Matthew begins to worry about the effect of the Book of Life on Diana. Marcus decides he isn’t quite ready to give up on Phoebe. Sophie and Nathaniel’s baby is threatened.

After a couple of fairly slow, focused episodes, this instalment of A Discovery of Witches feels almost breathless by comparison. There’s a lot of different plates spinning here, and every one of them is important.

Back in the past, Matthew is increasingly concerned by Diana’s fixation on the Book of Life, and how it seems to be affecting her. For her part, Diana is frustrated by the fact that the meaning of the book continues to elude her, dancing constantly just out of reach. It seems that the pages torn out by Kelley may have been more vital than she had first realised.

But that’s all we really get from the past – a few scenes getting this part of the narrative across – while the majority of the action takes place in the modern day, and there’s quite a lot of it too.

Marcus is basically fed up of his life – he feels betrayed by the fact that none of his vampire family had told him he was a carrier of the Blood Rage, and forlorn that when he finally met a woman he felt he could share his true identity and nature with, she walked away. He isn’t quite ready to let her go though, and so on a flimsy pretence he makes contact with her again and offers a piece of proof for her to verify for herself, hoping that he’ll draw her back.

Over at Sept-Tours, Sarah and Em wind up having a bit of domestic once the former realises exactly what the latter has been up to as she tries to find a way to locate the missing pages of the Book of Life. Speaking to the dead is not a matter to be taken lightly, and the argument opens old wounds. In one of the best lines of the episode, the unlikeliest of sources gives a piece of advice which simply reaffirms what we’ve seen to date this season, and it’s all the better for it.

Nathaniel and Sophie’s baby meanwhile, is the focus of much attention when news of it and its nature reaches entirely the last ears the parents would want. Marcus is determined to put the Knights of Lazarus to use a force for good, and the protection of a demon/witch baby from forces that would harm it seems as good a place to start as any, but he’ll have to contend with Baldwin first, who is determined to take the mantle of Master of the Knights for himself.

And that’s not forgetting Gerbert, who is busily plotting with both Knox and Domenico as he strives to take what he feels is his rightful place as head of the Congregation and depose the de Clermonts from their position of power.

There’s a lot of switching back and forth as all these various plotlines play out, but the episode never feels unfocused somehow, probably because of how closely intertwined a lot of the threads are. Marcus’ feelings are exacerbated by the proximity of Nathaniel and Sophie, and seeing their happiness. Gerbert’s scheming only ensures that Ysabeau remains as resolute as ever to protect those who might previously have been her enemies. Phoebe’s own journey is nudged when Domenico overplays his hand. It all works together in a way that on the surface might seem impossible, drawing together players across the world and across time into a satisfying overall narrative.

Verdict: Packed and varied, but flowing together nicely. 9/10

Greg D. Smith