The TV adaptation of Lev Grossman's The Magicians trilogy is a captivating teen comedy-drama about adolescents with magical powers, offering a witty and wicked blend of magic and high school/college experiences.
Cable network Syfy isn’t all about science fiction, as its name suggests. It’s also home to a wide selection of fantasy releases, including one series that fans of both Harry Potter and Buffy the Vampire Slayer can enjoy.
The show in question tends to get overlooked, because it isn’t always available on a major streaming platform. Nevertheless, the five-season TV adaptation of Lev Grossman’s novel trilogy The Magicians is not to be missed for anyone who wants the combination of magic and high school or college in their small-screen fantasy fix. Among the best original shows on Syfy, this teen comedy-drama about adolescents with magical powers is as witty as it is wicked.
With a basic premise akin to Harry Potter and the subversive tone of Buffy, The Magicians is a wildly entertaining spookfest full of sorcery, sarcasm, and confessional teenage drama. It ought to rank near the top of any list of fantasy shows from the past 15 years, given how well it executes the careful balancing act between world-building and accessibility. Even without its magic, The Magicians is one of the funniest and most compelling coming-of-age series on television today.
But once we’re pulled into its fictional universe of studying spells and discovering parallel worlds, the show never fails to convince. Of course, it helps when the ensemble cast’s performances are captivating yet impressively relatable throughout all five seasons. The Magicians Is One Of The Best Fantasy Series On Syfy Indeed, The Magicians is a great watch from start to finish, something that very few fantasy TV shows manage to achieve.
Jason Ralph is remarkably charismatic as its central protagonist Quentin Coldwater, who finds gaining a wizarding education at Brakebills University for Magical Pedagogy to be far more than he bargained for. At the same time, Quentin turns out to be no ordinary student at Brakebills, and his exceptional abilities become a key factor in the series from early on in its story.
If we leave aside that the abilities we’re talking about are magical, his character arc begins as a classic case of the smart social outcast trying to fit in. Quentin finds his people sooner or later, though, and forms tight-knit bonds with a group of close friends. He also finds himself in multiple tumultuous romances, which are as complicated as any good coming-of-age story should make them.
The Magicians is steeped in the traditions of fantasy’s magical school subgenre, and wears its influences on its sleeve. In fact, a central plot driver in the series is the role of characters from other preexisting fantasy-fiction universes in antagonizing the students of Brakebills. Still, the way the show goes about its magic is highly original, and its meta take on the genre itself works a treat.
Even for more casual viewers, there’s a lot of fun to be had in the personal dynamics between Quentin and his gang of young magicians. The Magical World In The Magicians Feels Like A Cross Between Harry Potter And Buffy In a sense, The Magicians is the perfect fantasy show for Harry Potter fans who have outgrown Hogwarts.
The show’s approach to both the darker and the lighter aspects of its story is a little more adult, its main characters look and behave older than child magicians of high-school age. Subscribe for smarter fantasy TV picks and coverage Get curated coverage of fantasy TV—analysis, recommendations, and deep dives into shows like The Magicians—by subscribing to our newsletter. Perfect for fans seeking thoughtful context, comparisons, and viewing picks across the genre.
Get Updates By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. It unashamedly borrows Harry Potter’s inciting incident, though, as Quentin Coldwater and his childhood friend Julia are unexpectedly invited to apply for a place at an institution of magical learning. The first episode of The Magicians really does feel like a more grown-up version of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
On the other hand, the friendship dynamic and will-they-won’t-they romances at the heart of the show are very similar to the Scoobies in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Meanwhile, the quickfire one-liners, sardonic tone, and host of magical monsters in The Magicians are even more reminiscent of Buffy at its best.
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