Fate: The Winx Saga (TV series)
Bibliographic Information
Title: Fate: The Winx Saga (Season 1)
Creator: Brian Young
Production Companies: Archery Pictures, Cinesite
Streaming Service: Netflix
Release Date: 2021
Genre/Format
Action/Adventure/Drama/Fantasy - TV Series
Awards or Honors
IMDbPro Top 200 Most Popular TV Titles 2020-2021
Rating
TV- MA for language, smoking, violence (Netflix)
TV Series Length
There are two season total: six episodes in the first season & seven in the second.
Season 1 Summary
Bloom is a fairy who enters the Otherworld to attend a magical boarding school (Althea) after living in the human world her whole life. She meets other fairies in this coming-of-age story and tries to learn how to control her elemental magic. There are threats to the Otherworld, however, and mysteries surrounding the school as well as Bloom’s past. Bloom and her roommates-turned friends must learn what dark secrets are plaguing the school and use their burgeoning magic to defeat the evil forces. All the while dealing with normal teenage drama surrounding friendships, family, and romantic interests. The friends must face monsters - those that are within and those that lurk on the school grounds.
Creator Description
Brian Young is an American TV writer and TV series producer. He also created the Vampire Diaries (2009) and KyleXY (2006) (IMBd, n.d.).
Critical Evaluation
This series is based on an older animated series, which I never saw. The first season was imaginative and allows the viewer to dive into their inner self that wants to attend a school for their magical powers. I enjoyed watching the friendships and magical powers blossom as the girls learned to be vulnerable with each other. I also enjoyed that the teens weren’t perfect, but they took responsibility for their mistakes and learned to work together to solve problems. I thought the acting was good, and I enjoyed the setting.
Creative Use for a Library Program
The library can host an after-hours watch party to watch a few episodes with snacks. Teens can roundtable discuss and draw/write what their own magical powers would be if they had them.
Speed-Round Talk
Bloom enters the Otherworld to attend a school for fairies where she can learn to control her magic, but there are secrets throughout the school and her past. She and her new friends face down monsters that threaten the Otherworld, but will they be able to do it?
Potential Challenge Issues and Defense Preparation
There is some violence, and the some scenes may be frightening for some. There is underage alcohol and drug use. There are some kissing scenes and some sexual innuendo. It’s also a paranormal story about magic. This series may not be for all, but those teens that are interested in fairytales will love it. It shows the girls dealing with arguements in friendships and navigating family issues.
Reason for Inclusion
This series is perfect for teens who finished Harry Potter are are still dreaming of attending a magical school in another world hidden away from the human one. Young, the creator shared in an interview that magical schools are "a fantasy that I think a lot of people have when they're that age, because you're just trying to find somewhere where you don't feel so alone and so different" (Jones, 2020). This show will provide a nice escape for many teens who feel that way.
Bonus Information
There were two novelizations created from the series: The Faires’ Path (2021) and Lighting the Fire (2022).
Additionally, the series plotline picked up where the series ended in a graphic novel that was published in August 2024 from Mad Cave Studios, Fate the Winx Saga: Volume 1: Dark Destiny.
References
Jones, E. (2020, December 10). ‘Boys can be fairies - it’s the 21st century’: How fate: the winx saga finds the reality in fantasy. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/dec/10/boys-can-be-fairies-its-the-21st-century-how-fate-the-winx-saga-finds-the-reality-in-fantasy
IMDb. (n.d.). Brian Young (XXVI). https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3373340/
Young, B. (Creator). (2021, January 22). Fate: The winx saga [TV Series]. Archery Pictures, Cinesite; Netflix.
*Cover Image is property of Netflix; taken from Netflix.
*Book Cover Image is property of Mad Cave Studios; taken from Mad Cave Studios.