The Magicians Review: Acting Dean (Season 5 Episode 7)

Margo, Fen, and Eliot work together to figure out the truth between the dark king and the fairies, Julia and Penny must save Brakebills from utter destruction, and Alice spends all her time on trying to fix magic, again, on The Magicians Season 5 Episode 7, “Acting Dean.”

Julia has been throwing herself into the world-saving business over and over again – and now it’s time to do it again with Fillory. With magic only back because of Quentin, Julia is taking this journey super personally and doesn’t want anyone besides herself to be the one to fix things.

Eliot’s desire to protect and give the dark king the benefit of the doubt when knowing nothing of him other than he wants to get in bed with him is annoying as hell. This may be the first “connection” that Eliot thinks he’s having since Quentin, but I think he’s just trying to find something else to focus on so he doesn’t have to deal with how crazy his life has been.

I do think that Eliot deserves to have a break where he can sit back and relax with someone that he vibes with, but at this point, he’s grasping at straws for friends. Eliot acts as if he’s oblivious to all the warning signs, but deep down he doesn’t want to be falling for someone who is evil so, naturally, he tries to ignore it until he can’t anymore.

The dark king knows how to play his part well. He is acting as if Bick was acting on his own, but it’s apparent that he’s behind everything when he’s seen pouring all the gold that “went missing” into the forest to make more Takers. There’s the possibility that he didn’t know about Bick’s gold excreting beetle, but more than likely he only sent guards after him for theatrics.

One thing that I hope comes about from this revelation for Eliot is that he no longer tries to make excuses for the dark king. Whatever he feels inside for this guy can’t overpower his loyalty and love for Fillory. However, at this point even with knowing about his lies I don’t think that Eliot could go through will killing him to take him out.

Margo’s story of making peace with the fairies is no longer believed after hundreds of years and the story changing time and time again. The fairies believe that she only made it easier for an all-out war on them, so now she has to kiss the boot and do everything she can for them to believe that she’s only trying to help. In the end, the fairy shows her and Eliot exactly what they need to see; the dark king is the one who keeps raising the Takers.

On many levels, this is a sad time for Margo because even though she wasn’t the best king of Fillory she was never malicious and tried to inflict harm on any creature or species. For the fairies to believe that she set up the extinction of their kind is preposterous and is exactly why she’s so upset about having to rub the fairies feet to prove herself.

One thing that I thoroughly enjoy from this episode is the change that we see in Penny. He’s been there to help save the world with the rest of the group and has done his part in sacrificing for the greater good, now he wants a normal life. Instead of always chasing the next fight that could throw his life in danger he’d rather settle down with Julia and try to have a life together, which is why I think he’s lying when he says that he doesn’t want to keep his job.

Even though the professor job is something that was forced upon Penny that doesn’t mean that deep down he doesn’t have any care for it. He acts as if it’s a burden on him to be the new dean of Brakebills, but I think it’s something that could give his life a new meaning. Instead of always taking the adventure to save the world he can train new magicians that could one day take his place and have their own magical quest.

The relationship between Penny and Julia has been subtle and not in your face, but the connection between the two is there and it’s an upsetting moment to have to see it end between them. Penny has made it known that he wants to stop dealing with issues that don’t involve them and settle down, but that’s not the type of woman Julia is.

Julia isn’t the type to sit back knowing there’s trouble coming or there’s something she can do to fix it. However, as she said, I think that she’s hyper-focusing on the quest to block out any bad feelings she has because when it comes to Q she still has untapped emotions that she hasn’t dealt with.

One thing for sure, if Julia’s going to be able to make it in Fillory she’s going to have to figure out how to slow down and really think her plans through because it’s an entirely different playing field.

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

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The Magicians airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on Syfy.

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