The Magiciansis one of the best fantasy shows to air in the 2010s, but viewers might be looking for something else to watch after finishing its five seasons. Fortunately, there’s another three-season fantasy series that makes an ideal replacement. Based on the book trilogy written by Lev Grossman,The Magiciansran for five seasonson Syfy before being canceled. It’s one of many projects in the genre to meet an early end, but it has a fairly satisfying conclusion. It will leave viewers looking for othershows likeThe 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 Magiciansputs 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, madeThe Magicianssmarter 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 asThe Magicians,Freeform’sShadowhuntershas a lot in common with the Syfy series— enough that viewers should give it a shot. LikeThe Magicians,Shadowhuntersis 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. ForShadowhunters' Clary, it involves the realization that angels and demons are real.
BothThe MagiciansandShadowhuntersplace 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, bothThe MagiciansandShadowhuntersplace 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 terms with their identities, and both feature compelling friendships and romantic relationships. Anyone who wants more of those elements after watchingThe Magicianswill 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
WhileShadowhuntersboasts several strengths that also elevateThe 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 terms of acting and writing, but it starts as an acceptable adaptation ofCassandra Clare’sShadowhuntersbooks. 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.
Shadowhunterswas 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 afterThe 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
Shadowhuntershas its problems, but it’s still a great choice for fans ofThe 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.Shadowhuntersis currently available to stream on Hulu.
The Magicians
Cast
The 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.
Shadowhunters
Shadowhunters is a television series based on the book series by Cassandra Clare. Premiering in 2016, it follows Clary Fray, who discovers her lineage and joins a group of demon hunters called Shadowhunters. As she navigates her new reality, she embarks on a mission to rescue her kidnapped mother.
