I read "A Discovery of Witches" and I was an adult when I first read it. Like you, I loved the history, the alchemy and the romance. I loved this show. I am 70 years...I am an adult Barbie and Ken doll collector and crafter. I created all the characters using Barbies and Kens. I built the Sept-Tours castle. I even made the "other" such as Marcus, Phoebe, Phillipe, Goody, the twins, and the Book of Life, etc. I literally re-created all of it because this was such a great set of books. I built this Sept-Tours castle based on being inspired by Phillipe's library. It sits in my doll room this last 5 years, and I don't see me taking it down any time soon. Thank you for your re-telling and your view of "A Discovery of Witches".
Girl the hyperfixation came back full force for me too when the show popped up on netflix. I reread the whole trilogy over 3 days! Then started rewatching the show I am appreciating how true to the books they stayed with the show.
One thing they changed in the show I didn't like was Matthew letting Gillian live. I get it because the writers made her a lot more sympathetic in the show than the book character, but it took some of the weight out of being a vampire's mate. But overall, I agree that the first season was a very good adaptation that improved on the book in a lot of ways! And casting Angelica Houston and Alex Kingston as the matriarchs was a boss move. They both killed their roles throughout the series.
Totally agree! I 100% meant to mention that they changed the Matthew/Gillian thing but it slipped my mind. I'm guessing they were worried how viewers would react to the idea of Matthew murdering someone Diana used to be friends with, especially since in Season 2 we actually witness the nitty gritty stuff he does in London as opposed to only hearing about it via Diana in the 2nd book.
I looked up if the show was canceled, I have one more episode to go lol but I can't imagine they wrap everything up in one episode. The internet didn't disappoint in explaining why. I agree with one review comment that mentioned some thought that the pacing was off. It wasn't until the end of season 2 and most of 3 that I get better time-space references. At first, it looked like day by day events. When in reality it was weeks or months. So it made relationships look like love at first sight but somehow acted like they knew each other for a while. It felt unrealistic with a teen twilight vibe, relationship wise. I think if they gave more timeline references it would help understand the development of relationships even though it needed to be compressed details. Now I'm looking forward to reading the books.
I'm just starting my annual autumnal rereading and rewatchjng so perfect timing! :) I thought that teresa and matthew were perfectly cast as the lead roles ❤
One of the things that bothered me the most is how they made Satu more prominent, and made her seem on par with Diana, so seeing her flop at the end, was...weird. Also the Congregation chamber is nowhere near as beautiful as in the books... Edit: I also would have loved seeing an younger Ysabeau, just to kind of underline how weird it is to a casual viewer that they're always young. I also wish the vampires were paler, like they're described
I don't feel watching the show that Matthew is creepy, BUT I do think he is extremely controlling. I also think that Diana over looks a lot of things he does in season 2 of the show. Hès out there torturing people for witchcraft and she's cool with it. He says they are married now and she goes along with it? Theres just things I question about them.
I understand, but to be fair Matthew and Diana were like that in the books too, so it's not necessarily the fault of the show, it was only adapting the source material
Books will naturally almost always be better thanks to the level of detail they can provide, but I think the show did an excellent job and it's very fun to watch :)
I read "A Discovery of Witches" and I was an adult when I first read it. Like you, I loved the history, the alchemy and the romance. I loved this show. I am 70 years...I am an adult Barbie and Ken doll collector and crafter. I created all the characters using Barbies and Kens. I built the Sept-Tours castle. I even made the "other" such as Marcus, Phoebe, Phillipe, Goody, the twins, and the Book of Life, etc. I literally re-created all of it because this was such a great set of books. I built this Sept-Tours castle based on being inspired by Phillipe's library. It sits in my doll room this last 5 years, and I don't see me taking it down any time soon. Thank you for your re-telling and your view of "A Discovery of Witches".
Ps In the show I preferred the first Baldwin, actor Trystan Gravelle, as he was "Baldwin" in all a bad-a$$ vampire should be.
Girl the hyperfixation came back full force for me too when the show popped up on netflix. I reread the whole trilogy over 3 days! Then started rewatching the show I am appreciating how true to the books they stayed with the show.
Haha they really knew what they were doing to us 😅
Thank you so much, that was excellent.
One thing they changed in the show I didn't like was Matthew letting Gillian live. I get it because the writers made her a lot more sympathetic in the show than the book character, but it took some of the weight out of being a vampire's mate. But overall, I agree that the first season was a very good adaptation that improved on the book in a lot of ways! And casting Angelica Houston and Alex Kingston as the matriarchs was a boss move. They both killed their roles throughout the series.
Totally agree! I 100% meant to mention that they changed the Matthew/Gillian thing but it slipped my mind. I'm guessing they were worried how viewers would react to the idea of Matthew murdering someone Diana used to be friends with, especially since in Season 2 we actually witness the nitty gritty stuff he does in London as opposed to only hearing about it via Diana in the 2nd book.
I looked up if the show was canceled, I have one more episode to go lol but I can't imagine they wrap everything up in one episode. The internet didn't disappoint in explaining why. I agree with one review comment that mentioned some thought that the pacing was off. It wasn't until the end of season 2 and most of 3 that I get better time-space references. At first, it looked like day by day events. When in reality it was weeks or months. So it made relationships look like love at first sight but somehow acted like they knew each other for a while. It felt unrealistic with a teen twilight vibe, relationship wise. I think if they gave more timeline references it would help understand the development of relationships even though it needed to be compressed details. Now I'm looking forward to reading the books.
I appreciate your review on why they made show-to-book changes because it is for production purposes vs just hating on not staying true to the book!
I'm just starting my annual autumnal rereading and rewatchjng so perfect timing! :) I thought that teresa and matthew were perfectly cast as the lead roles ❤
It's definitely the best series to real in the fall!
Definitely do a book 2 vs Season 2 please! 😊❤
I definitely will! Just finished Season 2 of the show so need to catch up on my book re-read
@@aims2859 yay!! Thank you! 💜
One of the things that bothered me the most is how they made Satu more prominent, and made her seem on par with Diana, so seeing her flop at the end, was...weird. Also the Congregation chamber is nowhere near as beautiful as in the books...
Edit: I also would have loved seeing an younger Ysabeau, just to kind of underline how weird it is to a casual viewer that they're always young. I also wish the vampires were paler, like they're described
Matthew is definitely the only one that actually FEELS like a vampire to me, the rest of the actors don't always convey the right mannerisms
I don't feel watching the show that Matthew is creepy, BUT I do think he is extremely controlling. I also think that Diana over looks a lot of things he does in season 2 of the show. Hès out there torturing people for witchcraft and she's cool with it. He says they are married now and she goes along with it? Theres just things I question about them.
I understand, but to be fair Matthew and Diana were like that in the books too, so it's not necessarily the fault of the show, it was only adapting the source material
The books are way better.
Books will naturally almost always be better thanks to the level of detail they can provide, but I think the show did an excellent job and it's very fun to watch :)