The episode starts in Bohemia in 1591. Matthew (Matthew Goode) and Diana (Teresa Palmer) continue on their journey to find The Book of Life. When they arrive at the city, Matthew introduces himself and claims he is on business for Queen Elizabeth of England. He is told that Rudolf II (Michael Jibson) is growing tired of the Queen’s ambassadors, but Matthew says he isn’t an ambassador. They’re allowed inside moments later. Matthew asks his servants to find Gallowglass and Pierre. Matthew and Diana go inside to the Emperor’s hunting lodge. Then, they’re told that the Imperial Majesty has agreed to see them. Rudolf says he can’t escape the pestering by England’s diplomatic hordes. He says he knows who Matthew is despite him introducing himself as Roydon.

Matthew says he isn’t there as a spy and wants to speak with her subject Edward Kelley. Rudolf claims they’re in the wrong place since Kelley resides in Prague. Matthew doesn’t believe it and Rudolf doesn’t like Matthew questioning him. Diana interrupts, apologizes, and says Matthew is pressing her case. She was hoping she could get a chance to speak with one of England’s most esteemed alchemists. Rudolf is surprised that Diana has an interest in alchemy and that seems to win him over so Matthew introduces her as his wife. Outside, Matthew tells Diana he doesn’t like the way Rudolf looks at her like she is a jewel he wants to add to his collection.

Diana says she can handle the clumsy flirting as long as it gets them closer to the book. Gallowglass (Steven Cree) surprises and joins them seconds later. He immediately realizes that they’ve mated and wonders if he should call Diana auntie now. They learn that Pierre is at the lodgings and they’ve had an unexpected guest. He leads them back and they’re surprised to see Jack there waiting for them. Francoise explains that she decided to bring Jack because he was having nightmares every night. Matthew isn’t happy since it isn’t safe there though. Later that night, Matthew discusses Rudolf’s claims with the others and Gallowglass admits he might be telling the truth since no one he has spoken to has seen Kelley. Matthew believes Kelley will lead them to the book.

After a knock at the door, Diana receives a gift from Rudolf. The box is opened before Diana realizes he has given her an automaton. Later that night, Matthew and Diana discuss Rudolf and his intentions. Diana believes she can use Dee’s book to get what they want, but Matthew thinks Kelley is the key to getting The Book of Life. Diana wants to try while Matthew looks for Kelley and she agrees to take Gallowglass with her. The next day, Diana and Gallowglass try to visit Rudolf, but they find themselves stuck in an incredibly long line. Pierre tells Matthew that Diana will be okay while Matthew wonders if Kelley has a laboratory nearby. Gallow tells Diana that things are different now that they’ve matted. He warns her that Matthew will struggle to contain his blood rage if he is provoked. Gallow decides to cut in line they don’t have to wait until midnight to see Rudolf.

While he is away, Benjamin Fuchs approaches Diana and introduces himself as the emperor’s collector. He was cast out of his own clan and always felt more comfortable around other creatures. Matthew confronts Herr Steiner and tries to obtain information about Kelley. Diana hears that the audience with his imperial majesty is over for the day but Gallow leads her inside. Gallow has convinced them that they have a curious artwork and Rudolf asks her about it immediately. She is forced to admit that there has been some miscommunication and she wanted to desperately thank him for the gift he sent. She hands him the book but Rudolf isn’t happy because the book offers no answers and no meaning. Diana says books that do not provide the answers they seek can still help them ask better questions.

Rudolf orders for someone to send for Rabbi Loew (Anton Lesser) before asking Diana if she is interested in rare and uncanny arts. Matthew discusses Steiner, Kelley, and Talbot with Pierre. They wonder if Talbot is Kelley so Matthew says they’ll need to see for themselves. The Rabbi, who is also known as The Maharal, is given the book and introduced to Diana. We learn that he has a skill for deciphering old messages. Rudolf leads Diana through his collection and tells her about some of the items he has obtained over the years. They discuss a rumor which the Rabbi claims was designed to inspire fear of their people. Gallowglass searches the palace while they discuss whether the Jews know the secret names of angels.

Diana complements Rudolf’s collection and she half expects to find that he has obtained the Philosopher’s Stone, but he says the means to create the stone have never been discovered. Matthew and Pierre confront Edward and say they only want to talk. When asked about stealing the book, Edward denies it and says the book belongs to him. As the guards pull Edward away, he says it begins with absence, desire, blood, and fear, and a discovery of witches. The following day, Matthew goes with Diana because he wants to speak to the Maharal. Diana tells Matthew that Rudolf brought the Rabbi there specifically to decipher books. Matthew is worried since Edward was raving and Rudolf has taken him as a prisoner.

Diana doesn’t want to believe the rumors Gallow has heard and says she is sure they can trust Loew. Rabbi Loew comes to the door and invites both of them inside. He finds it funny that a witch, a vampire, and a Jews are meeting in secret. The Rabbi tells them that men fear what they do not see more than what they do see. He goes on to say that the Emperor believes his people hoard secret magics. Their conversation turns to a particular alchemical book they’ve been searching for. The Rabbi says he knew immediately he wasn’t the one God chose to read the book. He is convinced that Rudolf will be angry when he is unable to decipher the book and that can be dangerous. Jack wins at a card game. When Diana and Matthew return, Jack tells them about a letter that arrived. Diana checks it and finds a summons from the Emperor.

Matthew believes it has gone too far, but Diana believes it is their only hope of getting the book. He is concerned that Rudolf will imprison her when the Rabbi fails. Diana says she can read the book and she only needs Rudolf to let her try. Gallowglass has another plan and suggests they both join the emperor’s hunt. He believes he’ll be able to steal the book so they can escape before Rudolf knows it has disappeared. Matthew says they need Edward to serve the Queen’s interest. Gallow reminds Matthew that Rudolf won’t need Edward once he loses the book. Matthew and Diana join Rudolf moments later. Matthew is given a bird so they can hunt together. While they’re gone, Gallow does his best to sneak in and steal Rudolf’s book.

During the hunt, Diana talks to Rudolf about the Rabbi and the other books, but Rudolf doesn’t want to talk about that. He asks Diana if she finds Matthew’s touch cold and would prefer something warmer in her bed. Rudolf and Matthew release their birds around the same time. Matthew’s bird breaks Rudolf’s bird and that angers him. He calls them agents and spies before yelling he wants them off of his lands. Gallow says the book wasn’t there, but he found Rudolf’s secret collection. He lays a hand on the table and says it belonged to a witch. Matthew argues that they should leave tonight and forget about the book. Matthew doesn’t want Diana seeing Rudolf again, but she doesn’t understand why he can’t trust her. He says mating is an unspeakable urge to possess her body and soul. He tells her it is a rage that feeds on it.

Then, he warns her that she has never seen what it makes him do. He promises he won’t hurt her but he says he will hurt people for her. When Matthew tries to leave, Diana stops him by using a fire spell to block his path. She tells him that he shouldn’t be defined by the worst things he has done and he is her husband. He goes on to say that he is kind, gentle, and brilliant. She grabs his hand and encourages him to come back to her. Matthew calms him down before they hug and kiss. Gallow checks on them later and says Rudolf sends his apologies and wants them to visit him. Diana wants to go while Matthew begins planning an escape route. They leave and visit Rudolf immediately.

Rudolf pulls Diana away from Matthew before she asks him if there is anything in his collection that he keeps from the public eye. He wonders if there is something she wants to see and she begins telling him about the book that contains the secrets of life itself. Rudolf tells her that his trust and generosity have been abused lately. Rabbi Loew enters and Rudolf tells everyone about inviting the Jewish mystic into his court. He argues that the Jew has no arcane talent beyond the typical low cunning of his people. Loew is asked if it is true and he doesn’t argue with Rudolf’s assessment. Rudolf tells his man to get the deceiver out of his sight. Rudolf asks Diana why he should let her see the book. She uses her magic to put a snake around his glass and reminds him that she is no charlatan.

Rudolf is impressed and immediately tells Diana that she is magnificent. He offers to give her anything she wants so she says she wants to see the book. Matthew follows them as they go to Kelley’s holding cell and he says it is an outrage because Kelley is an Englishman under the Queen’s protection. Edward doesn’t want to let anyone see the book so Diana uses her magic to pry it from his hands. The book opens and a magical symbol appears in front of Diana. Rudolf tells Matthew he can have Kelley since he no longer needs him. He says he has found something much more precious as the guards try to grab Diana and a struggle begins. More guards enter as Gallowglass and Matthew try to fight them off. Edward grabs the book and begins ripping pages from it until Diana stops him and grabs it. Matthew and the others run for it.

They make it outside and join Pierre who has horses waiting for them. Matthew stops and realizes that the book is made out of the skin of creatures and the ink from their blood. The pages are bound together with their hair. He says it is more like a book of death. They ride away from Rudolf’s palace while Edward remains locked away. A man tells Edward that no one cares about his book. Benjamin swoops in, kills that man, and tells Edward he cares about the book. We jump to the present and learn that many items in Rudolf’s collection are now spread across the world. However, they have some of the writing made by Kelley while he was imprisoned. The screaming book he is talking about has never been identified. Peter Knox looks at the papers.

 

A Discovery Of Witches Review

Although a bit more energetic and action-packed, this episode was a bit confusing and long-winded. We get it that Matthew’s blood rage is going to be a real problem for Diana and himself in the future. Do we need to be reminded of this problem three-quarters of every episode? What happens if it ends up being a dud? Will all of this time and hype be wasted?

I guess the episode gave Matthew a chance to be jealous of Diana’s relationship with Rudolf, but it could’ve achieved a lot more in its 40 minutes. Roughly 5 or 10 minutes of the episode were integral to the story and everything else focused on testing Diana and Matthew’s relationship.

Everything that happened with Kit, Marcus, Louisa, and everyone else has been put on the back burner. Will any of that matter in the long run? I also thought it was a bit silly the way Matthew and Gallowglass knocked down the soldiers and escaped Rudolf’s fortress. The episode wasn’t bad honestly, but I need more substance.

They should’ve gotten the book much sooner so we could’ve quickly shifted to something more important. Still, this was a decent episode and I’d likely give it a 7.5 out of 10. Previous recaps of A Discovery of Witches can be found on Reel Mockery right now.