We finally got to see what it was like when Julia attended Brakebills on The Magicians Season 2 Episode 10 "The Girl Who Told Time."

It's not surprising to learn Julia's magical discipline centers on knowledge. But it is puzzling to discover Dean Fogg shares the same power.

Mainly because, as Penny pointed out, the dean rarely manages to help anyone despite the students being in constant crisis mode.

I forgot all about the previous 39 timelines Jane created in her attempts to stop the Beast. Julia did, too, given the way she reacted to the dean saying he knew her.

That's not necessarily a bad thing. There are always so many stories happening at once on The Magicians. I like how they manage to weave original threads back into current stories.

I especially like the reminders when they include new ways to bring Alice back into the mix.

Julia: You don't know me.
Dean Fogg: 39 times I've known you. Which is why I trust that you'll put aside your fear and self-pity and look for answers that can save you.

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The latest version of Alice is technically an older one: she came from Timeline 23. In that universe, she's the only one who survived the Beast's attack.

Nice twist, but what sold the moment for me was when she told Quentin things had been strained between them. And due to her pride, she hadn't made things right, and she regretted it.

I think the current version of Alice, pre-Niffin, might have felt the same way. And to me, that says the hearts of the characters don't change between timelines.

A lot of genre shows tackle mutli-dimensions and universes. Sometimes, it's strictly for humor to show characters exaggerated, or evil, versions of themselves.

But these timelines were these exact people put into different circumstances. Jane made one change each time until she finally settled on removing Julia from the Brakebills equation.

We see now that Julia was thriving in the earlier timelines. But she also died in them. So which version of Julia got the better deal?

I'm not sure there is a correct answer.

I don't know what that other Quentin thought. But in this world, I love you. No matter what. I love you.

Quentin

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I like that current Julia is on the hunt for her shade. I want her to be whole again.

But, doesn't it feel like she went along with the dean's plan a little too fast? On The Magicians Season 2 Episode 9, she was ready to sacrifice her best friend's life to get what she wanted.

I don't believe a few days trapped in a cell would be enough to detour Julia from her ultimate endgame. 

Kady and Penny were also on the hunt for knowledge. He wanted his magic back, and she wanted answers on how to kill a god.

It was obvious the librarians were hiding something long before Kady's fateful conversation with Harriet. But why was Penny so quick to dismiss the weirdness?

We know he wants his magic back. But Kady was a big part of the reason he joined the Order. Penny suddenly being all about following the rules for his own gain didn't make sense.

Of course he saw things differently once Harriet's curse led to a dead librarian.

And how cool was the twist that the librarians are the ones banning the books? It goes against everything people who hold knowledge generally stand for.

But it's fitting for this universe. The tweaks are never what we expect them to be. 

Except maybe for the part where there's a dragon guarding the Underworld. Because that's obviously what's missing from this story.

The Foo Fighters are back to their old tricks in Fillory. 

I still think Eliot needs to watch out for his future husband stabbing him in the back, but we'll save that discussion for when he returns.

Margo, as usual, came up with a solid plan for getting the Foo Fighters out of their hair. It probably won't last long, but a win is a win. And the royals needed a win.

Eliot: Your husband is about to welcome another husband into his bed.
Fen: You're a king. Of course you will. I gather three person marriage isn't normal on Earth.
Eliot: Not outside of Utah. Or some websites.
Fen: Those are cities made of pixels, right?

• Permalink: Those are cities made of pixels, right?

Especially since the fairies are waiting to snatch Fen's baby and tear Margo's world apart.

I'm dreading what's going to happen when she tells Eliot. But I also think it would be better for her to tell him sooner rather than later. Assuming the fairies kidnapped Fen, she might not have a choice.

She did the best she could in the moment. But Fen didn't see it that way, and Eliot won't either.

Now it's your turn to share your thoughts on "The Girl Who Told Time."

Did Julia change too fast? How did you feel about the new/old Alice? Should Margo tell Eliot? Can he forgive her?

Remember, you can watch The Magicians online anytime!

Mandy Treccia was a staff writer for TV Fanatic. She retired in September 2017. Follow her on Twitter.