When I saw Fate: The Winx Saga pop up on Netflix as trending, I was in disbelief. First of all, I had apparently missed the news that a live action adaption was even being created. Second of all, from just the first few minutes, I could tell it was not going to be remotely close to the brightly colored animated fairy show I remembered.
Clearly this take on Winx is catering to an older audience. It’s a predictable supernatural teen drama at it’s core, reminiscent of many CW shows like Smallville, Vampire Diaries, or Riverdale to name a few. There’s a reason all those shows work. You can’t help but be sucked in to the drama. Do all the characters act like they’re sixteen or seventeen year old? Mostly, but does that really matter. Do they think they know more than the authority figures? Yes, what else would spur them to go looking for trouble and move the plot along. Is there some dark sinister conspiracy that is yet to be revealed? Absolutely, which is why you keep watching.
The story just jumps right in to the middle of everything, which is refreshing. The backstories of all the characters are slowly fed to you one by one, making getting to know these characters more entertaining. Even if you’re familiar with the original cartoon, there are plenty of new spins to keep it interesting.
With that in mind, if you are a hardcore Winx fan, remember this is an new adaptation. Things are going to look different and not all characters are going to stay the same. Like most cartoons or comic books that are adapted to live action, the tone is dark. The clothing and backgrounds are all muted, so when there is a bright color, you notice. The trauma the characters are dealing with is real and since it’s set in a world of magic, the monsters are pretty gruesome.
Verdict: Watch it. If you enjoy young adult dramas with supernatural elements then you’ll enjoy it. The look and feel of this show is nothing new. You know exactly what you’re signing up for but the story that unfolds is enough to keep you guessing. It’s an easily binge-able show (I would know, I watched it in an evening). Sure at times the plot is predictable and the girls are a little catty but it’s those moments you don’t see coming that make it worthwhile. Oh and did I mention they do magic?
Watched it already? Let me know what you think in the comments!
