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After five seasons, “The Magicians” are getting one last chance to save the world. Last month, Syfy announced the series, based on Lev Grossman’s book trilogy that follows a group of college students at a school for magic, would not be renewed for another season. Following the tragic death of their friend Quentin Coldwater, Season …
After five seasons, “The Magicians” are getting one last chance to save the world.
Last month, Syfy announced the series, based on Lev Grossman’s book trilogy that follows a group of college students at a school for magic, would not be renewed for another season. Following the tragic death of their friend Quentin Coldwater, Season 5 follows the group of friends as they process their grief and continue to stop the world from imploding.
In an email interview with executive producers, John McNamara, Sera Gamble and Henry Alonso Myers, the trio tells Page Six about ending the series.
Describe how it felt to say goodbye to this show after five seasons?
Gamble: It’s been a pretty close to perfect job. I’ve gotten to work with some of [my] favorite people, telling a story we love and building beautiful monsters out of our imaginations. So saying goodbye is a bummer. But also, it’s no small thing to have a project you love fill up your life for six whole years. Mostly I’m grateful.
McNamara: Sad, mostly. Because it was such a mostly-ideal creative venture with so many wonderful collaborators, all working for an audience that was deeply engaged. I’m old enough to know these experiences are few and far between.
Myers: A weird mix of sadness and gratitude. So … saditude, I guess? Five years is a rarity in this business. Five happy years is an impossibility. I’m incredibly thankful for having found this home and this strange little family with whom we could all share our mutual weirdness.
When you wrapped the season, did you already know at the time it would be the end?
Gamble: Yes. Our final playback, where you watch the episode on a big screen to review the sound effects and score and such, was a sort of sad, whimsical party with champagne and a broken-moon cake. The following week, the city of Los Angeles sent people home due to the pandemic. We were all already diligently social distancing, but I got all emotional and ended up giving John a hug, which I felt super guilty about since I’d been trying so hard to stay several feet away from people. He’s the last person I actually physically touched who isn’t my husband who is self-isolating with me. Luckily, neither of us have fallen ill in the weeks since so now I can just say I’m glad I got to hug him at the final playback.
What will you miss most about the show and the cast?
McNamara: I’ll miss the fact that from day one, we were all committed to telling the same story in the same way. That sounds simple. And it is. Which is odd, because it’s also rare. Writing to an actor’s versatilities and strengths is a joy that is hard to describe. And when you have an entire ensemble as talented and professional and just plain game as ours, it’s pretty close to pure joy. Also — every single cast member could sing. Who knew?
Myers: I woke up every day excited about going to work, about the stories we were telling, about the incredible voices and talents of my many collaborators. I’m going to miss that the most of all. Also, we did cookouts every Friday which were terrific. Gonna miss those a lot.
If you could give any character a spin-off of their own show, who would you pick and why?
Gamble: I have a lot of answers for this, but right now, while stress and anxiety is so high and so many people around the world are sheltering in place, I think we could all use a magical cooking show from Josh Hoberman.
McNamara: I’d like to see Fen on QVC, selling Fillorian blades. Also I’d like to see Ember and Umber host a Sunday Megachurch show, which ends with them butting heads. Literally. Oh. And a MasterClass, taught by Dean Fogg: “How To Drink All Day AND Be Reasonably Proficient At Your Job.”
Myers: I would have liked to do a flipped-over version of the show where we see all the same stories, only from Todd’s point of view, where we learn about his secret life. Also: I agree with Sera about the Josh cooking show, although I would probably focus it just on baking.
The series finale of “The Magicians” airs Wednesday night on Syfy.
