After the breakout performance of A Discovery of Witches on Sundance Now and Shudder, the book adaptation of Deborah Harkness’ All Souls trilogy is coming to AMC TV and BBC America. Set to be a simulcast, A Discovery of Witches will air on stateside network TV on April 7th at 9 p.m. This is great news for Deborah Harkness fans of the All Souls series who are desperate for people to watch the story of Diana Bishop, Matthew, and the rest of the creatures of this masterful work.
A Discovery of Witches tells the story of Diana Bishop (Teresa Palmer), a witch who is disconnected from her powers but making due with her life at Oxford University. When a mysterious book falls into her hands, her life is upended because every witch, vampire, and demon seems to want to get their hands on it. Diana finds an unlikely ally in the charming Matthew Clairmont (Matthew Goode). He, like all the other creatures is also interested in the book. But that comes second to Diana’s safety from those that want to hurt her. This distinction is what separates Matthew for Diana and what allows her to trust him and slowly but surely, fall in love with him.
The matter of the fact is, we love Diana and Matthew, affectionately called #Bishmont. But that isn’t the only reason why A Discovery of Witches is fantastic. Diana is a intelligent, vulnerable, open, strong, and complex mesh of things that makes her unique AF when it comes to women on TV. Matthew is of the same manner. He stands by Diana and not in front of. Which, hot that he knows that she has the ability to save herself.
Most of their family and friends, no spoilers, are along the same line in being complex and confident in each others abilities when things get rough. They trust each other and work together, in an unprecedented manner that I’ve never seen a show implement because drama for dramas sakes is some shows bread and butter. And this unity is what separates them from the hateful bigots that exist amongst the vampires, witches, and demons of this world and are the reason why Diana and Matthew will succeed at the end of the day.
On a special side note that needs saying, the queer couple of A Discovery of Witches is to die for. Sarah Bishop (Alex Kingston) and Emily Mather (Valarie Pettiford) are the adoptive family we could only be so lucky to have after a loss of family, like Diana did with her mother and father. They are attentive, kind, and so damn real, pink pussy hats included. No cliches, no additional drama. Just two middle aged lesbian witches living their best life in the States and having Diana’s back when she comes running.
We love A Discovery of Witches and really can’t wait for more to join our All Souls family!
A Discovery of Witches is available on Sundance NOW and Shudder. A simulcast of the series will premiere on AMC and BBC America on April 7th at 9/8c.