The Magicians: Magicians Anonymous

February 7, 2020 8:05 AM - Season 5, Episode 4

Julia is faced with a choice, while Alice looks for some books and makes new acquaintances. Margot and Eliot work on sorting out what's what in Fillory. Kady hangs with Dean Fogg.
posted by filthy light thief (13 comments total)

I really enjoyed the episode, but it's tragic the confirmation that Julia is actually human. I had really hoped the cut away last season meant they were doing something more interesting with that.
posted by past unusual at 8:13 AM on February 7, 2020

I really, really don't want Dean Fogg to be in the Ethereal forever. Knowing this show, he probably won't be, but probably just isn't good enough!
posted by cooker girl at 8:17 AM on February 7, 2020

Recap/review for a refresher: ‘The Magicians’ Looks Forward, and Tries to Move On, With “Magicians Anonymous” (Vanessa Armstrong for Slashfilm)

So ... The Takers are something of the Dark King's own creation, right? So he could look like the hero and save Fillory, right? They don't seem to stay down with physical injuries, and no one else seems to be able to stop them. Plus, he put looking glasses into pubs and whatnot.

Bonus: My favorite screenshots from the episode. "I mean, honestly, fuck Netflix."
posted by filthy light thief at 8:24 AM on February 7, 2020 [2 favorites]

i wonder, when this episode eventually makes it to Netflix, will that line still be there?
posted by numaner at 10:11 AM on February 7, 2020

I'm all but certain the Takers are corrupted Fairies somehow.

The Dark King is definitely involved in making the Takers, but perhaps it was because there's some conflict between him and Fairies.

Does anyone recognize that Fairy? Is it Skye?
posted by numaner at 10:13 AM on February 7, 2020 [1 favorite]

Prediction: Penny will move the moon.

Penny explicitly states that he can still travel. It'd just be "suicide" because he won't know where he's going.

But the moon? "At least we know where it is."

Easy peasy. Penny travels to the moon, travels with the moon, tries not to die of vacuum exposure in the process. Maybe he'll lose a hand again - he has to be touching something to take it with him, right? He can protect every part of himself except the hand touching it.

As for the Takers:

> The Takers are something of the Dark King's own creation, right?

Yes, which is why in the "previously on" we got Margo in the desert. Margo is no stranger to men creating an enemy to vanquish so they'll seem necessary. She'll make the connection.
posted by dmd at 10:40 AM on February 7, 2020 [5 favorites]

I'm all but certain the Takers are corrupted Fairies somehow.

Ooh, good call. I missed that connection in this episode, and the likely importance of the season 4 desert flashback (season 4 recap from Geek Girl Authority).
posted by filthy light thief at 11:12 AM on February 7, 2020

This was loads of fun and a huge mess so you know, the usual. Agree on the takers.
posted by KTamas at 11:43 AM on February 7, 2020

As noted on the “favorite screenshots” above, my favorite line was Margo saying the screens watching the Dark Lord were like Fox News, and the centurion next to her saying, “but foxes all lie. Who would believe their news?”

Also I really loved Dean Fogg saying he would stay because he’s an alcoholic, not an addict. It felt very true to me as an alcoholic who doesn’t have problems with anything else. I suppose it could be a weird kind of throwaway line/dig at Kady, or hopefully it means he won’t get too lost and stay there forever. I really like his character.
posted by jeweled accumulation at 12:51 PM on February 7, 2020 [5 favorites]

Yes, which is why in the "previously on" we got Margo in the desert. Margo is no stranger to men creating an enemy to vanquish so they'll seem necessary. She'll make the connection.

Good catch!

it's tragic the confirmation that Julia is actually human.

Yeah, kinda bummed out by that, although I found it an interesting choice of words that Clarion said she "worshipped" Julia. I still can't quite shake the feeling that the writers are being deliberately coy about...something, here.
posted by mstokes650 at 1:09 PM on February 7, 2020 [3 favorites]

Julia, Lady of Mortality. She is unique among mortals turned divine in that she returned to her mortality. This event was unique among the divine and many saw it as a promise that one day they might get to experience that which they oversaw. Her cult among the divine is most popular among minor divinities who have never been mortal. If the Lady of Mortality's status as a mortal changes at her death, or if she reascends, the status of her cult may change. -proposed entry to Encyclopaedia Magicae
posted by Ignorantsavage at 5:57 PM on February 8, 2020 [5 favorites]

I find it extremely weird that Julia and Penny23 are in a real, like, relationship. First they weren't, then they went on a date, then suddenly, they're super together! What? I don't really experience any chemistry there. Also, how kind of the writers to point out the symmetry in their making choices for each other explicitly. The dialogue was def a little clunky at times here.

I enjoy The Binder very much.

I'm happy to see Margo's fairy eye come into play again; presumably the Fairy Queen's curse has something to do with all this.

I'm convinced that the Dark King is Quentin's descendant.
posted by bq at 2:31 PM on March 6, 2020

> i wonder, when this episode eventually makes it to Netflix, will that line still be there?

"I mean, honestly, fuck Netflix. That is peak television." It's still there!
posted by Pronoiac at 2:11 AM on April 15, 2021 [1 favorite]