Warning! This article contains spoilers for The Magicians!Adapted from Lev Grossman’s hit fantasy book series of the same name,The Magiciansran for five seasons on Syfy and has only become more popular since being added to streaming services. An edgier and more adult take on the fantasy genre,The Magicianspoked fun at many of the tropes and pitfalls of iconic franchises likeHarry PotterandThe Chronicles of Narnia. However, this doesn’t mean thatThe Magicianswas afraid to get dark and emotional, asThe Magiciansseason 4 holds one of the most heartbreaking moments of television.
Following the lives and adventures of a group of magicians attending Brakebills University, the show became more of an ensemble drama as it progressed, but Quentin Coldwater was the protagonist from the start. Played by Jason Ralph,Quentin was a shy and imperfect character, but he was a relatable and nuanced addition to the seriesand the emotional heart of the group.The MagiciansTV show surpasses the booksin some ways, but the divisive ending of Quentin’s arc has been a source of controversy for many years, as it left the characters and audiences shocked and saddened.
Quentin’s Death In The Magicians Season 4 Finale Is One Of The Saddest Fantasy TV Scenes
Quentin passes on in The Magicians season 4, episode 13, “No Better To Be Safe Than Sorry”
It was clear from the start ofThe Magiciansseason 4 that this installment was going to be differentfrom the rest of the show. The original book series was a trilogy, so the writers and creators ofThe Magicianswere charting new territory with the events of season 4. This culminates in the shocking choice for Quentin to die while saving his friends in the season 4 finale. Many audience members are still wonderingwhyThe Magicianskilled off Quentin in season 4since there was still so much left to explore in his story.
The Magiciansgave Quentin’s death the proper weight, showing the grieving process of his friends and giving him a final scene to unpack his impact on the world before moving on to the next life.
However,The Magiciansgave Quentin’s death the proper weight, showing the grieving process of his friends and giving him a final scene to unpack his impact on the world before moving on to the next life. Additionally, Quentin’s death and absence are a huge part ofThe Magiciansseason 5, as none of the other characters can forget him and struggle to find healthy ways to heal from their loss. In the final moments ofThe Magiciansseason 4, there’s no question that the show is well aware of the impact this choice was going to have on dedicated viewers.
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Why The Magicians' Saddest Moment Divided The Show’s Fan Base
Without Quentin, The Magicians became a different show
The Magicianswas known for its great LGBTQ+ representation, and the relationship between Quentin and Eliot (Hale Appleman) is a large part of this. One of the reasons audiences were so disappointed about Quentin’s death was because Eliot had been possessed for almost all of season 4, meaning he and Quentin never got to say goodbye or fully explore their relationship in this timeline.It was difficult to grapple with the fact that neither Quentin nor Eliot would get their happy ending,as killing off LGBTQ+ characters is a frequently-used and upsetting trope.
The Magicians' Highest-Rated Episode Confirms The Best Part Of The Show
Though there are many great episodes of The Magicians, the highest-rated of the series shows what audiences care about in the plot and stories.
Additionally, Quentin was very open about his struggles with depression, and the way his death is framed inThe Magiciansraised concerns about what the series was saying about his mental health. It would have been gratifying to see Quentin get the happily-ever-after he deserved after feeling out of place and uncertain for so many years. Though it ended on a sad note, ofall the seasons ofThe Magicians, season 4 is frequently cited as one of the best. Quentin had many great moments inThe Magiciansbefore he left the series forever.
The Magicians
Cast
The Magicians follows a group of young adults who enroll at Brakebills University, a secretive institution devoted to teaching magic. As they engage in an unconventional education in spellcasting, they realize that a childhood fantasy world is indeed real and presents a significant threat to humanity.
