How to Watch Every Good Witch Series in Order Without Losing the Plot

So, you’ve decided to move to Middleton. Or at least, you want to virtually move there through your TV screen. I get it. There is something incredibly soothing about Cassie Nightingale’s uncanny ability to show up exactly when someone needs a specific herbal tea or a life-altering piece of advice. But if you’re trying to figure out the good witch series in order, you’ve probably realized it's a bit of a mess. It isn’t just a show. It started as a movie franchise on the Hallmark Channel way back in 2008, and if you jump straight into the Netflix series, you are going to be confused about why certain characters act like they have a decade of history.

They do.

The "Good Witch" universe is actually one of Hallmark's longest-running and most successful properties. It’s built on the "Grey House" lore, centering on Cassie (played by Catherine Bell) and her daughter Grace, and eventually the extended Merriwick family. If you want the full experience, you have to start with the original seven movies before you even touch the seven-season television show. Honestly, skipping the movies is like starting a book at chapter ten. You’ll get the gist, but you’ll miss the soul of the story.

The Original Movie Cycle: Where it All Began

Before it was a weekly procedural about small-town charms and light-hearted mysteries, The Good Witch was a standalone film. It was never actually intended to be a massive franchise. Catherine Bell was fresh off JAG, and people loved the mysterious, kind-hearted stranger who moves into a haunted-looking mansion.

The first movie, simply titled The Good Witch, introduces us to Cassie Nightingale. She moves into Grey House, and the local police chief, Jake Russell (played by Chris Potter), is naturally suspicious. It sets the tone for everything that follows. You see the skepticism of the town, the budding romance, and the first hints that Cassie might be more than just a woman with a green thumb.

Following that, you have The Good Witch’s Garden. This is where we get into the history of the Merriwick family. We meet a stranger claiming to be an heir to the estate, and Cassie has to prove her lineage. Then comes The Good Witch’s Gift, which is essentially the "wedding movie." If you’re watching the good witch series in order, this one is crucial because it cements the family dynamic that carries through the first half of the entire franchise.

Then the sequels just kept coming because the ratings were massive. The Good Witch’s Family introduces Cassie’s long-lost cousin Abigail, who acts as a sort of "darker" foil to Cassie’s relentless positivity. It’s a great dynamic. This is followed by The Good Witch’s Charm, The Good Witch’s Destiny, and finally The Good Witch’s Wonder. That last movie, Wonder, is the bridge. It aired in 2014, right before the transition to the scripted series format.

One thing people often miss: Chris Potter, who played Jake, didn’t return for the TV show. If you go from the movies to the show without realizing there’s a time jump, the first episode of the series might feel like a punch to the gut. The show starts with Cassie as a widow. It’s a big shift, and having the context of those seven movies makes that emotional weight actually land.

Transitioning to the Good Witch Television Series

In 2015, the format changed. Hallmark realized they had a hit on their hands and turned it into a weekly series. This is usually what people mean when they search for the good witch series in order, but the show itself has its own internal chronological challenges, mostly due to the holiday specials.

The TV show ran for seven seasons.

Each season typically follows a year in the life of the residents of Middleton. However, Hallmark has a habit of releasing "movies" in between seasons that are actually just double-length episodes. For instance, "Halloween Prophecy" or "Spellbound." If you’re binging this on a streaming service, these are sometimes tucked away in a separate "Specials" folder or listed as Movie 8, Movie 9, etc.

Season 1 through Season 4: The Bailee Madison Years

The early seasons of the show focus heavily on the relationship between Cassie and her teenage daughter, Grace (Bailee Madison), and their new neighbors, Sam and Nick Radford. Sam is a doctor—a man of science—which provides the perfect contrast to Cassie’s more... intuitive way of living. Watching Sam try to debunk Cassie’s "intuition" for four years is basically the engine of the show.

Season 5 through Season 7: The Evolution

By Season 5, the show shifts. Grace graduates and moves on, and the focus expands to include more of Abigail’s life and the arrival of another Merriwick cousin, Joy. This trio—Cassie, Abigail, and Joy—becomes the new "Power of Three" (to borrow a phrase from another witchy show, though much less literal here). The series finale, which aired in 2021, wraps up most of the major character arcs, but there is always talk in the Hallmark fandom about a potential revival.

A Quick Reference List for Your Binge-Watch

If you want a checklist to keep next to your remote, here is the factual chronological order of the good witch series in order including the movies:

👉 See also: Why No Good Deed Episode 3 is the Moment Everything Falls Apart

1. The Good Witch (2008 Movie)
2. The Good Witch's Garden (2009 Movie)
3. The Good Witch's Gift (2010 Movie)
4. The Good Witch's Family (2011 Movie)
5. The Good Witch's Charm (2012 Movie)
6. The Good Witch's Destiny (2013 Movie)
7. The Good Witch's Wonder (2014 Movie)
8. Good Witch Season 1 (The TV series begins)
9. Good Witch Halloween (Also known as Something Wicked, fits between S1 and S2)
10. Good Witch Season 2
11. Good Witch: Secrets of Grey House (Fits between S2 and S3)
12. Good Witch Season 3
13. Good Witch: Prophecy (Fits between S3 and S4)
14. Good Witch Season 4
15. Good Witch: Forever Tree (Fits between S4 and S5)
16. Good Witch Season 5
17. Good Witch: Curse from a Rose (Fits between S5 and S6)
18. Good Witch Season 6
19. Good Witch Season 7 (The Final Season)

Why Most People Get the Timeline Wrong

The biggest mistake is the "Halloween Specials." Because they were aired as standalone TV movies, some streaming platforms don't include them in the seasonal episode counts. If you skip "The Forever Tree," for example, you’ll start Season 5 and wonder why everyone is talking about a wedding that you didn't see happen.

The lore of the Merriwicks is also surprisingly deep for a "cozy" show. You have the legend of the Traveler and the hidden rooms in Grey House. If you don't watch the movies, the significance of the "Bell, Book, and Candle" shop name—and Cassie’s connection to the town's history—is mostly lost. It’s not just a cute name; it’s a reference to the 1958 film, but in-universe, it represents Cassie’s heritage.

What Makes This Series Actually Good?

Look, it’s not Breaking Bad. There aren't high-stakes explosions or gritty betrayals. But that is exactly why it has such a massive following. It’s "comfort TV." In a world that feels increasingly loud and chaotic, Middleton is a place where the biggest problem is a misunderstood festival theme or a minor disagreement about a recipe.

The "magic" in the show is also handled with a very light touch. Cassie never throws a fireball. She never chants a spell. Instead, she just knows. She knows you’re about to have a headache before you do, so she hands you a peppermint tea. She knows a specific person is going to walk through the door, so she sets an extra plate. It’s a "soft" magic system that makes the viewer wonder if she’s actually psychic or if she’s just incredibly observant and empathetic. That ambiguity is the secret sauce.

Common Misconceptions About the Good Witch

One thing people often get wrong is thinking the show is a remake of Bewitched or Charmed. It isn't. It’s much more grounded in the "Magical Realism" genre. Another misconception is that the movies and the show are separate continuities. They aren't. They are one continuous story. When Cassie mentions her husband Jake in the TV series, she’s referring to the character she married in the third movie.

There’s also the question of where to watch. While the series was a staple on Netflix for years, licensing changes mean it often bounces between Hallmark Movies Now, Peacock, and Amazon Prime. Always check the "Movies" section separately from the "TV Shows" section on these platforms, or you’ll miss the first half of the story.

Practical Steps for Your Watch Party

If you’re planning to dive into the good witch series in order, don’t try to rush it. This is a show designed for a slow pace.

Start by tracking down the original 2008 movie. If you don't like the vibe of that first hour and a half, the rest of the 13-year journey probably isn't for you. But if you find yourself charmed by the way Cassie handles the town gossip, then commit to the movies first.

• Audit your streaming services: Search for "The Good Witch" specifically in the "Movies" category first to find the 2008-2014 titles.
• Watch the Specials: Ensure you have access to the Halloween specials, particularly The Forever Tree and Curse from a Rose, as these contain major plot developments for Abigail and Donovan's relationship.
• Mind the Gap: Be prepared for the tone shift between the final movie (Wonder) and Season 1 of the series. The cast changes and the jump in time can be jarring if you aren't expecting it.

The best way to experience Middleton is to treat it like a vacation. It’s a place to visit when you want to believe that people are generally good, that problems can be solved with a conversation, and that a little bit of intuition goes a long way.