The Magicians
2015
Original language: English
- drama
- sci-fi & fantasy
The story
Brakebills University is a secret institution specializing in magic. There, amidst an unorthodox education of spellcasting, a group of twenty-something friends soon discover that a magical fantasy world they read about as children is all too real— and poses grave danger to humanity.
What it’s like
Cool, saturated night-time New York, with lamplit streets, dim seminar rooms and the glow of candles and enchanted light against wood-panelled walls, gives The Magicians a moody, handsome look that leans into dusky blues and warm amber. The camera is mostly mobile and close, moving with its restless young cast through corridors and bars, and the spellwork is shown as bright, shimmering effects and sudden flashes of colour, while the score runs to synth pulses and wistful strings. The vibe is wry, glamorous melancholy: clever, a little self-mocking, and tinged with the ache of people who wanted more from life than they got. It suits a late night in alone, a binge over a few evenings, or a stretch of rainy weekends. Pacing is brisk, with episodes that shift between campus comedy and sharper emotional turns. Its characters are gifted, unsettled young adults slowly learning what their power costs them and whom they can trust. Violence is present and sometimes bloody, with some graphic injury, and there is sexual content, drinking and drug use, so it is not gentle. It is for viewers who enjoy fantasy with a bitter-sweet, adult edge and an interest in disillusioned ambition.
More TV shows like The Magicians
Closest in mood, pacing and theme. Tell us why you loved The Magiciansand we’ll explain which ones fit you.
