Not every fantasy show needs dragons, magic schools, apocalyptic creatures, warring kingdoms, or a Game of Thrones-sized budget to be unforgettable. Some actually work because they know how to tell a good story without dragging things out, understanding exactly what they want to show and how long it should take. That’s the case with a series that many people skipped over, but one that delivers three neatly wrapped seasons, no filler, and that rare balance between romance, mystery, and drama. The supernatural element is always present, nothing feels forced, and it keeps you curious at just the right moments. Sure, it wasn’t the cultural phenomenon that redefined TV, but honestly, it deserved to be talked about a lot more.
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What makes A Discovery of Witches stand out from so many others? Consistency, which is something that feels like it’s disappearing from TV more and more. How many times have you started a show, loved the first season, only to watch the quality nosedive in the second? Not here. To put it in numbers, the first season scored an impressive 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and even though it dipped slightly afterward, it never dropped below the 80s (close to 90% overall). Why? Because the audience gets a show that stays engaging until the very end. There’s no sense that your time was wasted. No, it’s not flawless, but it’s steady – and in today’s TV landscape, that already means a lot.
The story kicks off with Diana Bishop (Teresa Palmer), a historian who prefers to ignore the fact that she’s a witch – until a long-lost manuscript pulls her into the crosshairs of vampires, demons, and other creatures. That’s where Matthew Clairmont (Matthew Goode) comes in, a vampire geneticist who becomes both her ally and, yes, her love interest. Sure, romance plays a major role here, but don’t worry, it doesn’t swallow the show whole. Their relationship acts more as the engine that drives the events forward, while the script makes room for conflicts, interspecies rivalries, and a mythology that grows in smart and satisfying ways.
Some people argue that Diana and Matthew’s romance moves way too fast, and at times, the third season feels like it’s rushing to tie up loose ends. But honestly, even those flaws don’t hurt the overall experience. Both leads have enough chemistry to carry the story, and that’s all the show really needs to make it work. It’s the kind of thing you overlook because the bigger picture is far more rewarding.
A Discovery of Witches Shines Because It Knows What It Needs to Be Different
However, one of the show’s biggest strengths is that it was built with a beginning, middle, and end already in place. When people say it’s “tightly wrapped,” that’s not an exaggeration. In an era where every hit series gets prequels, spinoffs, and endless expansions before the original even finishes, this show stays laser-focused on its core story and nothing else. That choice helps it age far better because it never leaves viewers with franchise fatigue. Instead, A Discovery of Witches works as the perfect binge: three seasons with a clear rhythm, a strong start, and a proper finish. That’s a huge difference compared to most fantasy shows that end up drowning in their own ambition.
On top of that, each season adapts one book from Deborah Harkness’ All Souls trilogy. No filler, no abrupt cuts, no desperate cliffhangers designed just to milk another renewal. The narrative respects the source material and, most importantly, respects the audience. For anyone burned out on canceled shows or storylines that drag on too long, it’s refreshing to watch something that knows exactly where it’s headed.
Another standout element is the historical setting. Filmed on location, it gives the show an authenticity that makes a huge difference. The style is elegant and restrained, and it never feels like it’s trying to compete with blockbusters. In fact, it doesn’t really have a fair comparison to other big-budget fantasy shows on TV, because it’s very unique. And that uniqueness might explain why it was underrated and overlooked when it first aired, but ironically, that’s what makes it work so well. A Discovery of Witches is great simply because it never tried to play the same game as its competitors, and while that might have cost it some recognition, it’s a win in terms of quality.
A Discovery of Witches isn’t revolutionary. But if what you want is a fantasy series that’s efficient, consistent, and engaging enough to hold your attention, this one delivers. So many of the common complaints viewers have about modern productions are things this one avoids altogether, because it knows that if it tried to be bigger than it is, it would just end up as just another one among many. With so many shows kicking off well only to collapse later, finding one that holds up from first episode to last is already a big deal.
Forgotten? Maybe. Overlooked by fantasy fans who never gave it a shot? Definitely. But once you finally sit down to watch, you’ll wonder why it took you so long to give A Discovery of Witches a chance.
A Discovery of Witches is available on Netflix.
Have you watched A Discovery of Witches? Did you enjoy all the seasons? Let us know in the comments!
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Image Courtesy of Shueisha
