Syfy’s The Magicians has been airing for a few weeks, and now that it’s had some time to prove itself, I can say with certainty that this show is one to root for.
Having read Lev Grossman’s The Magicians series years ago, I was already familiar with Quentin Coldwater’s discovery of magic. Living in New York, Quentin was obsessed with his favorite childhood fantasy novel and spent a lot of his adult time still reading it — sound familiar, Potter fans?
Quentin then discovers that his favorite series is actually real, and he learns that he has the ability to do magic. After finding himself magically transported to Brakebills University, he gets a spot at the school to learn how to grow and control his powers.
But, of course, things can never really be that simple, can they? There’s a beast after Quentin and people like him, and despite the school being protected by wards and enchantments, beasts are let in and Quentin has to fight and learn magic faster than he’d ever expected.
It’s a fantastic book series, and this adaptation for TV is turning out to be a fantastic show.
The Magicians has often been called “Harry Potter for adults,” and that actually isn’t a far off comparison. Any time you get the whole magic school plot, though, you’re automatically compared to Harry Potter. But The Magicians is a unique TV experience, not just a copy. It’s sexier, more dangerous and it’s a completely different world.
The spells and the creatures that I’ve seen are way more adult than those cast in Harry Potter, and I’m so happy that the show lets their characters utter curse words with barely any censors. (We have a feeling Harry would’ve said a lot more if he wasn’t written in a children’s story.)
The Magicians is unapologetically dark and twisted and doesn’t hesitate to creep you out with the stories they tell and the means in which they tell them, which is what makes this show so great. It’s finally a fantasy show for adults — one you wouldn’t want your kids to see. For example, necromancy is a common occurrence so far and you’ll be surprised how often a body rises from unexpected places.
One of the best parts of the TV adaptation is the way they’re able to execute their twists and make it just different enough from the book to keep it interesting and surprising. Even if you’ve read the entire series you’ll likely end an episode with your jaw on the floor because these cliffhangers are unpredictable, and their plots make you think.
If you’ve read The Magicians by Lev Grossman, I definitely suggest you check out the show. Even if you haven’t then you don’t need to worry, because the show stands alone as its own story as well. It’s great for readers and non-readers alike, and I hope you give it a shot regardless!
‘The Magicians’ returns Monday at 9:00 p.m. on Syfy
