The Magicians delivers in fantastic style, as we get to episode 7 of season 4: ‘The Side Effect’. The following contains SPOILERS!
In recent weeks, while The Magicians has been its usual excellent self, I have had a few nagging questions that have been simmering underneath. After the last episode, I also suspected that a new mystery/development was about to explode into the main story. Well, this week, the show has not disappointed. Not only have the writers answered those questions, but they have also made knowing references to many of the issues viewers have raised, while also showing an impressive self-awareness of the shows own form and language.
As the title suggests the overarching idea this week is that despite what people might think, there really are no ‘side characters’. Therefore, we get to focus on Kady (Jade Tailor), Fen (Brittany Curran), and The Head Librarian – Zelda (Mageina Tovah). For me, considering Kady as a side character seems a little strange, as I have never thought of her as such, but here, she even says it herself. This is just one of many hyper-aware bits of dialogue in this episode, and there are many other great lines this week that will reward long time fans.
Most of the story is anchored in the Underworld, with another welcome appearance by Penny 40 (Arjun Gupta), who is putting a relatively new recruit, Derek (Chris Brochu), through his paces. In less skilled hands, this could feel like a cheap device used in a bottle episode, but here works very well. It gives a shape to the plot, but also illuminates Penny 40s recent history. The scenes here even deliver a couple of nice twists, which were good to see, and will lead to further great reveals; who is in the elevator at the end for instance?
One of the key questions that gets answered is where Kady has been. For several episodes, no one has mentioned her and her absence has been a weird hole in the story. We now know that she has been off solving all the unfinished cases left from when she was under as her Police Detective alter-ego Sam Cunningham. There is an interesting combination of determination to do the right thing, and bitterness that comes across in Kady throughout the scene with Julia (Stella Maeve). She has obviously felt sidelined in the group and that her only true connection was through Penny. For the audience though, I don’t think that has been the case, so it’s an interesting dynamic idea to play with.
What drives this plotline off in a tangent though, is the discovery that she has to pay a Baba Yaga (Olivia Norman) some rent, in the form of some odd objects. This sends her into the world of the hedge witches once again, and some familiar faces, such as Pete (David Call), who used to work with Marina (Kacey Rohl), and Whitley (West Duchovny). Using him as a middle man, Kady searches for the items, uncovering some more significant issues as she goes. The new angle she uncovers is interesting and will make things much more open, as well as bringing many of the elements in the show crashing together.
Elsewhere, we see the seeds of the issues Kady witnesses, in the Library. They have discovered that Alice (Olivia Taylor Dudley) has escaped, are deliberating on what to do about it, and wondering how they could have tackled it before. Debating this is the Head of Regulations – Cyrus (Dean Marshall), Head of Personnel Phyllis (Jewel Staite), Head of Circulation – Everett (Brian Markinson), and Zelda. Through this we see that while the Library does come across as malevolent quite a lot of the time, that at their heart, they think they’re doing the right thing and don’t want to hurt anyone. Unfortunately for them, their actions almost always have a negative effect outside the library, and quite a simple decision starts off a domino effect that ends up mobilising the hedge witches against them.
Zelda is caught in the middle of it all, and has compromised herself due to feeling that Alice reminds her of her lost daughter Harriet (Marlee Matlin), last seen as the mirror bridge was destroyed during last season. There are really intriguing questions posed here, such as: is Harriet really trapped there? Is she alone or is Victoria (Hannah Levien) there too? In true Magicians spirit, the grey area of the Library, just gets greyer.
On the fun side of things, Fen finally gets to shine and Brittany Curran is fantastic bringing more depth to the character. Curran has long been an untapped gem in the cast, so it is great that she is getting a chance to show that here. In terms of the character, I think it’s important that it’s acknowledged that Fen isn’t helpless, and has been the acting High King. Since Margo’s (Summer Bishil) return, Fen has played a very demure role in the kingdom though, but now, thanks to some premonitions, she gets to step to the front, while Margo follows. Could this be the start of the ‘Fargo’ shipping that some sections of the fandom have been asking for? We shall see!
Yet again, The Magicians shows its wit, humour, intelligence and awareness in what was another high point in a series of high points. When you think things will go one way, they confound expectations and always come up with something great that opens up even greater possibilities. As each episode shows, the main cast here is extremely capable, and then get added to by big name guest stars. With such strength in depth, they truly don’t have any sidekicks.
