‘A Discovery of Witches’ Recap: ‘Season 3, Episode 3’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 303 of ‘A Discovery of Witches’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Some of the hardest acts we will ever take part in, in life, is admitting that we made a mistake and ask for forgiveness in the process. Simply because… we often like to think we always know the right path through life and making a mistake and needing to atone for it can be quite the ego bruise. As can asking for forgiveness, since it means we need to own up to the fact that we hurt someone for no good reason and having to face the pain we caused them… and the reality that they may not accept our apology or provide us with the penance we seek… is an unsettling thought for certain. Since that kind of failure would hang over us for ages. But if we want to grow in life and we want to be a better and more complete person, these are acts we absolutely have to take part in.
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If anything, this particularly painful process growth wise is top of mind today… because it is the lesson that Matthew was forced to learn in the latest episode of A Discovery of Witches. For when we catch up with Matthew in this particular tale, he and Marcus and Jack have made their way to New Orleans to try and build their Scion. And in order to do that, they need the help of a powerful vampire named Ransom, who quite frankly, has nothing but disdain in his heart for Matthew. For centuries ago, Matthew culled a great deal of the people that Ransom held near and dear to his heart… all in the name of eliminating the blood rage and those losses were not forgotten in the slightest, nor were Matthew’s actions and a sour air hung over his attempts to make peace since no vampire in the Big Easy thought he was genuine about making amends and working together.

Which meant, that in order to bring peace to the past and to get what he wanted. Matthew would have to apologize sincerely, and show Ransom there was remorse in his heart and that he was willing to own up the past to change the future, and that was no easy task. For when the opportunity arose to finally to do so… Ransom made it clear that any misstep in honoring the lives that Matthew took, would result in his own violent end. But Matthew understood the time was right to put away the old way of thinking and the old animosity created by vampire-kind… and grow, and he apologized honestly for his actions and offered an equally as honest apology for every last life he took, and for his efforts and because he was also working to heal Jack in this place… Ransom finally understood that Matthew was indeed genuine and agreed to join this new family. But what matters more here, is that Matthew’s actions, truly hammered home the theme of this tale in a raw and honest and inspiring manner and it was quite lovely to find such lovely commentary on the human condition in this tale.

However, while watching Matthew grow was indeed a wonderful treat, there was plenty going on back home in London. Because Diana and Phoebe were working round the clock to find the final two missing pages from the Book of Life and their hard work paid off. For Diana was able to ascertain, with an assist from magic of course, that Father Hubbard was in possession of one of the pages. A puzzle that unfortunately, Peter Knox solved as well… since he took the time to waltz into Hubbard’s office and demand that the page be given to him. A request that of course, ended with Knox nearly losing his life since Hubbard would never take an order from a witch. Much less a fallen witch of Knox’s low caliber. But thankfully, Hubbard’s decision to chase that witch off, benefitted another. Since Diana was able to get her hands on that missing page and it would seem, she is closer than ever to the third and final page as well.

When all is said and done however this was simply a satisfying episode through and through. Because not only did it take the time to advance the plot by way of Diana’s journey and all the tidbits surrounding it, such as that fascinating ending where Satu and Benjamin engaged in discussions about tomorrow… but it once again offered us stunning character growth and beautiful commentary on the human condition. For Matthew’s journey was quite powerful and it really does take a brave and honest person to own up to those kinds of awful actions, and it was just wonderful to see him continue to strive to be a better person and continue to fight to change the course of the future for his kind and the rest of the monsters that live in this world. And now that this leg of the journey has come to a close, it will be quite interesting to see what good comes out of the Scion and what trouble awaits Diana since the wily Peter Knox is putting in the same amount of research as she is. Until next time.

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