The "Fate: The Wings Saga" is a Netflix live-action adaptation of Nickelodeon's Winx Club. The first season was released on January 22nd, 2021 with a total of 6 episodes. Season 2 is expected to start production later in 2021, with an anticipated release in 2022.
I am one of the many who grew up watching Winx Club, fascinated by the magical world of Alfea and absolutely in love with our beloved fairies. The Princess of Solaria is by far my favorite -and not just because we share the same name. I bet you can imagine my anticipation and thrill for the live adaptation of one of my favorite childhood series!
About:
Fairies attend a magical boarding school in the Otherworld, where they must learn to master their magical powers while navigating love, rivalries and the monsters that threaten their very existence.
Season Rating: 3/5stars
Overview:
The series begins with the first day of the new school year in Alfea and we get our first look at the characters and the school.
The live-action has an entirely new plot which was a breath of fresh air for the story and did a nice job at transporting it to 2020. The producers also gave it a darker twist, making it -seemingly- the perfect teenage drama.
To give you the best possible review, I have to address the series from two different POVs, one being a fan since my childhood and one viewing it completely separate from the original.
So, let's get into it!
As someone who never missed an episode of the Nickelodeon series, I was deeply disappointed. The character dynamics were completely shattered and replaced in the most strange of ways and the characters themselves were developed in the opposite direction. It was strange watching characters I adored, like Leyla/Aisha and Queen Luna, being turned into their exact opposites. I especially disliked how some genuinely good characters were turned into evil, despicable beings. That was not only unexpected but, in most cases, completely infuriating! (examples available in the spoiler-ly part of the article)
Now, as a completely new viewer, I do believe you will somewhat enjoy this series. The characters have strong personalities and are determined to pursue their own desires and goals. I think, without the knowledge of the masterpiece that was the original, you will find the plot rather appealing and enjoy the drama and suspense.
* The Good *
There was a certain disappointment around the fandom when the fairies' wings seemed to be missing from the series, as did their transformations. What many have missed is the brief dialogue Bloom had with Alfea's Headmistress, Farah, on the matter. There is a line, shown both in the trailer and the aired episodes, that indicates wings were a thing sometime in Alfea's history.
"Fairies had wings in the past, but as we evolved, that kind of transformation magic has been lost."
There is so much potential and foreshadowing in that sentence alone! I do believe we will get to see a full transformation and the wings of all at some point, given the series will get renewed beyond season 2. We have many things to discover in this new world, whether we are long-time fans and completely new, and that is one of the aces under the production's sleeve.
To that adds the introduction of the Burned Ones, corpses risen from the dead and ordered to destroy anyone in their path. We don't know what they want, who resurrected them, why they are here. All we know: they will find you, and they will kill you.
But, are they mindless monsters, or there is a tragic story hidden underneath the scorched flesh?
My favorite thing in this series was none other than Beatrix. Cunning, ruthless, and by far the most well-developed character in the series.
Beatrix -who is basically Darcy from the original- is the one setting the entire plot into motion and the one dragging Bloom into it. She was sent to discover a truth hidden within Alfea and by doing so, to bring calamity. Of course, once you hear her side of the story, you understand both her motives and beliefs.
The only question remaining is: when will we get to see the rest of the Trix?
* The Bad *
The thing is, no matter in which category you fall into, there are 2 major issues with the series.
The first one is, of course, the whitewashing of two favorite characters. I'm referring to Musa, who was Asian and Flora, who was Latinx.
I really enjoyed both of the actresses ' performances but that doesn't change the fact the production failed to properly cast these two characters -as if an Asian and a Latina actress are rare in Hollywood. There is no valid excuse for this, no matter how hard they tried to cover it up.
Now, changing the name of the character from Flora to Terra doesn't really do the trick now, does it?
! Disclaimer: no hate towards the actresses intended. I honestly enjoyed them both and I think they did wonders with what was given to them. !
Then, we have a quite controversial subject, the -wannabe- representation of bisexuality. Now, before pitchforks come at me from all fangirls, let me explain, okay?
The problem with Riven and Dane is not that they have a crush on the same girl, nor that they share the same cigarette, nor that they share -as per my beliefs- the same bed on occasions.
The problem lies in Rive's entire approach to the matter.
As a bisexual woman myself, the idea of bullying someone for who they are in order to help them 'not being lame', well, it's ridiculous. In fact, that entire sentence makes no sense. Beatrix even describes it as intentional bullying with good intent, and I think that alone shows how wrong this is.
Intent holds zero value when is expressed through any form of bullying. That's just it.
Here, I feel like I have to mention that Dane never called Riven out about it and -except for their first encounter- never seemed to actually take seriously Riven's words. In fact, he gave me the impression he perceived those words as teasings, which opens up a whole new topic of why this is problematic.
Let's sum it up!
Whether you have seen the original or not, I think you should give the series a chance. The major problems have been addressed by both the actors and the fans, and we all hope the production will find a way to fix them. I also hope you will love the characters -well, most of them- and want to continue in their story.
If you still find it difficult to watch, try to view it as an AU story of the original. I did try that and I must say, it worked.
Have you watched the first season? Do you have any thoughts on it? Join the forum conversation here!
! SPOILERS AHEAD YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED !
Let's get to the juicy part now!
Can we please talk about him?
Riven was one of my least favorite from the original, his anger and trust issues were all over the place and the way he treated Musa was -for the most part- horrible. So, why do I find this Riven attractive?
I am not going to mention the obvious, yes the actor is good-looking and bless the casting director for their choices.
What I liked was the way he interacted with the rest of the cast and the way he carried himself. In the animated series, Riven was a drama queen, the classic bad boy with a tormented past who is constantly broody and makes all the wrong choices. Here, we do get the impression he is quite messed up but he likes to joke around and party, isn't afraid to voice his opinion and turns his weaknesses to his advantage.
And then we have this.
We know this couple is toxic. We know it won't end well. We ship it anyways. I think is evident that Beatrix never intended to be emotionally involved with him, as I think it's clear they both care for each other. That only adds to their couple dynamic and to the viewers' wild imagination.
Sky is one of those characters that was completely re-written and I honestly can't decide whether I like him or not.
I won't say a thing about him and Stella because...no. But his relationship with Bloom was well developed for the screen time given to them.
I also loved his relationship with Silva. The man raised Sky as his own, became his father figure and, even after Sky learned the truth, he still loves him deeply.
Speaking of parents, here comes Queen Luna, a lovely mother with the power of the Moon... Oh, wait, wait, that was the animation.
Let's try again.
Here comes Queen Luna, a ruthless dictator, powerful light fairy and a terrible mother. I don't know whose idea this was but i got me ragging over my screen.
For those of you new to the fandom, Queen Luna was a lovable character, supportive of her daughter and caring. Also, she was the embodiment of the moon and the stars, just like Stella's father, King Radius, was the embodiment of the sun. What we see here is two characters merged into one and the monster that came from within.
I don't have to get into a lengthy explanation on why this woman is terrible. I just want to remind you she convinced her daughter it was better to be feared than admit to having lost control, leading everyone to believe Stella blinded her best friend out of spite.
So yes, cruel, ruthless and emotionally abusive. Perfect...
Now, don't get me wrong. I did say I tried to watch this having in mind it was an AU, that why I was able to enjoy most of it. Queen Luna, however, truly tested my limits.
I'm sure you all have so much to say on this, so feel free o join the Forum and let's break it down!
Thank you for reading!
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