The Magicians | |
---|---|
Genre | Fantasy |
Created by | |
Based on | The Magicians by Lev Grossman |
Starring | |
Composer | Will Bates |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 5 |
No. of episodes | 65 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producers |
|
Producer | Mitch Engel |
Production locations | |
Cinematography |
|
Editors |
|
Running time | 41–52 minutes |
Production companies |
|
Original release | |
Network | Syfy |
Release | December 16, 2015 – April 1, 2020 |
The Magicians is an American fantasy television series that aired on Syfy, based on the homonymous trilogy of novels by Lev Grossman. [2] Michael London, Janice Williams, John McNamara, and Sera Gamble serve as executive producers. A 13-episode order was placed for the first season in May 2015, and the series premiered on December 16, 2015, as a special preview. In January 2019, Syfy renewed the series for a fifth and final season, which ran from January 15 to April 1, 2020. In the show, students at a secretive school of magic find that the magical world is more dangerous than they realized.
Quentin Coldwater enrolls at Brakebills University for Magical Pedagogy to be trained as a magician, where he discovers that the magical world from his favorite childhood book is real and poses a danger to humanity. Meanwhile, the life of his childhood friend Julia is derailed when she is denied entry, and she searches for magic elsewhere outside of the school.
Michael London first optioned the books in 2011, [24] intending to develop the show for the Fox Broadcasting Company. [25] X-Men: First Class co-writers Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz wrote the pilot, but did not get the green light. London then redeveloped the pilot with McNamara and Gamble taking over writing duties, and took the script to Syfy, which ordered a pilot. The pilot, directed by Mike Cahill, was filmed in New Orleans in late 2014 and wrapped in December. [3] [26] Syfy picked up the show for a 13-episode first season, to be aired in 2016. McNamara and Gamble became executive producers. [27]
Series production began on August 4, 2015, in Vancouver, and it was announced that Olivia Taylor Dudley had replaced Sosie Bacon as Alice Quinn. It was also announced that Rick Worthy had been cast as Dean Fogg, Anne Dudek as Professor Sunderland, with Esmé Bianco also cast. [6] Syfy aired an advance commercial-free screening of the first episode on December 16, 2015, ahead of its January 25, 2016, premiere, when it was shown along with the second episode. [28]
The show was renewed for a second season in February 2016, [9] and the second season premiered on January 25, 2017. [29] On April 12, 2017, the series was renewed for a third season of 13 episodes, which premiered on January 10, 2018. [30] [31] On February 28, 2018, the series was renewed for a fourth season of 13 episodes, which premiered on January 23, 2019. [32] [33] On January 22, 2019, Syfy renewed the series for a fifth season, which premiered on January 15, 2020. [34] [35] [36] On March 3, 2020, Syfy announced that the fifth season will be the series' final season. [37]
The first season received positive reviews. On Metacritic, it has a score of 60 out of 100, based on 24 reviews. [38] On Rotten Tomatoes, it has an approval rating of 74% based on 47 reviews, with an average rating of 6.7/10. The site's critics' consensus reads: "The Magicians' impressive special effects and creative storytelling help compensate for a derivative premise and occasionally sluggish pace." [39]
Some critics and fans criticized the show for its brutal depiction of Julia being raped and that, after having survived being raped, she develops extra magical powers [40] [41] [42] and betrays her friends by allying with a murderer who is also a rape survivor. Lisa Weidenfeld of The A.V. Club stated: "the show has now suggested that the two victims of sexual assault are its villains". [43]
The second season received positive reviews. On Metacritic, it has a score of 74 out of 100, based on 5 reviews. [44] On Rotten Tomatoes, it has an approval rating of 91% based on 22 reviews, with an average rating of 8.06/10. The site's consensus reads: "A clearer sense of purpose and extra helpings of cynicism and danger lead The Magicians to a higher level of engagement." [45]
The third season also received positive reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 100% approval rating, based on 11 reviews, with an average rating of 8.4/10. The site's critical consensus reads: "Surprising and wildly entertaining, The Magicians' third season has more than enough tricks up its sleeve to keep viewers under its spell." [46]
The fourth season received positive reviews. On Metacritic, it has a score of 81 out of 100, based on 4 reviews. [47] On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 92% approval rating, based on 23 reviews, with an average rating of 9.04/10. The site's consensus reads: "The Magicians conjures a mind-bending fourth season that reinvigorates the ensemble with heady twists and spellbinding turns – all leavened by the series' signature glib humor." [48] While the season started with a 100% score, reception became more mixed in the second half. The finale was not well received by some fans, who mainly criticized the romanticization of suicidal ideation that was displayed but also the treatment of marginalized groups. [49] [50] [51] [52]
The fifth season also received positive reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 100% approval rating, based on 10 reviews, with an average rating of 7.87/10. The site's consensus reads: "Following an uncertain finale, The Magicians recuperates with a fifth season that pushes forward without losing where it came from." [53]
Season | Timeslot (ET) | Episodes | First aired | Last aired | TV season | Avg. viewers (millions) | 18–49 rank | Avg. 18–49 rating | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date | Viewers (millions) | Date | Viewers (millions) | |||||||
1 | Monday 9:00 pm | 13 | December 16, 2015 | 0.92 [54] | April 11, 2016 | 0.68 [55] | 2015–16 | 0.78 [56] | TBD | 0.29 [56] |
2 | Wednesday 9:00 pm | 13 | January 25, 2017 | 1.29 [57] | April 19, 2017 | 0.67 [58] | 2016–17 | 0.79 [59] | TBD | 0.31 [59] |
3 | 13 | January 10, 2018 | 0.78 [60] | April 4, 2018 | 0.66 [61] | 2017–18 | 0.71 [62] | TBD | 0.27 [62] | |
4 | 13 | January 23, 2019 | 0.61 [63] | April 17, 2019 | 0.50 [64] | 2018–19 | 0.54 [65] | TBD | 0.19 [65] | |
5 | Wednesday 10:00 pm | 13 | January 15, 2020 | 0.43 [66] | April 1, 2020 | 0.43 [67] | 2019–20 | 0.35 [68] | TBD | 0.11 [68] |
Year | Awards | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | Saturn Awards | Best Fantasy Television Series | The Magicians | Nominated | [69] |
2017 | Saturn Awards | Best Fantasy Television Series | The Magicians | Nominated | [70] |
2018 | Saturn Awards | Best Fantasy Television Series | The Magicians | Nominated | [71] |
UBCP/ACTRA Awards | Best Actress | Keegan Connor Tracy | Nominated | [72] | |
2019 | Saturn Awards | Best Fantasy Television Series | The Magicians | Nominated | [73] |
2021 | Saturn Awards | Best Fantasy Television Series | The Magicians | Nominated | [74] |
The first season of The Magicians was released on DVD and Blu-Ray on July 19, 2016, in Region 1. [75] The second season followed on July 11, 2017, followed by the third season on July 10, 2018, the fourth season on July 9, 2019, and the fifth season, as well as a complete series box set, on July 14, 2020. Each release included all thirteen episodes, as well as special features. [76]
The first season was made available to stream on Netflix on December 26, 2016.[ citation needed ]
The Magicians is a new adult fantasy novel by the American author Lev Grossman, published in 2009 by Viking Press. It tells the story of Quentin Coldwater, a young man who discovers and attends a secret college of magic in New York. The novel received critical acclaim and was followed by a sequel, The Magician King, in 2011 and a third novel, The Magician's Land, in 2014.
Outcast is an American horror drama television series based on the comics of the same name by Robert Kirkman and Paul Azaceta. A ten-episode first season debuted on Cinemax on June 3, 2016. It is a supernatural horror story that features people involved in demonic possession, and revolves around the life of Kyle Barnes, who is rejected by the people of Rome, West Virginia, for allegedly hurting his wife and daughter.
Better Things is an American comedy-drama television series created by Pamela Adlon and Louis C.K. for FX, starring Adlon as a divorced actress who raises her three daughters on her own. FX gave a 10-episode order on August 7, 2015. The series premiered on September 8, 2016. The series was renewed for a fifth and final season which premiered on February 28, 2022. The series concluded on April 25, 2022.
Falling Water is an American supernatural drama television series. A commercial-free advance preview of the pilot aired on September 21, 2016 ahead of its October 13, 2016 premiere. On April 3, 2017 USA Network renewed the series for a second season, with Rémi Aubuchon replacing Blake Masters as the showrunner. On May 18, 2018, USA announced they had cancelled the series.
Beyond is an American fantasy drama television series created by Adam Nussdorf that premiered on Freeform on January 1, 2017. The series stars Burkely Duffield, Dilan Gwyn, Jeff Pierre, Jonathan Whitesell, Michael McGrady, and Romy Rosemont. On January 10, 2017, Freeform renewed the series for a 10-episode second season, which premiered on January 18, 2018, and finished on March 22, 2018. On March 29, 2018, Freeform announced they had cancelled the series after two seasons.
Van Helsing is a fantasy horror drama television series. Kelly Overton plays the titular character of the series, which was inspired by Zenescope Entertainment's graphic novel series Helsing. A commercial-free advance preview of the pilot aired on July 31, 2016 on Syfy ahead of its September 23, 2016 premiere. In December 2019, Syfy renewed the series for a fifth and final season which premiered on April 16, 2021, and concluded on June 25, 2021.
Krypton is an American science fiction television series developed by David S. Goyer for Syfy. Focusing on Seg-El, the grandfather of DC Comics superhero Kal-El / Superman, the series is set approximately 200 years before the birth of Superman and takes place on the eponymous fictional planet. Krypton premiered on March 21, 2018. Its first season consists of ten episodes. The second season of ten episodes premiered on June 12, 2019. After its broadcast, Syfy canceled the series after two seasons in August.
The Last O.G. is an American comedy television series created by Jordan Peele and John Carcieri that premiered on March 31, 2018, on TBS. The series follows a convict released after serving fifteen years who returns to Brooklyn to find his old neighborhood has changed, and his ex-girlfriend is raising their children with another man. It stars Tracy Morgan, Tiffany Haddish, Allen Maldonado, Ryan Gaul, Taylor Christian Mosby, Dante Hoagland, and Cedric the Entertainer.
Happy! is an American black comedy action television series based on the four-part graphic novel of the same name created by writer Grant Morrison and artist Darick Robertson, with Brian Taylor serving as director for a majority of the episodes.
The sixth and final season of the American television musical drama series Nashville, created by Callie Khouri, premiered on January 4, 2018, on CMT. The season consisted of 16 episodes.
Deadly Class is an American action drama television series developed by Rick Remender and Miles Orion Feldsott for Syfy. It is based on the comic book series of the same name created by Remender and Wesley Craig and published by Image Comics. The series stars Benedict Wong, Benjamin Wadsworth, Lana Condor, María Gabriela de Faría, Luke Tennie, Liam James, and Michel Duval. Set in the late 1980s, the series revolves around King's Dominion, an elite private academy where students are trained to become assassins.
Pearson is an American political drama television series created by Aaron Korsh and Daniel Arkin that premiered on USA Network. It is a spin-off of the show Suits and stars Gina Torres, who reprises her role of Jessica Pearson. It premiered on July 17, 2019. In October 2019, the series was canceled after one season. The series began streaming exclusively on Peacock on August 31, 2023.
Walker is an American action crime drama television series developed by Anna Fricke for The CW. It is a reboot of the 1990s western drama television series Walker, Texas Ranger. The series was ordered straight to series in 2020, with Jared Padalecki portraying the title role and serving as an executive producer. It premiered on January 21, 2021.