Eliot’s Best Quote In The Magicians Defined the Entire Series

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When Syfy started airing the TV show based on Lev Grossman’s books in 2015, it quickly became popular with those who had grown up with Harry Potter. While Harry Potter dealt with some dark themes, The Magicians explored even darker territory. The show followed a group of college students navigating adulthood and still holding onto the magic of their childhoods, and characters like Eliot Waugh, played by Hale Appleman, helped to showcase the struggles faced by their generation.

I’ve always been struck by how The Magicians doesn’t shy away from the darker side of things, even with all the magic and a fantastical world that feels a bit like Narnia. It’s not all fun and games with talking animals! What really gets to me is that every character is deeply marked by tragedy, and that pain actually fuels their magic. There’s a quote from Eliot in season two that really sums it up – it perfectly captures how heavy and complicated magic is in this world.

The Magicians Defined the Nature of Magic Early In Season 1

Episode two, titled “The Source of Magic,” suggests a deep exploration of what magic is, both at Brakebills University and in the wider world. Following the attack by The Beast in the first episode, everyone at Brakebills is tense and worried. Quentin Coldwater fears that a spell he cast with Alice Quinn might have been responsible for letting The Beast in, and if proven true, they could be expelled.

Quentin is devastated by the attack and overwhelmed that he’s in trouble, especially because Brakebills is the only place he feels at home. When older students Eliot and Margo take him to a secluded spot to relax, he confesses what happened with the spell. He’s clearly wracked with guilt, but Eliot dismisses it, explaining that unfortunate events happen at Brakebills every few years. Eliot sums up a central idea of the story by telling Quentin, “Magic doesn’t come from talent, it comes from pain.”

Eliot Waugh’s Pain Awakened His Magical Abilities

From the beginning of The Magicians, Eliot appears incredibly powerful magically, but also emotionally distant. However, it quickly becomes clear that this is just an act, and he’s actually concealing deep pain. It takes a while, but the story eventually reveals that Eliot grew up in a small, prejudiced town where homophobia was rampant.

Eliot developed telekinetic powers at age fourteen, a result of years of being bullied and mistreated. One day, without consciously deciding to, he used his newfound ability to fatally push a tormentor into the path of a bus. He’s carried the guilt of this act ever since, which likely explains the immense power he now possesses.

Eliot always understood the cost of power, but even knowing that, he still suffers the consequences of using magic. He quickly develops strong feelings for Quentin after they meet, and though their connection is hinted at early on, it largely goes unreturned until Season 4. During that season, they share an entire lifetime together as a couple while working to unravel a complex mystery.

Eliot carried a deep sadness stemming from unreturned love. This was made worse by constantly witnessing Quentin’s feelings for Alice, and later, others. He seemed to draw on this constant pain as a source of power for his magic.

Julia’s Story Arc Reinforces Eliot’s Declaration in “The Source of Magic” and Beyond

I’ve been following Quentin’s story for a while now, and it really breaks my heart to see how things played out with his childhood friend, Julia. While Quentin managed to get into Brakebills, Julia was unfortunately rejected. But she’s not one to give up! Instead of letting them wipe her memory, she decided to find her own path, which eventually led her to Pete and this fascinating, but dangerous, group called the Hedge Witches. I remember watching her first trial – it was in this creepy meat locker with a woman named Marina – and honestly, it felt like the beginning of a really dark and painful journey, one that honestly shaped the entire series.

Julia’s storylines often explore difficult and unsettling themes, even driving some viewers away. After ending her relationship with Marina and the Hedge Witches, she gets involved with a different group trying to summon a god. However, this attempt proves to be a deception orchestrated by Reynard the Fox.

Okay, so when Reynard showed up, it was absolutely horrific. He just… killed everyone, and then he did something truly awful to Julia. It completely shattered her, and honestly, it was heartbreaking seeing her later ask Marina to just erase the memory. It was such a traumatic experience, and while it was really difficult to watch, it somehow unlocked something within Julia’s magic. It was the catalyst for her incredible journey, ultimately leading her to become a goddess. It really proved what Eliot had told Quentin all along, and it kept coming back up as a major theme throughout the entire series. It was a pivotal, though deeply disturbing, moment.

Quentin Coldwater’s Childhood Fantasy Was Built Around a Horrific Tragedy

Quentin is immediately captivated by the fantasy world of Fillory and Further, created by Christopher Plover, and this fascination both enriches and complicates his life. He’s lured to Brakebills University by the hope of discovering a lost sixth book in the series, and ultimately learns that the fantasy world he loves is actually real. Plover’s stories weren’t fiction; they were based on true events experienced by the Chatwin children, who found a magical portal to Fillory while playing at their aunt’s home.

As Quentin uncovers more secrets, the truth about Fillory and Christopher Plover becomes increasingly heartbreaking. He eventually discovers that The Beast, the powerful ruler of Fillory, is actually an adult Martin Chatwin, who vanished in the 1930s. This revelation is even more shocking than the hardships Julia faced. Fans then learn that Plover was abusive, and Martin suffered years of abuse before making a deal with the Fillory god, Umber, which trapped him in the magical land as its ruler.

According to Eliot, Martin Chatwin in The Magicians perfectly demonstrates how pain can fuel power. Martin drew his magical strength from the trauma he experienced as a child, ultimately becoming Fillory’s most dangerous creature. Throughout the series, the characters are forced to make increasingly heartbreaking sacrifices to gain the magical ability needed to defeat The Beast.

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2026-01-14 23:09