The plot of The Magicians centers on a magical land called Fillory, and one intriguing theory about the SyFy show completely changes every scene that takes place there. The Magicians opens with 17-year-old Quentin Coldwater discovering that magic is real after years of reading books about a place called Fillory. Fillory functions like Narnia in The Magicians, and it winds up being a real place that Quentin and his friends uncover while at Brakebills University for Magical Pedagogy. The Magicians’ characters eventually come to rule Fillory, and many of them grow significantly during their time there.
The Magicians’ students also act somewhat out of character when they first discover Fillory, which might be expected given how exciting its existence is to them. Quentin and his friends grew up reading the Fillory and Further books, and their reactions to their setting being real are understandable. However, one Magicians theory posits a more interesting explanation for their behavior. Season 1 subtly teases the possibility that their actions are impacted by an external factor, though it never confirms whether that’s the case.
In The Magicians season 1 finale, Quentin explains that the air in Fillory differs from that of the “real world.” According to the SyFy series, the air in Fillory consists of 0.02% opium. Opium is a narcotic, which means that it elevates positive feelings and diminishes feelings of pain. Although 0.02% may not sound like a lot, it’s likely having this level of opium in the air would have an impact over time. It would also be a significant adjustment for anyone coming from outside Fillory, as Quentin and his companions do.
Quentin’s revelation during the finale doesn’t really come up again, with this subtle bit of world-building playing a minimal role in The Magicians’ overarching story. In fact, viewers could even speed past this line or forget about it altogether. But one Reddit theory suggests that the opium in Fillory’s air has more of an impact on the characters than it initially seems. It could even be responsible for their behavior upon entering the magical world.
When the Brakebills students first reach Fillory in The Magicians, they act more excited and upbeat than they normally are — and this could very well be an effect of the opium in the air. As the Reddit theory positing this states, the characters seem to take on a dreamlike state while exploring Fillory. Even Alice, who is fairly serious throughout the SyFy series, airily comments on how pretty the king’s horses are. The characters’ wonder could be attributed to Fillory itself. However, their reactions to this new world are in line with how people act under the influence of opium.
These character changes are pronounced when first reaching Fillory, but the new setting seems to bring out the best in the Brakebills students over time as well. They seem more at ease while in the other world, letting go of their anxious, serious sides and becoming a bit looser. This is especially true of Eliot, who seems perpetually on edge while at Brakebills. There’s a noticeable difference when he arrives in Fillory, and he becomes more lax and confident as he spends time there. The others have similar responses, which makes sense given the opium.
The characters in The Magicians change soon after their arrival in another world, but Fillory also makes them stronger as they spend more time there. This could be partly because of the opium in the air, but it likely goes beyond that. Brakebills’ students have life-changing experiences while they’re in Fillory, and they also take on hefty responsibilities while they’re there. It’s enough to make anyone grow as a person, and each character is significantly different by the final season of The Magicians.
Eliot becomes more of a leader during his time in Fillory, which adequately prepares him for his return to Brakebills in the series finale. Margo also becomes an impressive leader while she’s in Fillory, and she grows well beyond her mean-girl persona from her early days on the show. And Quentin, of course, sacrifices himself in The Magicians season 4, showing selflessness that wasn’t always present at the beginning of the show. While the characters are still flawed throughout the SyFy series, Fillory helps most of them improve. That’s part of what makes The Magicians such a compelling story.
Source: Reddit