The Magicians

2011 – 2012Show2 seasons11 episodesNR

85
ExcellentGoodWatch score

An awe-inspiring, epic comedy series about everyday modern life and show business.

Good for family movie night · friends night · party vibe

Skip it if you want dark or edgy material

Where to watch

Set your services

Not streaming in any country yet.

Fingerprint

Not for brutality, scares or big ideas.

Shows with

Story

The Magicians was a British family entertainment television show, first broadcast throughout January 2011 on BBC One. The show features magicians performing a number of magic tricks with guest celebrities, to decide which pair will face a forfeit trick at the end of the episode. In the first series, this was decided through audience participation, however, for the second series, a phone vote was introduced. The first series was hosted by Lenny Henry, and featured magicians Luis de Matos, Barry and Stuart and Chris Korn. At the end of series 1, Luis de Matos was deemed series champion.

Feels like

  • Magic Show
  • Family Entertainment
  • Celebrity Guests
  • Illusion & Trickery
  • Spectacle-Driven
  • Lighthearted Competition
  • British TV
  • Visual Wonder

Cast

Facts

January 1, 2011 · February 11, 2012 · Ended

First aired
January 1, 2011
Last aired
February 11, 2012
Status
Ended
Length
2 seasons · 11 episodes
Age rating
NR
Genres
Comedy, Reality
Original language
English
Also spoken
Hungarian
Made in
United Kingdom
Available in
5 countries

Tropes

Literal Metaphor, Seers, Bad Future +9

  • Literal Metaphor
  • Seers
  • Bad Future
  • Celebrity Paradox
  • The Scottish Trope
  • Broken Bird
  • And I Must Scream
  • Phony Psychic
  • Magical Abortion
  • Take a Third Option
  • Genre Deconstruction
  • Lunacy

12 of 238 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Is The Magicians worth watching?"

Questions about The Magicians

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Is The Magicians worth watching?

85
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 85 (IMDb 8.1).

Is The Magicians okay for kids?

NR

Yes: it's rated NR in the United States, and the viewing guide lists it for kids.

How long does it take to watch The Magicians?

11 h

About 11 hours: 11 episodes in 2 seasons of about 60 minutes each, aired from 2011 to 2012.

Will The Magicians make me laugh?

A touch

Not much for a comedy: the title analysis gives its humor 1 of 4.

Can I half-watch The Magicians?

Easy watchDemanding

Yes: it's easy to follow, with complexity at only 3 of 10, and the viewing guide calls it good for background watching.

What tropes does The Magicians use?

Literal MetaphorSeersBad FutureCelebrity ParadoxThe Scottish TropeBroken BirdAnd I Must ScreamPhony PsychicMagical AbortionTake a Third OptionGenre DeconstructionLunacyand 226 more

TV Tropes lists 238 tropes for it, including Literal Metaphor, Seers, and Bad Future.