A Discovery of Witches Season 1 Episode 4 Review: Bound Together
Carissa Pavlica
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Matthew and Diana visit Sept-Tours on A Discovery of Witches Season 1 Episode 4 where their connections deepens while others try to tear them apart.
For the time being, those forces are winning, but even Ysabeau and Marthe have a difficult time disliking Diana, a witch of all things, when they see the pain she feels at potentially losing Matthew.
The Congregation also gets more involved in all things Diana and Matthew, and Diana learns about the Covenant.
At it's core, A Discovery of Witches is an allegory about humanity and how we cannot all get along despite all of the similarities we share.
It's a Romeo and Juliette story in which the real Juliette is not the love interest. There are so many different ways to see the story, but all views share the commonality that you can't judge a person by their trappings.
Still, that's exactly what Ysabeau de Clermont wants to do when she first meets Diana.
As we come to learn during this episode, her husband Phillippe was killed during World War II by witches. Little does she know when she first meets Diana that they'll have more in common than they imagined.
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Matthew knows something is up with the murder of Diana's parents, and although he's centuries old, he's kept up with modern technology. He uses it to pare down the photo of Diana's dead parents and discovers something.
Her parents weren't killed by humans afraid of witches, after all. They were killed by witches.
Peter Knox has been in the witch game for a long time and knew Diana's parents intimately.
Why didn't you tell me you tested Diana Bishop. You missed her power. How could you have?
Satu
Given Knox's reaction to Satu's discovery of Diana's deep powers, I have to wonder if he's not involved in the murder of Diana's parents.
I also wonder if Satu's treatment by Knox won't at some point lead her opinion about Diana to change. Right now, she's on the wrong side of our story, but she's also very smart. Is she motivated by truth or evil deeds?
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As I've not read the trilogy, so I'm spitballing on how this is playing out on screen. It doesn't seem like Satu is one to be used, and Peter Knox is a user.
So the Congregation gets together while Diana and Matthew convene at Sept-Tours, and they're told by Knox that Matthew has taken Diana.
The very thought of a vampire taking a witch could lead to war between the species, but before sounding an alarm, you'd think they might venture to ask the witch if she's in any harm.
But that's when Diana learns that even if he didn't take her to harm her, the Congregation will still be rather annoyed since there is no cross-species dating (let alone mating) allowed.
But, this is a love story, and that love is going to be satisfied no matter what the vampires, witches, and demons on the Congregation say about it.
Because whether they know it or not, Diana is a witch like nobody has seen a very long time.
It's fun watching Marthe and Ysabeau come to that realization as they also find themselves unable to hate their guest.
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The closer Diana and Matthew become, the stronger Diana gets. She's almost completely unaware of her magic when she meets Matthew, but he draws magic out of her.
Matthew is worldly, and he lived many lifetimes, but Diana sees everything through fresh eyes. If Diana's bravery has drawn Matthew to him, I think it's also her perspective and inhibitions as a result of spending time with him that he adores.
Watching a man pull a woman who cannot dance into his arms and make something beautifully romantic of the moment is beyond the pale, especially for us Americans.
Where in this country do we ever get the opportunity to dance like that, let alone with someone skilled at the craft? Of course, Diana's magic gives her a leg up on the dance floor, but it's still a remarkably beautiful scene.
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Their dance is only aided by Ysabeau shouting, "Let him lead!" Because as much as she wants Matthew to steer clear of the vexing witch in his arms, she can't help but see his happiness, either.
There is something extraordinary happening to the pair as a result of their love, and Diana's magic reflects that.
Two times it's suggested that Diana has bewitched Matthew -- once when Ysabeau says it outright to Matthew, and again when Matthew even can't understand the strength of what he feels for Diana.
What spell have you put on me?
Matthew
It's only been three weeks since they first met, but the same power that drew to her the Book of Life is proving that Diana and Matthew belong together.
I have to wonder about why Diana's parents were killed, especially in light of learning why Philippe created the Covenant.
Diana: What is the covenant?
Marthe: You really don't know. it forbids interspecies relationships.
Diana: That's insane. Why would anyone ever agree to that?
Marthe: There were a lot more of us creatures back then, and we'd grown accustomed to taking what we wanted. Phillipe decided that if creatures from different species mated, it might upset the balance of power. So, the Covenant was drawn up.
Diana: What happens whenever creatures break it?
Marthe: To my knowledge, it has never been broken.
Phillipe was concerned about losing power if inter-species relationships were born. Instead of the belief that perhaps combining the species could make them even greater, the implication was that the vampires would lose their edge.
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That's a sad way to look at things, and whatever Ysabeau said to Matthew after Dominico arrived turned Matthew all the way around on Diana in a matter of minutes.
Matthew: He's gone. They're will be no more visits from the Congregation.
Diana: How do you know that?
Matthew: Because we're not going to break the Covenant.
Diana: You're giving in?
Matthew: Dominico's visit was a diplomatic mission; the next one will not be. Even if we stood up to them what then, hm? We'd be opening up old animosities that will spiral out of control and expose us to humans. I won't let that happen.
Diana: So that's it. We're just gonna abide by some ancient, narrow-minded agreement that was made 1000 years ago.
Matthew: Yes.
Diana: No. We are bound together. My magic started coming out when I met you.
Matthew: Three weeks ago, you never even heard of me. You don't know me. You have no idea what I'm capable of. You don't even know yourself.
Diana: Stop. Stop. Why are you being like this?
It's heartbreaking when Diana realizes Matthew is giving up on their love. Up to that point, she's been a little timid, but at the thought of losing Matthew, she's finally the courageous one in their relationship.
She demands to know why he's stepping back and changing course.
But other than his mother's words to him and a potential all-out creature war, maybe Matthew saw something he didn't like when he grabbed Dominico.
That can't be the man he wants to be especially now that he's found a woman who brings out so many different feeling in him.
Diana: Leaving me isn't the answer. I love you. Tell me how you feel. Forget the Covenant; forget the Congregation! How do YOU feel?
Matthew: You know how I feel.
Diana: Say it!
When he storms out of the castle and leaves, it ravages Diana.
Running after him like a child who is losing her parents was almost too much to bear.
Seeing the depths with which Diana feels for their boy, how will watching Diana create weather from her tears affect Ysabeau and Marthe?
This was another beautiful episode bolstered by their brilliant choices of music and the utilization of slow-motion just when it makes the most impact.
The cinematography of A Discovery of Witches is breathtaking, and every aspect of the show feels like a labor of love by those who are creating it.
The emotions shared between Diana and Matthew are so perfectly conveyed by Teresa Palmer and Matthew Goode that the hour in its entirety could be made into gifs for posterity.
Their glistening tears, their radiant smiles, their sensual dances -- all of it is telling one of the greatest love stories we've seen on television in a very long time.
It's no wonder viewers cannot get enough and we're all watching the episodes more than once. It's mesmerizing!
Carissa Pavlica is the managing editor and a staff writer and critic for TV Fanatic. She's a member of the Critic's Choice Association, enjoys mentoring writers, conversing with cats, and passionately discussing the nuances of television and film with anyone who will listen. Follow her on X and email her here at TV Fanatic.
