As the finale begins, Diana Bishop (Teresa Palmer) practices her magic with Goody while Matthew (Matthew Goode) teaches Jack. Diana watches them from the doorway. Then, her training continues. Diana isn’t there yet, but she is getting better. Goody surprises her when she lets her know that another weaver has arrived in London. She says they should wait until they make themselves known and their arrival here was no accident. After the intro, Agatha meets with Sarah, Emily, Ysabeau, and Marthe (Sorcha Cusack). Nathaniel (Daniel Ezra) and Sophie (Aisling Loftus) arrive with the baby. Meanwhile, Marcus (Edward Bluemel) hangs out with Phoebe (Adelle Leonce) and tells her that being with him is dangerous. She isn’t worried and claims it is a privilege to be with Marcus and to get to see the world.

They arrive at the chateau and Phoebe is immediately introduced to Ysabeau (Lindsay Duncan). We jump back in time and Diana tells Matthew she wants to get Jack a new book. During their search, Matthew smells coffee and finds that odd since coffee hasn’t arrived yet. He suspects a time walker and quickly approaches a man on the street. Diana is surprised to see that the man is her father. She takes her father inside and they begin catching up. Matthew learns Diana is still working on the 9th knot before Jack comes downstairs. Stephen asks how long they’ve been together, but Matthew wants to know why Stephen is there. He says he is an anthropologist, he is there to observe, and to look for an alchemical book, Ashmole 782.

Diana confirms she has it and they begin looking through it immediately. Stephen says it is postmarked from Jerusalem and was likely brought by Jewish witches. Diana believes it might’ve been Rabbi Loew and he kept the page safe for Diana. Then, they tell Stephen about Peter Knox looking for the book. Stephen says he hopes Peter doesn’t know there is dark magic in the book because he is obsessed with the dark arts. Gerbert (Trevor Eve) and Peter (Owen Teale) talk about the baby witch and placing her with her kind. They believe Ysabeau is involved but she is refusing to cooperate with them. They’re also eager to get the missing page of the Book of Life. Gerbert says they’ll need a powerful witch to remove Diana’s aunts from Ysabeau’s place.

Peter says he isn’t his hunting dog. Stephen wonders how Matthew thought he could stay this long since he has created so many problems since returning to the past. Diana admits they screwed up before Stephen argues they broke the rules of time walking since they’ve got involved. He encourages them to return and leave the book, but Diana says they have to take the book and find the missing pages. Stephen says you can’t time walk with a powerful object you don’t understand and that they messed with history. That night, Agatha and the others discuss Peter Knox getting out of hand and trying to take babies. Marcus knows that they’re going to come for Margaret sooner or later and they’ll come for Matthew and Diana when they return.

He argues that repealing the covenant is the only way to ensure everyone can be safe. Ysabeau doesn’t think Marcus understands but he says the world has changed since Philippe created the covenant many years ago. Miriam (Aiysha Hart) agrees with Marcus. Phoebe suggests change is already happening since there are many different creatures at this very table before saying the only way forward is together. Later, Ysabeau gives Phoebe permission to snoop around her home. She tells Phoebe that Marcus has placed a great deal of trust in her and Phoebe promises not to let him down. Marcus arrives before Ysabeau asks for a moment alone with him. She tells him Phoebe is right and he made a good choice picking her. Meanwhile, Matthew gets a visit from Gallowglass and he tells him his days as Matthew Roydon in London are coming to an end.

Matthew reveals the past Matthew will be returning but Gallow says he likes the future Matthew better. Stephen tells Diana she can’t waste her opportunity to study magic with one of England’s greatest witches. They discuss Diana’s magic abilities and Stephen reminds her she’ll have to go if she completed it. They visit Goody who knows that Diana has found the weaver. They give Diana advice as she trains her magic and Matthew watches from above. Diana finishes knot nine and Stephen says some witches would kill for that kind of power. Goody leaves Diana tells Stephen there is a lot she wants to tell him. He tells her there is nothing they can do to change his fate.

He knows about Diana’s baby and says her mother saw it. Stephen says Diana is everything they dreamed she would become before he hugs her and leaves. Diana tells Matthew she knows how he feels to leave a life behind. He says it is bittersweet but he prefers focusing on the sweet. They discuss the Congregation and finding missing pages before we learn that Henry is going to take care of Jack for them. The next day, Gallowglass takes Diana to see Hubbard. She asks if she was his child would he honor her request to protect Jack. He says he would if she gives him her blood. Diana agrees but she wants to make sure that Matthew never finds out about their pact. She says she’ll open a vein and let a single drop fall into his mouth. Hubbard accepts her terms.

She gives Hubbard her blood moments later and sees everything that has happened. He promises to watch over Jack before telling Diana farewell. Next, Goody tells Diana there is one final knot she may need. She goes on to say it is a weaving of creation and destruction. Only a weaver who stands between words can complete it. Goody tries it and tells Diana to remember it. Diana gives Susanna something that her relative will give her in the future. Susanna promises to keep it safe in her family before Diana leaves. Seconds later, Satu (Malin Buska) approaches Peter Knox and says she has been busy. She learns that Peter intends to flush the witches out from Sept-Tours using a ruined temple nearby. He believes they can exploit its magic properties. Satu says she’ll be a powerful ally if he goes to Sept-Tours.

Peter argues it is a job for a spell caster and he won’t need her pyrotechnics, but she believes his confidence will be his downfall. Hubbard walks through town before encountering Benjamin who says he followed his business in Bohemia there. He wants to know about the witch he met. Later one night, Domenico (Gregg Chillin) approaches the person he believes is responsible for the murders and stealing the portraits. He offers to help if the person shows who they are. A struggle ensues and Domenico is violently attacked but seems okay. Diana tells Matthew they have to trust it will reappear when they find the missing pages. She wants to leave tonight. Before they go, Diana takes the book to Gallow and tells him to return it to Dr. Dee to make sure it finds its way back to her.

Matthew joins them and they say their goodbyes. Then, they say goodbye to Jack. Back in the present, Peter Knox approaches Ysabeau’s home. Domenico walks into a building while a young man who looks like Benjamin watches him. Knox makes it to the ruined temple and tries to harness the power of the site. He uses his magic to wake Emily (Valarie Pettiford) and lure her to the ruins. Sarah (Alex Kingston) gets up and asks the others where Emily has gone. Emily tries to call Rebecca once again. Rebecca comes and tells Emily that she can’t help her. Peter Knox watches their conversation from a distance. Emily is warned that Peter wants the page before Rebecca leaves. Peter attacks Emily and tries to force her to give up the page. Inside, Sarah knows where Emily has gone.

Emily believes Diana will unite all creatures against bigots like Peter and avenge her. She collapses to the ground and Peter flees. Marcus confronts him seconds later and tries to attack him, but Peter knocks him back. Marcus warns him that he’ll start a war he’ll have no hope of winning if he kills him there. Peter puts him to sleep and rushes off as Sarah finds Emily and tries to take her up. Diana tells Matthew she is glad she got to know Matthew Roydon. They kiss before agreeing to go to their future. Ysabeau sits with the emblem while Marcus stays on the ground. Sarah continues trying to get Emily to wake up before the episode ends.

 

A Discovery Of Witches Review

Truthfully, I expected a lot more from the final episode of the season. The episode would’ve been a good way to set up a finale, but it shouldn’t have been the actual finale. It feels like a cheap trick to get people to tune in to the next season.

While the season turned out to be okay I think it could’ve done a lot more with its time since there was plenty of room to move the story along much faster. Diana and Matthew should’ve returned to the present midway through the season so we could’ve moved on to something more important.

Diana and Matthew got the Book of Life only to leave it behind. I have to question whether the season will be integral to the overall story of the show when all is said and done. Who knows? It’ll likely end up being a forgotten season since little of importance happened. The finale scores a 7 out of 10. Previous recaps of A Discovery of Witches can be found on Reel Mockery.