#adow 1x02

*spoilers*

Opening with Matthew Goode’s deliciously gravelled perfect English was, well, perfect.

Immediately, the colour palette, the aesthetic, and the music are all really to my liking. Setting the tone right away, you know when you just know something is your jam?!

I liked that Diana uses her magic, basically in her first scene, and that while it surprises her you quickly gleam that this has clearly happened before.

Diana is beautiful, and her blue blazer is iconic in the fandom at this point!

We quickly learn that she is somewhat of a genius with all the tenure, and publishing information. Ooh!

Gillian is much more of an unsure, awkward presence in the show so far. She was a straight up jealous conniving bitch in the book.

Ashmole 782 is a juicy mystery from the offing. Matthew’s reaction to the magic is wild. Later on, I get why Matthew can feel it but Miriam too?

Miriam: “Our blood, it’s reacting to something.”

It seems kind of crazy at first, why Diana would rush to hand Ashmole 782 back into the library. Don’t you want to know more? Don’t you want to know about any of what just happened?!

Without knowing anything else, it’s puzzling. But obviously we learn she just does not want anything to do with magic at all!

The scene where Matthew is standing in the courtyard trying to figure out where it’s coming from, with the camera spinning around him is *chef’s kiss* #hisneck #ifyouknowyouknow

I wish I’d have done this write up before reading the book... but since I didn’t... Diana seeing her dad Stephen was totally him going to hide the book again, right?

Ooh, why couldn’t Marcus turn his friend? Did you think he was just feeding on him at first? For a split second it crossed my mind, thinking maybe he couldn’t control himself with all the blood, and knowing he was dying anyway, but then you realise, no, he’s clearly devastated at the prospect of not being able to save him. What a ride!

When Diana tells her aunts that she saw her dad, that would have been the time to maybe at least mention timewalking? At least they didn’t play it off though, and Sarah at least acts like it *is* magic and she did see him. Rather than saying, “Oh no, that’s impossible. You must just be stressed out/tired.” Lol.

I’m glad the enquiry into Marcus’s friends death didn’t become a thing, where the police are on their tale. And I like in general that this story is strictly full of creatures.

I like how in the beginning, Miriam’s all, “What’s he doing here?” about Marcus, but they are pretty much always together for the rest of the show. :D

“Another failed siring.”

They need The Book of Life Diana discovered because of the failure to make new vampires.

From the group vampire discussion they have in the pub, we get the inklings of there being a divide between vampires and witches with Matthew finally stating they may have to just take the book for themselves if Diana won’t give it over.

And then they finally (I mean, I’m only 25 minutes in) meet!

And it’s one of the best scenes in the whole show, honestly. Matthew’s trying to size Diana up with all the knowledge he has so far, and she has no idea who he is but is clearly intrigued from the get go. She doesn’t seem scared of him, just startled. He obviously made a big impression because the next thing we see is her downing tea and toast in the cafe, when in walks Matthew in his grey and black suit (his actual best outfit of the whole series!) and catches her googling him. As you do.

I like Diana’s lack of pussyfooting, she gets straight to the point, catching the fact that he clearly was only in the library for her, and asking him what he wants. In return, I think Matthew is pleasantly surprised by both her attitude and her honesty. And Matthew Goode does a really good job of subtly portraying that.

(The next part is me talking about the rest of episode 1, and episode 2 all in a jumble. I finally got my bf to watch a couple of episodes with me and I was so caught up in it, I didn’t stop to write it down point by point. But after episode 2, they will all be point by point again.)

We don’t see much of the congregation yet, we just know that Knox is a senior member, as is Gerbert. But we also learn that Gerbert doesn’t want somebody named Baldwin (wink) sniffing around his business.

Satu is creepy, and I’m afraid at this point.

We learn that Gillian is more like her book counterpart after all, in that she’s jealous, and just wants to get ahead. Although she clearly is gullible and unsure of herself. Unlike book Gillian.

Book references littered through are very cool, ie. the Daemon’s mismatched cowboy boots in the Bodleian.

Knox basically assaults Diana. I fkn hate that guy.

The talk between Diana and Matthew as they walk in the gardens is really fun, his monologue about the creatures dying out, and their back and forth about desire and fear.

“Desire is magic made real.” <3

That wrist kiss is positively tingle worthy, and I am here for that! Yayyyy!!!

When we see Juliet obsessed with anyone named Matthew and then Gerbert bites her to see her memories, I got a little worried. A love triangle? I hoped not. It was definitely clear this was Matthew super in the past what with his long hair. That plus what Juliet screams at Gerbert as he locks her away for being a bad vampire, put me at ease a little.

By the end of episode two I found myself already totally and completely in love with Matthew, and Bishmont <3

Diana finally goes to him because everyone wants something from her - including Matthew - but they all went about it the wrong way, they schemed, and tried to force her into recalling The Book of Life. But Matthew warned her about that, he seemed genuine, kind even. Plus, you know, super hot, and extremely mysterious.

So when she goes to him in his rooms, the look on her face when he’s not there is so hopeless, but then, oh wait. Fuck. That stairs scene is so good. But the following scene is one of my favourites of the whole show. When she’s all, “You can smell my adrenaline.” And “You can hear my heart.”

“Of course.” *pause* “All the time.”

Ahhhh!!! I’m done.

Anyone else rewatching?

-justavampiregirl

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