Strowlers

Word of trouble at the library gets to the lab, and a few agents are sent to the library to apprehend the magical child. The protective Whit stands up against the agents and is immediately arrested. It’s here we discover the Whit and Amanda are not only roommates, but secret lovers as well. To make matters worse, the two discover they are on far opposite sides of the debate.

Like a good fantasy, a few conflicting ideas are presented. We have a clear line of prejudice drawn between those with and without powers. There’s also a government conducting experiments/torture to suppress these confusing powers. The cure so far is thought to be removing emotions from the victims through a form of shock therapy rendering them almost in a vegetative or as they call it, a more focused state. Let’s also not forget a small group of potential magic rebels hiding in the outskirts, not wanting to get involved…yet.

The best part of Strowlers is episode’s leads Tanesha Ross and Trin Miller as Whit and Amanda, respectively. You get a good sense of their romance and relationship right off the bat, which helps when the two find themselves at odds over the “magic” problem. Whit is the ordinary person, who sees the injustice perpetrated on magical individuals. Amanda has magic, but considers the danger associated with it and chooses to allow technology to keep herself and those around her safe.

“…Amanda has magic, but considers the danger associated with it and chooses to allow technology to keep herself and those around her safe.”

This review is of the pilot episode of what is called the “Strowlerverse,” an altruistic idea of bringing together a community of like-minded storytellers, given a basic set of rules about this “universe,” and creating tales involving magic in the modern urban world. At best, the pilot serves as the first foray into the “Strowlerverse” and a promising start for the next Game of Thrones, Narnia, or Lord of the Rings.