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Season 1 – A Discovery of Witches

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1:52

Sep 2018

Romance

Fantasy

Drama

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Popcornmeter

94%

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34 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

"A Discovery of Witches" is a fantasy series based on the similarly-named novel of the "All Souls" trilogy, written by Deborah Harkness. Reluctant witch/historian Diana Bishop discovers a bewitched manuscript in the Bodleian library. As she attempts to unravel the secrets this book holds about magical creatures, she is forced back into the world of magic, full of vampires, daemons, witches and forbidden love. Forming an unlikely alliance, geneticist and vampire Matthew Clairmont helps Diana to attempt to protect the book and solve the riddles within, while at the same time dodging threats from the magical creature world.

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Critics Consensus

A Discovery of Witches smartly grounds its flights of fancy with a lived-in authenticity and harnesses the chemistry between its two star-crossed leads to make for a promising foray into the occult.

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Raisa Bruner

TIME Magazine

May 3, 2021

The forbidden love story is the selling point, but the mysteries around witches, vampires and demons give it a highbrow veneer.

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Marc Silver

Washington Post

Dec 4, 2019

The on-location shots of beautiful ancient buildings and bridges, of the shimmering River Thames and tranquil Venetian canals, really do sweep the viewer into another world, casting a spell more powerful than any witch's incantation.

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Sam Wollaston

Guardian

Dec 4, 2019

3/5

If historical fantasy is your thing then I imagine you're in heaven. Or hell, or wherever it is a historical fantasist most wants to be.

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Dev Shea

1428 Elm

Sep 15, 2022

The story gets really busy and is fast and convoluted at times, but it is an interesting watch. While it does lose a little bit of steam around episode 5 or 6, it does pick up again.

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Henry Northmore

The List

Dec 4, 2019

2/5

There's a lot of talk of magic and prophecies but very little action. Everyone just stands around looking consternated while delivering their lines in breathy hushed tones. The grey colour palette only adds to the gloom.

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Jessica Toomer

Uproxx

Dec 4, 2019

The series does a fantastic job of setting its scene, introducing us to this world. It takes its time, it crafts interactions between its main characters in a way that doesn't feel forced or rushed.

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Dee T

@RT94308544 Sep 3, 2026

A Discovery of Witches made me buy a rowing machine, because apparently I would also like to be a strong witch professor.

Itchy B

@Itchybits Aug 21, 2026

The main actress Teresa Palmer has watched too much Twilight before accepting this role. She mimes Bella/Kristen Stewart mannerisms over and over.

Ashley M.

@RT91119779 May 22, 2026

I rewatch this show every fall. It’s one of my top favorite show. The acting is amazing.

Iyhel M

@RT33915427 Jan 6, 2026

Nice cast on paper but their efforts fall short due to the lousiest vampire story of the decade. You don’t even want to check the book to try and see where it went wrong.

David 'Logan' W

@AV8RLogan Dec 30, 2025

With the exception of Evangelical Christianity I have never seen anything so silly take itself so unbearably seriously. It's like a 12 year old wrote an amalgamated fan fic about every bad vampire film and gave the script to his emo big sister to shoot. Unfortunately I'm having to suffer this schlock incessantly because my wife is streaming it :-(

James B.

@jbat65 Nov 21, 2025

Excellent story and cast!

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Alice Troughton

Director

Sarah Walker

Director

Juan Carlos Medina

Director

Teresa Palmer

Diana Bishop

Matthew Goode

Matthew Clairmont

Edward Bluemel

Marcus Whitmore

Episode 1

Aired Sep 14, 2018

In Oxford's library, American historian and reluctant witch Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up an ancient magical manuscript, and finds herself confronted by geneticist and vampire Matthew Clairmont, who is determined to get his hands on the book.

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Episode 2

Aired Sep 22, 2018

Blind to the interest she has stirred amongst creatures, Diana fights an increasing pull towards the magical and turns her back on her witch heritage; matters take an unexpectedly dark turn when Satu is sent by Peter Knox to intimidate her.

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Episode 3

Aired Sep 29, 2018

Domenico takes Satu's information to menacing vampire Gerbert, who gains the advantage he has been waiting for; Diana refuses to help Knox realize his longing to destroy the vampires and answers his threats with a force of untamed elemental power.

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Episode 4

Aired Oct 5, 2018

Matthew's hope of keeping Diana safe is short-lived as Ysabeau refuses to welcome the warmblood; Knox calls an emergency meeting of the Congregation to denounce Matthew; Matthew's ferocious brother, Baldwin, plays a careful game to maintain control.

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Episode 5

Aired Oct 12, 2018

Gillian pays a price for her disloyalty to Diana; the vampires study witch DNA; the fall-out threatens the fragile equilibrium between creatures and the focus is on ending Matthew and Diana's relationship, whatever the cost.

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Episode 6

Aired Oct 19, 2018

Satu brutally tortures Diana in Gerbert's isolated castle ruins; Matthew, now sworn to hunt down and kill anyone who tries to harm Diana, attempts a daring airborne rescue mission with Baldwin in tow.

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Episode 7

Aired Oct 26, 2018

Diana learns the tragic circumstances surrounding why she was spellbound as a child; Diana's devastation at having lived her life as only half herself is interrupted by the Madison house releasing one of the missing pages from Ashmole 782.

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Episode 8

Aired Nov 2, 2018

Matthew's attempt to rescue Diana from Juliette goes horribly wrong; Diana discovers just how lethal her powers can be; as Matthew is dying, Diana must strike a dreadful bargain with the goddess and make the ultimate sacrificial pact.

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