8/10. Beautifully filmed and gentle supernatural escapism

A Discovery of Witches is a supernatural fantasy TV series, produced by Bad Wolf and Sky Productions, with various episode writers and directors contributing to the magically woven tale.

In Deborah Harkness’ All Souls Trilogy adaptation season one, Dr Diana Bishop, a university historian studying alchemy, discovers a bewitched manuscript / grimoire, Ashmole 782, whilst studying at Oxford University’s Bodleian Library, which may hold secrets to vampires, demons and witches – known collectively as Creatures - existence.

This discovery returns Diana to the realm of magic that she has shunned since a child, as the strength of her powers become revealed, whether she wants them to or not. The Creatures are governed by the mysterious Congregation, and converge to seek out Diana and the manuscript ...

Diana forms an unlikely and unique alliance with ancient vampire and geneticist, Matthew Clairmont, to protect the manuscript and its secrets. The two develop a strong bond which threatens their lives and the different worlds they inhabit. They receive reluctant assistance from Matthew’s family, other creatures and Diana’s witch Aunts, Sarah and Emily, who raised her after her parents were killed.

A Discovery of Witches is not to everyone’s taste but it’s gentle supernatural escapism. It’s like a more adult version of Twilight, if you’re not into that, then it won’t be for you.

Here we have Matthew (not Edward) as the tortured vampire soul, it could be a bit twee and silly, but Matthew Goode is a great actor and brings a subtleness and likeability to Matthew Clairmont. He has great chemistry with Teresa Palmer’s Diana, whose eyes are an amazing blue – not sure if this because of the cinematic filter being used. The series has a beautiful colour aesthetic, slightly sepia with some things bolder, giving everything an otherworldly edge. The set pieces all look fantastic and the inclusion of Venice as the centre of the Congregation works as it’s a stunning and elegant place, as is the De Clermont family estate in France.

The quirkily witchy residence of Sarah and Emily is a nice touch as it reacts to what’s happening inside, which is a bit Harry Potter wizardry-esque. CGI effects aren’t overused but when they are, they are subtle and fantastic.

The bad guys Peter Knox (Owen Teale) and Gerbert D’Aurillac (Trevor Eve) are serious and eat up the roles they play. They’re a little bit over the top but it works in this delightful piece of supernatural drama. The supporting cast is strong with Valarie Pettiford (Emily), Alex Kingston (Sarah), Malin Buska (Satu) and Lindsay Duncan (Ysabeau) among others.

Everything is quite serious and there isn’t much humour, but it doesn’t need it. The show looks stunning and the story flows well. A Discovery of Witches season one has a great last episode with a cliff-hanger ending that left me excited for season two.