A Discovery of Witches 2×05 is the kind of episode this show was built on, the kind that reminds us why were so excited for season two, why we love these characters, and why the fact that this show is opening up the world to more characters, more relationships, can be nothing but a good thing.
Last episode was a little rough for some (I personally enjoyed it), but it was a necessary episode in the grand scheme of things. Because we all see where this is building towards and how, in the end, if Matthew and Diana are going to not just survive, but thrive, together, they’re going to need people.
They’re going to need family.
And this week, that starts with Phillipe.
Let’s start with the honest truth: Yes, it’s hard to like Phillipe. We’ve always kind of wanted to, if nothing else because of what he means to Matthew, but the first meeting is …shall we say rough? Not just for Matthew and Diana, but for us as viewers. And yet Phillipe isn’t here to make friends, out of them, or us. Phillipe is here to do what he thinks he’s gotta do to protect his family. That’s ruthless, yes, but that’s also the De Claremont way.
Doesn’t mean you have to like him, I promise. Diana certainly doesn’t.
And why should she? Despite the fact that she and Matthew don’t choose to take the journey that takes them to Phillipe, Diana takes it willingly because she is Matthew’s partner, and this isn’t just something he has to do, this is something that, deep down, she feels he wants to do. Must do.
The way he lost Phillipe still pains him, and though this is not that Phillipe, for Matthew, this can be a chance at recapturing the good. He doesn’t need to be stuck with that last memory, he can make new ones to replace it. And that …that’s a chance people never get.
So, Diana loves Matthew enough to want that for him. And I think a part of her imagines that being there, in Phillipe’s house, well …it’s going to be complicated. He’s not just going to accept her. But Diana’s not just powerful, she’s confident. Confident in her powers, and more importantly, confident in Matthew’s love.
If we’re being honest, she’s got every reason to be, doesn’t she?
But yeah, Phillipe is an old dog, with old tricks, and what happens at the end of this episode is proof of that. But it’s also a reminder that, as we learned last season, even though Diana might be soft-spoken at times, even though her first instinct might be to placate, she is a forced to be reckoned with.
This princess saves herself.
And that’s not because Matthew has left her, or because this show is throwing twist after twist her way. She doesn’t need pain or lost love to make her stronger, no. Diana is strong when she’s happy, she’s strong when she’s angry, and she’s strong when she’s sad. Her strength is not dependent on Matthew.
However, at the same time, she draws some level of strength from him. Seems like a contradiction, doesn’t it? She doesn’t need him to be all she can be, no. But she has him, and that certainty, that love, allows her an easier path towards her powers, her strength. Because the truth is, other people are not the source of your strength, but they can be a guiding light, a beacon that makes the path easier.
So, yes, the princess saves herself in this one. This princess can always save herself. She doesn’t always need, to, though. And that’s an important distinction to remember.
Other things to mention:
- Oh, Kit. Kit, Kit Kit. Why are you so.. Kit? Like, I know your feelings are hurt and all of that, but could you, for once, not make the worst decision? I’m just asking for ONE TIME.
- I’m super glad they dedicated enough time in this episode to the journey and how brutal it was for Diana, because …I cannot even imagine. Also, PANTS ARE THE BEST GIFT.
- Would we even have a show if Matthew knew how to properly communicate with Diana, or what, of the millions of things that have happened to him, need to actually be communicated? Me thinks not.
What did you think of A Discovery of Witches season 2 episode 5? Share with us in the comments below!
A Discovery of Witches is available to stream on Sundance Now, Shudder and AMC+.
