The Magicians (UK) Season 1 Episode 8 The Strangled Heart

The Strangled Heart, the eighth episode of the first season of The Magicians, is a continuation of the fantasy series that revolves around a group of graduate students at Brakebills University who possess magical abilities. Following the events of the previous episode, The Mayakovsky Circumstances, which saw Quentin and Alice travel to Brakebills South to help Professor Mayakovsky with his experiments, The Strangled Heart sets its focus on Penny and Kady's quest.

As the episode opens, Penny and Kady are on a mission to acquire an ancient artifact called the "Strangled Heart," which is said to have the power to bind and control any being's soul. They hope to use this artifact to save Kady's mother, who is dying. However, the journey to retrieve the Strangled Heart is not an easy one. The two encounter several obstacles along the way, including a group of possessed humans who are controlled by the beast, a powerful entity that has been wreaking havoc on Brakebills and its students.

Meanwhile, back at Brakebills, Julia is still negotiating with Marina to gain access to hedge-witch magic. Marina agrees to give Julia a chance to prove herself, but the initiation process involves stealing a dangerous potion from Brakebills. Julia enlists the help of Penny, who reluctantly agrees to help her in exchange for a favor.

At the same time, the rest of the Brakebills gang is dealing with their own problems. Margo is being haunted by a cannibalistic spirit while she struggles to come to terms with her relationship with Eliot. Quentin and Alice are dealing with the aftermath of their trip to Brakebills South and their encounter with the dark, troubled Professor Mayakovsky.

As the episode progresses, all of these different storylines begin to converge, leading to an intense and climactic battle scene in which the Brakebills students face off against the beast and his possessed minions. The Strangled Heart is ultimately retrieved, but at a great cost, leaving the group forever changed.

Overall, The Strangled Heart is a thrilling and action-packed episode that continues the momentum of the series. It sets up several important plot points for the rest of the season, including the ongoing battle between the Brakebills students and the beast, the consequences of Julia's deal with Marina, and the fallout from Kady and Penny's mission.