The Magicians ended its first season in the same bold, exciting way it began it. Bringing all its characters together in Fillory, the Syfy series provided twist after twist to show that fantasy is much more terrifying when it comes to life.

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This show has always hinged around Quentin's continued obsession with magic through the Fillory and Further books, so it makes sense that the finale would be framed in the device of him writing "Book 7." Indulging in the same tropes he (and likely showrunners Sera Gamble and John McNamara) hate, he told his story out of order as he, Julia, Alice, Penny, Eliot, Margo and Eliot (and Josh) built up toward their confrontation with the Beast.There were a lot of huge reveals in this episode as it set up a surprising way that the show will move ahead. (Many of these twists were taken straight out of Lev Grossman's novel.) The Beast is actually Martin Chatwin. Our Lady Underground was actually Reynard the Fox, the trickster god, who killed all of the Free Traders (with the exception of Kady) and raped Julia.The rape was a pretty hard knock for a character who has already been through so many terrible things, but it was a really surprising set up for Julia's character. It's clear that the power Reynard's seed infused her with is what's pushing her forward, and her pact with the Beast -- and with Marina, for that matter -- set Julia up to be one of the most complex characters on the show in Season 2. Also, The Magicians continues to be very sensitive to the big issues it's tackling by once again having the national sexual assault hotline number at the end of the episode. Bravo again, Syfy.It was a nice, humbling moment for Quentin to realize that he is not meant to be the hero of this story, by giving Alice the right to carry the knife and kill the Beast. Of course, the episode ends with everyone in a horrible state: the Beast and Julia are gone, Penny's hands have been severed so they're stranded in Fillory and Eliot, Margo and Alice are seemingly dead. What's anyone left to do except turn to the gods for help, maybe?I'd been previously spoiled about the Martin Chatwin-is-the-Beast reveal, so I'm a bit biased about how that moment hit. Overall, I thought it was a bit telegraphed (again, could be completely biased) and didn't pack as big a punch as it could have. It was nice to have Jane Chatwin back as the Watcherwoman, and hopefully there are some ways to integrate her back into the story going forward.Now that The Magicians has its characters (seemingly) stuck in Fillory, I'm most excited for the show to expand that part of the world going forward in Season 2. I want to know more about Ember and Umber. I want to understand the various gods and Martin Chatwin and what the Beast is planning to do. Even back in the regular world, I want to know what Julia's deal with Marina is and whether her stopping the Beast from killing Quentin actually did anything. That's a great, exciting place to be in as an audience member, especially with a finale as satisfying as this one.