by Helen Langdon
The first season of Wizards vs Aliens had six stories (12 episodes). The second went a bit bigger, with seven stories (14 episodes). This third season kept it short and tight, with just five stories and ten episodes. But the length wasn’t all that changed. While the previous two seasons were jointly overseen by co-creators Russell T Davies and Phil Ford, Ford was flying solo on season three. This meant a move away from monster-of-the-week style adventures, and towards a more coherent season-long narrative, as the Lady Lyzera plotted to ransack the Neverside and Tom battled to come to terms with his magic again.
The first season of Wizards vs Aliens had six stories (12 episodes). The second went a bit bigger, with seven stories (14 episodes). This third season kept it short and tight, with just five stories and ten episodes. But the length wasn’t all that changed. While the previous two seasons were jointly overseen by co-creators Russell T Davies and Phil Ford, Ford was flying solo on season three. This meant a move away from monster-of-the-week style adventures, and towards a more coherent season-long narrative, as the Lady Lyzera plotted to ransack the Neverside and Tom battled to come to terms with his magic again.
So, how well did the season finale work? Pretty well. As Lyzera released the evil Warlock from his imprisonment (by returning his hand and giving him a “helping hand” – best pun of the season), Randal Moon abandoned his post in the Chamber of Crowe to attempt to stop him. It’s down to Tom and new tagalong Jazz to try and save the world. Again. Getting to see the origins of the Line of Twilight, and some of the Neverside Wars, was a great touch, expanding the Wizards vs Aliens universe.
We also finally got to see the legendary Caractacus Crowe. He’s been a major presence in this season, even more than usual (what with Old Bethesa’s vendetta against him, and his creation of the Line of Twilight), and here it all became clear as he told Tom that he'd inherited all of Crowe's power, and it’s implied that the “three spells a day” rule no longer applies to him. It’s been a great journey for Tom, these past three seasons. The Tom of the very first episode, using magic to score a goal, could never have handled absorbing the magic of so many wizards. He needed to grow and learn how to combine magic with science, as well as compassion, before he was ready to become the defender of the Earth he now is.
Up until this episode, the season had been building Warlock up to be the major villain, but when he arrived, it was a bit of a disappointment. All he really did was pose and pontificate (and injure Michael a little bit – he didn’t even kill Ursula, which is really easy). But maybe that’s actually better, because this isn’t Wizards vs Warlocks and Other Evil Creatures of the Neverside. Varg and Lyzera are far more interesting. It’s all about Varg’s instinctive mistrust of magic mixing with his lust for it, and the new ways in which Lyzera can help attack the wizards. If Tom and Benny’s best weapons were the combination of magic and science, what’s going to happen now that the Nekross can do the same thing? Basically, it’s great that the Nekross weren’t entirely defeated again. Let’s see them try to track down Lexi on Earth (if they can tempt Gwendoline Christie away from Game of Thrones for a bit, obviously).
Up until this episode, the season had been building Warlock up to be the major villain, but when he arrived, it was a bit of a disappointment. All he really did was pose and pontificate (and injure Michael a little bit – he didn’t even kill Ursula, which is really easy). But maybe that’s actually better, because this isn’t Wizards vs Warlocks and Other Evil Creatures of the Neverside. Varg and Lyzera are far more interesting. It’s all about Varg’s instinctive mistrust of magic mixing with his lust for it, and the new ways in which Lyzera can help attack the wizards. If Tom and Benny’s best weapons were the combination of magic and science, what’s going to happen now that the Nekross can do the same thing? Basically, it’s great that the Nekross weren’t entirely defeated again. Let’s see them try to track down Lexi on Earth (if they can tempt Gwendoline Christie away from Game of Thrones for a bit, obviously).
Although the season has been all about Tom learning to accept his power, no one can do everything on their own, and since the departure of co-lead Benny, the show’s been missing the banter and interplay of having two characters on the same side. And that’s where new character Jazz came in. As a better football player than Tom, flirtatious and wisecracking, it feels like she’s meant to fill that “Unenchanted friend” role. But a season finale, jam-packed full of action? It’s not the best way to introduce a character. There’s no reason to care about her when all we know about her is that she’s athletic and has a talent for saying awkward things to villains at moments of high tension. Hopefully Jazz gets developed more in the next season.
That’s supposing that Wizards vs Aliens gets a fourth season. There’s been no announcement yet from CBBC as to whether or not it's going to be renewed, but on the strength of this, it should be. There are lots of stories still for the Wizards, Aliens and Unenchanteds to tell. It's the channel's fun fantasy show which isn't afraid to occasionally go into dark and scary territory, and the actors are incredible. More Wizards vs Aliens next year, please.
That’s supposing that Wizards vs Aliens gets a fourth season. There’s been no announcement yet from CBBC as to whether or not it's going to be renewed, but on the strength of this, it should be. There are lots of stories still for the Wizards, Aliens and Unenchanteds to tell. It's the channel's fun fantasy show which isn't afraid to occasionally go into dark and scary territory, and the actors are incredible. More Wizards vs Aliens next year, please.
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