The Magicians: A Traditional Fantasy Series That Proves Budgets Don’t Define Success

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Despite being a bit overlooked, the fantasy series The Magicians managed to stand out, even though it didn’t have a key element commonly found in shows of its kind. Based on Lev Grossman’s novels, this Syfy series demonstrates that the channel is still capable of creating successful programs.

The show centers around the students at Brakebills University, a college for learning magic. Led by Quentin Coldwater, Julia Wicker, and Margo Hanson, this group of young magicians discovers the magical world is in danger, and they must work together to protect it.

The Magicians Is A Great Fantasy Show Done The Traditional Way

While the basic idea of The Magicians isn’t groundbreaking for fantasy shows, it excels at creating a believable world. The challenges the characters encounter feel manageable and realistic, giving the show a classic, grounded feel. It avoids the pitfall of making problems feel impossibly large.

The show doesn’t try to be like a movie with each episode; it’s a television show through and through. It follows the tradition of older fantasy series like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Merlin, focusing on weekly stories rather than sprawling, cinematic events, which is quite different from many fantasy shows being made now.

Game Of Thrones Created A Misconception About Fantasy Shows

While not solely responsible for everything, Game of Thrones was a truly significant moment for fantasy storytelling, arguably the biggest since Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films. The show became a massive cultural phenomenon, and unfortunately, like many popular successes, TV networks and streaming services misinterpreted what made it work.

Game of Thrones was a very costly show to produce. While its high budget likely contributed to its popularity, it wasn’t the sole factor. However, other studios interpreted its success as meaning they needed to spend equally massive amounts of money to create the next big fantasy hit. As a result, a few current fantasy shows are consuming budgets that could have funded several smaller programs.

Shows Like The Magicians Are Key To Saving Fantasy Television

Image via MovieStillsDB

Not all fantasy TV shows need massive budgets. As shows like The Magicians demonstrate, you can create compelling fantasy television without spending like a major movie. A hit like Game of Thrones is rare – maybe happening once every twenty years – and simply spending a lot of money doesn’t guarantee you’ll create another one.

Shows like The Magicians prove that fantasy series don’t require huge budgets to be successful. A strong story, compelling characters, and clever filmmaking can go a long way, even with limited funds. Streaming services could create even more fantasy content if they spread their resources instead of focusing everything on a single, expensive blockbuster.

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2026-02-28 18:48