The Magicians Roundtable: What Was The Biggest Plot Twist In The Finale?

Julia’s powers reach a new level, the quest to return magic comes to an end, and Alice regrets her decisions on The Magicians Season 3 Episode 13, “Will You Play With Me?”

Tell-Tale TV writers Allison Nichols and Cade Taylor, joined by Starry Constellation Magazine writer Lisa Steinberg, discuss the episode below.

• Lisa Steinberg (@GoodHumorGrl)
• Allison Nichols (@AllisonBlairN)
• Cade Taylor (@cadehtaylor)

1. What was your reaction when Alice turned her back on everyone and destroyed the keys? Did you expect her to do something mischievous?

Allison: I’m honestly not surprised that Alice destroyed the keys. Magic has wreaked havoc on her and her family, so she would definitely believe that no one deserved magic because of the harm magic can cause.

Lisa: As I said last round table, there were definitely plenty of double crosses to be had and Alice has done a lot of shifty things the past few seasons so I can totally say I saw it coming.

Cade: I agree with Allison and Lisa, I wasn’t shocked that last minute she tried something. Magic, in her eyes, is now nothing but dangerous and she doesn’t want that kind of power being in peoples hands again.

2. Julia gave up her god power and status to save her friends and all of magic. Do you wish she had gone about things differently?

Allison: I have mixed feelings about this.

I wish we would have seen more of Julia as a goddess, but it was clear that being one was taking her away from her friends. Keeping her a goddess would have allowed us to catch a glimpse into the world of gods and goddesses, which would have been entertaining.

However, I want Julia to remain with the group and be involved in whatever mischief they get into. It would suck if she only popped in from time to time.

Lisa: I definitely wish she would not have gone about giving up her goddess status so soon in the way this had to happen. It felt so stingingly bitter to me that she had to relinquish her level up when she was just starting to learn the ropes and feel her true power.

All season long I have compared Julia to Buffy with having to make the ultimate sacrifice and I feel like this was Julia’s key moment. I wish she had more time as a goddess, but I understand why she had to let it go.

Cade: I wish that Julia had told Iris that she was going to finish this mission with her friends and then she would go with her to start her goddess work. Had Julia gone with them in the very beginning there’s no way that Alice would’ve been able to destroy the keys.

Julia has come so far on her journey and I find it upsetting that we had to see her give it all up so soon.

3. Do you think the Penny we see at the very end is our Penny or the 23rd timeline Penny?

Allison: I think it’s the 23rd Penny. I’m hoping that our Penny will maybe team up with Alice next season and help give everyone their memories back. This could be a cool way to see what our Penny has been up to in the underworld.

Plus, he’s currently in one branch of the library, and Alice is trapped in another. I bet news of her capture has made its way to the underworld, as has the return of magic.

Lisa: I think the ending Penny is 23rd Penny and sadly not our Penny. I agree with Allison, I hope Alice trapped in the library can somehow team up with Penny or even Fen and free everyone else’s memories.

I would love to see the dynamic of Penny and Alice taking over the library and turning the rule following tables. Hades has a plan for our Penny and I feel like we have not seen the last of his presence with Penny.

Cade: It’s more than likely the 23rd timeline Penny, but I wish that it wasn’t. I agree with Allison, though. I hope that Penny finds a way to team up with Alice in the underworld and free the groups memories.

4. What are your thoughts on the Fairy Queen sacrificing herself for her people? After everything how do you feel about her now?

Allison: Over the season, we’ve grown to see how she’s really a great queen who looks out for the best interest of her people. She did what she had to in order to insure her people’s safety. The Fairy Queen is still someone to be feared, especially when you cross her, but if you are on her side, she is a valued ally.

Lisa: I definitely see the Fairy Queen differently. Her sacrifice was one that felt right for her. Last season we spent so much emotion despising her and feeling like she was such a cruel villain. This season we got to see more about why she is the way that she is and how much her people really mean to her.

There were so many gray areas to many characters and I feel like this brightened some of hers.  I saw so many new sides to her and when she made the sacrifice my heart truly hurt. Just when I began to feel empathy for her, we had to say goodbye.

But just as she always was, her last words were cutting to the core and she showed just how much of a boss she forever will remain.

Cade: My whole thought process towards the Fairy Queen has changed in the past few episodes when it comes to the Fairy Queen. It doesn’t make up for all the horrible things she did, but I couldn’t help but feel sorrow for her when she was sacrificing herself for her people.

I hope that next season we get to see fairies again, possibly with a brand new queen who can negotiate with Margo in Fillory.

5. Eliot used the god-killing bullet to save Quentin so he wouldn’t have to live his life in the castle. Do you think that’s why the monster inside of the castle took over his body?

Allison: I love that Eliot did this to save Quentin. Their life together has really made them grow a lot closer.

I didn’t consider that! I figured the monster just jumped into whoever was nearby. I do like the thought that the monster chose Eliot to enact a bit of vengeance.

Lisa: I didn’t consider that, but it’s probably the most true to what happened. Sort of a way to literally get under his skin especially because we were told not to let the monster out and Eliot is action first, answers second. So that seems pretty fitting in a vengeful way, the monster found a way out and Eliot is paying the price for being so rash.

Cade: I think that the monster taking over Eliot’s body as a form of revenge is what’s more than likely happening. I think that Eliot and Quentin’s life together could also be why the monster went straight for Quentin and not anyone else in the group.

6. What was the biggest plot twist in the season finale?

Allison: Ooo it’s a toss up between everyone (minus Alice) getting their memories wiped and new identities and the monster jumping into Eliot’s body. That ending was one shocking punch after another. I cannot wait for next season!

Lisa: Toss up between the Fairy Queen sacrifice and everyone sans Alice having their memories wiped. Dean Fogg’s betrayal was quite calculated, but damn those MIB type memory wipes threw me through a loop.

I want our squad to reunite and find their way back to each other and their memories together. It broke my heart in half that Kady is a drug dealer. But if anyone can put the pieces of the puzzle together again, it’s their resilience and their determination. In squad we trust!

Cade: I think that the memory wipes is the biggest plot twist, besides the Fairy Queen sacrficing herself and giving Irene her power. There are so many theories about what could happen next season and all I want is for it to be here already because it’s going to be amazing.

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What did you think of The Magicians Season 3 finale? Join the discussion by leaving your thoughts in the comments below!

The Magicians returns in 2019 on Syfy.