#my go-to race headcanon for jason is ‘ambiguous’

[sreppub]

I really like these Jasons drawn by Jordan Gibson a while back…

[batwingsandblackcats]

Talk to me about The Magicians

*Rubs my gay little hands together*

So this post took about 1200000 years and I’m so sorry, I was trying to create a comprehensive trigger warning list, but I just haven’t had the time to rewatch both season to take them all down. I so, so appreciate you sending this when I was having a bad night.

Prepare for a stupid long post because I’ve been waiting for a good excuse to gush about this masterpiece of a show. Nothing will top my love of Carmilla but this is right there under it. This is basically all the stories you loved as a kid in a very adult context.

I’m going to try to make this as spoiler free as humanly possible while still detailing the great aspects of it, but there are a couple things I will spoil, because I feel like it’s important to know going in because of possible triggers.

Also I just found out that five episodes were directed by Carrie Fisher so no wonder why it’s so fucking good.

The Magicians is basically a mishmash of Harry Potter, Spiderwick, and Narnia. This is the first time ever that I’ve liked a film/tv adaptation more than the book. Also considering how TV is going lately, I’m deeply impressed by how they’ve handled 98% of things.

This show has done the literal opposite of whitewashing, which I find fucking incredible. In the book, about three (very) minor characters are specifically described as poc, like by specific nationality (the descriptions also seemed pretty racist/stereotypical) and the rest are either ambiguously described in terms of race, described as pale, or specifically stated as white, so I’m kind of going with the thought that that probably means they’re basically all white since Lev Grossman so specifically pointed out other character’s races. But hey that just leaves ample room for headcanoning which the casting director seems to have taken advantage of beautifully.

All the main characters are very rich and complex, and even minor characters with limited screen time are interesting.

(If I phrase something wrong and it comes out offensive, please know that it’s not intentional and please tell me so I fix it.)

Here’s a run down of the main characters:

Quentin Coldwater– (Played by Jason Ralph) Ambiguously described in the book but white in the show, bisexual, clinically depressed. Neither his bisexuality or depression is just ‘in theory’ in the show, it’s clearly shown, and he mentions being hospitalized in the past for his depression. Jason also does a great job displaying symptoms of anxiety.

Alice Quin– (Played by Olivia Taylor-Dudley) Ambiguously described in the book, white in the show. She’s presumably straight (there hasn’t really been any indication that she might not be) and incredibly brilliant. Think Hermione but shyer with an angry streak at being continuously underestimated, and with about a crap ton of baggage.

Penny Adiyodi– Described as looking like–and I quote here–an “overfed white suburban gangsta” in the book, played by Arjun Gupta, who is Indian, in the show, straight as far as I can tell. Very talented. Has an angry streak, but also has the capacity to be very sweet (reluctantly, and tries to hide it with sarcasm) and is very loyal.

Julia Wicker– (Played by Stella Maeve) Described as ‘pale and freckled’ in the book, but I’m not sure what her background is in the show. I tried looking up the actress but I didn’t find anything. She’s incredibly determined, brave, smart and resourceful and doesn’t take no for an answer when it comes to her goals and her friends. (She’s a total Slytherin.)

Dean Henry Fogg– (Played by Rick Worthy) Described as pale, blonde and blue-eyed in the book, but he’s black in the show, and later becomes disabled, but after recovery it doesn’t slow him down any. Dean of Brakebills University, he’s smart, blunt and commanding with a weird sense of humor.

Eliot Waugh– (Played by Hale Appleman) Ambiguously described in the book, white in the show. Flamingly gay and portrayed pretty damn beautifully by Hale, where it was prety bit fetish-y in the book. He’s an addict/alcoholic but isn’t demonized for it. His best friend gets exasperated/annoyed with him sometimes because he does tend to get high at the most inopportune times but that’s the worst of it. There’s a few jokes about it but nothing hurtful. He’s also clearly depressed, hence his not so great coping methods, and it’s implied that he has a homophobic/religious family.

Margo Hansen– Ambiguously described in the book (also her name in the book is Janet) played by Summer Bishil, who is part Indian. At first seems like your typical beautiful, bitchy female character, but is soon revealed to be deviously smart, loyal, aware of her own flaws and determined to fix her own messes. Oddly tender sometimes. Has a really wonderful (admittedly codependent, but it works. It’s implied in the book that she was in love with Eliot but that’s so not the case in the show.) tight platonic relationship with Eliot, and both of them really step up to the plate in S2.

Kady Orloff-Diaz– Ambiguously described in the book (also named Amanda Orloff in the book) played by Jade Taylor, who is part Indian/Israili. She’s had a really fucking rough life but is ride or die for the people she loves, and she’s exceptionally good at battle magic, a type of magic outlawed at Brakebills. She’s also an addict like Eliot, but is in recovery with the help of Julia, and Jade has expressed on twitter how important it is to her to portray a realistic recovery arc.

Other awesome bits

the queer/female/poc characters in power (Dean/King/Queen/etc) outnumber the (presented as) straight, white males in power. Eight queer/female/poc characters in power to five straight white males in power, who are mostly villains or characters who just cause trouble.

The male characters are allowed to show emotion and grieve, which is far too rare in media. They’re shown crying, expressing love both romantically and platonically, they clearly express fear, anger (but not in an abusive way towards others) and concern for each other.

The show is blatantly pro-choice, which is indicated by a sub-plot.

A minor character in S1 who’s present in five episodes, and one episode in S2, is played by a trans woman.

There’s a very genuine, affectionate and intimate relationship for a good portion of S1 between Eliot and another man. None of this basically platonic relationship with the odd kiss bullshit, and it’s not fetish-y.

A well respected male professor in the book is a woman in the show. And she’s hilarious.

The m/f romances in the show are on the healthier end of what I’ve seen on TV. They’re not perfect, but they’re pretty damn good. Both relationships are very supportive, aside from a couple issues.

There’s no pair the spares. A few female characters are single for long lengths of time.

They actually let male and female characters be friends without having them bang. Most of the time. I think the most important relationship to remain platonic, did.

There’s pretty good racial diversity in minor characters and extras, as well as a few with disabilities.

Deals with child abuse/sexual abuse victims and how those characters handle their trauma differently. Some turn out good, some don’t.

The plot is very cohesive and doesn’t spin off into nonsense. There’s only one tiny sub-plot that lasted for about an episode and a half where it seemed like they had to cut their losses.

There aren’t any characters that don’t have a reason to be there. The closest one to that only shows up once in a while and seems to really just be there for some comic relief, but basically every character has a solid reason for being present.

the show is self aware in the way that it pokes fun at itself because all the characters have read Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter, and now they’re suddenly in a story like that.

The only ‘jokes’ having to do with race (as far as I can tell, I’m white so I’m not the best judge of this but I didn’t see anything particularly alarming) are the poc characters–mostly Penny–calling the white characters out on their racism.

Also a few of the female characters, mostly Margo, call out misogyny and patriarchal bullshit when they see it.

PTSD, handled differently by different characters with varying degrees of success, but portrayed pretty well.

The sex scenes seem a little more realistic than what’s usually portrayed on TV–they’re awkward sometimes and there’s a scene where the woman actually explains to the guy what she likes (and he listens!!) which was pretty damn refreshing.

Trigger warnings

This show has about 9000 triggers in it, I’m not gonna lie. Like I said above, I was trying to find time to rewatch both seasons to take down all the possible triggers, but I just haven’t had the time. Please feel free to tack on any I missed.

Depression/anxiety/imagery of psych wards  S1E1 and S1E4

Alcohol/drug addiction/abuse (like seriously I’ve seen one character, one time, drink something other than alcohol.) Throughout S1, less but still present in S2.

Blood and gore. Like, a ton of blood and gore, but it’s toned way down in S2.

Graphic animal abuse (fairly brief, you can skip it by jumping forward 30 seconds)

Graphic depictions of suicide (only during one episode, and they added a hotline before rolling the credits at the end)

Graphic depictions of rape (again, they added a hotline. Only in one episode but there are brief flashbacks in following episodes.)

Graphic verbal/physical child abuse and strongly implied sexual child abuse All three present in S1E9, mentions in later episodes

Depictions of PTSD 

Cancer and cancer symptoms S1E5

Okay, so, fair warning. At the end of S1, the queer story lines look pretty dismal. But, if you can get through that, they do something towards the end of S2 that, as far as I’m aware, is pretty close to revolutionary in terms of queer rep on TV. Honestly I don’t know how they got away with both showing it, and using the proper terminology.

All that being said, I fucking hate the book.

Fight me.

[littlekidsteve]

He looks so thick and huggable 😖😍😍😍

I really like these Jasons drawn by Jordan Gibson a while back…