THE MAGICIANS REVIEWED
“The Magicians” arrives with a first season that’s not quite a Harry Potter cash-in. Sure, it would’ve felt far more suspect in the 00s, but SyFy is able to push the show beyond that. While the first seasons of genre shows tend to world build and introduce a cast, we get most of that done in the first four episodes. The show succeeds in creating a student cast that viewers can enjoy and identify with depending on their background. Honestly, it’s the best collegiate cast that I’ve seen in ages. But, there’s one major problem facing the series.
The lack of any spectacle to push the narrative forward is a handicap. TV genre entertainment is catching up fast in terms of spectacle. While Special FX aren’t everything, they’re needed if you’re going to keep sticking a toe in those waters. So many of the grand magic moments and set pieces feel like they were created in a vacuum. That doesn’t take away from the character moments or killer shots. However, it does make the world feel slightly too small.
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Deleted Scenes
- Gag Reel
- Featurette
A/V STATS
- 1.78:1 1080p transfer
- DTS-HD 5.1 master audio track