Marvelous Geeks

Type: Romantic Show | Books: A Discovery of Witches and Deborah Harkness’ All Souls trilogy Featured Characters: Matthew Clairmont and Diana Bishop

When it comes to fantasy or science fiction, fated mates and forbidden romance thread together gorgeously. And, more often than not, they work best within the genres because the high stakes feel believable enough to know that the couple will withstand the tribulations that cross their path. Such is the case for A Discovery of Witches, where Matthew Clairmont and Diana Bishop’s relationship takes center stage from the first episode to the last.

Though their love is prophesied from the beginning, Matthew and Diana’s story still focuses on what it means to choose one another through everything—to put aside everything they once believed to become one instead. It’s a story about physical desires fusing into emotional bonds stronger than either of them thought possible.

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It’s been one heck of a fantastic week on television starting with a thrilling episode of Miss Scarlet and The Duke. Black-ish dealt with work place mentoring, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist delivered its strongest episode of the season addressing racism in the workspaces. We got news of Brooklyn Nine-Nine concluding after season eight and Netflix’s final installment of To All the Boys premiered. But since we watched this episode of A Discovery of Witches weeks ago, we knew we had to write about it when it officially aired.

I had a feeling this would be the episode I’d want to write about the moment I read the chapters in Shadow of Night and I’m thrilled to have been right. James Purefoy’s embodiment of Philippe de Clermont is to the t of how I pictured the character would be in the books, and thus every scene of episode six that he was in made for an extraordinary tear-jerker. From start to finish the episode is a whirlwind for character arcs and by the time you get to the end with his letter, you’re drowning in tears. (Or rather, I was.) That’s why it’s impossible to pick a single moment from the final few where every little detail was a gorgeous showcase of humanity and adoration.

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Raise your hand if Shadow of Night is also your favorite book in the All-Souls trilogy–it’s certainly ours and we were already so thrilled by the series’ renewal that our expectations were high. And we’re happy to report that with what we’ve seen so far from season two, A Discovery of Witches is now even better than it was before.

While we are without question obsessed with the stunning coats Diana and Miriam were rocking last season since it served as inspiration for us in our own lives, Elizabethan fashion is working wonders in the second season and especially with Matthew. Not to get objective, but we’re here for it. We love nothing more than period pieces and Shadow of Night gives us just that with the time travel storyline allowing for the second season to do so as well.

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Last year was fairly uneventful where TV was concerned. There are still so many favorites on hiatus due to the global pandemic and our screens feel much emptier. But with a new year comes new premieres, and we’re so jazzed to have to more things to talk about it. It has felt like a century.

The Rookie on ABC

After a massive cliffhanger in the season two finale, ABC’s The Rookie will be returning Sunday, January 3, and we can’t wait! When we last saw Officer John Nolan, he’d just discovered that his mentor and dirty detective Nick Armstrong had framed him, planting evidence in Nolan’s home. The police procedural television series revolves around the LA police department as the 40-something John Nolan, the oldest rookie in his workplace, navigates the ranging duties as a police officer. While we’re curious to see what is in store for Nolan (and those Chenford/Tucy moments!), we’re also interested to see how the show will address the current social climate. Creator Alexi Hawley has stated that season three will be an opportunity to address real-world issues such as police brutality and the Black Lives Matter movement, and the cast has expressed that it’s important for them to help spread the message that people don’t share the same experiences when it comes to police encounters. With its diverse cast paired with its dramatic storytelling, the season three premiere of The Rookie is a must-watch.

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This is always the hardest category to write about but simultaneously my absolute favorite. The best part of it is remembering the very first time I watch the episode and think, “Yup, I need to talk about this for year-end reviews.” But it’s interesting because I was a little stumped this year. I didn’t want to repeat episodes from shows and I wanted a wide variety. We can thank Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The Good Place for making my choices so hard with a ton of amazing episodes. Oh how I adore the comedies on TV right now.

For more end of the year reviews, check out our Top 10 Performers, 10 Characters, and 10 Relationships.

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: I don’t know how Katie (Nerdy Girl Notes)would cover this show weekly because I could never find the right words. And I especially can’t find the words for “Start.” The final episode of The Americans needs to be seen by every single TV enthusiast in the world. I can understand that the genre may not be everyone’s cup of tea, in all honesty, at times, it was even too heavy for me, but I’m grateful to know that I’ve seen the best thing on TV. (This sentence was not meant to rhyme, but we’re sticking to it.) “Start” was the perfect conclusion. It wrapped the series up in the most finely crafted bow I’ve ever seen, tying loose ends so wondrously not many before it have mastered. It gave its audience some of the most haunting images to hold onto and I’m sure, without even trying, rendering many of us utterly speechless. Maybe eight years from now when I’m less distraught over “They’ll remember us. They’re not kids anymore.” I’ll be able to talk about just how encompassing “Start” was, but today’s not that day. Or maybe when I’ve finally gotten Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell’s meticulously somber expressions and the stoic, yet crumbling physicality out of my mind, I’ll be able to talk about it more. But for now, let this just serve as my plea to get you all to watch The Americans because it’s truly unmatched. There are no words that could rightfully encapsulate the magnitude of this finale’s greatness.

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It’s been a solid four weeks since it’s aired, plenty of stunning footage followed, and yet, I can’t stop thinking about how the untitled episode ends.

Cue, Lissie’s “Go Your Own Way” the most stunning cover of Fleetwood Mac’s original hit I’ve ever heard. Maybe throw a ton of bricks at me, I’d feel less than I did during the scene I’m going to discuss. There’s so much to be said about why this is the episode that sets everything into motion beautifully. (And the episode that had me officially hooked.) Where there’s a formidable hindrance in any relationship, the result of overcoming and giving in to the resistance could go a number of ways, and A Discovery of Witches may have just set the bar too high to meet. Matthew dropping to his knees as an immaculate effort to comfort Diana in a position of overwhelming uniformity showcased his very intentions with her beautifully. Intimacy is more than a physical touch or in this case, a breathtaking first kiss. Intimacy is the choice to share oneself with another — mind, body, and soul. Intimacy is the exhibition of complete and utter vulnerability, gorgeously validating that Diana has, in every way, captivated Matthew to his core — awakening the disposition to love that’s long been dead inside of him. Intimacy is a man with great strength and in this case, a threatening reputation, revealing himself in the form of pure humility in front of a woman he’d risk everything for. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for her and the physical showcase of malleability brought his heart to life impeccably.

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