Brother against Brother! A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES: Thoughts on Season 3, Episode 5

The last season of A Discovery of Witches has begun!

This week on A Discovery of Witches:

Benjamin’s plan to bring down the de Clermonts is set into motion. Matthew and Diana return to Sept-Tours with the twins. Gerbert demands to examine the babies.

So let’s talk about Episode 5! Please join us as we share our thoughts on the episode. And while we are at it – there are spoilers below. Lots of them. Read at your own risk.

Lindsay Duncan as Ysabeau, Sorcha Cusack as Marthe, Matthew Goode as Matthew and Teresa Palmer as Diana with the twins in A Discovery of Witches

THE GOOD:

Roz: That fight between Matthew and Baldwin was pretty great to me! I mean the Christening was important in the grand scheme of things, but so was that fight!

I really loved that funeral for the demon from last week after what Knox did; it was a good moment to remember that all these creatures should matter, but don’t if they aren’t known.

Christie: The fight was totally hot! Then Diana coming in like that with the magic, God that gets your blood going.

Also, I love how Ysabeau gets to play queen of her household again, with subtle tributes to Phillipe. To see how happy she was to have the babies was so sweet, and it was nice that they gave her a moment to show those feelings in little ways — setting out Christening clothes, holding the babies, telling Diana Phillipe would be proud.

Matthew calling Diana ma lionne at the end is another great throwback to Phillipe, who called Ysabeau that. It also shows the power of their union and shows the parallels between the two relationships, on multiple levels.

And finally — yay, the Knights of Lazarus! Bringing in humans and females and witches just shows how powerful and unbreakable this conventicle is. Love it so hard. And the pride in Jack’s eyes at being part of it!

Alex Kingston as Sarah at the temple of Diana in A Discovery of Witches

THE BAD

Roz: I don’t love that the babies are already powered, but I suppose I should have known that was coming. Having a baby who is also a witch and one who is a vampire will pose so so many problems for Diana and Matthew.

Christie: Baldwin being totally neutered against Gerbert seems like such a bad move for everyone else, so I hope it pays off at the end.

Also, while I like that Ysabeau got to play queen this episode, I continue to dislike the way they don’t give her much to do. She’s powerful in her own right, not just physically but mentally. I hope we get to see some of that before the end.

Matthew Goode as Matthew and Teresa Palmer as Diana at the christening of the twins in A Discovery of Witches

BOOK VS. TV

Christie: I’m just gonna list these changes from the book this time around.

• Benjamin alone in his hell lab with his test subjects
• More Congregation machinations, particularly Gerbert now more deeply pulling the strings
• Whatever the Hell Benjamin and Satu are up to, which can’t be good
• TJ Weston’s funeral (which he didn’t die in the book)
• The naming ceremony taking place in the chapel instead of at the temple of Diana
• There were many more Knights of Lazarus members in the Christening, and they had more of a part in bringing Baldwin down
• The Knights of Lazarus indoctrination scene never happened in the book, but I’m glad we got to see it because it showed just how tight this core group of people had become.

Teresa Palmer as Diana at the culmination of a family fight in the chapel in A Discovery of Witches

FINAL THOUGHTS

Roz: Is it bad that I need both Knox and Benjamin gone?

Christie: We are going back to Oxford and getting Ashmole 782 next! We’re coming full circle, and it feels good. But I also know what’s coming with Matthew, and it’s the family’s darkest hour. The next few episodes will be really amazing to see.

You can follow along with our coverage of the show here.

New episodes of A Discovery of Witches will be released each week on Sundance Now and AMC+.