7.2 /10 1 Votes
79% Rotten Tomatoes Genre Fantasy Country of origin United States Network Syfy | 7.5/10 IMDb 60% Metacritic Composer(s) Will Bates First episode date 16 December 2015 No. of episodes 22 (list of episodes) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Created by Sera Gamble
John McNamara Based on The Magicians
by Lev Grossman Starring Jason Ralph
Stella Maeve
Olivia Taylor Dudley
Hale Appleman
Arjun Gupta
Summer Bishil
Rick Worthy
Jade Tailor Production locations New Orleans (pilot), Vancouver Executive producers Mike Cahill, Michael London, Janice Williams, John McNamara, Sera Gamble Similar 12 Monkeys, Childhood's End, Hunters, Wynonna Earp, The Expanse Profiles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Syfy the magicians trailer
The Magicians is an American fantasy television series that premiered on Syfy on December 16, 2015 as a special preview. The rest of the series premiered on January 25, 2016. It is based on the novel of the same name by Lev Grossman. Michael London, Janice Williams, John McNamara, and Sera Gamble serve as executive producers.
Contents
- Syfy the magicians trailer
- The magicians syfy ny comic con trailer hd
- Premise
- Main
- Development
- Reception
- Home media release
- References
A 13-episode order was placed for the first season in May 2015. On February 8, 2016, the series was renewed for a second season consisting of 13 episodes, which premiered on January 25, 2017.
The magicians syfy ny comic con trailer hd
Premise
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 books 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.
Main
Development
Michael London first optioned the books in 2011, intending to develop the show at Fox. 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. Syfy picked up the show for a 13-episode first season, to be aired in 2016. McNamara and Gamble became executive producers.
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. 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.
The show was renewed for a second season in February 2016, and the second season premiered on January 25, 2017.
Reception
The first season received mixed to positive reviews. On Metacritic, it holds a rating of 60/100, based on 24 reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 70% approval rating, based on 37 reviews, with an average rating of 6.4/10. The site's critics' consensus reads: "The Magicians' impressive special effects and creative storytelling help compensate for a derivative premise and occasionally sluggish pace."
The second season received positive reviews. On Metacritic, it holds a rating of 74/100, based on 5 reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has an 88% approval rating, based on 17 reviews, with an average rating of 7.9/10. 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."
Some critics and fans criticized the show for its brutal depiction of Julia being raped and that the rape gave her extra magical powers. The incident was also criticized because, after Julia remembered the assault, she betrayed her friends by forming an alliance with, and literally embracing, a murderer – who is also a rape survivor. As Lisa Weidenfeld of the AV Club put it: "the show has now suggested that the two victims of sexual assault are its villains".
Home media release
The first season of The Magicians was released on DVD and Blu-Ray on July 19, 2016, in Region 1. The release included all thirteen episodes, as well as multiple special features, including Deleted Scenes, Gag Reel, The World of The Magicians, and UltraViolet Digital Copies. The first season was made available to stream on Netflix on December 26, 2016.