Domino Day

I bindge watched this because I found it really interesting. It's modern day fantasy with witches and magic, set in Manchester, UK. I actually wished it was a bit longer even.

The acting, and production quality was all higher than expected, even though it was an indie production. I think the actors did a great job in getting their characters across, which for the most part were well written. Nothing seemed flat, the characters were multi-facetted. I really liked the lead, and routed for her through-out.

It's very character driven drama, even though there a magical element to the plot. I would have liked more lore on the myths they used, but they really didn't shy away from the magic.

Some of the characters sadly did send you postcards on how they were going to turn out in the plot.

(Reviewed after watching the first two episodes of season 1.)

The basic problem here is that Domino Day is not a sympathetic character. If, as the stated "storyline" suggests, "she is haunted by her need to feed on the energy of others", she should really be actively struggling with her need to feed. Instead, she seems to succumb quite easily to it. It all feels a bit "it's not my fault I'm doing bad", rather than "I will overcome my addiction".

The second problem is that the story and "world building" are rather thin. The "magic shop" seems more like a joke shop, not least because the shopkeeper is so weak. Surely he should have some strong magic to call on? And while this is, supposedly, set in Manchester (England), nothing we see seems in any way uniquely Mancunian.

The third problem is that this feels very tame. Perhaps there can't be any actual sexual content because the commissioners (the BBC) are looking to export this to markets where a stronger offering would not be acceptable? Who knows. (And these three problems are certainly not a charm.)

If you've the urge to watch an interesting/adult magical drama, try The Magicians (2015-2020).

I watched the first 3 episodes wishing I could just watch lost girl again. It's almost exactly the same, just nowhere near as charismatic and fun.

Dangerous sucubus type leading lady, in a world she is unknowing of. It's nicely filmed, nice photography. Decent acting. No one is particularly warm and interesting. I hope it continues as they could expand greatly. It's also nice seeing Manchester, although when you've lived there, you understand that they film on a series of streets, all in the same area. I worked on the street the cafe is on and all the other scenes are literally 1 min walk away from each other. Hilarious. Good luck to them moving forward. Don't be afraid to forge your own story instead of rewriting others.

Domino Day, BBC Three's latest supernatural YA series, arrives cloaked in atmosphere and ambition - all neon-lit aesthetics, slow glances, and spells whispered like secrets. But beneath its moody surface lies a show sadly struggling to find its voice, let alone cast a lasting spell...

The premise is rich: witches in modern-day Manchester navigating power, trauma, and desire. And visually, the series often impresses - shadowy alleyways, dreamy clubs, and flickering candlelit rituals offer the kind of cinematic flair that BBC Three has flirted with before. But style can only carry a show so far, and Domino Day too often stalls where it should surge. Dialogue leans on exposition, character development feels rushed or unclear, and the pacing never quite settles - neither propulsive enough to thrill nor deep enough to truly move.

Where a series like Wreck (also BBC Three) thrived was in its unapologetic boldness. The horror-comedy had something to say - about exploitation, identity, and survival - and it said it loudly, sometimes absurdly, but always with intent. Domino Day, by contrast, feels cautious. Its themes - grief, belonging, inherited power - are gestured at rather than fully explored.

That's not to say Domino Day is without merit. Siena Kelly gives a grounded, emotionally layered performance as the titular Domino, and the supporting cast brings depth where the writing sometimes doesn't. There are glimpses of something genuinely compelling: a world where magic is messy, feminine, and real. But the show needed a stronger hand at the wheel - more risk, more clarity, more fire.

Domino Day maybe needs a second series to grow itself a little. Take a chance to be louder, more specific, stranger...

Domino Day: Domino Day is a young Mancunian witch of sorts but is also a psychic vampire. She preys on abusive males, leaving them still alive. She sometimes gets carried away when lost in passion and takes some human energy from her nice boyfriend. The Witch world is rather well organised and a local coven becomes aware of Domino's activities and fears that it might bring the existence of witches into the open. When Domino leaves evidence behind after draining one creep things become complicated. There are also Witch Elders involved and Voodoo "Deity" Baron Samedi puts in an appearance or two. Certain activities and beliefs are banned by the Elders. A rather dark tale of growth and parasitism, the unequal taking not all being on Domino's part. Some interesting rituals and means of dispatching people along with trips to inbetween realms. Created and Written by Lauren Sequeira, Directed by Eva Sigurdardottir & Nadira Amrani. 8/10.