Ep 7. The Mayakovsky Circumstances

In The Magicians (Syfy) season 1 episode 7, titled "The Mayakovsky Circumstances," the students of Brakebills are forced to endure the tough, no-nonsense teaching methods of Professor Mayakovsky. The episode opens with a test that Mayakovsky has given to the students, which is a way for him to gauge their magical aptitude. The test is incredibly challenging and frustrating for the students, but they push through it and manage to succeed. Mayakovsky then switches gears and takes them to a bar where they drink heavily and perform magic. This is all part of his unconventional teaching methods, which the students find both exciting and terrifying.

As the night progresses, it becomes clear that Mayakovsky has a complicated past with some of the other professors at Brakebills. Quentin, Alice, Eliot, and Margo quickly find themselves caught in the middle of a feud between Mayakovsky and Professor Sunderland. They are tasked with solving a magical problem that Mayakovsky has been working on for decades, which requires them to break into the office of the other professor. They ultimately succeed, but not without encountering a number of obstacles along the way.

Despite his harsh teaching methods, Mayakovsky proves to be a worthwhile teacher and mentor to the students. They learn valuable lessons about themselves and their magical abilities, as well as push themselves to achieve things they never thought possible. The episode ends with Mayakovsky revealing a shocking secret about his past, leaving the students with a better understanding of the magic that surrounds them and the people who teach it to them.