As the episode begins, Sarah Bishop (Alex Kingston) and Emily Mather (Valarie Pettiford) discuss the possibility of Peter Knox finding them here. Emily says the page is connected to Diana and it must have answers for them, but Sarah argues that the book started the whole nightmare. Emily asks if she would like to know why. Then, Ysabeau (Lindsay Duncan) and Marthe (Sorcha Cusack) talk about them joining them for dinner. Ysabeau admits that she has been tolerating him under her roof and affording him her protection. Marthe believes Matthew would want her to make them feel at home and says they can evolve if Matthew evolved. We jump back to the past and see Matthew (Matthew Goode) walking through London. He enters a building and hears someone questioning if the witched are turning against Her Majesty. William Cecil (Adrian Rawlins) wants Tom Caldwell (Louis Maskell) to give him the names of his conspirators.

Matthew enters as Tom claims he has none and William orders his man to make Tom talk. After the intro, we jump over to Lapland, Finland and see Satu (Malin Buska) walking along the water. She approaches Mummo (Karin Bertling) and calls her by her name. Mummo says Satu has suffered and her ancestors didn’t survive among others either. Satu tells Mummo she taught her everything but not who she is. Mummo argues she did it to protect her. Satu says she doesn’t want protection and would instead prefer to learn. Mummo encourages her to stay and become the weaver she was born to be. Diana tells Francoise (Holly Aird) she is in a city full of witches but still can’t find a teacher. Francois believes she needs to be patient because Master Roydon is resourceful, but Diana suggests it should be a matter between witches.

Diana hangs out with Walter (Michael Lindall), Matthew, and Henry (Adam Sklar) before Matthew wonders if Mary knows any witches. Diana learns that Mary Sidney (Amanda Hale) is a trusted human who practices alchemy. Matthew and Diana decide to visit Mary immediately. They talk about Sidney’s alchemy studies and Diana being an accomplished scholar. While Mary talks about being able to study, Diana notices the snake on her shoe and watches it come to life. She grabs it quickly as Matthew suggests it came in from the garden. It is taken out by a servant immediately. Diana apologizes and Matthew tells Mary that they need a witch, but she claims not to know any. She admits she learned what Matthew is from her brother when she was a child. Matthew is surprised that Mary would like to deny the truth of creatures like Diana and himself.

Mary asks why they couldn’t go on as before but Matthew says he loves Diana and wants to see her secure. Mary offers her friendship but says she cannot help them with a witch. Then, she tells Diana that no one in London should be trusted with knowledge of her because what is happening in Scotland is making people fearful. Seconds later, Matthew learns that the majesty is satisfied with the events in Scotland and the distractions King James is facing. William knows about the omission in his statement though. They begin discussing the imprisonment of Agnes Sampson and Matthew says one witch is like any other and he doesn’t feel the need to specify any of their names. He is warned that torturing their leader is risky and is told that the English witches may turn against the majesty and side with their people in the North.

Matt reminds him that England’s witches helped repel the Armada so their loyalty should be above suspicion. He is told that no one is above suspicion and there is disturbing news from Garlickhythe. A minister fell ill after questioning one of his parishioners about witchcraft. Then, he is told about the witch Tom Caldwell and how he made threats against the Crown during his questioning. Matt argues it is against the covenant to meddle in human affairs but he is still working with them. Matthew is tasked with questioning Tom and finding out what the witches are plotting. When Matt leaves, he is cornered and forced to pull out a knife. Then, he is told that there is a message from Father Hubbard who wants to see him. Matt says he will visit when it is convenient, but he is told to be there tonight before the clock tolls 7.

He is told to bring his witch before the conversation ends. When Matt returns home, he wants Kit (Tom Hughes) to know that the summons from Father Hubbard came. Matt tells Diana about Hubbard and how he runs the city. The Black Death arrived in 1348 and most were trying to flee the city except for Father Hubbard. He cared for the sick but eventually succumbed to the illness. At that point, Hubbard dug himself a grave and climbed in to wait for God. When he climbed out, he claimed divine resurrection. Kit enters and Diana learns that Hubbard gathers up and helps the lost souls of the city. Hubbard tries to control them as well and Matthew warns Diana that she cannot let him taste her blood. It is a part of his ritual of adoption. He does this so he can see their secrets.

Diana promises and learns about the treaty between Hubbard and the De Clermont family. While they’ve agreed to stay out of their business, Diana is not protected by the treaty. Kit warns Matthew that he better re-inhabit his old life before he gets himself killed. Later that night, they meet with Father Hubbard. Andrew Hubbard (Paul Rhys) takes a man’s blood before telling him to greet his kin. Hubbard turns and tells Matt and Diana that they’re late. He rushes toward Diana before Matt grabs him from behind. Both agree that they have several problems. When the others leave, Hubbard tells Matthew he will permit his presence because of his treaty with Matt’s father Philippe. He doesn’t like that Matt is willing the witch to roam and he knows about her marks.

He threatens that Matthew could be killed or Diana could be kicked out of London for the blood exchange, but he offers to protect them once they become family. Matt agrees to let Hubbard tell his flock that Diana belongs to him, but he won’t let him have her blood. Diana admits she fed Matthew willingly because he was dying. She argues that Matthew did it unwillingly. Hubbard says God accepts her act of mercy but nothing happens in London without his blessing. When they leave, Diana claims she was buying them time but Matthew believes she was reckless. He admits it was brilliant though. Next, Kit goes to the church and finds Matthew there. Matthew says he missed All Soul’s Day in the madness of the arrival. Kit tells him they should have fun and he has forgotten the other side of Matthew Roydon.

Matthew believes he still requires a loan. Meanwhile, Diana walks through London with Francoise right behind her. They run into Susanna Norman (Aisling Loftus) and Diana says she needs to talk to her alone. Diana apologizes for before and invites her to come since Master Roydon is out. Susanna agrees to come with her and tries to get Diana to perform a magic trick. Diana isn’t confident in her abilities, but she manages to make the egg levitate. It drops to the table before a chick emerges. That convinces Susanna to talk to Goody Alsop who is England’s most powerful witch. Matthew and Kit play cards with another man. Matthew is out and Kit tries to take the other man’s earring. Kit wins and is promptly called a cheater. Kit takes his winnings, gives the man his shirt back, and gives Matthew the earring. When they step outside, they run into Peckham (Tom Lewis).

He wants to know why Matthew hasn’t started working on the Tom situation yet. He is warned that he should not test Lord Burghley’s patience but Matthew tells him not to test his. Then, Matt and Kit share a drink and Kit asks about Matt’s future life. Matt says still wonders why he is there and the future hasn’t answered that. Kit asks if his work is still read but Matt doesn’t answer. He argues that no man should know his fate but he knows Kit’s. Before Matthew leaves, Kit warns him that he shouldn’t ignore Cecil’s orders no matter what he feels about witches now. He returns home and looks through his letters before Diana tells him that Jack is settling in well. She spots his book and Matthew is forced to tell her about Thomas Caldwell. He is reading the testimonies.

Matt tells her that the Queen fears England’s witches are going to turn against her. Thomas said some foolish things about the crown. Diana is worried that Mary was right but Matthew promises he wouldn’t have brought her there if a witch hunt was going to break out. And, it is 20 years before the Lancashire hunts begin. Diana is worried that the conditions will encourage people to look for scapegoats but Matthew says they’ll be gone before that happens. The argument is ended when Diana tells him she found a teacher. The next day, Diana gets a visit from Goody Alsop (Sheila Hancock). Matthew joins them as Goody magically slams the shutters. Goody touches Diana’s face before telling her she has waited a long time for her.

She goes on to say that the auguries foretold of her arrival a long time ago. Then, they discuss the witch hunts in Scotland and the imprisonment of Agnes Sampson. Goody explains the three of them are all that is left of their kind. Diana doesn’t understand but Goody tells her she is a weaver or a maker of spells. She says Diana must devise her own spells. Matt tells Goody he has lived a long time and has never met one of the mysteriously powerful witches. Goody says they’re rare creatures and have been hunted down and forced into hiding. Diana mentions Satu and Matthew wonders if she knew Diana was a weaver. Goody admits their biggest thrive is other witches. Diana learns that her father was a witch and a self-taught weaver who knew she would follow this path. Goody analyzes the last three spells he used. Goody says it was made with love to protect her.

Susanna isn’t sure it would be a good idea to teach Diana and suggests they consult the Read first. Matthew is worried but Goody explains Diana’s presence is already felt. When he hears that, Matthew agrees to go ahead with it. Diana goes in front of the Read and presents her case. She says she is ready to learn the nature of her true power. Susanna admits she is concerned that Diana’s training could threaten the safety of their fellow witches. Goody stands up for Diana but the others are worried that siding with her could make them an enemy to Father Hubbard. Goody says dark times are coming and a witch is supposed to come to their aid. They believe Diana might be the witch they’ve been waiting for and Diana admits she had seen The Book of Life. The witches welcome Diana into their group.

Father Hubbard finds Matthew in the street and tells him one of his children has been caught up in Cecil’s web. He tells Matt that Tom is innocent but Matthew says that is for the Crown to decide. Then, Hubbard says there would be benefits in our cooperating. He says he wants to protect Tom and Matt wants to protect Diana. Matthew tries to walk away so Andrew wonders if he should ask Philippe for assistance. Matthew says it has nothing to do with his father and Andrew hopes that is true. Matthew goes to Kit and tells him about the mess he has found himself in. Kit suggests contacting Philippe because it can influence the situation in untold ways. He can’t because his father finding out about Diana will undo everything. Kit encourages him to dampen Cecil’s suspicions. He wonders how long the prisoner will survive.

Kit tells him to become Matthew Roydon. Matthew visits Tom and breaks his neck. Diana meets him back at home and confirms that the Read has agreed to let her train. Diana realizes something is wrong and Diana says he was innocent. Nevertheless, Matthew argues he couldn’t keep her safe and keep Tom alive too. Hubbard gets Tom’s body and decides to give him a proper burial. He writes a note and sends it to Philippe de Clermont. Matthew is forced to explain himself so he says the witch refused to cooperate and became contemptuous. He lost his temper and begs for forgiveness from William Cecil. Matthew tries to prove where his loyalty lies but Cecil tells him what the punishment for treason would be.

 

A Discovery Of Witches Review

I can’t help myself but question what happened between the first and second seasons of A Discovery of Witches. The first was at least entertaining, upbeat, and exciting. You never knew what was going to happen and the action moved at a great pace. The second brings none of that to the table and feels like a complete let down through two episodes.

I’d really hate to see the show waste its talent and everything that happened in the first season. Next episode we’re going to get a bunch of time jumps and that certainly isn’t going to help matters at all. It is really disappointing to see the show’s quality drop so low so quickly. It is even more disappointing that this time period could be fantastic but the story can’t keep up.

Truthfully, it feels like nothing important is happening this season and I think that is what is hurting it the most. Even the important scenes don’t seem all that important. I really wish they would go back in time and rewrite the script because it is lackluster. The episode scores a 7 out of 10 and that is likely too generous. Previous recaps of A Discovery of Witches are available on Reel Mockery.