The Magicians - S4e13

·1 hr 5 min·5 clips

Chris and Brittany break down Quentin's shocking death and its aftermath in The Magicians season four finale.

In this episode of Geek Between the Lines, hosts Brittany and Chris provide a detailed analysis of The Magicians season four finale, 'No Better to Be Safe Than Sorry.' They begin by recapping the plot: the sister is captured, Julia loses her godhood after Penny makes her human to heal her, Josh is cured from fishdom, and Quentin and Josh meet the Old Gods. The hosts highlight the cooperative magic spell that traps the monster using an incorporate bond, involving hedges and magicians across Earth and Fillory. Quentin, Penny, and Alice then venture into the Mirror World to throw the twins into the Void, but are sabotated by Everett. Quentin uses a minor mending spell to repair the mirror, sacrificing himself and killing Everett in the process. In the afterlife, Penny Forty guides Quentin as he processes his death, questioning whether it was brave or suicidal. The hosts discuss the bonfire scene where characters mourn Quentin by burning mementos, each tied to flashbacks that reveal their relationships. They analyze themes such as depression, with Quentin's struggle highlighted from the series' start, and self-sacrifice versus selfishness. Chris connects Everett's 'mutually assured destruction' mindset to Cold War history, contrasting it with Quentin's compassionate act. The episode also touches on Julia's perspective, including her anger at Penny for deciding her fate and her grief over Quentin's death, which reignites her magic. Other points include Zelda's guilt over the library's actions, Margot and Elliot's arrival in a future Fillory ruled by a dark king, and the significance of the song 'Take On Me' during the mourning scene. The hosts explore character arcs, like Penny Forty's role as a compassionate guide in the afterlife and Alice's last conversation with Quentin about being a team. They conclude with a brief mention of next week's season wrap-up episode.

As heard by us

A compassionate finale review about Quentin's last act, the afterlife, and the systems around him.

The season-four finale of The Magicians gives Brittany and Chris a clear question to work through: what can fantasy do with the end of a character's life?

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want a finale discussion that follows Quentin into the afterlife and lets his ending ask what a life can mean once the story is over.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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