the witch and takes some of her power to free herself from the room, and also takes the witch’s head with her.

Diana passes out and dreams of her mother and father, who tell her a story they used to tell her when she was younger. The story is about Diana being in the dark, trapped by a witch, until she heard the Prince who tried to help her get out. However, Diana needed to find a way to help herself, and with that she wakes and begins to panic.

Meanwhile, Matthew and Baldwin jump into the helicopter, and arrive at La Pierre where they must jump due to being nowhere to land. Matthew detects Diana and they find her in the hole, but Baldwin stops him from going in as he won’t be able to get out. Then, Diana hears her mother’s voice again and Diana realises she needs to fly, but she can’t will herself to. She then hears her father’s voice saying “magic is in the heart” and she thinks of Matthew and she begins to fly, much to amazement of Baldwin and Matthew.

A Brief Check In

Satu speaks to the witch who says she is the Meridiana, and Satu is shocked Gerbert has kept her for so long. Satu removes the mask and hears the prophecy about the lion and the wolf. Satu then burns the witch’s head and calls Satu a weaver, which Satu repeats as a question.

Meanwhile, Sophie (Aisling Loftus) and Nathaniel (Daniel Ezra) meet with Agatha (Tanya Moodie), and they ask her who the witch is so she can pass the statue on. Sophie then explains the strong connection as Sophie is actually born of witches, which shocks Agatha. However, Sophie says she is a daemon, but Agatha says it’s impossible, except it also means the baby could be a witch, and Sophie believes the baby is. Nathaniel is worried that a witch born to daemons will be destroyed by the Congregation and didn’t want to tell Agatha as it would put her in a difficult position. Agatha then decides to tell them of Diana Bishop.

Safe & Sound

The trio arrive back at Sept-Tours where Matthew says he’ll never let her go again and inspects Diana’s injuries when Marthe and Ysabeau join them. In significant pain, they decide to move Diana to the bed when he realises her back is injured, which they look at and discover Matthew’s insignia branded into her.

Later on, Matthew sits with Diana when she asks if he killed Gillian, but he says he didn’t although he wanted to. He makes the promise of killing anyone who harms her, and Diana asks he doesn’t go after Satu as she wants to deal with Satu herself. Matthew thanks Baldwin for his help, but it seems Baldwin still wants to take Diana to the Congregation. As head of the family, Baldwin won’t have Matthew protecting her and he is willing to disown Matthew. However, Matthew says the Knights of Lazarus will see to Diana’s protection and Baldwin is outraged Matthew would call upon the Knights to protect her. Matthew and Baldwin are both Knights, they fought at the battle of Acre, helped the Albigensian heretics resist the Northerners, but they don’t come to the aid of a forbidden love affair. Philippe passed the order on to Matthew and so Matthew issues Baldwin with a letter and will try to make Satu’s punishment the Congregation’s priority. Baldwin then warns Diana and Matthew to make their next move before the Congregation makes theirs.

Diana says she feels lighter, and Ysabeau says she is now unbound as they believe Diana was spellbound and now Diana’s magic is free. She’s now worried as either mad witches or those who hurt people would be spellbound…

Overall Thoughts?

What. An. Episode. A huge round of applause is in order for both Teresa Palmer and Matthew Goode who portrayed their characters emotions incredibly well with Diana being tortured, confused, and in pain, and Matthew also in pain, but very, very angry. It’s quite enjoyable that while the season is short, we’re getting the book almost scene for scene, which is truly remarkable. Although the torture scene felt short in comparison to the book, it carried such emotion for the pair of them and will really propel the story with Matthew and Diana heading to New York. That being said, my only issue this episode was the visual effects, which really could have been better. While there aren’t many scenes that call for it, this episode had quite a few with Diana flying and being hung upside down, and Matthew and Baldwin jumping out the helicopter and running. Unfortunately, it just caused a grimace, but thankfully, the series is so wonderful that it can be overlooked. Hopefully though, if the series is successful with its continual release throughout the world, we can have some more dollars put towards the graphics next season.

What did you think of the episode? Tell us in the comments below!

The post A Discovery of Witches Recap: Episode 1.06 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

During last week’s episode, Matthew and Diana arrived at Sept-Tours where Matthew’s mother Ysabeau lives. The pair spent plenty of time together horse riding and dancing, all the while receiving disapproving looks and comments from Ysabeau. Meanwhile, the full Congregation met to discover Matthew and Diana, which resulted in a visit from Domenico at Sept-Tours. Domenico realised Matthew’s feelings and Diana learned that species intermix when it comes to the heart. After a break in at the lab and Diana professing her love, Matthew says he must go and leaves Diana in tears.

The Hunt Is On

Matthew (Matthew Goode) races back to Oxford and meets with Miriam (Aiysha Hart) and Marcus (Edward Bluemel) who tell him that it was witches who broke in. Thankfully, everything is well and they were unable to access their computers and Miriam believes it’s all because of Diana. She also believes that Matthew will mate with Diana as she has mated before and knows the signs. Matthew inspects the lab himself and asks if Diana’s bloodwork is safe when he picks up on a familiar scent before angrily storming out. Miriam doesn’t want him to go, but he does so they decide to call Baldwin (Trystan Gravelle). Marcus explains that there’s more to the story with Diana and that perhaps Baldwin can protect them because he’s on the Congregation. Baldwin says if he breaks the rules, he pays the price.

Meanwhile, Diana (Teresa Palmer) bathes and looks utterly devastated. Marthe (Sorcha Cusack) comes in and explains that what Diana did was witchwater, and she hasn’t seen it for centuries. Diana wants to go to Madison as her aunts may be able to help her, but both Ysabeau (Lindsay Duncan) and Marthe reject this as they made Matthew a promise. With that, Ysabeau tells Diana they are going hunting.

She asks if Diana has seen a vampire hunt before, as it isn’t as romantic as what humans believe—it’s relentless and brutal. Ysabeau tells Diana not to come close to her while hunting as the animal scent may mix with Diana’s, and she can’t promise she won’t attack. While Ysabeau hunts, so does Matthew…and his prey is Gillian (Louise Brealey). He begins to mock Gillian’s inability to rise in academia, when he reveals he knows Gillian broke into the lab. In a blink of an eye, they attack—Matthew with Gillian, and Ysabeau with a fox. It’s intense and invasive, especially when Matthew starts viewing Gillian’s memories as he guzzles her blood. He sees her taking photos of the lab, but the memories stop as Gillian and he drops her to the ground, leaving her in the street. Meanwhile, Diana slowly approaches Ysabeau, but Diana is not scared of them feeding and Ysabeau’s little plan didn’t work.

Surprisingly, Gillian is not dead yet and turns up on a fellow witch’s doorstep barely alive. We then cut to the Witches Archives where Knox (Owen Teale) and Satu (Malin Buska) learn that Matthew was behind the attack on Gillian and that he is studying witches DNA. Knox says Gillian must have broke into the lab out of concern for Diana, but Satu doesn’t look entirely certain.

Matters of the Heart

Diana calls Sarah (Alex Kingston) and Em (Valarie Pettiford) to tell them about Domenico and about the Convenant, but they say they didn’t tell her because she turned her back on magic. She tells them she loves Matthew, but Sarah is against it while Em is a little more open to it.

As for Matthew, he talks to Hamish (Greg McHugh) about his situation with Diana, and he also agrees the Congregation shouldn’t be able to tell them who they can love. Matthew speaks of Diana’s courage and all her other qualities, and that he is her latest research subject and he is worried she will learn of his past. Hamish says if he loves her, they he shouldn’t let anything get in the way.

Ysabeau then tries another tactic: Matthew’s past. Ysabeau takes Diana into the village where Matthew was born and the church Matthew built himself, which Diana is amazed by. However, she comes across a memorial to Blanca and Lucas, and Ysabeau informs her that they were Matthew’s wife and son who fell ill and died. She says they will always be Matthew’s true loves as Diana will never be able to give him a child and Matthew has never mated, and probably never will. Diana’s life is fleeting, and Matthew will have to carry on living his life without her after. She then continues saying she sired Matthew in the church—who either slipped or jumped from the tower—and that afterwards he was in a rage and his need to feed was endless.

A Little Species Drama

At the Congregation, Knox demands Diana be taken from the de Clermont family and brought back to the witches. He says Matthew attacked a witch, but Baldwin says it was because she trespassed on vampire territory. Gerbert (Trevor Eve) offers his services as he can be more persuasive than Domenico (Gregg Chillin), and that a representative from each species should go. However, Baldwin is against this and says he will get Diana himself.

Afterwards, Satu tells Knox they need to learn how Diana is hiding her power, but Knox says they can’t put a witch through that dark magic and trauma. Satu then says perhaps they should work with one of the vampires as Baldwin may want Diana for himself, and Knox warns her against them.

In Oxford, Nathaniel (Daniel Ezra) is having dinner with a group of daemons and debating about being hidden and the Congregation when Sophie (Aisling Loftus) turns up. She says she had a weird dream with Agatha, the witch, and her dad who said she had to tell the truth. Sophie wants to speak to Agatha and tell her the truth about who she is, which Nathaniel is against significantly at first, but he eventually agrees.

Later on, Gerbert unlocks the chest with the head in it once more and asks if Diana is the witch from the prophecy, when Satu turns up at Gerbert’s. As for Domenico, he finds Juliette (Elarica Johnson) and tells her that Matthew is in love with Diana. Juliette won’t have a bar of it, and he then tells her where she is.

It’s Time For Some Bundling

While working on her computer, Diana discovers stamps and medals hidden in Matthew’s desk, meanwhile Matthew longingly sniffs a piece of Diana’s hair before eventually calling her, which she is overly keen about. Diana says Ysabeau has been telling her stories and he says that the lab is fine. After a few awkward seconds and unspoken words, they say good night. Matthew then works on Diana’s samples overnight and it seems none of her markers match. He shows his findings to Miriam, and they are shocked as Diana’s DNA seems to be fine in comparison to when the species started to decline. The pair run the tests again before Matthew heads back to tell them of his discovery.

Diana races out of Sept-Tours and she asks him to tell her, even though it means no going back. With that, Matthew confesses his love and kisses her. The pair then happen upon Ysabeau, who is not overly pleased with their choice. She says they can stay and Diana is now her daughter as their fight is now her fight and then hugs her. She says the women of the de Clermont family defend themselves, and Diana will be no different.

Matthew shows the results to Diana and that she has every genetic marker they’ve ever seen in a witch, including the elemental markers of air, water, and earth. Matthew says they will face the challenge together, and while Matthew wants to talk about Oxford, Diana has other plans. He carries her to the bedroom and he asks her what she knows about bundling. As she begins to take his shirt off, he’s worried she might not like what she sees, which is scars upon scars, but things only get steamier.

At the end of the episode, Diana watches on while Matthew sleeps and then decides to go for a run, unfortunately, the run ends with her getting snatched into the air and whisked away…

Overall Thoughts?

Things got a bit hot under the collar this episode! Now that Matthew and Diana have professed their feelings to one another, there certainly is no going back, which means they are about to face an onslaught of issues from every side. Honestly, with each episode, it truly feels as though is possibly one of the best adaptations of a book series I’ve ever seen. The actors capture the characters well, the storyline is essentially the very same as the book, only with additions to help us understand motives and the world better such as the scenes with the Congregation and Sophie and Nathaniel. Personally, I’m in love with this series (perhaps even more so than the books) and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

What did you think of the episode? Tell us in the comments below!

The post A Discovery of Witches Recap: Episode 1.05 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Last week’s episode saw Matthew and Diana spend the day together, which eventuated to Diana asking Matthew to dinner. All didn’t go to plan with Knox turning up, but Diana did get to kiss Matthew before he hastily left afterwards. We were introduced to daemons Nathaniel, Sophie, and Agatha and it seems Sophie may have a special link to Diana. At the end of the episode, Diana confronts Knox and her magic flares up with witchwind, and Matthew has to help her get it under control. With danger looming, Matthew decides to take her to his home Sept-Tours and he kisses her before leaving.

Welcome To Sept-Tours

Uh, I do love Matthew Goode’s voice, but do we have to hear the same monologue each time? Anyway, Diana (Teresa Palmer) and Matthew (Matthew Goode) are travelling to Matthew’s home, which is known as Sept-Tours and it looks to be a stunning place. Upon arrival, Diana is introduced to Matthew’s mother, Ysabeau de Clermont (Lindsay Duncan) and she masters the disapproving mother look and doesn’t utter a word at first. At one point, Matthew has to translate as Diana “speaks only English and New French. Modern warmbloods are so poorly educated.” With that, Matthew receives a warmer welcome from Marthe (Sorcha Cusack) and he says Diana needs some rest, all the while getting daggers from Ysabeau.

The pair walk the steps up Matthew’s tower, and Diana speaks of Ysabeau not wanting her at Sept-Tours. Matthew explains that it’s only been family there since his step-father Philippe’s death, which occurred during World War II. Later on, Matthew goes to open Philippe’s office, but it’s locked as Ysabeau doesn’t want it opened with Diana there. Matthew sternly reminds her that Diana didn’t kill Philippe, and she then gives him the key while saying it was her kind that did. In the office, Matthew looks at the photos of Diana’s parents murders and seems to notice something.

Meanwhile, Diana sleeps when she sees a vision of her dead mother at the window followed by being covered in spiderwebs before she wakes in alarm. She receives a call from Sarah (Alex Kingston) and Em (Valarie Pettiford) who ask her where she is and she explains Peter Knox threatened her. They’re not thrilled to learn she’s at Sept-Tours and tell her to leave and come home to them as Ysabeau has destroyed entire covens.

After this, the pair then go for a ride with Diana on Rakasa, while Ysabeau and Marthe look on. Marthe remarks about how she hasn’t smelt such power for centuries, however, Ysabeau believes Diana has bewitched him. Diana and Matthew race across the open field, and it’s such a sweet moment for the two. Afterwards, Diana wants to leave so Matthew doesn’t have to feel responsible for her except Matthew says she can’t go to Madison. He then brings up the photos of Diana’s parents and he believes they were staged as underneath the debris, there was a chalk circle meaning they were killed by witches.

Trouble Brews

Back in Oxford, Marcus (Edward Bluemel) goes to Matthew’s apartment while he talks to Miriam (Aiysha Hart) on the phone, however, he realises someone is in there waiting. Upon entering, he discovers Juliette (Elarica Johnson) who is searching for Matthew and she attacks him after he provokes her. Miriam comes rushing in and lands some punches, which causes Juliette to leave.

In Venice once again, Agatha (Tanya Moodie) arrives at the Congregation where Peter (Owen Teale) introduces Satu (Malin Buska) to her, and she’s thrilled with a bit more diversity. We are then introduced to Baldwin Montclair (Trystan Gravelle), another vampire Congregation member, which gives us all nine members—three from each species. They retrieve keys from their person and the keys from each species join together. The three final keys are then used by the head members to unlock the Congregation’s chamber door.

Back at the lab, Marcus wants to know what he’s results are as he knows they are done when he receives a call from Baldwin asking what Matthew is doing. With Baldwin also head of the family, Marcus can’t ignore his questions.

Knox has called for the emergency session as Matthew has supposedly broken Congregation rules, and to Baldwin he says, “your brother has abducted a witch.” Knox continues on saying Philippe set up the Congregation to avoid drawing human attention to them and maintain peace. The vampires and witches appear to want to find her, while Agatha doesn’t understand why Matthew would do it. Baldwin asks about her powers, which Knox tries to dismiss, but then Baldwin brings up The Book of Life. This intrigues all of them and they’re not happy to hear this has been kept from them. Baldwin says she is Sept-Tours and they’ll send a representative and investigate Diana.

Warnings All Around

The Witches: Satu asks Knox why he didn’t tell her that he tested Diana and it seems he missed Diana’s power. With that, he freezes Satu in place and says she is meant to be his ally before he throws her backwards on to a table and threatens her further. At Oxford, Gillian (Louise Brealey) has just finished up a coven meeting when she learns Diana is with Matthew and Gillian deems Diana innocent. Apparently, Knox wants to know what Matthew is doing in Oxford.

The Daemons: Agatha calls Nathaniel (Daniel Ezra) to ask him about Sophie (Aisling Loftus) and then speaks with her about the statue and why she links it to alchemy. She explains that the person she has to give it to her is in alchemy and she has visions of her in a castle with seven towers with her Dark King. With that, Agatha says she mustn’t talk to anyone about it and won’t introduce them.

The Vampires: Gerbert (Trevor Eve) and Baldwin speak and Baldwin says Matthew won’t keep the book for himself. Gerbert says they are losing their grip over the other species, and Baldwin’s family is making it worse for them.

Time For A Dance

Ysabeau looks over the photos of Diana’s parents and asks Matthew if she knows, to which he says yes. He also sweetly says he’s drawn to her because of her bravery and that she reminds him of Ysabeau. Diana later finds Ysabeau in Philippe’s office and Diana wants to know how he died, which Ysabeau is angered by. Diana speaks of her parents and says she’s willing to make up her own mind despite the stories she’s heard about Ysabeau. With that, Ysabeau wants to know why they were killed and tells Diana to make whoever did it pay.

The three have a somewhat awkward dinner together and then afterwards, they sit down by the fire, which is merely for Diana’s sake. They speak of Christmas, parties, and dancing while Matthew gets the music cranking and asks Ysabeau to dance, which will bring a smile to your face! Removing his tie, he then asks Diana to dance, even though she claims she’s a terrible dancer. Marthe and Ysabeau watch on when she tells Diana to let him lead before it turns into a sexy tango. With all the spinning and excitement, Diana begins to literally glow.

Diana and Matthew walk together outside when he turns to her and kisses her passionately (with a bit of an ass grab might I add).

Danger Arrives

After that little moment, Diana wants to know about William Harvey because of the historian in her. However, Domenico (Gregg Chillin) is there and speaks of their last meeting when they were on opposing sides. He gradually gets closer to Diana, but despite Matthew’s pleas, she stands her ground. Ysabeau and Marthe turn up when Domenico tells Diana she is wanted by the Congregation, along with The Book of Life. In that moment, Domenico realises that Matthew isn’t in it for the book, but for Diana and says he is breaking the Covenant, which Diana doesn’t understand. After looking briefly into Diana’s eyes, Marthe whisks her away while Matthew grabs Domenico and threatens to rip his head off, but instead breaks his leg. Domenico vows to kill them.

Ysabeau asks why Matthew didn’t tell her about the book, but he says it became something else. She says he must give her to them, otherwise they will kill her if he doesn’t.

Diana asks Marthe about the Covenant, which essentially forbids interspecies relationships. She explains that Philippe believed that if different species mated, it might upset the balance of power. When Diana asks what happens when creatures break it, Marthe simply says that it hasn’t been broken. Matthew arrives back at the house and says there will be no more visits from the Congregation as they won’t be breaking the Covenant. Diana is beyond upset by Matthew giving in and he turns into dark and nasty Matthew with the words he utters.

Matthew receives a call as someone broke into the lab and he must go back, except Matthew won’t let her go with him. He says Diana will stay at Sept-Tours, but Diana says that leaving her isn’t the answer and that she loves him, and you can just see a brief glimpse of longing in Matthew’s face and he says she knows how he feels. Diana runs after Matthew’s car when she begins crying and it brings on a massive rainstorm. Marthe and Ysabeau run out and they’re shocked at Diana’s power, and the rain goes back up into the air.

Overall Thoughts?

Wow, wow, wow. This episode had so much in it from the new characters of Ysabeau, Baldwin,, and Marthe, to new locations such as Sept-Tours and the Congregation’s chamber. Thankfully, the episode did not seem overstuffed, but they certainly managed to pack in as much as possible. It didn’t detract from the highly emotional scenes involving Diana and Matthew as their sweet moments from riding together, to dancing, and to kissing all helped develop their relationship, and as a fellow fangirl, it made me feel all the feels.

Now, this marks the halfway mark of the season, so it’s going to be all action from here on out. Our characters have all been given their background, and now it’s time to see how they move around on the chessboard… who will be hurt, who will survive, and who will win.

Episode 5 Official Synopsis: Gillian pays a heavy price for her disloyalty to Diana, but not before news that vampires are studying witch DNA reaches Knox. The fall-out threatens the fragile equilibrium between creatures and the focus is on ending Matthew and Diana’s relationship whatever the cost. Agatha treads a careful line of democracy at the Congregation, but Nathaniel continues to instigate daemon direct-action. Ysabeau relies on shock tactics to expel Diana until Matthew returns with breathtaking news about Diana’s DNA. Diana and Matthew are finally united in love, only for the unexpected to happen.

What did you think of this week’s episode? Tell us in the comments below!

The post A Discovery of Witches Recap: Episode 1.04 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

During last week’s episode, Matthew went on a little hunting trip with his friend Hamish as he’s been craving Diana’s blood. After chatting to him, Matthew decides he must protect Diana. Meanwhile, Peter Knox and Satu arrive in Oxford and approach Diana about Ashmole 782, and Diana later has an altercation with the both of them. We are also introduced to Domenico, Juliette, and Gerbert in Venice who all seem to know Matthew. Diana and Matthew learn more about one another, along with Diana opening up about Ashmole 782.

A Day Out

Matthew (Matthew Goode) tells us again that creatures have all but disappeared while entering the Bodleian in search of Diana (Teresa Palmer), but he instead finds her exiting her apartment and she seems a little happy to see him. He informs her there are quite the number of creatures at the Bodleian and he’d like to take her out for the day. Enter Gillian (Louise Brealey) who tries to explain about Peter (Owen Teale), but Diana isn’t interested in what she has to say, and this only pushes Diana to spend the day with Matthew.

They drive in near silence until she learns they will be going to Matthew’s house…and by house, we mean mansion complete with acres of green grass and even peacocks! Diana is in awe of his “time capsule” house and she eyes off a painting of Matthew’s sister, Louisa. She continues with the questions about his real name and we learn about his mother who sired him and his step-father, Philippe.

We then find Matthew and Diana in a library with Diana poring over alchemical texts that Matthew inherited from his brother. He begins to ask her about how she called the book and he tests her by spilling his wine over the manuscript, but Diana’s powers flare and fling the book out of the way. He says her magic is instinctive and that she needed Ashmole 782 for her research at the time and that there’s also some link between her and the book.

As they walk outdoors, Matthew says Diana was born to be a witch and begins talking about his own life, such as being born in what was most likely 500 and reborn again in 537. Diana then asks Matthew if he would like to have dinner, to which he accepts.

A Trip To Venice and New York

Satu (Malin Buska) is travelling the open waters of Venice when she goes through a magical barrier that lifts and we suddenly see buildings everywhere, which is home to the Congregation. She is shown to the witches archives and it’s filled with rows and rows of shelves. Later on, Satu searches through the shelves and finds the files on Rebecca and Diana Bishop, which includes a lot of redacted information. Satu performs a spell to remove the redaction when Domenico (Gregg Chillin) snatches the paper from her and now he is intrigued.

Domenico then returns to Gerbert D’Aurillac (Trevor Eve) and tells him that Matthew is ‘harassing’ a witch and should be punished. Afterwards, Gerbert removes a chest from a cupboard and it contains a head. The head’s eyes snap open and utter a warning: “Beware the witch with the blood of the lion and the wolf.” Gerbert then bathes Juliette (Elarica Johnson) and sends her on her way to find Matthew.

Meanwhile in Madison County, Em (Valarie Pettiford) is water scrying, but her visions are interrupted by Sarah (Alex Kingston). Em says she’s been having strange dreams about Diana and that she sees a man following Diana. Sarah then calls Diana in alarm about Diana hanging out with a vampire. Em then reminds Diana of the stories her mother told her when Diana was little—the Shadow Prince that lived between sunset and moonrise—with Em suggesting Matthew could be the Shadow Prince…

Dinner Is Served

Diana leaves her apartment to find Marcus (Edward Bluemel), who is there to keep an eye on Diana since Matthew is away. Diana isn’t overly pleased, but she asks for Marcus’ help in making Matthew dinner. Marcus suggests a little quid pro quo: Diana’s blood for the lab in exchange for his knowledge on Matthew. She then has her bloods taken by Miriam, when Matthew barges in demanding he be the one that takes it.

Later that day, Matthew is heading to Diana’s when he’s stopped by Miriam (Aiysha Hart) as she knows he is craving Diana and it’s a big no-no as it’s forbidden by the Covenant.

With the table all set and Diana ready, she receives a knock on her door only to find that it’s Peter Knox. He’s disgusted that Diana is having him over when Matthew turns up and speeds to her side. With that, Peter leaves with a grimace. Thankfully, Matthew has brought wine.

They dig into dinner and Matthew is most satisfied with his red deer, which is followed by a barrage of vampire questions including flying and breathing. He then enchants Diana with his ability to smell and taste every element in the wine causing her to ask what she would taste like. It causes a very stern “don’t ever say that to me” from Matthew and things suddenly become electric.

Diana approaches him as she trusts him before he grabs her and says she smells of willow sap, chamomile honey, frankincense, and lady’s mantle—”ancient things he thought he’d all but forgotten”. She turns to him and slowly brings her lips to his and he does nothing resulting in a loud chuckle from myself. He promptly thanks her for dinner and leaves.

Intriguing New Characters

We are introduced to a new and pregnant character by the name of Sophie Wilson (Aisling Loftus) who is drawing the same image of the alchemical child Diana saw in Ashmole 782. As Imagine Dragons ‘Demons’ plays, she returns home to her partner Nathaniel (Daniel Ezra). He has set up a chatroom for daemons born to humans to talk to one another, while she’s picked up a whole stack of alchemy books.

The next day, a woman walks into their apartment and it turns out to be Nathaniel’s mother, Agatha Wilson (Tanya Moodie). She’s intrigued by all the information about alchemy, while Nathaniel has been given a day to close the chatroom despite her promising she didn’t report him. We learn she’s part of the Congregation and Nathaniel wants her to make things better for daemons. They’re interrupted by Sophie who shows them a figurine of the White Queen from alchemy and it’s been in her family for generations. Agatha isn’t so sure it’s her as she’s sporting a bow and arrow when Sophie continues saying that her father said she must give the figurine to the person who needs her…

Never Cross A Witch

The next day, Diana receives an envelope under her door which includes the images of her murdered parents. She goes to see Gillian to confront her about these images as she wants to know where Knox is and says she will deal with it all herself.

Diana heads to the Bodleian and asks for Ashmole 782 once more. While she’s waiting, Peter turns up and she realises there are several witches waiting, including Gillian who has betrayed her once again. Sean (Adetomiwa Edun) returns to say the book isn’t there and he’s suspicious about all the people and stands up for her when Peter begins to cast a spell resulting in Sean falling to the floor. Things begin to rattle, the air turns into fierce wind, and it throws the witches back with the power emanating from Diana. Matthew feels it and races to her to help calm her and stop her magic.

Onwards To Sept-Tours

Diana rests in her bed while Matthew packs her things and Marcus checks in on them. He wants to fight Peter as he sent the photos to Diana, while Marcus is worried about him endangering the family just for her. Matthew then decides to take Diana to Sept-Tours much to the surprise of Marcus, especially with Ysabeau there.

Later on, Diana wakes and Matthew informs her she was exhausted from the witch wind—a power no witch has summoned for centuries. He tells her she must leave as her powers are undisciplined and that they are going to France since no witch will trespass on vampire land. In that moment, Matthew then kisses her properly while a cover of “You Can Go Your Own Way” plays with them promptly leaving afterwards while holding hands.

Overall Thoughts?

What an episode! With each new episode, it seems that the series is doing an incredible job at adapting its source material for the screen, and it’s making me want to read the books once again! While it does definitely have its cliché moments with the vampire questions and some scenes that might make one cringe, it still causes one to find themselves seriously invested in the series, and how can you now with such a brilliant cast, especially Matthew Goode.

The next episode will be quite interesting with Matthew and Diana heading to Sept-Tours as we the series will get ramped up significantly, especially with it marking the halfway point of the season.

Episode 4 Official Synopsis: Matthew’s hope of keeping Diana safe at Sept-Tours appears short-lived as Ysabeau refuses to welcome the warmblood under her roof. Knox calls an emergency meeting of the Congregation to denounce Matthew for abducting a witch but Matthew’s ferocious older brother Baldwin plays a careful game to maintain control in the face of Gerbert foretelling the end of the de Clermonts – and throws Diana to the lions. Diana isn’t the only witch facing persecution. Satu pays a shocking price for her curiosity when Knox discovers she has been searching through the Witches’ Archive and learned his guilty secret. Meanwhile, things turn nasty in Oxford for Marcus and Miriam as Juliette attacks.

What did you think of this week’s episode? Tell us in the comments below!

The post A Discovery of Witches Recap: Episode 1.03 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Once the world was full of wonders, but it belongs to humans now. We creatures have all but disappeared. Daemons, vampires, and witches hiding in plain sight, ill at ease, even with each other. But, as my father used to say, in every ending…there is a new beginning.

It’s back! Last week saw the premiere of A Discovery of Witches for the UK and selected European countries, and judging by the first episode, it’s a very promising adaptation of Deborah Harkness’s best-selling All Souls trilogy. We were introduced of course to Matthew and Diana, played by Matthew Goode and Teresa Palmer, and the pair portrayed their characters very well. Other integral characters included Satu, Peter Knox, Gillian, Marcus, Miriam, and of course, Diana’s Aunt Em and Sarah. The series set up the story well by introducing the world of vampires, daemons, and witches, along with how our characters fit into this world. Now that the stage has been set, our characters are free to find themselves in trouble, or perhaps be the ones stirring up trouble…

Hunting and Killing

Firstly, when the song ‘White Rabbit’ starts playing in anything, you must applause the music team. Now, the new episode begins in Venice when a woman eyes off a man named Matthieu and follows him. The pair then are slamming up against brick walls when she says she used to know a man named Matthew. During the middle of the act, she bites into his neck causing him to run. She catches up to him and calls him Matthew before biting into his chest.

After such a full-on opening scene, we are then soothed by Matthew’s (Matthew Goode) voice once more as he travels in his car through the countryside before arriving at a beautiful manor. Matthew is there do some hunting and Hamish (Greg McHugh) greets him at the door. Hamish, who is a daemon, wants to know what’s wrong and Matthew tells him he came to get away from a witch as he is craving her. They then head out to hunt, well at least Matthew does. He catches the scent of a stag and he’s racing across the hills to catch up with his prey. After a good feed, Hamish thinks Matthew should stay away from Diana.

Later on, Hamish and Matthew discuss the book and it appears daemon suicides, mental health problems, and homelessness are on the rise. If the book could explain their origins, it could help them. During a game of chess, they continue their discussion when Hamish wins and not-so-subtly says “there is more to the game than protecting your queen”. Matthew then decides he needs to go back and get the book from Diana, when Hamish suggests Marcus instead. Matthew won’t let him anywhere near her, and Hamish reminds him of what’s happened in the past to the women he’s craved—Elena and Cecilia. Matthew angers at this and says he swore to never be with another warmblood again after Cecilia, but Hamish can tell that he’s talking about Diana differently.

Nightmares and Danger

Diana (Teresa Palmer) continues to have more nightmares of spiders and being covered in cobwebs. After being woken up from them, Diana heads out for the day and finds her jacket that Matthew sniffed last episode in her letterbox. Once again the Bodleian is filled with people, much to the surprise of Diana. When Diana looks up, she sees Satu (Malin Buska) and she is then approached by Peter Knox (Owen Teale), who claims to be a friend. At first Diana dismisses him, but he reveals he knew her mother.

The pair then walk together and he says he and Diana’s mother met when they were teenagers. Peter also says he had hoped to introduce himself, but her aunts are quite overprotective. Alarm bells much? They stop for tea and Peter begins his interrogation about the book—how she called it, where it is, and what was in it. Peter believes Ashmole 782 contains the witches’ first spells, which could tell them how they created vampires and how they may be able to destroy them. Diana won’t have any part of it, and leaves. This causes Peter to tell Satu they may have to use firmer tactics.

Diana then has more tea, but with Gillian (Louise Brealey) who doesn’t understand the harm of trying to call the book again. Gillian is glad to hear that Matthew isn’t interested in Diana anymore, but Diana is somewhat miffed about Matthew being gone.

Out for a run, Satu stops Diana and grabs Diana’s hand that was burned. She says Diana’s magic is hidden when Satu goes into a trance like state trying to figure out what’s wrong with her and apparently Diana did it to herself. After her encounter with Satu, Diana calls Em to ask her about Peter, who apparently was into dark magic and in love with Diana’s mother.

Diana heads to a faculty function when she’s introduced to man with a special interest in occult sciences and he just so happens to be Peter Knox. After he requests for her to retrieve the book again, she delivers a nice burn by saying, “I’m like my mother. Once I’ve made my mind up, I don’t change it”. She then walks off but he speaks inside her mind with the threat he will make her do it. He keeps pushing deeper into her mind when her powers flare and she yells inside his head causing a window to smash.

Out For Blood

Back in Venice, we are introduced to Domenico (Gregg Chillin) at a mortuary as he wants to view the body that was found. It’s the body of Matthieu, but drained of blood. At the mention of Matthieu’s name, it seems Domenico knows exactly what’s happened. He then goes to visit Juliette (Elarica Johnson) who is the woman from the start of the episode, along with her father, Gerbert D’Aurillac (Trevor Eve), who he has a private conversation with. Afterwards, Gerbert talks to Juliette about what happened as Baldwin could use it against him. He then bites into her neck to see what she did to Matthieu and we also see memories of her being intimate with Matthew. This leads to Juliette being thrown into a cell.

Meanwhile, Miriam (Aiysha Hart) is testing blood when Marcus (Edward Bluemel) shows up and it seems James’ tests came back normal and the problem is with Marcus.

After the ordeal at the faculty function, Peter Knox pays a visit to Gillian and he tells her that Diana performed an elemental spell, much to the surprise of Gillian. Diana then knocks on her door and sees Peter, and Diana then realises it was Gillian who betrayed her. Everything that has happened to Diana recently begins to play in her head and she then goes to see Matthew’s rooms. She knocks, but with no answer she is disheartened until she sees him at the bottom of the stairs.

A Discovery of Matthew

Diana sits in Matthew’s room and says that he was right about the creatures coming for the book, meanwhile all Matthew can hear is her pulse from the other side of the room. Matthew asks for her to calm down and then asks her why she came to him. Unfortunately for Diana, she has nobody she can trust and she certainly doesn’t want Peter to get the book. Matthew then hands Diana a book and she’s excited to learn that he knew Charles Darwin, but also surprised to hear Matthew has been searching for Ashmole 782 since 1859. This then leads to the question every vampire story has: how old are you? The guessing game goes up to 500 years before she begins to pinpoint a time by asking if he witnessed certain events: “Did you know Machiavelli? Survive the fall of Carthage?”

Matthew asks to show Diana his lab and recommends she wear a coat as he can tell she’s cold since he can hear her heart “all the time”. At the lab, he tells her they are studying vampire, witch, and daemon species. Unfortunately the intellectual tension is interrupted by Miriam and Marcus, who takes a nice big whiff of Diana—”Wow! AB negative. Don’t suppose I could take some of your blood, could I? It’s tough getting a sample from a living witch.” Diana abruptly declines when Matthew explains that vampires are unable to sire, daemons are increasingly prone to madness, and witches are losing their powers.

He then shows her some graphs of various DNA from witches and then discussing Ashmole 782 and the potential world of only humans. Diana sees that Matthew thinks she should use her powers. After he drops her to her door and begins to walk away, Diana confesses the book is a palimpsest with old words hidden under new. She speaks of what she noticed, included three missing pages and the alchemical child depiction. At this, he grabs her hand and kisses her wrist.

Overall Thoughts?

I am seriously loving this series. As I mentioned in the season premiere recap, I began to lose interest significantly within the first book because it delved so much into alchemy. Don’t get me wrong, I find it fascinating, but it wasn’t really necessary because you really only needed to know the basic concepts rather than reading excerpts from alchemy texts. This is perhaps why the series is enjoyable because it cuts that out since there is so much of a story to tell. It focuses on the characters, their relationships, and where the story takes place.

Naturally being this type of genre, it does carry the typical tropes of instant love, warring vampires, and plenty of danger, but I can easily overlook that since I love a good romance and witchy tale, plus also when Matthew Goode narrates, it’s like heaven. I’m also incredibly glad the season is only eight episodes long allowing it to go into enough detail, but not dragging at the same time. I think by the end of the season, we will be quite satisfied, and hopefully we will be able to see what happens next as Shadow of Night is my favourite book in the trilogy and definitely the most interesting when it comes to everything such as the storyline, characters, and settings.

Next week on A Discovery of Witches, Matthew and Diana have dinner and he also takes her to his house. We will also see Diana let Matthew test her blood, along with Diana asking what she would taste like. Sarah’s angry to discover that Diana is hanging out and Diana tries to get Ashmole 782 again.

Episode 3 Official Synopsis: Domenico takes information he’s extracted from Satu to menacing vampire Gerbert, who gains the advantage he has been waiting for. After sending Juliette into the world to do his bidding, Gerbert consults with Meridiana, the witch whom he keeps in thrall, but what does the prophecy she delivers mean? In Oxford, Diana refuses to help Knox realise his supremacist longing to destroy the vampires and answers his threats with such a violent force of untamed elemental power, as to set in motion a wider chain of events that bring her closer to Matthew but place her in even greater jeopardy.

What did you think of the episode? Tell us in the comments below!

The post A Discovery of Witches Recap: Episode 1.02 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

It begins with absence and desire. It begins with blood and fear. It begins with a discovery of witches.

Infused with magic, history, brilliant actors, and gorgeous scenery, A Discovery of Witches is a promising series that is sure to delight many fans of the series as well as introduce many humans to this new world.

Adapted from Deborah Harkness’s best-selling All Souls trilogy, A Discovery of Witches is a modern-day love story. The new series follows the brilliant academic and historian Diana Bishop (Teresa Palmer), a reluctant witch denying her magical heritage. That is, until she discovers an ancient manuscript in Oxford’s Bodleian Library throws her into the heart of a dangerous mystery – and into the path of enigmatic geneticist and vampire Matthew Clairmont, (Matthew Goode), who hides a dark family secret. As Diana and Matthew embark on a journey to understand the secrets of the manuscript and their relationship develops, events threaten to unravel the fragile peace between witches, vampires, daemons and humans, a peace overseen by the Congregation, a shadowy institution made up of a handful of powerful vampire, witch and daemon representatives.

It All Starts With A Book

We arrive in Oxford England around the time of the Autumn Equinox and we are quickly treated to Matthew Clairmont’s (Matthew Goode) dreamy narration about the world while he watches on as our other main character, Diana Bishop (Teresa Palmer) rows along the water. After her regular ritual, Diana gets ready and heads off through the streets of Oxford on her bicycle. When she arrives at her destination, she drops some papers and exclaims, which is followed by her hands lighting up and the papers magically sorting back into order… Diana is there to present her research on alchemy to some fellow historians, and she is given a glowing introduction indicating her brilliance. She speaks of learning more from Elias Ashmole’s manuscripts at Bodleian Library followed by being offered a potential position as faculty.

Gillian Chamberlain, a friend of Diana’s, was attending her lecture and the pair have coffee together. Gillian reveals she is part of the local coven and there is a meeting soon, however, Diana is uncomfortable with practising magic after what happened with her parents. She does reveal that her powers are completely unpredictable due to her lack of practice.

The next day, Diana visits Bodleian Library and requests various Ashmole manuscripts, however, Ashmole 782 isn’t there at first, but when the librarian comes back, it’s there. Immediately Diana seems intrigued by Ashmole 782 and after opening, both Matthew, who is in a church, and Diana feel something. The manuscript appears to have missing pages and hidden, scrambling words, which crawl on to Diana’s skin before burning a mark into her hand. Matthew then receives a call from Miriam Shepherd (Aiysha Hart) as she feels her blood is reacting to something also. Diana quickly returns the book and leaves before running into a man who looks exactly like her deceased father when Gillian comes rushing out, as she felt something too. She asks many questions about the manuscript, but Diana runs away.

The Family Around Us

At a lab, Matthew tells Miriam about Diana, who is a direct descendant of Bridget Bishop—the first woman to be executed during the Salem witch trials. Apparently Matthew has been looking for Ashmole 782 for centuries to help him learn more about their origins.

We are then introduced to Marcus (Edward Bluemel) who is trying to convince his friend James to go out, but he heads home instead. However, he is hit by a car and it appears he is dead. With nobody around, Marcus makes the decision to bite into his neck (hello vampire!) before feeding his blood to James, who reacts hungrily. Unfortunately, James then flops dead once more. Later on, Marcus is interrogated by the police while Matthew listens on in the hallway and he’s angry with Marcus for doing what he did. Marcus wonders why it didn’t work, and apparently that’s what they are researching, and now Marcus is their new test subject much to the dismay of Miriam.

Diana wakes the next day after some nightmares and calls her family in Madison County, New York. Sarah Bishop (Alex Kingston) is immediately worried and Diana tells her what happened with the manuscript. Sarah is infuriated that Diana returned the book without learning more about it when Sarah’s partner Emily Mather (Valarie Pettiford) joins the conversation. Diana informs them she thought she saw her father, and Sarah’s approach is much more aggressive, while Emily is more laidback and loving.

Back at Bodleian Library, Diana needs another manuscript and after struggling to reach it, her magic flares up and it goes flying in the air. Thankfully, Matthew turns up and rescues the book from falling to an early book grave. Diana senses he is a vampire and he introduces himself as biochemist Matthew Clairmont. He speaks of his interest in her work and then remarks on her public displays of witchcraft before abruptly departing.

Diana goes for lunch and cyberstalks Matthew, when lo and behold, he walks in the door and he’s quite amused. Diana becomes very direct with him about what he wants and he asks about the Ashmole manuscript and if it is 782. Matthew says many people are after the manuscript and she should turn it over so she won’t be in any danger. She won’t have a bar of it, and returns to the Bodleian until it closes. She heads out with Sean (Adetomiwa Edun), a worker at the Bodleian, for a drink and we learn more about Diana’s past. Her parents were murdered during a research trip to the Ukraine/Russian border and believe the villagers turned on them thinking they were witches.

Trouble Is Brewing

We are taken to Finland where Peter Knox (Owen Teale) and a man with a gun look into the woods before venturing into them. With several strange cult looking items hanging around, you just know something terrible is about to happen. When the man with the gun thinks the coast is clear, a witch comes up behind him and engulfs him a ring of fire before letting the ground take him. Peter knew of Satu Jarvinen’s (Malin Buska) power and says she will be sworn into the Congregation. Meanwhile, Gillian downs a glass of wine before heading to meet with another witch named Sylvia (Nila Aalia) about the disturbance they felt.

The next day at Bodleian, some hot-shot professor has all the librarians running around and it turns out to be none other than Matthew. Diana’s not exactly pleased to see him, except he points out that the library is filled with witches and they are there to watch Diana, which causes her to storm off. Gillian chases after Diana to ask her about Matthew and wants to know what is going on with him. Later that day, Peter and Satu visit Gillian and Sylvia to find out what happened with the manuscript and who discovered it. Judging by Peter’s face, he knows of Diana.

And So It Begins…

Matthew watches over Diana throughout her day from getting coffee to running, and then rowing, and she seems to sense him. During her row, he visits her room to search for Ashmole 782. Afterwards, Matthew returns once she has finished her session and asks her what she did with the Book of Life, but she doesn’t know what she is talking about. Matthew takes a deep inhale of Diana’s jacket and his demeanour changes immediately as he appears as though he’s going to rip someone’s head off, and that head may just so happen to be Diana’s.

Overall Thoughts?

In all honesty, I thought the book was a slow burn, and it could have easily been about 150 pages shorter as it went a little too in-depth with the alchemy and some scenes. It’s obvious television doesn’t have that amount of time to go as into, so perhaps this will be a positive for the series. That being said, I still think the series will be a slow burn even with it only being eight episodes, and newcomers may find it a little slow or uninteresting. Fans of the series will most definitely enjoy it, despite there being some differences that have been voiced already by fans.

Any time there is an adaptation, I always take the time to remind people who you can’t just talk a book and translate it word-for-word on to the screen. Firstly, that’d be boring. Secondly, there are so many components such as the constant narration, dialogue, and being in the character’s head that you cannot translate on to the screen because the screen relies on visuals. Of course there’s the changes to characters, scenes, and what not, but obviously the creators have a reason for doing what they did. If you’re not happy and you’re going to be all overly vocal about it, don’t watch or go make another adaptation yourself.

Now, back to the episode. I truly think it is going to be quite the adaptation because it felt just like the book, and even with the preview at the end, it had me exclaiming “Matthew is going to see Hamish, Diana get away from Peter!” While it’s hard to give a first episode of a series a rating, I based mine off how well the adaptation was and the way I felt while reading the book in comparison to watching the series. Diana had all her mannerisms; Matthew is charming but yet oddly weird at first, especially with his shirt sniffing; Sarah is firm and Emily is the compassionate half of the pair; Satu is completely dangerous and makes me want to scream already; and Peter is receiving an immense amount of hatred from me already.

It’s a promising start, but the final judgement can’t be made for another episode or two.

On next week’s episode, Matthew goes to visit his friend Hamish Osborne (Greg McHugh) for a little hunting expedition, while it appears we will be introduced to a few new characters with some vampire killings occurring. Peter Knox will also meet with Diana to ask her about Ashmole 782 as it will tell them how they created vampires, and how they can end them.

Did you watch the premiere? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

The post A Discovery of Witches Recap: Episode 1.01 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Adapted from Deborah Harkness’s bestselling All Souls trilogy, A Discovery of Witches is a modern-day love story. The new series follows the brilliant academic and historian Diana Bishop (Teresa Palmer), a reluctant witch denying her magical heritage. That is, until she discovers an ancient manuscript in Oxford’s Bodleian Library throws her into the heart of a dangerous mystery – and into the path of enigmatic geneticist and vampire Matthew Clairmont, (Matthew Goode), who hides a dark family secret. As Diana and Matthew embark on a journey to understand the secrets of the manuscript and their relationship develops, events threaten to unravel the fragile peace between witches, vampires, daemons and humans, a peace overseen by the Congregation, a shadowy institution made up of a handful of powerful vampire, witch and daemon representatives.

From all the teasers, trailers, and images we’ve seen thus far, the series seems to promise darkness and mystery, and of course a little sexiness, which are all elements fans of the series will be familiar with.

THE CHARACTERS 

Diana Bishop (Teresa Palmer)
Smart, independent and contrarian, American Diana Bishop is a brilliant young historian and a descendant of the famous Bishop witches. The brutal murder of her parents when she was a child led her to renounce the world of magic and focus on what she was good at: academic study and rational thought. Determined to be ‘normal’, Diana forged a starry career in the history of alchemy and science. But the moment she opens a hidden magical manuscript in the Bodleian Library and meets Matthew, the vampire who’s been searching for it for centuries, Diana is catapulted into a dramatic journey of discovery – of her family’s hidden past, her emerging powers, and her newly awakened heart.

Matthew Clairmont (Matthew Goode)
Matthew is a complex knot of contradictory impulses and desires. A poet, a healer, a scientist, a spy, a warrior, an assassin – all of these titles have belonged to Matthew over the course of his very long life. He has several vulnerabilities, including his anger, arrogance, and a profound quest for redemption and forgiveness. At one moment a dangerous and deadly fighter, he is at the same time nurturing and protective, a gentle man who yearns to be a father and have a family of his own. Matthew has loved many women and is a faithful, somewhat obsessive lover. But he never mated… until he met Diana Bishop.

Sarah Bishop (Alex Kingston)
Diana’s aunt, Sarah Bishop is descended from the first witch executed at Salem. Sarah is proud to be a Bishop and enjoys a respected place among witches because of her name and blood lineage. She has a temperamental nature, a famously short fuse, is intensely loyal and has a long-standing addiction to coffee. Her prize possession is the Bishop grimoire, the family’s ancient spell book. Where her partner Emily is thoughtful and measured, Sarah is a firecracker who says exactly what’s on her mind, consequences be damned.

Emily Mather (Valarie Pettiford)
Sarah’s long-term partner, Emily Mather is maternal, nurturing and deeply insightful. A witch with a talent for scrying and visions, Em is often the peace broker in the house, her honesty and compassion encouraging Sarah and Diana to face difficult truths. Em has a family secret she has kept since the death of Rebecca, her best friend. She uses that knowledge to understand Diana’s unlikely relationship with Matthew and to guide her. But when the secret comes out – and it must – there are explosive repercussions with Sarah, and their relationship is tested to its limits.

Ysabeau de Clermont (Lindsay Duncan)
Ysabeau de Clermont is one of the oldest vampires in existence – and certainly one of the cleverest. Known for her beauty and elegance, Ysabeau was mated to the legendary Philippe de Clermont. Ysabeau is fiercely protective of her family and her concerns are primarily for her beloved son, Matthew. Because Philippe was held and experimented on by Nazis and witches during World War II, Ysabeau once vowed to kill every witch she could get her hands on. So when Matthew asks her to help him protect Diana she is angry and conflicted. Steely, ferociously intelligent and deeply loyal, Ysabeau is the strong female core at the centre of the de Clermont clan.

Baldwin Montclair (Trystan Gravelle)
Trained to wield a sword from childhood, Baldwin Montclair had been imposing before becoming a vampire, and after his rebirth few dared to cross him. He is both head of the de Clermont family and holds a seat on the Congregation. Baldwin was made a vampire in Roman times and had been Philippe’s favourite. However, his step-brother Matthew has something Baldwin badly wants and believes their father should have bestowed on him by right – Grand Master of the order of Knights of Lazarus.

Juliette Durand (Elarica Johnson)
Juliette is a bright, courageous and beautiful vampire who, had she not been so ill-treated, would have had the world at her feet. Rescued from the brothels of Cairo in the late 17th century by Gerbert D’Aurillac, Juliette was ruthlessly trained to infiltrate his enemies, the de Clermonts, making that the sole focus of her life. But she has never lost hope that, one day, the profound love she has carried will give her back something precious she lost.

Gerbert D’Aurillac (Trevor Eve)
One of the most esteemed, clever and feared of vampires, Gerbert is a brilliant schemer, whose plots unfold over a long span of time. This makes his manoeuvring almost impossible to track unless you are even older and wiser than he is – and there are few creatures who can make that claim. Gerbert desires the triumph of vampire culture over daemons, humans, and witches. He knows there are only two obstacles to his rise to unchallenged power: the witches and the de Clermont family, whom he’s loathed for centuries. The only thing more ferocious than his intelligence is his ambition. Those who underestimate him learn, to their cost, that he is one step ahead of them. Always.

Peter Knox (Owen Teale)
Peter Knox is a witch of great ambition and considerable skill. Intensive study and practice have made him a powerful and highly regarded spellcaster, but it’s his philosophy of creatures that makes him a leader among witches. With a profound loathing of vampires, Knox believes witches should be at the top of the species food chain. He has risen to the highest echelons of witch society, occupying a seat on the Congregation representing his fellow witches worldwide. But a gnawing insecurity prevails – he always feels there is something just out of his grasp, and has dark secrets he will protect at all costs.

Miriam Shephard (Aiysha Hart)
Unlike most vampires, Miriam Shephard is frank and honest, speaking her mind with passion and without fear. Though loyal to Matthew, she is not the least bit cowed by him or his lofty position. In part this is because Miriam is completely comfortable with who and what she is: a predator. Creatures, no matter who they are, need to earn her respect. Once they do, Miriam is an unshakable ally and friend. She is very much Matthew’s second in command and his watchdog, not only protecting his well-being, but Diana’s too.

Marcus Whitmore (Edward Bluemel)
Marcus Whitmore believes in honesty, freedom, and equality – even for humans. In that context, Marcus is a rulebreaker, a radical and a trouble-maker, but with a handsome, boyish charm. In 1781, Marcus was near death from fever when Matthew was moved to offer the young man a second chance: an eternal life. Over the centuries, Marcus has found meaning in his life through medicine.

Hamish Osborne (Greg McHugh)
Hamish Osborne is a genius. Everybody knows that. What most people don’t know is that he is a daemon. Born to workingclass human parents, Hamish’s startling intellect and strong work ethic led him to Oxford University where he met Matthew Clairmont and the two developed a lifelong friendship. His loyalty is unquestioned, but he will speak his truth to Matthew, whether or not it’s painful to hear.

Agatha Wilson (Tanya Moodie)
A creative and successful woman who lives life on her own terms – Agatha doesn’t follow style, she sets it. She is warm and independent, a formidable mother, and a woman of great charisma. A member of the Congregation, she is an unusually focused and effective daemon. She finds vampire and witch superiority unacceptable in these modern times, and has an uncanny awareness of when Gerbert, Baldwin, or Peter are up to something – people underestimate her at their peril.

Sophie Wilson (Aisling Loftus)
Sophie is a daemon – unexpectedly so, since her parents and most of her ancestors were witches. She carefully guards that information about her ancestry, believing that she somehow came out “wrong” and will therefore be shunned. Like many daemons, Sophie has an artistic sensibility and has many visions. She and Nathaniel are thrilled by the prospect of being parents, but are worried about what their child might be: human, daemon, or witch?

Nathaniel Wilson (Daniel Ezra)
The brilliant only child of Congregation member Agatha Wilson, Nathaniel is friendly, outspoken and driven. He is an attentive husband to Sophie, and will be a marvellous father. He opposes the Congregation and the covenant, a source of tension with his mother.

Satu Jarvinen (Malin Buska)
Satu Jarvinen is a powerful witch with a secret. A loner at heart, she has an edgy style perfectly in keeping with her independent and fearless demeanour. Born among the Saami people of Finland, Satu was able to work spells before she could read or even talk. Satu is drawn to Diana, recognising her as an uncanny version of herself. But Diana will become either Satu’s greatest ally, or most dangerous enemy.

Starring Teresa Palmer (Hacksaw Ridge) as Diana Bishop, Matthew Goode (The Good Wife) as Matthew Clairmont, Alex Kingston (Doctor Who) as Diana’s witchy aunt Sarah Bishop, Valarie Pettiford (The Blacklist) as Sarah’s partner Emily (Em) Mather, Lindsey Duncan (The Leftovers) as Matthew’s vampiric mother Ysabeau, Tanya Moodie (Sherlock) as a daemon Agatha Wilson, Daniel Ezra (BBC’s Undercover) as daemon Nathaniel Wilson, Edward Bluemel (House Finch) as vampire Marcus, Owen Teale (Game of Thrones) as Peter Knox, and Freddie Thorpe (Overdrive) as a new character for the series, Matthieu Beny.

Bad Wolf Productions, headed up by former Doctor Who producers Jane Tranter and Julie Gardner, are behind this adaption of Harkness’ novel, with Mr Selfridge, The Forsyte Saga and Bancroft screenwriter Kate Brooke penning the script.

The eight-episode season will premiere on Sky Vision in the UK on September 14th. As for fans and those interested across the world, the series has been picked up by several networks in various countries. At the time of this article, the series will premiere in September in the UK, Sweden, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Norway, Greece, Romania, Poland, and Croatia. The series will be coming to the US and Canada early 2019. Deborah Harkness constantly updates fans on her social media with countries, networks, and air dates announced on her Facebook page.

Are you excited for A Discovery of Witches? Tell us in the comments below!

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