Fantasy TV Show With A 91% RT Score Is Perfect For Former Harry Potter Fans
Former Harry Potter fans craving a world of magic need to check out one dark fantasy show with an impressive 91% Rotten Tomatoes score. Many of us who found solace in the series have abandoned Harry Potter, some even vowing to boycott the franchise. Some, myself included, have covered up our old Harry Potter tattoos. Actors from the movies have spoken out against Rowling’s statements. All around, it has been a big emotional blow for those of us who loved the books and films. Luckily, other media have stepped up to fill that void. Readers can enjoy the Legendborn books by Tracy Deonn (which is set to become a TV show) and The Witchery by S. Isabelle. Younger viewers can enjoy Disney+’s Percy Jackson show. Meanwhile, adult former fans who want a darker spin can enjoy this fantasy show with great LGBTQ+ representation.
The Magicians Is A Great Adult Alternative To Harry Potter
Julia, Margo, Eliot, Quentin, Alice, and Penny in The Magicians season 1 (from left to right)
SyFy’s The Magicians has everything that a former Harry Potter fan could want. The series follows a group of magically adept young adults invited to attend a grad school called Brakebills. Much like Harry Potter, Quentin Coldwater, our de facto main character, is entirely unaware that he exists in a world of magic until he gets the invitation. Brakebills is essentially Hogwarts for adults, with the characters living separately from the world around them most of the time. Like Hogwarts, Brakebills is also packed with mysteries and secrets that become important to the plot over time. Shortly after the story begins, the Brakebills students learn that they are destined to step up to save Fillory, a magical fantasy world in an alternate dimension, from a power-hungry tyrant called The Beast. If that sounds familiar, it’s because The Magicians is essentially a dark fantasy mashup of Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia. The stories and settings aren’t the only similarities, though. The characters in The Magicians and Harry Potter have parallels as well. Much like Voldemort, the Beast wants to rule over the magical world, even if that means oppressing people and committing genocide. Additionally, Harry Potter and The Magicians both feature a de facto leader in charge of the fight against the villain, but they feel more like ensemble pieces. Quentin wouldn’t survive the fight against The Beast without The Magicians’ other main characters – Eliot, Margo, Alice, Penny, Kady, and Julia – in the same way Harry wouldn’t survive without Ron, Hermione, Neville, Luna, and Ginny. However, the show does diverge from Harry Potter in two notable ways. Firstly, The Magicians isn’t family-friendly. Unlike the Harry Potter characters, the Brakebills students engage in sex and drugs, and The Magicians delves into adult themes like abuse and CSA. Secondly, The Magicians is packed with LGBTQ+ representation.
The Magicians Is Unapologetically LGBTQ+ Inclusive
The Fairy Queen looks regal while speaking to Margot on the Muntjac.
The Magicians is one of the most unapologetically queer fantasy shows out there. Half of the main characters are LGBTQ+, even if that revelation doesn’t come immediately (no spoilers about whom!). A significant portion of the supporting characters fall under the queer umbrella. They also cast trans actors in the show, and their character arcs have nothing to do with transitioning or transphobia, which is a breath of fresh air. Trans actress Candis Cayne plays The Fairy Queen, a recurring character who is as powerful as she is badass. What’s more, The Magicians has a strong message about the importance of found family, which is a theme at the heart of Harry Potter. Nearly every main character in The Magicians’ ensemble has a dysfunctional family of origin. However, they garner the support and love they need through their Brakebills (plus hedgewitches, Julia, and Kady) family.
Release Date
2015 – 2020-00-00
Showrunner
Sera Gamble
Olivia Taylor Dudley
Alice Quinn
Jason Ralph
Quentin Coldwater
Δημοσιεύτηκε: 2025-11-09 19:00:00
πηγή: screenrant.com
