For many, a beloved childhood show was The Winx Club from 2004. This animated series was a hit and revolved around a group of young fairies who harness their powers to defeat an evil enemy.
These animated sparkly teens got a reboot in 2021 with a new live-action Netflix show titled Fate: The Winx Saga. Fans of the original show might have been intrigued to watch the new series seeing as it dramatically swayed from what they remember. This isn't the bright charismatic show from 2004 but it might hold enough drama to keep watching, or conversely, be too different in a way that makes long-time fans skip watching entirely.
Skip: Skippable Moments
Not all shows are perfect when it comes to the storyline. There are bound to be moments that don't hold a viewer's interest and will most likely cause them to hit the fast-forward button a bit. This is true of the new Netflix show. While countless moments are riveting and intriguing, it sometimes falls short of maintaining interest.
Some viewers might find this true during the very first episode when Bloom (Abigail Cowen) first arrives at Alfea. The show however soon picks up and gets interesting as viewers try to uncover the secret behind Bloom's past.
Watch: A Lot Of Progress
The show aired with a total of six episodes in its first season. A lot goes on within those episodes that gets a firm nod of approval. The whole story begins with Bloom discovering she's a supernatural creature, a fairy to be precise, and being invited to Alfea to harness her powers. Thankfully, viewers see a huge shift in her story by the last episode.
There's no waiting around in a vague fog wondering about Bloom's real journey. It also helps that the character herself doesn't allow for it and adamantly looks to uncover her own truth. There's also a lot of storyline development that helps set up the second season.
Skip: Missing Or Changed Characters
Fans of the original show might not have been too fond to learn that certain characters were cut out and or changed. One of the major ones being the character, Terra (Eliot Salt). In the single show, the role of the earth fairy went to another character named Flora. The show does mention her but it's unclear if she will ever make an appearance later on.
There's also another change in the characters that fans will notice right away. The show shifted Musa's (Elisha Applebaum) powers to more accurately fit the storyline. Instead of being a music fairy, she's an empath and a mind fairy. Fans will also notice another original character missing, Tecna, the Fairy of Technology.
Watch: Darker Outlook On Original Story
The Netflix show took its own spin on the animated version, especially when it came to the characters' stories. In the original show, it often helped teach young audiences valuable lessons while still being airy and uplifting. The 2021 show did a 180 and made their stories more emotional and dark.
Bloom in the 2021 show learns of her powers after almost setting her home on fire putting her parents in danger. She then learns the brutal reality of what happened to the place she was was supposedly born. Stella (Hannah van der Westhuysen) goes through heavy emotional trauma due to past experiences and is emotionally ridiculed by her royal family.
Skip: Tries Hard To Be Relatable
Seeing as the show is geared to an older audience, it made some choices in storyline and characteristics to try and be relatable. Some fans might find it annoying at times and unnecessary. One being Bloom's overall attitude from the moment she arrives at Alfea.
Bloom comes off as being a bit shut off, a loner, and can be demanding that plays into her story of not knowing who she really is. There are also emotional moments like Stella's popular girl and guarded attitude that in reality hides a broken character. Some might even roll their eyes at Riven's (Freddie Thorp), "I'm a bad boy and don't want anyone to understand me," demeanor.
Watch: Not Sparkly Whimsical
The fact that the show isn't whimsical, sparkly, or bright as the original 2004 show is what makes it enjoyable to watch. To be fair, it would be highly unrealistic in this type of show. Fans would recall how the fairies would transform into bright ensembles when facing an enemy.
This doesn't occur and the only transformation audiences will see is Bloom's. It's slightly more believable than the animated versions and way more badass to watch. Don't worry, the show holds on to certain magical and fairylike elements like potions, herbology, magic use, and old relics.
Skip: Poor Character Development
This ties into the show trying hard to be relatable. When first being introduced to the characters, fans might dislike a few of them and find them a bit of a nuisance. This is because the show tried to make them seem like angsty teens with a lot of baggage.
But this sadly led to some poor character development like being annoyed at Bloom's attitude or Riven's hot head character. There's also Terra's inability to really connect with her suitemates due to being sheltered. Fans will also come to feel standoffish towards Aisha (Precious Mustapha) who one minute is a good friend but also slightly selfish. There's a lack of depth and development which works against the show.
Watch: Graphics
When it comes to a fantasy/supernatural show, good graphics are a must. The Netflix show has quite an array of impressive graphics that helped bring the story to life. For example, the flashback scene of how Bloom almost killed her parents is impressive, or even daily school life where the characters learn to harness their powers.
The same graphics also applied to the central villains in the sow. The Burned Ones. Heinous creatures that are charred all over and almost represent zombie-like monsters. The best use of graphics came when Bloom gives in to her immense powers and embraces her fiery side. It's a must-watch moment.
Skip: It's Typical Teen Fantasy
There are a couple of reasons to watch this show. One being if you were an original fan or like the genre as a guilty pleasure. In reality, the show is simply another teen drama. It follows many cliches that are often seen in this type of show: the angsty main character who must find her destiny, the growing relationship and bond between the suitemates, the devil-may-care bad boy.
These typical teen fantasy elements make it missable.
Watch Or Skip: More Mature Themes
One way the show changed drastically from the original was the inclusion of stories aimed less towards children. Again, this is due to Netflix trying to appeal to an older audience with more mature themes and storylines. There's a harder feel to the show and more sexuality, language, and other things that may or may not appeal to a viewer.
While some may not enjoy these changes, they certainly fit the new setting the show creates.