As the episode begins, we’re taken to Oxford, England. Matthew Clairmont (Matthew Goode) tells us that the world was once full of wonders. Now, it belongs to humans. The creatures have all but disappeared. He says in every ending there is a new beginning. We see Diana Bishop (Teresa Palmer) rowing. Diana speaks with Fred (Dominic Borrelli) briefly as she strolls by. When Diana gets to school, her bike falls over and her papers fly everywhere. She uses her magical powers to prevent them from getting too far away. Nobody notices. Next, we learn that Diana wrote two books and was awarded tenure at Yale. She speaks to the group about alchemy. She goes on and on.

After the speech, Diana is offered to put her name in to become a member of the school’s faculty. Gillian Chamberlain (Louise Brealey) speaks with her next. They catch up and Gillian reveals she is still not a member of the regular faculty. They speak about the equinox. Diana admits she is still not comfortable around magic. She speaks about something that happened to her parents. She explains that she finds it difficulty. She calls her powers unpredictable. She insists that using her powers this morning in public was an accident. She is told to speak with Sylvia (Nila Aalia). Matthew is shown in church. Afterwards, Sean (Tomiwa Edun) helps Diana find books to get her paper finished.

One of the books she is after appears to be missing. The librarian finds it the second time around. Gillian returns before Sean delivers the books. Diana notices that the book is covered with dust. Some of the pages have been cut from the book. The lights in the library flicker and go out. Matthew seems disturbed at the church. Diana finds hidden writing on one of the books. Matthew gets a call. He is asked if it is happening to him too. Their blood is reacting to something. Gillian begins freaking out as well. Diana is left with a mark on her hand as the lights turn back on. The book is returned right away. Diana imagines that she runs into her father outside.

Gillian asks her what happened in there. Matthew hears them talking. He begins stalking them from a distance. He seems intrigued with Diana. James (Adam Stevenson) and Marcus (Edward Bluemel) speak about hanging out. James gets ran over by a car. Marcus attends to him. He bites James on the neck to bring him back to life. James sucks Marcus’s blood too. James dies regardless. Matthew speaks to Miriam (Aiysha Hart) about Gillian. Gillian is a descendent of Bridget Bishop, who was the first woman to be executed at the Salem witch trials. Matthew has apparently been looking for Ashmole 782 for more than 100 years. Matthew believes the book can help them understand their origins.

Matthew suggests the book has been waiting for her. Diana is awoken abruptly by a nightmare. We jump over to New York. Diana tells Sarah (Alex Kingston) all about the book and the hidden words. Sarah is upset to find out that the book was returned. Diana tells her that she thought she saw her father. Diana is ridiculed for refusing to accept the fact that she is a witch. Diana is told to get the book again, but she refuses. Marcus speaks with the police. He gives them the registration number for the vehicle. Matthew listens to it all from outside of the interrogation room. They speak together in the hallway briefly. In the car, Matthew ridicules Marcus for trying to convert his friend. Matthew admits they need to find out why it didn’t work. Marcus is taken back to the office.

Miriam learns about the incident. She takes his blood for research purposes. Marcus explains his reasoning to Matthew. Matthew wants to stop the witches from getting the book and destroying them. He explains that he’ll speak with Dr. Bishop and they’ll take the book for themselves. Diana returns to the library and looks through the books again. Matthew catches her performing a spell when she cannot reach a book. She immediately recognizes him as a vampire. They speak about Diana’s work. Diana admits she didn’t mean for the spell to happen. She returns to her work and Matthew disappears. Gillian drinks at home. She speaks with Sylvia about the disturbance that they all felt. She admits she might have information about it.

Diana begins researching Matthew. He interrupts her moments later. Diana wants to know what Matthew wants. He asks her about the Ashmole 782. He pleads with her to keep the book safe. If the other creatures get it, bad things could happen. Diana and Sean decide to go for a drink. Diana tells him about being raised by her aunt and her aunt’s partner. She tells him that both of her parents were murdered. They were on a research trip and the villagers might have turned on them. The villagers thought they were witches. Sean jokes about people believing in witches in the 21st century. We jump to Finland. Peter Knox (Owen Teale) and a friend go hunting. They find signs that a ritual has taken place in the woods. They also discover a hut of sorts.

The hunter prepares his rifle and approaches the hut. Nobody is found inside. The bed is still warm though. A witch emerges and attacks the hunter. Peter watches in amazement. He tells the woman, Satu Jarvinen (Malin Buska), that he found the hunter in the pub. Peter intends to have Satu sworn into the congregation. However, they have something to do first. Diana finds Matthew at the library. They speak about the other witches in the library. Matthew tells her that they’re there to watch her. She rushes off soon after. Gillian tracks her down outside. They speak about the vampire. Gillian seems suspicious of Diana. Matthew stalks Diana for a bit longer. He sneaks into her apartment and finds the picture of her and her father. Peter and Satu visit Sylvia.

Gillian is there as well. Gillian is asked what happened. She tells them about the manuscript. Peter admits he has been looking for the book for a very long time. Gillian tells them Diana’s name. Matthew surprises Diana once again. He wants to know what she did with the Book of Life. She tells him that she doesn’t have the book. He tells about the book only appearing to her. Matthew smells of her jacket and tells her to walk past him slowly. He encourages her to go but not to run. She turns around and the episode ends.

 

A Discovery Of Witches Review

After watching the first episode of A Discovery of Witches, I am torn. The story was okay and the acting was pretty good. There is real potential here. However, I felt that the opener was a little all over the place. It wasn’t horrible and it wasn’t great either. It was just mediocre. It could easily get better from here on out. Thankfully, the chemistry between Matthew Goode and Teresa Palmer is excellent. That alone will keep me returning. The opener scores a 7.5 out of 10.