The Magicians Review: The Balls (Season 5 Episode 12)
When their emotions get to be too much, the group breaks into song due to the side effects of a spell, the couple loses something precious to them, and Santa makes a guest appearance on The Magicians Season 5 Episode 12, “The Balls.”
The penultimate episode before the series finale is hands down amazing as the magicians work together to secure the seed from the couple, but also bond through song. Two people who bonded the most, though, is Alice and Eliot.
The arc that Alice and Eliot have had with one another throughout the series is pretty amazing and goes to show how growing as a person can change you. After and up to Quentin’s death Alice and Eliot didn’t have a healthy relationship, but over the season, they’ve overcome their issues and somewhat become friends.
The number one moment, hands down, from “The Balls” is Alice and Eliot’s duet as she’s planning on leaving because she can’t handle the emotions. Instead of pulling a typical Eliot and trying to talk to Alice while still emotionless, he drinks his feelings again and works with her through song to show her that she’s not alone.
This scene is remarkable in storytelling and in how they both truly feel and is such a sentimental moment because they’ve both been through some tough things, and one thing they can bond over is the loss of Quentin. For now and always, they will have one another there. I can safely say that Alice and Eliot are friends, and there’s no denying it.
When many shows do a musical episode most of the time, the main characters don’t acknowledge the fact that they’re doing the singing, which is why The Magicians pulls it off even better. Instead of making it a passive moment to speed time up and express emotion, the crew singing all together is a plot device used to save the day and defeat the golems, it’s fantastic.
The biggest twist of the episode is how the most feared people on earth are trying to build their own planet so that they can have a child. I mean, c’mon, that’s the big plan? That’s the reason why you have killed so many people when adoption exists? Try again.
I don’t believe that the couple is telling the truth one bit, but at this point, it doesn’t matter because they can’t do anything without the seed, and Fen’s coochie is currently protecting it. Along with that, Margo shot up the panel they had, so they’re severely out of luck.
One thing this episode isn’t lacking is emotion; first, Alice and Eliot getting deep with one another, and now Julia trying to reunite Penny and his mother; feelings everywhere!
I feel for Penny the most because, in the end, he has his mother turn him away once again, and this time it feels like it could be for good. All he ever did was blame himself for making his mother crazy, and it’s something that he’s taken to heart, and now he’s doing the same thing again.
It’s sad that the only thing holding Penny and his mother from being together is his powers, even when they don’t work. Whatever bond travelers have with their mothers, it’s so powerful that it makes the mother go insane because she acquires their abilities and eventually goes mad.
It’s sweet that she can send a photo with Julia of the two of them from when he was a child, showing that she’s kept it and thought of him for a long time, but the way she rejects him, again, is horrendous. Penny watches as his mother is told of a solution to her hearing voices and is explained why it’s happening, only to walk away once again. Penny doesn’t deserve that.
This season has been one wild ride, but I’ve loved every minute of it and hope that in next week’s finale, we finally get to meet Julia’s child.
Until then, it’s time for Santa to save the day.
Other Thoughts:
- Fen putting the seed in her vagina to keep it warm is so crazy and had me scream laughing at my TV.
- I’m not sure if that’s Jade Tailor’s real voice or not, but hot damn am I in love with Kady’s voice.
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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Cade Taylor
Cade Taylor is a television and film critic living in St. Louis, Missouri. He is a Senior Writer for Tell-Tale TV. His love for television developed at a young age, with a concentration on queer stories, sitcoms, teen dramas, and science fiction thrillers. In addition, he works full-time as a news producer, telling the stories of Missourians and helming "Produced in the Bi-State," a segment spotlighting actors, musicians, and entertainers from the St. Louis area. He can be reached by email at cade@telltaletv.com.