With Two South Asian Leads, ‘The Magicians’ Shows the Darker Side of the Wonderful World of Magic

Quentin Coldwater is absolutely the focus of the series—however, the people around him help shape what he becomes and how he handles his new identity and purpose. After learning that he has to take an exam to see if he really belongs in a college for the magically inclined, Quentin meets Penny, a student sitting next to him in the exam hall who later becomes his roommate on campus.

William “Penny” Adiyodi, played by Arjun Gupta, is mysterious, intelligent, and possesses psychic powers (which come in handy for this ragtag gang). And while there are many aspects of Syfy’s new series that don’t follow the books from which it has been adapted, allowing Penny to be a sexually realized human being is a breath of fresh air. With this character, it’s not about being attractive; it’s about going beyond the stereotypes Hollywood has placed over the years on South Asian actors and characters.

Along with Penny, Quentin also meets two partners-in-crime: Eliot and Margo, played by Hale Appleman and Summer Bishil, respectively. Once again, Margo is allowed to be a commanding presence who knows her own identity and is an independent woman.

[Photo Credit: Hilary Bronwyn Gayle/Syfy]

The plot of “The Magicians” is a bit slow and confusing to follow at first, and even reading the books doesn’t prove to be too much of an advantage; watching the series as just that—a series first, instead of a book adaptation—will prove to be more enjoyable for Grossman’s fans. But that also doesn’t mean that the show is bad. On the contrary, it’s a fascinating world that viewers will be eager to explore, especially as the show continues to come into its own, beyond the two-part series premiere.

We follow Quentin at the beginning of the series, as he is accepted into Brakebills, while his best friend, Julia (played by Stella Maeve), is not. While Julia obsesses over finding a way to bring forth her own magic within, Quentin stumbles across the possibility that a story from his childhood might be real and dangerous to humanity.

The best moments of the premiere come at the end of the first episode of the premiere’s two parts: the introduction of “The Beast.” After trying to summon spirits, Quentin, Penny, and their classmate Alice may or may not have released a terrifying presence known as “the Beast” into their own world. This beast arrives through a mirror with a swarm of butterflies flying around its head, covering its identity. As it enters Quentin’s classroom, everyone freezes, and the Beast gives us a truly awesome moment of terror.

Now, the question remains: can “The Magicians” continue to build upon moments like these to make a series that will engage its audience, continue to break past stereotypes and character archetypes, and craft a story that goes beyond the words on the page?

[Photo Credit: Carole Segal/Syfy]

One huge positive the show already has is the casting. Ralph, Gupta, Maeve and Olivia Taylor-Dudley, in particular, are brilliant from the start. Captivating even in their worst moments, while being funny at times, and even scary in certain moments (Maeve’s Julia, especially), these actors have immersed themselves in this fictional world in the best ways. Now, the series just has to find the best way to make the cast click together. We need to see a little more chemistry between these characters, especially as they embark upon a journey to work together to discover more about magical worlds and the destruction they could bring.

It’s easy to want this show to succeed, especially in this post-Potter world, but once again, those looking for Potter-esque adventures could be slightly confused and disappointed. But the idea of magic onscreen again is exciting if only for the sheer fun that it usually brings. We need a story that not only starts to make sense but can tie together so many different elements that were introduced in the two-part premiere. We want to be able to root for these magical characters, and we want to be amazed and terrified by the fantastical creatures that live in this world. It’s high expectations to live up to, let’s hope “The Magicians” can do it.