Why The Magicians' series finale felt so different

Entertainment Weekly

"We have a philosophy in the room every season that if there's a story we're burning to do, we're not going to save it for later, we're going to do it now," co-creator Sera Gamble says of the Season 5 finale that became a series finale. "There was an overwhelming feeling that we should do this very moving piece from The Magician's Land; the World Seed story is that story." Fellow co-creator John McNamara adds: "It's hard enough to say, 'Here's our season ender' or 'Here's our series finale,' but to walk that tight rope was really difficult, and they made it look really easy. I love the fact that it ends on this — for us —unusually optimistic note. I think that should be the first clue that this is the end of the series. If we're being optimistic in the last episode, we're shutting the lights off, locking the door, and going out to a bar. (Laughs)" ALSO: Knowing they were on the bubble, The Magicians writers aimed for a season finale that could work as a series finale.