Roush Review: ‘A Discovery of Witches’ Is Luxurious and Intelligent Escapism
Review
Like True Blood with a PhD, A Discovery of Witches potently mixes sensuality and the supernatural, adding a pedigree of scholarly wisdom from the hallowed halls of Oxford University.
That’s where historian Diana Bishop (Teresa Palmer), who has long repressed the witch within, unearths an ancient tome, a Book of Life sought after by witches, vampires and demons alike. (All live secretly among humans.)
Diana’s discovery makes her a target, and also draws her to Matthew Clairmont (Downton Abbey‘s elegant Matthew Goode), a geneticist and ancient vampire.
Their cross-species relationship raises suspicions among the underworld’s ruling Congregation, based in glorious-looking Venice, and soon they’re both in danger. Which means a crash course for Diana in the ways of witchcraft.
Adapting Deborah Harkness’s excellent All Souls trilogy, Discovery is luxurious and intelligent escapism, though hobbled by Palmer’s less-than-bewitching blandness. Goode more than compensates with his usual grace, while hinting at his inner beast.
He’s the ghoul to watch.
A Discovery of Witches, Series Premiere Thursday, January 17 Sundance Now and Shudder
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G
This is the first time I have read anything negative about Teresa Palmer I also believe she is the bad link in an otherwise wonderful show .I would watch most of this cast in anything especially Mathew who never gives anything less than perfection but even though Teresa I a fellow Aussie she is more show girl American in most of her parts .
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G
Glad some others think that about Diana as people rave about her ,but Mathew is as usual exceptional does he ever give a bad performance ??
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B
I finally caught up on this show and it's not what I expected and much better than I thought it would be.
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B
Blandness......that's exactly the word I've been looking for.
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