Television series
A Discovery of Witches
A Discovery of Witches is a lush, character-driven supernatural drama about a historian who denies her witch heritage until an enchanted manuscript thrusts her into the hidden world of witches, vampires, and demons. It's romantic without being saccharine, intricate without losing you, and genuinely interested in its mythology. For fans of magical intrigue and slow-burn chemistry.
Should you watch it?
Watch it if you want a slow-burning romance wrapped in Oxford libraries, old family secrets and academic detective work, with the romance carrying more weight than the monsters.
Skip it if you find brooding, mannered courtship hard going, or you want the monsters front and centre; the pace is leisurely and the mythology stays in the background.
What it asks of you: Expect long, unhurried episodes of about fifty minutes across three seasons, with plenty of lingering looks and quiet research scenes; it rewards patience more than close attention.
Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.
If you liked this
Outlander2014
Epic romance woven through history with the same rich production design and commitment to era detail. The central relationship develops with genuine stakes and complexity, anchoring adventure and supernatural elements.
But Runs long with occasional pacing lulls, and the show can't always balance its multiple storylines with equal skill.

The Midnight Club2022
A supernatural mystery where atmosphere and character development matter as much as plot. Beautiful cinematography, genuine ensemble chemistry, and a willingness to let tension build slowly rather than jump to spectacle.
But The ending divides opinion sharply, and it takes patience to reach the payoff some viewers don't feel rewarded by.

Penny Dreadful2014
Victorian-era supernatural drama with literary ambition, gorgeous visuals, and a cast that elevates every scene. It understands that monsters are most interesting when they're complicated and lonely.
But Heavily serialized and demands attention; some episodes prioritize atmosphere over forward momentum, which frustrates viewers wanting plot speed.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from A Discovery of Witches
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
The Magicians2015
Both follow the same shape: someone with hidden power stumbles into a magical world and discovers that knowing the truth about it changes everything. Both care about the interior life of their lead as much as external adventure.
Like Witches if it were darker, funnier, and obsessed with the cost of power. A university for magic, but one where learning is painful and dangerous. Balances intricate mythology with genuine character depth and surprising emotional weight.
But Tonal shifts between comedy and tragedy alienate some viewers; it's deliberately messy and won't resolve neatly. Also: cancelled on a cliffhanger.

More like this (8)
The Witcher2019
Fantasy worldbuilding with real emotional stakes, where relationships between characters matter as much as battles. Henry Cavill anchors it with restraint; the mythology deepens across seasons.
But First season's timeline jumps confuse some viewers, and later seasons lose the thread that made early ones compelling.

Grimm2011
Procedural with supernatural depth—each episode wraps a mystery while building an overarching mythology about hidden creatures living among us. Fun without being silly; grounded despite the fantastical premise.
But Unevenly paced across its six seasons, with later episodes sometimes feeling like they're marking time rather than building toward something.

The Nevers2021
Joss Whedon's Victorian-era supernatural ensemble about women gaining extraordinary powers. Visual invention, sharp dialogue, and genuine intrigue about what's happening and why. Each character matters.
But Cancelled after one season on a cliffhanger, leaving major threads unresolved. A difficult watch if you need closure.

Constantine2014
Occult detective drama with real supernatural weight and a lead character who feels lived-in and world-weary. Stylish, atmospheric, interested in demonology as genuine mythology rather than decoration.
But Only one season before cancellation, so the story never fully blooms. Some monster-of-the-week episodes feel formulaic.

Carnival Row2019
A dark fantasy exploring prejudice through the lens of magical creatures hidden in a Victorian-inspired city. Visually stunning, morally complex, with Cara Delevingne and Orlando Bloom bringing vulnerability to their roles.
But Cancelled after two seasons, and the plotting can feel melodramatic. Some world-building elements lack clarity.

Van Helsing2016
Vampire lore reimagined with a female lead who doesn't need rescuing. Action-heavy supernatural drama that takes its own mythology seriously and commits to genuine consequences for its characters.
But Visual effects are sometimes inconsistent, and the show relies heavily on plot convenience. Tone wavers between camp and seriousness.

Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire2022
Both treat vampires (and immortals generally) as tragic rather than cool. Both are interested in the actual experience of living forever—loneliness, obligation, the weight of history. Both are as much love stories as they are mythology.
Lush, literary vampire drama that lingers on emotional consequence rather than spectacle. Explores immortality, desire, and codependency with genuine psychological insight. Stunning production design and a cast performing at the height of their powers.
But Paced for reflection rather than plot momentum; if you want propulsive narrative, this will feel slow. Also: it's very queer, very sensual, very sad—not for everyone's evening.

The OA2016
Both build elaborate hidden worlds within the real one, where knowledge is dangerous and believing requires faith. Both feature protagonists discovering they're more powerful than they realized—and that power comes with a cost to others. Both are sensual, mysterious, and trust that confusion can be compelling.
A missing-person mystery that becomes a multidimensional sci-fi epic. Visually inventive, structurally daring, genuinely strange in ways most prestige TV isn't willing to be. Refuses to explain everything and trusts the audience's intelligence.
But Cancelled after two seasons on the verge of a massive reveal, leaving everything unresolved. The mythology is deliberately obscure and not for viewers who need certainty about what they've watched.

People
Cast
Production
- Ryan RasmussenCo-Executive Producer
- Anna FergusonExecutive Producer
- Anne MensahExecutive Producer
- Deborah HarknessExecutive Producer
- Farren BlackburnExecutive Producer
- Jane TranterExecutive Producer
- Julie GardnerExecutive Producer
- Kate BrookeExecutive Producer
- Lachlan MacKinnonExecutive Producer
- Pete McTigheExecutive Producer
- Ryan RasmussenExecutive Producer
- Susie ConklinExecutive Producer
- Kathy NettleshipLine Producer
- Nicola RosadaLine Producer
- Dominic BarlowProducer
- Edoardo FerrettiProducer
- Sue CalverleyProducer
- Susie ConklinProducer
Recommended by
Practical Magic 2, Twilight, Good Omens, The Magicians, The Fades