Tag: Alfea

Fate: The Winx Saga Season 2 – Yay or Nay?

by Deidra Kathleen

For those who did not read my review of the first season of Fate: The Winx Saga – suffice it to say that it left me wanting more. As someone who excitedly woke up Saturday mornings to watch the cartoon that inspired this series, the first season was undoubtedly a slight metaphorical twisting of a knife to my nostalgic fangirl heart.

Yet I found comfort in the change of format from season one to season two. Season two was transformed into a more ensemble-esque tale – for the better. I think it incredibly smart of the storytellers to have leaned into that format. The supporting characters were my favorite part of the first season and the animated show definitely made use of the other characters a lot more as well. My only disappointment lays in the depiction of Terra and perhaps how many times Bloom says, “Dragon flame.” We get it.

In regards to Terra – to put it bluntly, just because she is plus-sized and her powers are earth-related does not automatically mean her costume design must be homely. It is bad enough that there seems to be a rule in most TV shows that there only need be one plus size person in each ensemble – i.e. Criminal Minds, Gilmore Girls, Seinfeld, Lost, The Nanny, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, The Bold Type…etc. And there are many more shows without any plus-sized main cast members or regulars at all: Friends, Bones, Gossip Girl, Angel, NCIS…etc.

So for the second season of Fate: The Winx Saga to have the only plus-sized person have the homeliest costuming is frankly nothing short of disappointing and a bit cringey. The entire rest of the cast – including that of Flora, who mind you also has an earth-based power – get to wear fashionable costuming that still fits their character. No, not everyone need have fitted fashionable attire – but I do not think it a coincidence that Terra happens to be the only plus-sized actress in the main cast and is given the homeliest costuming.

Look, I am so incredibly ecstatic about the formatting changes Fate: The Winx Saga has done into making it a more shared inclusive show – but there is work to be done still. We can do better – show-wise and industry-wise. Putting a plus-sized actor or actress in non-form-fitting clothing is as inventive as putting a redhead in green clothing. It’s just more than a bit overdone.

**Featured image: All rights reserved to Netflix.

Fate: The Winx Saga – Worth the Watch?

by Deidra Kathleen

Growing up, there were a few years or more where my family could not afford cable – so Saturday mornings were an event – especially for my brother and I, the designated geeks of the family. Though one cartoon in particular was definitely more my own thing – The Winx Club.

Fairly recently, Netflix unleashed their live-action recreation of one of my favorite Saturday morning cartoons, Fate: The Winx Saga. And amongst an insanely talented co-star ensemble is Abigail Cowen playing the fairy equivalent of Beyoncé in that of protagonist, Bloom ­– an incredibly powerful fire fairy.

As a whole, this series felt a bit rushed – especially certain performances and plot points earlier on. The last couple to a few episodes felt a bit better directorially, but maybe because there was a lot less establishing to be done by halfway through the first season of the magical live-action series.

Overall my favorite performances came from co-stars, Eliot Salt (Terra), Precious Mustapha (Aisha), Elisha Applebaum (Musa), and Hannah van der Westhuysen (Stella). I really enjoyed how much in particular Applebaum was able to say without even saying a thing at times. And Eliot Salt is a gem – humanizing the stereotypically sole plus-sized character into someone who deals with bullying with multiple coping mechanisms of which you can see all over her face the internal battle. Aisha is the Spock of this series – with much better hair – trying to get Bloom to have some sort of sense as they all go down their journeys of self-discovery. Stella reminds me so much of the fairy version of Ivy from SMASH. I would go on, but alas, spoilers. I will leave you with this vague complimentary statement, Van der Westhuysen is a force to be reckoned with. And Eve Best as Farah Dowling – the school headmistress – is spot on casting.

One thing I am tremendously appreciative of is that I can truly feel each co-star’s sense of being. No one in the main cast feels like that of a living embodiment of set decoration – which can be a task in itself with a fairly large ensemble.

Altogether, with how rushed protagonist performances and plot points felt at times – I am not certain I would purposely watch this series if not for my own nostalgia and that of the superb co-star cast.

**Featured image: All rights reserved to Netflix.