Winx Club: The Magic Is Back Season One Part One Review

What happens when a seemingly ordinary teenager discovers a world of magic? One that would later change their fate forever.

This concept has become a staple in a great many stories over the past few decades across different mediums. From fantasy hallmarks like Harry Potter, to heartfelt series like Ojamajo Doremi, to more modern takes on classics like Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

The creation of the intersection of fantasy meets slice-of-life and coming-of-age stories is in no short supply.

Each rendition of this conception brings about something unique and charming to its fans, as these are dearly cherished stories.

And that includes the classic hit series from the 2000s, Winx Club.

Created by Iginio Straffi and his company, Rainbow, Winx Club first debuted in its home country of Italy on January 28th, 2004, before subsequently releasing across the globe throughout that year.

The story follows Bloom after a chance encounter discovers she is a fairy and enrolls at Alfea, the college for fairies in the realm of Magix. Together with her new roommates, Stella, Flora, Musa, Tecna, and later Aisha, they form the Winx Club. As a group, they face off against the Trix and other notable villains who seek Bloom’s power.

Along Bloom’s journey of self-discovery, she and her friends face the ups and downs of growing up, with their own friendships, relationships, and aspirations as they continue to grow their powers and save the entire universe.

The first three seasons and first film, Secret of the Lost Kingdom, follow the core story arc centered around Bloom, her past, present, and fate.

Though the first film was set to cap off the series, due to overwhelming popularity, Rainbow continued the Winx franchise. The Winx returned for a fourth season and additional film before Rainbow began a partnership with Viacom. Together, the two companies developed three additional seasons along with another feature film. Winx would later go on to release an eighth season into the catalog that served as a soft reboot to the series before taking a hiatus from the main Winx stories after completion of the season in 2019.

In addition to having a huge catalog of content, Rainbow has also developed two spin-off series for fans of the Winx world to enjoy: PopPixie and WOW (World of Winx). During Winx’s animated hiatus, Rainbow collaborated with global streamer Netflix to develop a live-action series, Fate: The Winx Saga. This live-action entry retold Bloom’s story by taking a more young-adult edge to the story fans have become acquainted with.

The second and final season of Fate: The Winx Saga were released in September 2022.

Despite there being several accounts of year-long gaps between content, fans of this global hit continue to carry the magic of Winx in their hearts with their own creative endeavors, remaining both hopeful and excited for when Rainbow will deliver more Winx stories.

And now, at long last, they have.

Following several years of development, a new Winx story has now flown on our screens. But this time, rather than a new adventure for the six Winx fairies, we began again—right where the story began.

Winx Club: The Magic Is Back, this time with a new reboot to refresh the story and introduce new fans across the globe to this legacy magical girl tale. And it’s now streaming on Netflix.

Reboots are a very interesting conception for any story. But what makes it all the more unique for Winx is the fans. Over the many decades, fans of Winx Club have been known to put their creativity forward to make their own creations, including stories where they themselves retell the story of Bloom in various lights.

With so many interpretations online, fans had a special eagerness regarding this reboot in particular. With Rainbow’s early marketing rollout, including showing the transformation sequences with popular members within their community, to releasing a series of shorts to help fans get acquainted with the story, world, and characters, it’s clear that Rainbow was going all in on this brand-new take on Winx.

After great anticipation, a lengthy marketing campaign, an anniversary party, and special pink carpet premiere event—the magic is back and now streaming on Netflix.

Here is the summary the official Winx Club YouTube provides on this reboot:

When Bloom discovers she has magic, her life takes a wild turn. At the Alfea school for fairies and witches, she meets five girls who become her best friends—and her greatest strength. Together, they’re the Winx. As dark secrets rise and powerful enemies close in, the Winx will need to unlock their true potential to protect their world—and themselves.

Much like with a great many of Netflix’s releases, the first season has been broken into two distant drops. Today, fans get to experience the first thirteen episodes of the series before seeing how this season ends sometime next year.

In a modern world where getting a twenty-six episode run is huge, this is something we hope is going to really allow the story and Rainbow to truly flesh out this version, because there is a lot going on and things go rather quickly in these first-half releases.

This can make the viewing experience more overwhelming than your typical Netflix-and-chill viewing.

The story timely begins following Bloom as a newly minted sixteen-year-old. As of late, Bloom has begun to notice some odd things about herself. Upon receiving a brand-new bike as a gift from her loving parents, Bloom ventures out for a bike ride in her local park.

This ride proves to quickly change her life as she comes face to face with a monster who seems very strangely invested in her. Just when Bloom thinks she may be in deep trouble, she finds herself rescued by two girls who claim to be looking for her. Despite their statement being odd, what is truly memorable is they are fairies flying in the air.

These girls, Stella (fairy of the sun and moon) and Flora (fairy of nature), quickly open a portal, whisking Bloom away from danger and with the knowledge she needs to come with them. Not only changing her mundane life, but also leading her to begin questioning what and how she has powers.

After gaining permission from her parents, Bloom leaves her home and begins her new life at her new school—Alfea. Once a college only for fairies, Alfea now serves as a dual college for fairies as well as witches following the sixteen-year destruction of their former home, Cloud Tower.

Shortly after being assigned to her dorm that she shares with her two saviors and new friends, Bloom meets what will become the rest of the future Winx Club: Musa (fairy of music), Tecna (fairy of technology), and Aisha (fairy of waves).

Moments after following this exchange, we are intrigued with our first brand-new character, Robin, the headmistress’ assistant (and female specialist), summoning Stella, Flora, and Bloom to the headmistress’ office.

It is here fans get to meet fan-favorite teacher, Faragonda—and Flora and Stella get into trouble for venturing to Earth and finding Bloom. Not only does this exchange establish Faragonda in this reboot, it also introduces another key member of the adult characters: Griffin.

Whereas Faragonda manages the fairy side of Alfea, Griffin maintains the witches’ side. Despite them being more aligned with their own magical user type, the two do appear to be cross-consulting with one another. And neither seem to care much for our Winx girls. Due to Stella and Flora breaking the rules they had, Griffin pushes for far stricter measures than (expulsion) Faragonda, who tasks them with some on-campus cleaning and detention.

Feeling responsible, Bloom does tag along to help her two new friends with their punishment. While making her way through the courtyard, Bloom accidentally runs into someone—Icy. This interaction leads to Icy not only creating a sudden and deep distaste for Bloom, but also proves the opportunity for Icy to sense Bloom’s strong fire-based magic.

Even with this very short encounter, Icy already has determined that Bloom is a source of trouble. And despite having only been at Alfea for what we can assume are hours, Icy begins to plan how to get rid of Bloom—at that very moment.

Wasting no time, Icy takes advantage of the three girls’ cleaning around statues as her chance. And Icy knows just how to get Bloom kicked out of Alfea. Taking advantage of Griffin’s close proximity, Icy uses her powers to freeze the statue closest to Bloom, and Stormy works in unison to help the large now-frozen art fall over.

Thanks to Flora, Bloom was able to avert being crushed. None of the girls were safe from Griffin, who had naturally overheard the occurrence and is quick to give punishment as well. This leads to Griffin giving a harsher punishment of sending the three to the magical creatures’ barn to muck the stalls.

This punishment leads to the girls venturing to a new addition to Alfea, the magical creatures’ barn, and the introduction of a critical character in the reboot, Damien, the resident teenage caretaker. Despite not wanting the girls’ help, he does relent—under the pretense that they don’t interfere with any of the animals.

Which all serves as the perfect hook for Icy’s continual plan to get Bloom out of Alfea. Leveraging Bloom’s soft spot for these animals and lack of foresight, Icy manipulates Bloom into not believing her previous actions were based on their own previous experience with fairies. And using Bloom’s own insecurity of fitting in as a means of relatability to help Bloom to lower her guard around Icy.

All of which works to Icy’s favor when she presents Bloom with the remote for the creatures’ collars. Having previously lamented about their collars being too tight, Bloom is very eager to help the fielded animals. Without really any hesitation, Bloom releases the collars—only for a result she hadn’t expected.

This leads to the Changlings shapeshifting into their true form and causing mayhem as they escape. Though Damien is able to recollect one, the problem has clearly gotten out of hand as he ventures off to get the escaped Changlings back—only after making sure to blame Bloom.

Right as Bloom, Stella, and Flora are about to take off to assist, an airship arrives as the Specialists have been somehow notified of this and have to come to aid.

With the arrival of the Specialists—Sky, Brandon, Riven, and Timmy—we have largely rounded out the bulk of our characters. Though there is a mission at hand, we do get to see some early character bonds with Bloom, Stella, Sky, and Brandon.

Quickly upon seeing Sky for the first time, we quickly see a crush and some early feelings developing for Bloom. As Bloom gazes a bit starry-eyed at Sky during their introduction, we get a very sweet flirty moment between Stella and Brandon.

Until, naturally, Riven brings everyone back to task.

Not long after venturing in the woods, the girls and the Specialists find both Damien and the Changlings. Together, they all start to work towards retaining the loose animals. Despite it not being an easy fight, the collection of seven teens are able to recapture all but two of the Changlings.

The other two? They have been lured to a clearing where the Trix have opened a portal for them to escape to none other than Bloom’s Earth high school.

Ever impulsive, Bloom rushes through the portal to try and stop these animals. As she navigates her old school, she once again finds herself bumping right into someone. This time it was a local mean girl, Mitzi who is mad at Bloom for presumably getting dirt on her designer pants.

With two Changling monsters on the loose, Bloom has no time before class lets out, and rushes away. Upset, Mitzi trails after her as both girls venture into the girls’ restroom.

Though Bloom is more concerned with finding the Changlings, Mitzi quickly demands her pants be replaced and Bloom to apologize on social media.

Before Bloom can fully handle Mitzi, the magical creature appears. Wanting to get Mitzi out of the line of danger—and in the dark—Bloom thrusts both of them into a restroom stall.

As if Bloom wasn’t already frantic, the bell chimes signaling the end of the class period—just as Bloom begins to process things, Stella’s voice cuts over the signal.

Having caught the portal before closing, Stella and Flora had—yet again—ventured to Earth to help collect the Changlings. Despite both transformed fairies putting up a good fight, the battle is less than fruitful as the bathroom is distraught and the animals are able to break a wall down and escape into Gardenia.

After slipping out of the stall, and locking Mitzi inside with a broom, Bloom and her new friends trail the Changlings out of the high school to a vacant area. Remembering that Icy had spelled a portal to get them there, the girls opt to redirect the Changlings back to Alfea to finish their fight. They conveniently manage to return them right inside their fence, where the Specialists and Damien are already at.

With more experience and all hands on deck, the group of teens are able to return collars on the Changlings and neutralize the problem, with Bloom and Damien both able to land on the backs of the animals and help return them to their more harmless form.

Despite having pulled out a win, we see how uncertain Bloom is as she feels responsible and as if she has only been the source of trouble since coming to Alfea.

The ironic part is the real trouble—the Trix are watching this all transpire from their dorm room lounge. Though this hasn’t gone to plan, they aren’t done.

That is undeniably a lot in several contexts. But perhaps the most startling aspect is all these events transported in one single twenty-five-minute episode.

And this outlines probably the biggest misstep of the reboot—the pacing.

Because we find ourselves having such incredibly fast-paced storytelling, it can be very challenging to keep up with the story, but also understand everything and even get to understand the world and characters.

In a story like Winx, a story rooted in the intersection of fantasy and science fiction set in its own unique world, it’s highly critical to be able to properly and organically introduce, grow, and develop the world and lore around it. There are often times in this thirteen-episode release that would become very confusing to newcomers if they hadn’t known at least some degree of the previous Winx incarnation.

The reboot does find a lot of great ways to call back various elements from the original series, but they feel very reliant on having an audience that is already acquainted with Winx. Older fans will love to see these moments, but how some of them are executed isn’t as smooth as they could be.

The reason we don’t get that really nice payoff is the same reason we don’t go as deep into the characters: time and pacing.

In today’s modern animation landscape, it has become increasingly common for there to not be a promise of having additional seasons of hitting that once golden sixty-five-episode rule of decades ago. If anything, it is more common for fans to fall in love with a show and have no cliffhangers answered due to not getting additional seasons or episodes, or even having an order suddenly cut.

It is an understandable concern, especially as the second spin-off, WOW, ended season two on a strong cliffhanger—to only not get to return to finish the story. It makes all the more sense. But speedrunning all of Bloom’s arc this quickly becomes a lot.

This, along with the often unexpected story or character exposition dumps, pulls the viewer out of this fantasy world that many call a fictional home.

In addition, the lack of story breathing room also hinders the most critical part of the story—the characters. Characters are the heart of the story, the thing that fans emotionally connect with and attach themselves to.

Being a reboot, and restarting the story over, the slate has been wiped clean. The Winx we now see before us aren’t the ones fans met in the early 2000s. They grew up in a different time and had different experiences that led them to be where we are when we first meet them. Sure, there are still clear and defined parallels to their 2000s versions. But that Bloom isn’t this one—and she can never be because of who that Bloom was and became.

While we do see a great deal of Bloom, we never really get to go beyond a surface level of who she is. If anything, it feels we get some deeper characterization from others in the cast. One really smart thing we saw in this drop is to get segments of the plots and story leaning in favor of Stella, Musa, Aisha, Sky, Riven, and Brandon. Though Stella and Sky isn’t too shocking, the others in the line-up are.

Being able to understand Aisha’s upbringing and family dynamics, and Musa’s musical desires and even urgency to go pro, sets a really nice foundation for them. Not only do we hope to see more of this, but also the same for Flora and Tecna, who didn’t go as deep so far.

The one very developed and unexpected character in this season is actually Damien. Wasn’t expected, and do we ever have a lot to say. But more deep dives will be coming here and over at our sister site, Glowline Hues.

As we said before, there have been a lot of incarnations of the Winx story as Bloom discovers her true self. From the classic animated series, the comics, Fate, and now the new reboot. Despite the core introduction being the same in the comics, each version following that series debut has taken different approaches for their audiences. And this reboot is no different.

Though we are once more watching Bloom uncover her past and powers, the reboot has taken to making changes to approach the classic magical girl tale in a new direction. From bringing in Damien, the context of our new villain’s motions, and the combined Alfea, this is a different Winx world that is finding its own way to define what was and what could be.

There are times where things do land nicely, and others where things could have used more tuning. With only half of the season released, there is absolutely time to correct some of the pacing issues and give greater focus to the characters and their development.

So is the Winx reboot worth watching?

It’s no secret that reboots of beloved stories like Winx usually have very strong and mixed reactions. This isn’t the Winx of the past decades. For existing fans, going in with an open mind will lead to a level of what can only be called culture shock with the changes. But they will likely walk away with things that they enjoy and hope for the potential of how the story will progress.

First-time viewers may have moments where things aren’t as clear due to being more callback-focused and missing the references until they go online or view the original series. Yet they will be enchanted by the fantasy world and charm that reached many over the years.

With the rising return of fantasy and magical girl stories across mediums, a legacy story like Winx will ignite that fiery hope and strength that many discovered in their youth. With a story driven by self-discovery, fueled by magic and a soundtrack you will be adding to your playlists, Winx is sure to bring the magic back—to old fans and new ones from every inch of the globe.

And as with always, there is a lot to unpack, dissect, and analyze with Winx. So stay tuned here and at Glowline Hues for more Winx.

Winx Club: The Magic Is Back is now live on Netflix with 13 episodes!