Endings and beginnings! A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES: Thoughts on the series finale

It’s the series finale of A Discovery of Witches!

This week on A Discovery of Witches:

As Benjamin tortures Matthew to near death, Diana makes plans to rescue him. Revelations from the Book of Life illuminate the long-hidden secrets of creatures.

So let’s talk about Episode 7! 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.

Teresa Palmer as Diana in A Discovery of Witches

THE GOOD:

Roz: This was such a good finale. I loved that Diana was able to get what she needed to get done for all creature kind.

Having Diana sit in the Clermont seat was a great nod by Baldwin to get back into the good graces of Matthew.

Christie: The did a good job of generally wrapping everything up neatly. There are a few places where I feel like things were wrapped up a little too easily, but generally they did a good job.

Watching Diana dispatch all of her enemies in different ways, and especially with Gerbert was fantastically satisfying. From where Diana started, to see how she ended, we beautiful.

I also like the little allusions to the books in the episode.

I also liked the addition of Matthew making a new memorial plaque for Hugh that acknowledges Fernando. It was a beautiful touch. And at the end, when Matthew and Jack told each other they loved each other — my heart!

Jacob Ifan as Benjamin and Matthew Goode as Matthew in A Discovery of Witches

THE BAD

Roz: I think it was too easy to get rid of Satu and her power in the end; it was sort of nice to see, but Diana has only really taken out the truly evil. Satu just seems to be annoyed with Diana’s power and the possibility of what she could do. That does not make a good villain to me.

 

Christie: I can’t tell if I liked the change to Satu’s story or I didn’t. On the one hand, it’s pretty much as satisfying as it is in the book — which is really not that much. On the one hand, she clearly has the power and we could have gotten a bit more action at least from her other than some enchantments and pyrotechnics. On the other hand, obviously Diana has far surpassed her. I guess in the end she was always going to be a less satisfying character in the end. Having her go with Benjamin really just makes her weak anyway.

Malin Buska as Satu in A Discovery of Witches

Also, I hate that thing they do in some shows where they make it look like maybe Matthew is too far gone and then oh look, he’s fine! It’s just fake drama.

And the fact that Gerbert doesn’t get retribution for all his crimes is just as unsatisfying in the show as it is in the book, but as least you know he’s neutered.

Trevor Eve as Gerbert and Lindsay Duncan as Ysabeau in A Discovery of Witches

BOOK VS. TV

Christie:  Knox is the one doing the magic at the hospital in Diana goes to rescue Matthew, and he’s the one who dies by Diana’s hand with the arrow. In that scene, the ghost of Stephen shows up and gives Diana a hand. It’s a powerful moment. That should not take away anything from Sarah’s magical ass-kicking of Knox in the previous episode. That was beautiful. But one thing I did miss about the series as a whole was the ghosts.

Teresa Palmer as Diana in A Discovery of Witches

The arrowhead, by the way, was given to Diana by Phillipe. But the inference is that it may have been given to Phillipe by the Goddess Diana herself, and certainly the arrow is Diana’s. It all ties Diana back to the Goddess, but also the notion of the ourborous, the symbol of House de Clermont, which is a snake devouring its tail, and the 10th knot too — the idea of everything that ends leads to a new beginning, and that these things are neverending.

In the book the story ends in Matthew’s and Diana’s Mayfair home in London, preparing for Matthew’s 1500th birthday. We see that Jack has painted a new portrait of Diana and Matthew.

Teresa Palmer as Diana, Matthew Goode as Matthew and the cast of A Discovery of Witches

FINAL THOUGHTS

Roz: This was one of the better endings to a series – in part because we all knew we’d get there. It’s pleasant with the book can be mirrors for a season and end in a similar way.

 

Christie: Speaking of coming around full-circle. We end the love story at where it (mostly) began — with a tango in Sept tours, this time instead of the suspicion and doubt of Ysabeau, Matthew and Diana are surrounded by their family and friends. It’s a love story that will never end, because there is a new beginning.

And finally, I love this quote, from when Diana binds Satu —

“Power without conscience is a savage weapon.”

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

Rewatch A Discovery of Witches on Sundance Now and AMC+.