Premise Edit

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.

Cast and characters Edit

Episodes Edit

Main article: List of The Magicians episodes Season Episodes Originally aired First aired Last aired 1 13 December 16, 2015 ( ) April 11, 2016 ( 2016-04-11 ) 2 13 January 25, 2017 ( ) April 19, 2017 ( 2017-04-19 ) 3 13 January 10, 2018 ( ) April 4, 2018 ( 2018-04-04 ) 4 13[24] January 23, 2019 ( ) TBA

Production Edit

Reception Edit

Critical response Edit The first season received mixed to positive reviews. On Metacritic, it holds a rating of 60/100, based on 24 reviews.[35] On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 74% approval rating, based on 46 reviews, with an average rating of 6.47/10. The site's critics' consensus reads: "The Magicians' impressive special effects and creative storytelling help compensate for a derivative premise and occasionally sluggish pace."[36] Some critics and fans criticized the show for its brutal depiction of Julia being raped and that the rape gave her extra magical powers.[37][38][39] 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".[40] The second season received positive reviews. On Metacritic, it holds a rating of 74/100, based on 5 reviews.[41] On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 91% approval rating, based on 22 reviews, with an average rating of 8.06/10. 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."[42] The third season also received positive reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 100% approval rating, based on 11 reviews, with an average rating of 8.4/10. The site's critical consensus reads: "Surprising and wildly entertaining, The Magicians' third season has more than enough tricks up its sleeve to keep viewers under its spell."[43] The fourth season received critical acclaim. On Metacritic, it holds a rating of 81/100, based on 4 reviews.[44] On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 100% approval rating, based on 12 reviews, with an average rating of 9.07/10. The site's consensus reads: "The Magicians conjures a mind-bending fourth season that reinvigorates the ensemble with heady twists and spellbinding turns -- all leavened by the series' signature glib humor."[45] Ratings Edit Season Timeslot (ET) Episodes First aired Last aired Avg. viewers

(millions) 18–49 rating

(average) Date Viewers

(millions) Date Viewers

(millions) 1 Monday 9:00 pm 13 December 16, 2015 ( ) 0.92[46] April 11, 2016 ( 2016-04-11 ) 0.68[47] 0.78[48] 0.29[48] 2 Wednesday 9:00 pm 13 January 25, 2017 ( ) 1.29[49] April 19, 2017 ( 2017-04-19 ) 0.67[50] 0.79[51] 0.31[51] 3 13 January 10, 2018 ( ) 0.78[52] April 4, 2018 ( 2018-04-04 ) 0.66[53] 0.71[54] 0.27[54] 4 13 January 23, 2019 ( ) 0.61[55] TBA TBD TBD TBD Awards and nominations Edit Year Awards Category Nominee(s) Result Refs 2016 Saturn Awards Best Fantasy Television Series The Magicians Nominated [56] 2017 Saturn Awards Best Fantasy Television Series The Magicians Nominated [57] 2018 Saturn Awards Best Fantasy Television Series The Magicians Nominated [58]

Home media release Edit

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, a gag reel, "The World of The Magicians" featurette, and UltraViolet digital copies.[59] The first season was made available to stream on Netflix on December 26, 2016.[60]