photo: Simon Ridgway / ©Sundance Now/Sky UK / Courtesy Everett Collection
Published Mar 15, 2026, 8:00 PM EDT
Memory Ngulube joined Screen Rant in April 2024 as part of the Movies and TV team. Since then, she has written for the Perennials and Streaming team, covering a wide range of topics from new releases to old movies and TV shows. Memory is currently a Classic TV writer.
Before joining Screen Rant, Memory was a freelance copywriter who specialized in email marketing and social media management. While she enjoyed her job, her true passion was always movies and TV.
When she isn’t writing for Screen Rant, Memory can be found reading, baking (which is one of her passions), or watching her favorite K-drama.
Originally airing on Sky One, A Discovery of Witches was added to Netflix’s library on August 19, 2024, following a licensing deal with AMC. The streaming giant’s library is rich in fantasy TV shows, including originals like Wednesday that have become pop culture sensations and licensed titles such as The Vampire Diaries and Supernatural.
With a comprehensive list of fantasy shows on Netflix, the competition to be one of the best is stiff, especially as more series in the genre are constantly added to the streaming platform. A Discovery of Witches, fortunately, meets all the requirements that make fantasy the best form of escapism. The 3-part series features supernatural creatures, epic adventures, conflict, and magic.
A Discovery Of Witches Is Based On Deborah Harkness’ Novels
The best fantasy TV shows usually have a literary source as their inspiration. Netflix fantasy series like Shadow & Bone and The Witcher were adapted from novels. Unsurprisingly, the same is true for A Discovery of Witches. The advantage of having a TV show based on a book series is that there is an already-made audience, especially now when fantasy is doing well on social media.
The series was adapted from Deborah Harkness’ The All Souls trilogy. Each season of A Discovery of Witches has a corresponding book. Series 1, 2, and 3 of the show were adapted from A Discovery of Witches, Shadow of Night, and The Book of Life, respectively. There is an additional book in the series, Time’s Converse, which focuses on Marcus and Phoebe’s love story.
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Despite the ready source material for A Discovery of Witches season 4, the series’ creators decided not to add a new installment to the show, as they only meant to have three seasons. However, it's not out of the realm of possibilities that there might be a spinoff show inspired by Harkness’ other books set in the same universe as The All Souls trilogy.
Why A Discovery Of Witches Is One Of The Best Fantasy Shows On Netflix
Set in a world with vampires, demons, and witches, A Discovery of Witches chronicles the adventures of Diana Bishop and Matthew de Clairmont. Diana is a witch with extraordinary powers, but she shunned witchcraft and refused to practice magic because of what happened to her parents. When she meets Matthew, Diana’s powers are reawakened, and she uncovers her abilities.
A Discovery of Witches is a typical fantasy show in that it uses tropes associated with the genre. It includes supernatural beings who are forced to live in secrecy, a prophecy about a powerful witch, and a love story for the ages. But what makes the series stand out is that it's truly a rich story. In combination with the magic and dark creatures, A Discovery of Witches also includes sci-fi elements like time travel.
The first season of the TV show is set in modern times, but as the show goes on, Diana and Matthew travel back in time. Given how the show began, the time-travelling element was a nice touch because it's something that was difficult to predict from the get-go. A Discovery of Witches has an immersive world, an engaging villain story, and a beautifully created plot with characters that are an absolute joy to watch.
A Discovery Of Witches Is A Great Show For Romantasy Fans
The supernatural elements and lore in A Discovery of Witches are certainly intriguing. The love story between Diana and Matthew, however, is what holds the show together. Everything that happens in the fantasy series is a result of the protagonist's forbidden romance. With Diana being a witch and Matthew a vampire, their mating was against the rule that prevented different species from being together.
Romantasy is a popular genre and continues to attract a large fan base. Recently, Fourth Wing and the ACOTAR series have made a huge splash on social media, particularly on TikTok and Instagram. A Discovery of Witches is a perfect watch for fans of romantasy TV shows because of the amazing chemistry between Diana and Matthew and their enduring love.
Release Date 2018 - 2022-00-00
English (US) ·