Graphic: A night with the editor blog series. Graphic created by The Signal Managing Editor Dave Silverio. — A night with the editor blog series. Graphic created by The Signal Managing Editor Dave Silverio.

‘The Magicians’ charms both readers and viewers

By Liz Davis Last updated Feb 10, 2016 391 0

I spent last night watching the first episode of SYFY’s new TV series “The Magicians.” You have probably figured out by now that I am a big fan of reading the book before watching the movie. Yes, I read this book first too – unintentionally though.

I picked up “The Magicians” by Lev Grossman one day while wandering through Barnes and Noble. I normally read classic fiction but the story sounded interesting and got my attention. It sounded like Harry Potter for adults with sex, drugs and black magic.

Quentin Coldwater is a young man who is accepted to a secret college of magic called Brakebills in New York. He is to attend the school for three years and then do what he pleases with the skills he acquires. Quentin has a love for childhood books called “Fillory and Further” that tell of a fairytale land extremely similar to “The Chronicles of Narnia.” He would rather escape into the books than make friends. Once Quentin is sorted into his Discipline, he makes friends and even finds love but then all hell breaks loose at the school.

From L to R: Olivia Taylor Dudley and Alice, Jason Ralph as Quentin Coldwater, Hale Appleman as Eliot from "The Magicians." Photo courtesy of SYFY. — *From L to R: Olivia Taylor Dudley and Alice, Jason Ralph as Quentin Coldwater, Hale Appleman as Eliot from “The Magicians.” Photo courtesy of SYFY.*

I was excited when I heard that SYFY was picking up the show because they can get away with more than other channels such as ABC and The CW. The use of violence, sex, language and cheesy special effects won’t be an issue. I do like that they changed Quentin to be in graduate school instead of a freshman in college. I’m tired of 30-year-old actors trying to portray 18-year-old characters. The characters are much more mature this way and this will make the story much more interesting for the audience.

“The Magicians” is actually a trilogy and I am just starting book number two in the series. The TV show made some changes from the novel, but I think that it is already progressing into the second book in the first episode. They are doing this so they can juxtapose the real world with the world of Brakebills simultaneously which is understandable and can help the viewers relate more to the world and the characters. I really hope it doesn’t give me too many spoilers or I have to start speed reading before the semester gets too hectic.

Watch the trailer below!

Trailer courtesy of YouTube.com and SYFY.