Killer Magic - Episode 2

In the second (third if you count the pilot) episode of Killer Magic, our five magicians had to do tricks themed around "Film".The movie industry owes its popularity to the art of illusion, with the magician George Méliès being one of the most notable pioneers of the medium. The numerous iconic movies made in the years since Méliès picked up a camera provided an infinite number of opportunities for  Ben, Chris, Damien, Dee and Jasz. As usual, they had to provide the most impressive routines they could if they wanted to get the highest possible score and avoid the dreaded "Killer Trick".

(If You Haven't Watched the Show on BBC iPlayer, the Following Will Contain Spoilers)

The Tricks

• Damien started the show with a close-up routine inspired by superhero movies. He performed in front of a volunteer in a cafe, and revealed his three favorite superpowers, doing a trick for each one. He began with the power of controlling the elements, and demonstrated this by setting a scrap of paper on fire, then turning it into a block of ice. He followed this with a trick in which he manipulated metal by bending a signed coin held inside the volunteer's hand. Finally, he proved that he was capable of super speed by making the coin vanish and reappear in a half-empty glass of tea on another table. Whilst the theme of superheros could have inspired a more spectacular routine, Damien provided a competent performance. The other magicians agreed that his routine was solid and gave him a score of 28. 
• Jasz was second to perform, providing a trick inspired by silent movies. She performed with her mouth sealed by duct tape, and provided instructions to her audience by using cue cards. One of the spectators was instructed to choose a card by counting to a random part of the deck. Jasz then made the chosen card vanish, and when she removed the tape from her lips, she revealed that it had been in her mouth the whole time. I've seen this trick before, so I was able to figure out the final reveal early, which diminished my enjoyment of the routine. Nonetheless, I liked the presentation, and Jasz's competitors did as well. She also earned a score of 28.
• For the next performance, Ben invited the Children's TV hosts Sam and Mark to a cinema, where he did a number of small tricks themed around the movie-going experience. He began by making popcorn kernels appear in his cap, then produced a stream of sugar. He poured the kernels and sugar into an empty wheelie bin, then did a close-up illusion in which he restored an empty can of soft drink to its original condition. He finished by triggering an explosion inside the wheelie bin, and revealed that it was now filled to the brim with sweet popcorn. I enjoyed the presentation and liked the final trick, but the other illusions weren't as impressive, and Ben spent a bit too much time on them, The other magicians gave him a score of 27.
• Chris did a routine combining movies and mentalism. He told an audience of film students to write down their favorite films and put their choices in a glass bowl. He then told a couple of his volunteers to stand up, and successfully guessed the movies they had chosen. After doing this, Chris got another audience member to guess his favorite film by answering questions. Her answers matched the ones Chris gave, and he eventually revealed that his chosen movie was the Disney hit Frozen. Chris finished his performance by making a snowstorm appear from his bare hands whilst lip-syncing to the film's most iconic song, "Let It Go". Personally, I didn't think that this was an especially great performance. The opening was good, but I felt that the climax was weak, as Frozen was a predictable choice and the final trick was not that spectacular. However, "Let It Go" is a terrific song, and I enjoyed the miming. Chris received an impressive score of 30. 
• Finally, Dee provided a trick with a horror theme. He opened a box full of scary dolls, each one representing a different monster (Zombies, Voodoo Dolls, etc). He then told his volunteer to choose one of them, and she chose the doll with the image of a Clown on it. Dee then set up a tent, and made a scary clown appear inside it. The set-up was atmospheric, but the trick itself was a little bit cliched. Dee's competitors gave him a score of 27. 

The Forfeit

Chris was the winner, but there was a tie for last place between Ben and Dee, Therefore, Chris got to choose the magician who would have to face the "Killer Trick" and chose Ben. This week, the "Killer Trick" was the Table of Death. Chris tied Ben to a table beneath a column of spikes suspended by a rope. He set the rope on fire, and Ben had to escape before the spikes fell on him. The fire burnt through the rope quicker than expected, and the spikes appeared to hit Ben. However, he then appeared on top of them, completely unharmed. This was a far better "Killer Trick" than last week's, because it relied on a big climax rather than a long wait, and Chris provided a strong presentation, successfully building up suspense and making the final reveal even more impressive.

My Verdict

Although the "Killer Trick" was great, this week's episode was a little disappointing when you consider the vast amount of possibilities the magicians had. I understand the need to focus on smaller-scale magic, as it is usually very hard to figure out and fits both the competing magicians and the show's dark and unconventional tone better than a lavish trick performed on a giant stage. I also believe that the magicians provided good performances and made the theme fit their respective styles, However, I felt that the tricks were a bit boring and not as impressive as the ones we saw last week. Movies rely on spectacle and creativity to stand out, and I believe that the magicians should have provided tricks that were a bit more breathtaking and less traditional if they wanted to utilize the full potential of the theme.