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Whovians, meet The Magicians

An Anti-SuperWhoLock Solution

By Andrea StandbyPublished 3 years ago 4 min read
2

If you have ever heard whispers of the Doctor Who fandom, you've probably heard "SuperWhoLock," a term coined by tumblr. The name comes due to the large crossover of fans in the Supernatural, Doctor Who, and Sherlock fandoms. Most people assume if you like one, you definitely like the others.

900 years of all of time and space, and I've never disagreed more.

I'm just going to say it: I think Supernatural is boring. I've tried several times, and I cannot get into it. I also watched most of Sherlock. While the show was okay, it was a one-time, partial viewing for me.

But I will never stop watching Doctor Who. It's got everything I could ask for in a show. It's campy; it's heartwarming; it's dangerous; it's inspiring. It changed me. It touches my nerdy little spirit in a way no other TV show has, and I love it.

You may be wondering: where did this anti-SuperWhoLock hipster wind up after Doctor Who?

Answer: The Magicians on Syfy.

When I describe The Magicians to my friends, I tell them exactly this, "It's Harry Potter meets Chronicles of Narnia with the energy of Doctor Who... but much hotter and more grown-up."

The show is based on a book series wherein an awkward guy named Quentin is invited to a secret school called Brakebills. There he learns magic with an odd group of misfits. Along the way, he discovers that the mythical land of Fillory from his favorite childhood book series is a real place. Quentin and his friends travel between worlds, bending rules, using magic, and risking their lives to prevent the destruction of life as we know it throughout the multiverse.

That's just the tip of the iceberg! There's always several subplots happening. Each character has their own story and every single one gets brilliant development. You'll become attached to each of them for their own reason. I'm a High King Margo type of gal myself, but maybe you're the silly, adorable type like Fen. Perhaps you prefer a loner badass like Penny. Heck, maybe you're a Todd -- which is a joke that will make sense when you watch the show. Ultimately, there's a flavor of character for everyone.

If you're into crossing dimensions, traveling in time, astral projection, ancient Gods, hedge witches, magic-imbued items, LGBT+ romance, mythical legends, anti-authoritarian quests, and a healthy dose of partying, then trust me... You'll think The Magicians is brilliant. Fantastic, even. As Ten would say, "Molto bene!"

Fair warning, The Magicians is much less family-friendly than our BBC favorite. There's cussing and violence, but it's also is sexy and feminist and powerful. On one side, it's hilarious when Margo gets Josh's sexually transmitted lycanthropy to save him, and when Alice and Quentin have to use sex magic to save their friends in the Netherworld. But the show touches on some dark matter too (trigger warning!), like when Quentin discovers the twisted truth about the pedophile author of his beloved children's book, or when Julia is assaulted by a vengeful god. You will be exposed all sides of magic and life, so be prepared.

There are so many fascinating tidbits to chew on, it's a downright shame Syfy cancelled the show in 2020. Don't worry, though, you can catch all five seasons on Netflix.

Like Doctor Who, the best part of The Magicians is the lesson beneath the story. Every decision we make in this life can have repercussions throughout time, between worlds, and beyond. This show reminds me that humanity is still growing, but we're here now, and we have the opportunity to make change. Those who can, should stand up for what's right, even if it feels impossible. Even when you don't want to do the work. Kindness and compassion and strength will give us hope for the future.

The Magicians is campy; it's heartwarming; it's dangerous; it's inspiring. It changed me. It touches my nerdy little spirit in a way only one other TV show has... and I love it.

At the end, you'll be wishing that you could walk through a grandfather clock and explore the worlds of The Magicians, the same way we've all wished for that little blue box to take us to see the universe.

When you've finally finished Doctor Who and don't want to turn to Supernatural or Sherlock, then choose The Magicians. I promise you won't regret it!





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About the Creator

Andrea Standby

Share your heART, use your voice, accept your truths so you can be free.

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