Mike reviews the fourth episode of The Magicians.
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| I'm so sad. Someone get me some chocolate milk. |
This week the Syfy network announced that The Magicians has
been picked up for a second season. This
is obviously exciting news, for a number of reasons. The first book on its own packs a lot of
important, meaningful plot points into its 400 or so pages (much less Julia's
concurrent storyline from The Magician King), and even following a Game
of Thrones-style "one season, one book" format something could
easily still be left out. A guaranteed
second season also allows the show to deviate a bit more from its source
material, while still being true to the tone and characters. This week's episode is the first of what
could end up being many more based on original material not included in Lev
Grossman's books.
The episode is titled The World in the Walls, after
the first book in the Fillory and Further series beloved by
Quentin. The Narnia-like series
centers around the Chatwin children and their adventures in the magical (but
dangerous) land of Fillory. The title
takes on a very different meaning in this week's episode, as Quentin wakes up
in a mysterious psychiatric hospital with no recollection of why he's there or
how he got there. Naturally, Quentin
begins to question his reality, sending him back to the books he loves—and now
believes to be true—to find the answers.
But the reason for his being in the hospital could be something far more
sinister than anyone could imagine.
The first three episodes proved how well this world
translates from the page to the screen.
This week's episode is proof of how well that world can be
expanded. After an Alice-centric episode
last week Jason Ralph is once again given a chance to shine as Quentin, and he
effortlessly proves how perfect he is for the role. All of the casting is fantastic, even in
smaller roles (especially Rick Worthy in an authoritative performance as
Brakebills's dean Fogg), but like the books the complex character Quentin holds
it all together, and Ralph nails it.
This episode in particular is a great showcase for the troubled Quentin.
The Magicians has been consistently great week after
week so far, with many of the more interesting story elements still to
come. Watching the story unfold onscreen
has been has been a delightful experience so far, and this episode proves to be
a great expansion on the world beloved by the readers of the books. Any doubt about the translation of the book
to the series is now officially put to rest.
And with the official announcement of the second season, it will be
exciting to what kind of magic, familiar and unknown, The Magicians can
create.
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