"A Discovery of Witches" S2 is true cinematographic eye candy

The days where the beautiful orange and teal tones and the scenery of Oxford graced our screens with the romantic story of a witch and a vampire falling in love seem like a lifetime ago. The first season of A Discovery of Witches aired in September 2018 and, after the seemingly endless year 2020, it does seem like it happened in another life. While die-hard fans of the books and casual viewers of the show eagerly awaited the release of the second season, the show proves without a doubt that those two years were most definitely worth the wait.

Matthew steps back into his old life. A Discovery of Witches 2021, Courtesy of Sky.

For those of you in need of a little recap after such a long time has passed, the first season introduces Diana Bishop, an Oxford scholar and a witch, who was spellbound by her parents as a child and doesn’t want to use her magic. Despite interspecies relationships being forbidden, she soon falls in love with the vampire Matthew de Clairmont after they meet over a mysterious alchemical manuscript. Hunted by the Congregation (a sort-of-government formed by witches, vampires, and daemons) for their relationship and their knowledge of the Book of Life, Diana has to tap into her magical powers to transport them back in time. There, they hope to find out more about the elusive book and train Diana in her magic.

A Discovery of Witches is a joy to look at

The season jumps between 1590 and the present. A Discovery of Witches 2021, Courtesy of Sky.

Already the first episode makes it clear why it must have taken so long to finish this season when shooting already began in early 2019. The beautiful orange and teal tones are back, a little subdued in those scenes set in the Elizabethan era, but no less gorgeous on screen. The story takes Diana and Matthew back to 1590 where they set out to find out more about Ashmole 782, also known as The Book of Life, which is said to hold secrets about witches, vampires, and demons, their origin and their fate. Diana also begins to look for a teacher willing to train her in her magic in an era of witch-hunts.

While the first season was already a pleasure to look at, the second season is now a pure joy – not just because of the incredible and unique colour grading, but also because of the stunning details. Even for viewers not particularly interested in the romance between a witch and a vampire, it’s impossible to deny how aesthetically pleasing A Discovery of Witches has become and how hard it is to take your eyes off the screen. From the skillfully designed Elizabethan costumes to the always perfectly framed shots – the second season is a visual masterpiece so perfect, you will want to look at it for at least 50 more episodes.

Diana Bishop dons Elizabethan clothing. A Discovery of Witches 2020, Courtesy of Sky. — Diana Bishop dons Elizabethan clothing. A Discovery of Witches 2021, Courtesy of Sky.

The second season deepens the established mystery

The mystery around The Book of Life deepens in Season 2. A Discovery of Witches 2021, Courtesy of Sky.

The books of the All Souls trilogy by Deborah Harkness rely heavily on the romance between Diana and Matthew whereas the show already made it clear during its first season that romance and mystery would be equally important. The question of Diana’s magic, the complicated relationship and connection between witches, vampires and demons, Matthew’s past, the secret alchemical manuscript, and the threat posed by the Congregation play together like pieces of a puzzle, some of which melt into season 2, and make A Discovery of Witches more than just a romantic story. As the second season jumps between the past and the present, many beloved minor characters, including Diana’s aunts, Ysabeau, and Marcus, are given their own stories to complement the adventure of Diana and Matthew in the Elizabethan era.

Diana and Matthew travel back in time to 1590. A Discovery of Witches 2020, Courtesy of Sky.

Whether you’re a fan of the books, Vampire romances in general, historical TV shows or you’re only interested in something pretty to watch – A Discovery of Witches is something for everyone and will soon enchant you with gorgeous colours, well-chosen costumes and outstanding cinematography.