The Magicians Season 1

DVD Wholesale Quick Overview:

I am surprised at how much I am enjoying this show. I bought the books at the same time I subscribed to Season One, and the investment has helped make senses of what happens in the abbreviated weekly presentations. I suggest you at least read the first novel before you get too far, it really helps. For example (spoiler alert) when classmates are turned into geese, I don’t think I would have even realized what had happened if I had not had the novel to lean on. All of that said, it is the character development that is the primary enjoyment I find in watching the show, especially Penny, who is cast much better that he is drawn in the novels. Another caution, however, this is definitely a series “based on” the books, and events neither unfold, nor conclude as they do in the novel(s). Events, also, happen fast, and the sound quality is not always good, so I have found myself backtracking to find out what happened or what was said. For the first time in my video watching career, I have not objected to rewatching, or backtracking, I think this is a result of the underlying ricjness of the material. I hope you enjoy this as I have.

– db

Fantasy writers tend to sacrifice quality of writing for world building, but that is not the case with The Magicians. Lev Grossman wrote this trilogy, and it’s as close to Pulitzer quality fantasy writing as I’ve ever read. Don’t think fantasy first. Think hollow post-adolescent yearning. So, obviously I’m a fan. The show has big shoes to fill for me. I’m not usually a Syfy originals fan. The dialogue is usually trash. So, I was nervous here. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Syfy show so well done, though. Jason Ralph nailed the leading role. He is just the right mixture of self deprecating train wreck and arrogant intellectual. The dialogue is subtle and real – the best of the books. This first episode does move quickly. I am guessing it is much easier to follow having read the story, but I’m already hooked. The book is enormous and the distance traveled from one cover to the other is pretty insane, so I understand why a bit of cramming was necessary. Even if fantasy isn’t usually your thing the show is a good choice. The characters remind me of a bunch of artists squatting in Paris in 1880, drinking absinthe and congratulating themselves on being fabulous. Imagine that inserted into a fantasy novel and you have the basis for this show. And then imagine life smacking them right in the face. I can’t wait to see how this unfolds on screen

-Emily RK

DVD Wholesale Main Features :   

Actors: Jason Ralph
Format: Box set, Color, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Subtitles for the Hearing Impaired: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Number of discs: 4
Rated:NR-Not Rated
Studio: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: July 19, 2016
Run Time: 569 minutes
ASIN: B01BZE38RG