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Rating: 3.5/5
Review: "The Magicians season 1 TV review"

People are saying that The Magicians is like an adult Harry Potter. Though there is the common theme of magic, the settings and characterization are completely different. Magic in The Magicians is seen as a dangerous form. It is not glamorized and some side effects are nasty. No character here is perfect, there is no role model. Everyone is stripped down to their individual behavior and thoughts. What you get in the end is a decent TV series that give you a reason to follow through the whole season.

Episode 1-13: I admit that there are some episodes that seem to go nowhere in plot development. One thing commendable is that you never know what will happen to the characters next. Right down to the end of the first episode where the mysterious villain attacks the school. The characters are vulnerable. Although some of their characteristics are annoying, they feel real. Most of their actions have believable motivations. Most of the episodes are entertaining. The rest of the episodes are still entertaining but feel lackluster in terms of moving the plot forward and act as a filler for the 13 episode season. The humor helps bring the gloomy series to a slightly lighter mood. But there is real tension where the characters are threatened. As it ends with a shocking finale, it is clear that the creators are not afraid to put the characters in dire threats.

Overall: For a Syfy series, it is pretty decent. Decent cinematography and special effects. I have not read the source materials so I can't tell how faithful it is. This stands out among the popular superheroes, supernatural romances and crime TV genre for its characterization, real threats and it is not afraid of not glamorizing its theme; magic. With season 2 announced, I am eager to see what lies for the characters in future.

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