The Magicians: We Have Brought You Little Cakes Show Only
April 20, 2017 7:59 AM - Season 2, Episode 13 - Subscribe
Ember recaps things so far as only Ember can, which brings us to now: "a crisis comes to a head when the true power behind the troubles comes to party. Battles are won and wars are lost, as Q and the others must protect their kingdom. Alice makes a startling revelation and things may never be the same." Now, let's debate the merits of an open, informed democracy versus an authoritarian monarchy! [Season Finale; Season 3 due out in 2018]
I know! Is the Magical Plumber* a god? Does a god-killing bullet pierce a magic force-field? And what was the magic Julia used to imbue the sword with god-killing power? I'll have to re-watch, but I thought she pulled the energy from a fire? IDK, not the most coherent of episodes on which to end a messy season.
* And is magic leaking back in, due to the magic-routing pipes being old and unused to being shut off, like a leaky water pipe?
posted by filthy light thief at 11:30 AM on April 20, 2017
* And is magic leaking back in, due to the magic-routing pipes being old and unused to being shut off, like a leaky water pipe?
posted by filthy light thief at 11:30 AM on April 20, 2017
Also, I like that Ember told us how he named Fillory (he was drunk and mis-pronounced "filigree").
Sloppy though this show is, it stands in the proud Syfy tradition of reveling in it's capacity for silliness (like Z Nation, which can also be serious, but often includes enough jokes at itself to lighten everything up).
posted by filthy light thief at 11:35 AM on April 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Sloppy though this show is, it stands in the proud Syfy tradition of reveling in it's capacity for silliness (like Z Nation, which can also be serious, but often includes enough jokes at itself to lighten everything up).
posted by filthy light thief at 11:35 AM on April 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
flf, it appeared to me that it was Umber's "life force" leaking from him as Ember killed him that was drawn into the sword. The same effect was visible as Ember died.
I really liked the Inception-level quality that was going on in Fillory's final act, and the outright statement of "Why doesn't anything ever get fixed"? (That, and the aimless, hapless, overwhelmed nature of being 20-something, are what I consider to be some of the show's central themes).
posted by Bora Horza Gobuchul at 12:12 PM on April 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
I really liked the Inception-level quality that was going on in Fillory's final act, and the outright statement of "Why doesn't anything ever get fixed"? (That, and the aimless, hapless, overwhelmed nature of being 20-something, are what I consider to be some of the show's central themes).
posted by Bora Horza Gobuchul at 12:12 PM on April 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
The repairing of things (and the inability for magic to truly fix anything) is a recurring theme in the show and the books, which I rather like. Magic isn't really a fix-all, especially when you come to rely upon it and *poof!* it's gone.
posted by filthy light thief at 2:41 PM on April 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by filthy light thief at 2:41 PM on April 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Elliot is easily the most compelling character in this show. Even when I'm annoyed with him. I feel strong kinship with him, and he makes sense. ... Even when I'm REALLY annoyed with him.
posted by Made of Star Stuff at 4:29 PM on April 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by Made of Star Stuff at 4:29 PM on April 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
The god-killing bullet remains unused!
But in the nearly-total absence of magic, is it still a god-killing bullet, or just an ordinary bullet now?
And what was the magic Julia used to imbue the sword with god-killing power?
I assumed she used the same ritual that she and Kady learned earlier and got used for making the aforementioned god-killing bullet, but this time she captured the energy from Umber's death rather than a mere Demigod congresscritter.
posted by mstokes650 at 9:25 AM on April 21, 2017
But in the nearly-total absence of magic, is it still a god-killing bullet, or just an ordinary bullet now?
And what was the magic Julia used to imbue the sword with god-killing power?
I assumed she used the same ritual that she and Kady learned earlier and got used for making the aforementioned god-killing bullet, but this time she captured the energy from Umber's death rather than a mere Demigod congresscritter.
posted by mstokes650 at 9:25 AM on April 21, 2017
Man, this show really goes all-in on the meta-narratives for its season finales, huh? Last season, you had Quentin narrating a "book" (and the joke that the castle was invisible because they ran out of money); this season, Ember introduced the episode as an reality show finale (complete with asides about plot points that haven't paid off yet*).
To say nothing of the fact that everyone's book went blank after 20 more pages: Sure, it coincides with the end of human magic, but it also lined up well with how many pages of script were left if the show wasn't renewed.
Anyway, having watched the entire series this year, now I get to wait with the rest of you for next season. (Anyone know if the fairy queen's official name is Gloriana?)
posted by thecaddy at 10:37 AM on April 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
To say nothing of the fact that everyone's book went blank after 20 more pages: Sure, it coincides with the end of human magic, but it also lined up well with how many pages of script were left if the show wasn't renewed.
Anyway, having watched the entire series this year, now I get to wait with the rest of you for next season. (Anyone know if the fairy queen's official name is Gloriana?)
posted by thecaddy at 10:37 AM on April 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
And is magic leaking back in, due to the magic-routing pipes being old and unused to being shut off, like a leaky water pipe?
My thought was that since Julia got her shade back from a goddess, she has a source of power separate from the well spring. It was only the well spring that got shut off. Other creatures like fairies, vampires, dragons and (presumably goddesses) still have their power.
posted by willnot at 9:57 PM on April 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
My thought was that since Julia got her shade back from a goddess, she has a source of power separate from the well spring. It was only the well spring that got shut off. Other creatures like fairies, vampires, dragons and (presumably goddesses) still have their power.
posted by willnot at 9:57 PM on April 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
So will Penny be fine during the 'blank spot', since his sickness is caused by a magic spell?
posted by torisaur at 4:38 AM on April 24, 2017
posted by torisaur at 4:38 AM on April 24, 2017
I assumed she used the same ritual that she and Kady learned earlier and got used for making the aforementioned god-killing bullet, but this time she captured the energy from Umber's death rather than a mere Demigod congresscritter.
That part had me confused too. In the previous ep we saw Julia draw power from a metal sphere and put it into the bullet. I assumed that the sphere was a by-product of John John Reynard's Son having been agreeable to being killed to get back at Dad, but apparently it can be done just by having a god die nearby.
Which means they missed the opportunity with Ember's death to make another bullet, I suppose.
posted by Sparx at 6:30 PM on April 26, 2017
That part had me confused too. In the previous ep we saw Julia draw power from a metal sphere and put it into the bullet. I assumed that the sphere was a by-product of John John Reynard's Son having been agreeable to being killed to get back at Dad, but apparently it can be done just by having a god die nearby.
Which means they missed the opportunity with Ember's death to make another bullet, I suppose.
posted by Sparx at 6:30 PM on April 26, 2017
I just finished the season on Netflix. This intro you guys are mentioning, is that only for the broadcast? The book narration from last seasons finale was in the Netflix episode but that was part of the episode itself
posted by numaner at 11:57 AM on December 25, 2017
posted by numaner at 11:57 AM on December 25, 2017
Ok I found online transcript of it, but no actual video. But there are some details in there they should've kept as part of a Netflix episode.
The season was pretty wild, sometimes infuriatingly plotless, yet paying off much later. And knowing Ember was trying to fuck with everyone would've explained a lot. I questioned all the characters' motivations many times, but mostly I think it's due to having only 13 episodes to fit so many story beats and character development into while there should be 20+ episodes like many other shows (if I could magically switch the season lengths between this show and any CW superhero shows, I would).
posted by numaner at 12:21 PM on December 25, 2017
The season was pretty wild, sometimes infuriatingly plotless, yet paying off much later. And knowing Ember was trying to fuck with everyone would've explained a lot. I questioned all the characters' motivations many times, but mostly I think it's due to having only 13 episodes to fit so many story beats and character development into while there should be 20+ episodes like many other shows (if I could magically switch the season lengths between this show and any CW superhero shows, I would).
posted by numaner at 12:21 PM on December 25, 2017
I also just finished the season on netflix. Can you link the transcript, here or in memail?
posted by vibratory manner of working at 8:24 AM on December 26, 2017
posted by vibratory manner of working at 8:24 AM on December 26, 2017
oops I totally thought I linked to it. Here you go!
posted by numaner at 6:12 PM on December 26, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by numaner at 6:12 PM on December 26, 2017 [2 favorites]
Elliot is easily the most compelling character in this show.
Hale Appleman is this show's secret weapon. The show keeps bouncing between gravitas and whimsy, and he out of all the cast knows how to go with the flow and deliver whichever one is needed for a given scene.
posted by tobascodagama at 6:55 PM on May 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
Hale Appleman is this show's secret weapon. The show keeps bouncing between gravitas and whimsy, and he out of all the cast knows how to go with the flow and deliver whichever one is needed for a given scene.
posted by tobascodagama at 6:55 PM on May 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
I know I'm very late to this, but as someone who is currently watching the show on Netflix for the first time, I figured I'd post the Ember intro here in case anyone else is watching on Netflix (who appears to have gotten rid of it for some reason): Ember's Recap
posted by litera scripta manet at 10:23 PM on April 27, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by litera scripta manet at 10:23 PM on April 27, 2019 [2 favorites]
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posted by purpleclover at 11:05 AM on April 20, 2017