The Magicians Review: The Flying Forest (Season 2 Episode 4)

On The Magicians Season 2 Episode 4 ”The Flying Forest,” we see the border between the real world and Fillory dissolve. Or get less carved in stone, at least. As the magic wanes, the royals keep losing interest. On the previous episode ”Divine Elimination” we lost Alice. Only three royals of Fillory remain.

From the start, we find Quentin being healed by a Centaurian medic. The Centaur has good hand in woodcraft and medicine, for sure. He heals the wound Quentin got from the fight when Alice was killed. It’s all excellently portrayed at a Fillorian field hospital.

Only Margo breaks the mood, as she can’t keep focus, with a horse like man-thing close by. Margo, be careful! Remember what happened to the last queen who spoke about horses and how they are hung.

She comes back from this comment, later in court, where she and Elliot are discussing how to honor the memory of Alice. They argue about spending a lot of money, and a substantial amount of magic power, to get a statue of Alice built.

Margo: For whatever silly reason, you’re the High King of an entire land. You have to be responsible!

Elliot: Since when are you Fillory Clinton?

Margo: Since I’m me. My crown is just as heavy as yours.

I’m waiting for a tweet about this from The White House, any minute now.

Elliot is keen on leaving Fillory, as he misses being prince of Brakebills. He tries to find a loophole and experiments with conjuring a doppelganger clone, to pass the barrier to the real world.

This pans out perfectly for the two hims, as they manage to get both involved in a foursome, with one of the second year students at Brakebills, and Elliot’s wife back in Fillory. A win win, for both Elliots!

In a way, High King Elliot has divided his power by doing this. He might even stand at a crossroads, where he needs to choose which Elliot he wants to keep. The Fillory High King, or the Brakebills Prince? In my book, he’s halfway back to the real world. Two and a half royals of Fillory remain.

Meanwhile, Quentin and Penny are getting high in the Flying Forest and spend a few Groundhog Day moments, running in circles. At the end, after meeting The White Lady, Penny is cured of his Evil Dead hands and Quentin is sent back to the real world, with no hope left.

The quest for the resurrection spell failed. Alice is still among the dead. One and a half royals of Fillory remain. The only true royal remaining is Queen Margo, with undivided focus. No wish to return to the real world.

The Magicians is getting better on focusing on the horrors of reality, and not making fun of itself. The most intense moment on ”The Flying Forest” comes in the real world.  Julia finds Kady, and together they bring back Marina from death, only to acquire a lead on how to defeat Reynard. Death is a cruel mistress and even on The Magicians, death is inevitable and no laughing matter.

The horror in Marina’s eyes is real. This scene is the best so far on The Magicians, from the frosty corpse to the pain of returning from the other side. Just gorgeously grim.

The Magicians delivers the by far darkest episode yet. No songs, no dancing, all gloom and misery. Brilliant!

What did you think of this episode of The Magicians? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Reviewer Rating:

User Rating:

 

The Magicians airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on SyFy.

Follow us on Twitter @telltaleTV_

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!