Samantha Hunter

As soon as I saw the title is Netflix's arriving soon I was worried. I grew up with The Winx Club (2004-2009) as a staple of my Saturday mornings, excited for every new episode. The characters were amazing, their personalities so diverse and unique! To say this show fell flat is an understatement. I was severely disappointed in the way this show adapted a beloved childhood memory of mine. I wish this show had either gone in an entirely different direction as the original plot, or had stuck to the script. I would have loved to see everything I grew up with done in live action, put to the real world, brought to life. One of the first things revealed in this series; the faries are wingless... I'm sorry the faries are wingless? Yes, you heard that right. The best part of the show, the transformation/fight scenes are gone. Don't worry we get glowing eyes instead, super! I'm sorry if you couldn't read the sarcasm there. Don't get me wrong I went in with an open mind. But Terra, the cousin of Flora.... Why couldn't we just have Flora!?! And Tecna? Where is my beautiful tech wizard!? Sure maybe they'll come along in later seasons but, the friendship Bloom, Stella, Flora, Musa, Tecna, and later Aisha had is what formed the Winx! Don't get me wrong Terra is sweet but do we really need this trope again? The less popular, sweet, homebody that everyone dumps on until she finally gets a backbone? At least give her a new personality please! Don't get me wrong though the actors and actresses were for the most part well casted if not a little on the nose. Elisha Applebaum as Musa did a beautiful job in her role and I felt like an empath just watching her more emotional scenes. Abigail Cowen as Bloom also did an amazing job! I felt her fear and passion right along with her! I also really enjoyed Eve Best as Farah Dowling, she was a beautiful head mistress. Why they couldn't leave her name as Faragonda I won't even try to understand. And the accents! Was everyone British but Bloom?!? I though Farrah said it was an international school? I didn't see any other international students did you? All in all, if you didn't grow up with the Winx club, maybe you'll like this. I am too biased to get the full effect of what this show was going for, it certainly is not for those who grew up with the show. Another Shadowhunters upset I think. Side note: The name "Fate" and a red-headed girl? "If you had the chance to change your fate, would you?" I'm sorry but that's all I can think of!! XD