shows like The Magicians, though, and those can be hard to find.
While there are plenty of series that take place in magic school settings and transport their characters to fantastical worlds, few of them capture the tone of the Syfy series. Staying in line with Grossman's books, The Magicians puts a darker spin on these concepts. It drives home the notion that magic can't fix the characters' problems — and in many ways, it actively makes them worse. This realism, along with the complicated mental health themes and relationship dynamics, made The Magicians smarter than other shows. There is another that will probably appeal to fans, however, though it's not quite as dark.
Shadowhunters Is Similar To The Magicians In A Lot Of Ways
Both Are Urban Fantasy Series With A Heavy Character Focus
Although it doesn't subvert fantasy tropes or get quite as dark as The Magicians, Freeform's Shadowhunters has a lot in common with the Syfy series — enough that viewers should give it a shot. Like The Magicians, Shadowhunters is an urban fantasy story, pulling its main character from the real world into a magical one that ordinary people aren't supposed to know about. For Quentin, this means being accepted into a magical university, then discovering the Narnia-inspired world of Fillory isn't fiction. For Shadowhunters' Clary, it involves the realization that angels and demons are real.
Both The Magicians and Shadowhunters place a heavy focus on their characters, digging into coming-of-age themes as they do.
The larger premise of these setups feels similar, even if the two shows take their stories in totally different directions. And most importantly, both The Magicians and Shadowhunters place a heavy focus on their characters, digging into coming-of-age themes as they do. Both series take the time to unpack mental health storylines, both see their characters coming to with their identities, and both feature compelling friendships and romantic relationships. Anyone who wants more of those elements after watching The Magicians will find them in the Freeform series.
Shadowhunters Was A More Inconsistent Show Than The Magicians
The Quality Of The Freeform Series Varies Over Its 3 Seasons
While Shadowhunters boasts several strengths that also elevate The Magicians, it's worth noting that it's a more inconsistent series. It varies in quality, with some seasons and episodes feeling drastically better than others. Season 1 takes time finding its footing, both in of acting and writing, but it starts as an acceptable adaptation of Cassandra Clare's Shadowhunters books. As the series begins to deviate from the source material, however, it improves in other areas. This may not be enough to sway diehard book fans, but it makes it a decent watch for those who don't mind the liberties taken.
I'm Convinced This 3-Season Fantasy Show With 76% On RT Would Have Done So Much Better On A Different Network
In 2016, this popular fantasy series was adapted to TV for the first time, and though it got three solid seasons, it could have done even better.
Shadowhunters was also canceled as it was gaining traction, which makes its ending less satisfying, even if its quality is an improvement on earlier outings. Not all viewers will want to slog through the less compelling visuals and storylines to get to the worthwhile ones. However, for those who don't mind the ups and downs, it's a great series to pick up after The Magicians.
Despite Its Flaws, Shadowhunters Is A Great Show For Fans Of The Magicians
It Offers An Intriguing Fantasy World & Thoughtful Coming-Of-Age Storylines
Shadowhunters has its problems, but it's still a great choice for fans of The Magicians, which isn't devoid of flaws either. Both series take significant liberties with the source material they're based on, and they both end before they should have. However, they also offer thoughtful coming-of-age storylines and intriguing fantasy worlds, and they're each unique compared to other offerings in the genre, many of which fall into the high fantasy category. They can also be binge-watched back-to-back, as they're completed. Shadowhunters is currently available to stream on Hulu.
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The Magicians
8/10- Release Date
- 2015 - 2020-00-00
- Network
- SyFy
- Showrunner
- Sera Gamble
Cast
Olivia Taylor DudleyAlice Quinn
Jason RalphQuentin Coldwater
WHERE TO WATCH
BUYThe Magicians follows a group of young adults who enroll at Brakebills University, a secretive institution devoted to teaching magic. As they engage in an unconventional education in spellcasting, they realize that a childhood fantasy world is indeed real and presents a significant threat to humanity.
- Directors
- Chris Fisher, James L. Conway, Joshua Butler, John Scott, Carol Banker, Scott Smith, Guy Norman Bee, Rebecca Johnson, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Meera Menon, amanda tapping, Bill Eagles, Jan Eliasberg, Kate Woods, Shannon Kohli
- Writers
- John McNamara, Henry Alonso Myers, David Reed, Noga Landau, Christina Strain, Leah Fong, Alex Raiman, Elle Lipson, David Reed
- Producers
- Sera Gamble
- Seasons
- 5
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Shadowhunters
- Release Date
- 2016 - 2019-00-00
- Network
- Freeform
- Directors
- Andy Wolk, Mick Garris, Mairzee Almas, Catriona McKenzie, Tawnia McKiernan, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Oz Scott, Mike Rohl, Kelly Makin, Ben Hernandez Bray, Joshua Butler, Jeremiah S. Chechik, James Marshall, J. Miller Tobin, Gregory Smith, Chris Grismer
Cast
Clary Fray
Cassandra ClareHerself
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingBUYShadowhunters is a television series based on the book series by Cassandra Clare. Premiering in 2016, it follows Clary Fray, who discovers her lineage and s a group of demon hunters called Shadowhunters. As she navigates her new reality, she embarks on a mission to rescue her kidnapped mother.
- Writers
- Peter Binswanger, Allison Rymer, Darren Swimmer, Todd Slavkin
- Producers
- Robert Shaye, Michael Lynne, Martin Moszkowicz, Mary Viola, McG, Michael Reisz, Robert Kulzer, Matthew Hastings, Y. Shireen Razack, Jamie Gorenberg, Angel Dean Lopez, David Cormican, Don Carmody, Ed Decter, Marjorie David, J. Miles Dale, Chris Hatcher, Max Yoffe, Jaromy Siporen
- Seasons
- 3
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