Bundling is an old-fashioned way that couples used to get to know each other without getting too physical. It has come from places like the British Isles, the Netherlands, and colonial America.
Back then, a couple would share a bed, but they’d stay fully clothed and sometimes even have a blanket or wooden board between them.
The idea was to let them feel close and figure out if they liked each other, all while keeping things proper before marriage.
In the TV show A Discovery of Witches, this practice shows up in Season 1, Episode 5.
The show, which aired from 2018 to 2022, is based on Deborah Harkness’s All Souls Trilogy and stars Teresa Palmer as Diana Bishop, a smart historian who’s also a witch, and Matthew Goode as Matthew Clairmont, a 1,500-year-old vampire.
In this episode, Matthew asks Diana what she knows about bundling. She’s familiar with it as a historian but points out, “It is 2018,” like it’s a funny, outdated thing to bring up.
Still, they end up sharing a bed in a sweet, intimate moment. They kiss and take off some clothes, which isn’t exactly how traditional bundling worked, but the scene keeps it unclear how far they go.
Matthew Goode later said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that their relationship doesn’t get fully physical until Season 2, so this moment is more about emotional closeness than anything else.
He also mentioned that filming it felt “tricky” and “uncomfortable,” almost like figuring out dance steps for a tango scene they did earlier.
The practice fits Matthew’s character perfectly. As a vampire who’s lived for centuries, he’s seen traditions like bundling back when they were normal, especially in France, where he’s from.
Even though the show happens in modern times, his old-fashioned side comes through, and it makes sense that he’d suggest something like this.
For Diana, who’s newer to all this magic and romance, it’s a chance to connect with him in a way that feels safe and special.
Fans of the show loved how this scene brought the couple closer. It’s one of the first big steps in their love story, which is a huge part of why people enjoyed A Discovery of Witches.
The series mixes romance, supernatural stuff, and a bit of history, and bundling is a cool nod to the past that makes their bond stand out.
Matthew Goode even joked in that same interview about being nervous for Season 2, when things between Matthew and Diana heat up more, saying, “God knows what’s going to happen when we actually have sex in season two. I’m terrified.”
Looking into it more, bundling wasn’t just a random custom, it was practical too. In cold climates, like parts of colonial America, sharing a bed helped people stay warm when houses didn’t have much heat.
Parents would sometimes be nearby to keep an eye on things, making sure it stayed innocent. In the show, though, it’s less about practicality and more about Matthew and Diana testing their feelings.
The books by Deborah Harkness, especially the first one, A Discovery of Witches, don’t spell out every detail of this scene, but the TV version uses it to show how their trust grows.
By Season 2, when they’re hiding out in Elizabethan London, their relationship gets deeper, matching the second book, Shadow of Night.
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