I enjoyed the first book of Lev Grossman's "The Magicians", or at least the first 80% of it, quite a lot. But the second in the series was a quite a letdown.
This first book had real potential, I think, as a TV series-- as a portrayal of a more adult contemporary and realistic version of what a "Hogwarts U."-a college of Magic, might look like.
Unfortunatlely, I'm afraid this adaptation, while technically well done, will be short lived and fulfill none of that promise.
The central problem of the trilogy, and one the TV series has equally tripped up on (as the author has apparently been quite involved), is the character of "Julia" the hedge witch. She is the focus of the second book of the trilogy. Problematically, she is utterly unsympathetic. And her story is being given equal time and being oddly crammed into season one, where it doesn't belong.
It leaves what ought be the central story--Quentin, Alice, and their friends in the "physical magic" dorm, wildly underdeveloped. Viewers who haven't read the books are likely utterly confused about 'Fillory' and its role in story (as well as any number of other things).
6 episodes in, and the show still really just seems to be lacking a coherent plot. It's a jumble of scenes, some from the first two books, some new, that don't really hold together. It jumps around following Quentin half the time and Julia the rest; two characters that you are likely not invested in, and have little reason to like.
There was promise here, but I don't see any way to save it. Given the production value, it's a shame. But you have to give viewers some thing, or someone, to care about. This show doesn't.
This first book had real potential, I think, as a TV series-- as a portrayal of a more adult contemporary and realistic version of what a "Hogwarts U."-a college of Magic, might look like.
Unfortunatlely, I'm afraid this adaptation, while technically well done, will be short lived and fulfill none of that promise.
The central problem of the trilogy, and one the TV series has equally tripped up on (as the author has apparently been quite involved), is the character of "Julia" the hedge witch. She is the focus of the second book of the trilogy. Problematically, she is utterly unsympathetic. And her story is being given equal time and being oddly crammed into season one, where it doesn't belong.
It leaves what ought be the central story--Quentin, Alice, and their friends in the "physical magic" dorm, wildly underdeveloped. Viewers who haven't read the books are likely utterly confused about 'Fillory' and its role in story (as well as any number of other things).
6 episodes in, and the show still really just seems to be lacking a coherent plot. It's a jumble of scenes, some from the first two books, some new, that don't really hold together. It jumps around following Quentin half the time and Julia the rest; two characters that you are likely not invested in, and have little reason to like.
There was promise here, but I don't see any way to save it. Given the production value, it's a shame. But you have to give viewers some thing, or someone, to care about. This show doesn't.