The Magicians: Season One [DVD]

Fantastic watch, this might be my fav series of all time. Not "just another <eye roll> fantasy series," this show has amazing actors and character development, is written smartly, and the plot is very engaging. This is one of the only shows I have actually purchased - worth binging a second (and third?) time.

Fantasy writers tend to sacrifice quality of writing for world building, but that is not the case with The Magicians. Lev Grossman wrote this trilogy, and it's as close to Pulitzer quality fantasy writing as I've ever read. Don't think fantasy first. Think hollow post-adolescent yearning. So, obviously I'm a fan. The show has big shoes to fill for me. I'm not usually a Syfy originals fan. The dialogue is usually trash. So, I was nervous here. I don't think I've ever seen a Syfy show so well done, though. Jason Ralph nailed the leading role. He is just the right mixture of self deprecating train wreck and arrogant intellectual. The dialogue is subtle and real - the best of the books. This first episode does move quickly. I am guessing it is much easier to follow having read the story, but I'm already hooked. The book is enormous and the distance traveled from one cover to the other is pretty insane, so I understand why a bit of cramming was necessary. Even if fantasy isn't usually your thing the show is a good choice. The characters remind me of a bunch of artists squatting in Paris in 1880, drinking absinthe and congratulating themselves on being fabulous. Imagine that inserted into a fantasy novel and you have the basis for this show. And then imagine life smacking them right in the face. I can't wait to see how this unfolds on screen

I don't have much to say about this show, except that it exceeded all my expectations and left me wanting more. I just finished the final episode of season one, and I wish I could stay up all night watching season two and then continuing onto season three ... but those haven't been made yet. If you're expecting Harry Potter or Narnia, well, you'll find some of that here. But it's viewed through much darker lenses. Infinitely darker. I love that about it. Others may find it way too intense. There are a lot of sex scenes, which don't necessarily do much for me, but there's no denying the blonde with the glasses is hot. The real beauty of the show has nothing to do with the actors' good looks, though. It's the intricacy of the narrative and the sumptuous world-building. It's the blackness at the heart of the show. I confess that I figured out one of the big mysteries about four episodes before the reveal, but it was satisfying to learn I was correct, unlike "The Sixth Sense" and movies like those that rely on a gotcha gimmick. Anyway, I just bought the first book in the series so I can stay on this binge-watching high. Can't recommend this enough for intelligent adults, but I wouldn't let kids watch it.

I am surprised at how much I am enjoying this show. I bought the books at the same time I subscribed to Season One, and the investment has helped make senses of what happens in the abbreviated weekly presentations. I suggest you at least read the first novel before you get too far, it really helps. For example (spoiler alert) when classmates are turned into geese, I don't think I would have even realized what had happened if I had not had the novel to lean on. All of that said, it is the character development that is the primary enjoyment I find in watching the show, especially Penny, who is cast much better that he is drawn in the novels. Another caution, however, this is definitely a series "based on" the books, and events neither unfold, nor conclude as they do in the novel(s). Events, also, happen fast, and the sound quality is not always good, so I have found myself backtracking to find out what happened or what was said. For the first time in my video watching career, I have not objected to rewatching, or backtracking, I think this is a result of the underlying ricjness of the material. I hope you enjoy this as I have.

I've read the books three times. They're among my favorite books of the last decade. I was excited for this show until I heard they'd left out Josh, my favorite character. So I was fully prepared for mediocrity, and it took three episodes for me to warm up to the series. And then I realized, this is its own thing, and that's just fine. In fact, it's really, really good.Frankly, I kind of love it now. There are a number of things I think they do better than the books. I found one particular scene really moving (it involves a broken model airplane). There have been some very funny moments, and some very touching moments. If I have a gripe, it's that every character is drop-dead gorgeous, even minor characters. I suppose that's the nature of TV.At any rate, forget the books, judge the series on its own merits. We're six episodes in as I write this, and like it more and more as it goes on.

Esta fue una buena serie para las personas en sus 20s o 30s. Tiene algo de violencia pero no mucho. La magia y la historia son muy interesantes.

Der subversive Humor der Serie ist toll. Das hat alles wirklich nichts mit Kinderbüchern und deren Verfilmungen zu tun. Auch die Dramatik ist gut ausgearbeitet und oft an der Schmerzgrenze. Bin gespannt auf die nächste Staffel.

Me encantó la serie. La empecé a ver por las novelas, aunque como casi siempre, la adaptación televisiva se aleja de tanto en tanto de los libros. Creo que no la acabaron. Una pena

Loved this. At first I thought it was going to be for a younger audience, get to episode two and beyond and it is definitely not! Excellent acting from all especially the youngsters. Good mix of humour and horror. Would definitely recommend, thoroughly enjoyed this.

"The Magicians" est l'adaptation d'une trilogie éponyme mêlant monde des magiciens et univers féérique puisque la série nous entraine à la croisée de ces mondes. C'est un peu comme si Harry Potter rencontrait le Monde de Narnia mais avec cet aspect adulte. Car oui cette série a beau traité de magie et de monde merveilleux il n'en reste pas moins qu'elle garde un aspect très adulte notamment dans la seconde de la saison 1.Personnellement , j'ai bien aimé cette série par son approche, par le jeu des acteurs et des actrices et surtout par le fil rouge qui constitue la trame de cette saison 1Une bonne série que je conseille...