Unveiling the Vanishing Act: The Most Intriguing Dark Moments in The Magicians TV Show

Summary

The Magicians delves into dark and disturbing storylines, with moments like Julia's rape by Reynard shaping her journey and reflecting the horrors of PTSD.

Quentin's sacrifice in season 4 prompts discussions about suicide, shedding light on the emotional significance and uncertainty surrounding his demise.

The undisclosed involvement of the McAllistair family in a clandestine slave trade with fairies exposes the characters' wickedness and the heartless treatment of humans by fairies, utilizing their magical abilities.

Warning: This article delves into sensitive topics including rape, suicide, slavery, child sexual abuse, homophobia, physical and mental abuse, addiction, and child murder.

While renowned for its edgy and ominous fantasy plotlines, The Magicians takes darkness to another level with 12 unforgettable moments. Adapted from Lev Grossman's acclaimed trilogy, the show centers around Quentin Coldwater and his fellow magicians at Brakebills University, who face off against a formidable creature known as The Beast from the mystical realm of Fillory. While similar shows exist, few possess the courage to explore the depths of darkness quite like this adored fantasy series.

12 Julia Being Raped By Reynard The Fox

The Magicians is a captivating show that seamlessly combines magic and comedy to captivate audiences. Although the series does have its fair share of lighthearted moments, it also delves into weightier subjects, offering respite through well-timed comedic lines. This is what makes the show so relatable - the characters' relatability stems from their flawed decision-making and echoes the mistakes that real-life individuals often make. While the majority of storylines and characters possess their fair share of darkness and sorrow, there are some that stand out due to their unparalleled level of depravity, their ominous presence, and the profound heartbreak they bring about.

In The Magicians season 1, Julia and Free Trader Beowulf believe they are summoning Our Lady Underground, but instead, they are greeted by the unexpected presence of the trickster god Reynard The Fox. Tragically, Reynard proceeds to unleash a horrifying massacre within the room, sparing no one except for Julia, who manages to capture his attention. In a harrowing turn of events, Julia falls victim to Reynard's assault, resulting in an unimaginable pregnancy. This deeply traumatic incident becomes a defining moment in Julia's narrative, fueling her with anger, a thirst for revenge, and a disregard for personal safety. The supernatural twist of Julia losing her shade during the subsequent abortion only further amplifies the parallels between her journey in The Magicians and the devastating effects of post-traumatic stress disorder.

11 Quentin Sacrificing Himself In Season 4

Quentin's act of sacrificing himself in The Magicians season 4, as he throws The Monster's soul into the seam, showcases his understanding of the danger yet he proceeds with it, ultimately leading to his own death. This storyline holds a tragic undertone, which takes a much darker turn when delving into the implications. Since the show's inception, Quentin has been portrayed as an individual living with depression and grappling with thoughts of suicide. Following his demise, Quentin revisits the question of whether his sacrifice was truly selfless or if he had found a way to end his life intentionally. The weightiness of this question and the uncertainty surrounding the answer contribute to this particular moment being one of the show's most haunting instances. Remember, suicide is never the solution. If you are dealing with thoughts of suicide, please reach out to the national suicide and crisis lifeline at 988.

10 The McAllistair Slave Fairies

The revelation in The Magicians season 3, episode 10, "The Art of the Deal," uncovers a disturbing secret held by the McAllistair family - they have managed to maintain their access to magic through an abhorrent and cruel practice. For several decades, they have enslaved fairies within their homes, subjecting them to servitude. Shockingly, the family goes even further by mutilating the fairies, grinding their bones into a powder that can be snorted to acquire magical abilities. This revelation sheds light on the true depths of depravity within the McAllistair family and offers an explanation for the distant and indifferent behavior exhibited by the fairies towards humans.

9 The Reveal That Martin Chatwin Was The Beast & Why

Quentin and his friends engage in a fierce battle against an elusive enemy, referred to as The Beast, without any knowledge of the individual's true identity. However, the shocking revelation unfolds, uncovering The Beast as an adult named Martin Chatwin. The darkness settles upon realizing that a child character in the cherished Fillory and Further books ultimately transforms into a murderer within The Magicians. Yet, it is the harrowing backstory of Martin Chatwin that intensifies the storyline. During his childhood, the vulnerable Martin endures the appalling trauma of being photographed in a state of undress and subjected to heinous acts of sexual abuse by his guardian, Christopher Plover. As if his suffering weren't enough, Fillory, the mystical realm, begins to reject Martin once the abuse commences, leaving him feeling utterly powerless and shattered. In a desperate pursuit of liberation, Martin clandestinely infiltrates Fillory, ultimately assuming the persona of The Beast.

8 The Fourth Key’s Depression Monster

During the Quest for the Seven Keys, Quentin encounters a woman named Poppy, who grants him the fourth key. This key, according to Poppy, unleashes the depression monster, a malevolent entity that preys on people's deepest insecurities, driving them to contemplate suicide. Rather than prewarn Quentin, Poppy chooses to disclose this revelation only when he begins questioning his own sanity. Shockingly, after confronting the depression monster, half of her classmates at Brakebills, along with Benedict, tragically succumb to suicide.

7 Eliot’s Abusive, Homophobic Father

Throughout The Magicians seasons 1 and 2, Eliot frequently hints at his difficult upbringing, discussing his homophobic father and the lack of love he received. He also alludes to instances of abuse that took place at home. These experiences from his troubled childhood shed light on his behavior in the series. However, in The Magicians season 3, episode 4, titled "Be the Penny," the first key summons Eliot's greatest fear and reveals the dread-inducing figure from his past - his father. The scene portrays Eliot's father speaking aggressively, spewing homophobic remarks, and adopting a threatening stance, suggesting possible physical violence.

6 Kady Developing A Heroin Addiction

5 The Order Killing Hedge Witches

After narrowly escaping the tragic events at Free Trader Beowulf in The Magicians, Kady finds herself grappling with the devastating effects of opioid addiction. She begins to trade her ability to perform miracles for drugs, succumbing to the destructive allure of substance abuse. Fortunately, Julia comes to Kady's aid, guiding her towards recovery with the help of methadone. However, as Kady faces further traumas, such as the untimely demise of Penny, she finds herself ensnared by the clutches of active addiction once again. This authentic portrayal of Kady's opioid use disorder in The Magicians serves as a stark reminder of the harsh realities that many individuals face. The show effectively portrays the vicious cycle of addiction and sheds light on the profound impact of trauma on one's mental well-being.

The actions of The Order of the Library in The Magicians are dubious when it comes to censoring and restricting information. However, their behavior takes a sick and twisted turn in season 4. They cast a curse on Deweys, leading to the deaths of hedge witches as their personal wards and the curse clash disastrously. Rather than putting an end to the curse after learning about the deaths, The Order chooses to maintain its malevolence. Additionally, the leader of The Order's governing council infects hedge witches with worms that are lethal if they attempt to cast spells. This particular storyline in The Magicians highlights the sinister nature of The Order, particularly in their treatment of hedge witches.

4 The Fairy Queen Bartering For Fenn’s Baby

When attempting to negotiate with the fairies in The Magicians, Margot is informed by the ambassador that the Fairy Queen will only restore the wellspring if she receives Fenn and Eliot’s baby. In an attempt to find a solution, Margot proposes the idea of becoming pregnant and sacrificing her own child instead, but this offer is rejected. It is not until almost an entire season later that Margot discovers the fairies take human infants because they are unable to reproduce in the fairy realm. This particular storyline is incredibly heart-wrenching and presents a dark perspective in numerous ways. Fenn must confront her own trauma and mourn the loss of her child, while the fairies are simply fighting to survive in their own world.

3 Alice Killing The Lamprey’s Family

In The Magicians, Alice transforms into a niffin and engages in heinous acts. This becomes glaringly evident when the lamprey seeks retribution against Alice. The lamprey traverses from one person to another until it possesses Quentin's body. Upon Quentin locating Alice, the lamprey seizes control of her father's body, ultimately forcing her to slay her own father. Amidst the chaos, Alice confesses that her motive for experimenting on the lamprey's family was not in fact to kill them. Instead, she electrocuted them as a niffin simply because their demise emitted captivating lights, without regard for the anguish she inflicted.

2 The Time Slip At Christopher Plover’s Home

1 Julia Commits Genocide In Fillory

The abode of Christopher Plover, featured in The Magicians, serves as a nightmarish site harboring numerous atrocities. Quentin, Penny, Eliot, and Alice venture to Plover's residence in search of the Fillory button, only to stumble upon a profoundly unsettling rift in the fabric of time. Prudence Plover inflicts cruel mistreatment upon the children inhabiting the house, subjecting them to drugging and confinement in the basement. Her rage intensifies whenever anyone mentions the "abnormal deeds" perpetrated by her brother. Ultimately, the children perish, trapped in a ceaseless loop of reliving their torment within the time rift. This grim reality underscores the deep-rooted deviance and heartlessness prevalent in the Plover lineage.

Following her loss of shade in The Magicians, Julia’s decision-making takes a troubling turn, culminating in an appalling act of genocide. Struggling to establish a connection with the sentient trees, Julia, now lacking her shade, resorts to bombing the forest, resulting in the annihilation of numerous endangered trees capable of experiencing thoughts and emotions akin to humans. This unimaginable destruction reflects Julia’s moral deterioration in the absence of her shade. However, as the story progresses, she eventually acquires a deeper understanding of morality and boundaries, despite her missing piece, in The Magicians.