The Magnus Archives - Blog Posts
TMA Season 4!
What a CRIMINAL way to end the season, holy SHIT!
Now I understand why I’ve seen so many artists do scar maps of Jon, it really did all come together in the end. And the way Elias, or Jonah, really, orchestrated it all with the cherry on top of giving Jon a false statement that he couldn’t stop himself from reading; truly the master plan. The words for the Watcher’s Crown ritual itself were very cool, just the right amount of nonsensical almost-rhyming to make it flow nicely.
And the fact that three of the most iconic TMA quotes/moments happen so close together near/at the end of season four is WILD; I was not expecting all of that! First we got “Where are his eyes?” “Where they’ve always been, Martin. Watching over my institute.” THEN “Look at me Martin, what do you see?” “I see… I see you, Jon. I see you!” and to wrap it all up “Jon…?” “Look at the sky, Martin! It’s looking back!” *maniacal, distorted laughter.* Absolutely insane place to leave off. (Also the bonus of Jon using his named attack of “I see you!” on Peter Lukas).
I can’t forget Basira and Daisy, either. Their story is so good, I love me some tragic yuri. (Although for their sakes I hope it gets less tragic tbh; I want them to be happy 🥺). But I’m not that hopeful, considering we got ~2 minutes of Jon and Martin being content at the safe house before things really went to shit. At least Melanie got away, she’s been through so much. And I’m happy she got together with Georgie, that’s so sweet 🥹
The Extinction and the fact that new fears can emerge was an interesting plot thread for this season, both for how it fit with larger events and how it gave us a new kind of spook. I liked the hunger-world amusement park one the most, I kept thinking about it when I went to the fair myself the other day. I also noticed there were more episodes where it wasn’t 100% clear which fear entity was behind the statement, or even that there were multiple involved. Like with ‘A Gravedigger’s Envy’, it could be both The Buried and The End. It was fun to see how the fear entities could be mixed and matched, then of course to find out how that aspect, too, fits into the big-picture meta-plot. After having episodes with this type of spook, it makes more sense how no ritual can succeed if it tries to separate one fear entity from the others.
Season four tied up a lot of loose ends and got the official statements of big names that have been lurking around since season one, like Simon Fairchild, Annabelle Cane, Adelard Dekker, Peter Lukas, and of course Jonah Magnus himself. Personally, I’ve been wondering about the statement of Mr. Paul MacKenzie and which fear entity was responsible for his demise since season one, so I’m glad we got the statement of his son so far down the line to say ‘Spiral’ for certain.
I can’t believe I’m already about to start season five, this has gone too quick!!
Okay so- I finished season 3. HOLY SHIT!!
First off, the sound design and voice acting for The Unknowing was incredible!! The pipe organ music and all the characters losing all sense of being sure in reality, omg 🤌🤌
And I was right, Tim died ☹️ BUT he took down The Stranger with him in a huge, fiery explosion. Honestly it’s the most fitting end he could’ve gotten. And now Daisy is somewhere inside the coffin while Jon’s in limbo. (I may have listened to the first episode of season 4).
Some I was not expecting was Peter Lukas taking over the Magnus Institute. I don’t trust that guy, nothing good can come of this. And Martin 🥺😭 ooohhhh, Martin, you poor thing. I’m hoping he at least gets to reunite with Jon in S4, if not a confession…
Thanks for the attention on my original post, I appreciate you wanting to read my TMA experience!
TMA general update:
Okay so I’ve finished season 2 and now I’m almost done season 3, so we’ve got a lot to cover.
There have been so many death flags for Tim, even before he asked Elias to kill him :((( Finding out about Sasha really broke him, and then we find out The Stranger took his brother from him too. I have a feeling he will not survive the third season, rip. I’m putting off listening to the ‘Masquerade’ episode cause my guess is that’s when he’ll die, or something worse will happen to him while they’re trying to stop The Unknowing.
Jon’s character development has been truly masterful. He’s gone from a paranoid wreck to an avatar getting used to his burgeoning powers, I’m proud of him tbh, even though he’s literally becoming a monster. I like the new style in S3 where Jon travels around collecting statements and Martin reads more back at the Institute. The reappearing characters are great to see too! MAG111 was so interesting, we finally got an explanation and names for ‘The 14’ entities that have been behind all the spooks and abominations! And of course we met Gerry, another assistant Gertrude fed to the horrors without hesitation. Michael’s statement in MAG101 was also a big piece of lore, considering he’s a main antagonist/meddler. Finding out about the Impossible Altar, the Watcher’s Crown, (Eye-pocalypse?) and the other rituals was so exciting! I sense the overarching plot at work here…
Elias finally getting his hands dirty with some good old-fashioned pipe murder for the S2 finale was something else. He’s certainly been showing his true character in S3, snarky and devious but also has powers and knows how to use them. And ya’know, I thought it was fanon, but from the two Peter Lukas visits I’ve listened to so far, they really do act like an old married (for convenience) couple. Speaking of, the second time he showed up, Martin got transported to The Lonely when Peter Lukas talked to him!! Not his first time in an entity’s realm/domain, and luckily not his first time escaping from one. I’m so glad he got let go, I was really scared for him for a sec there.
Melanie and Basira have joined the team, (Elias’s prison), and it’s nice to have more pov characters to follow! I love how they made Basira a bookworm so much, it warms my nerdy heart! I was sad when Elias revealed Melanie’s father was a victim of The Corruption at that old folks home, (something-Ivy?), although I do appreciate her attempts at offing Elias, and I want to see where her research into war ghosts leads her. (We finally found out how she got shot by a ghost!)
This is the “oh yeah, it’s all coming together” point in the story and I am living for it! TMA is doing the mystery + horror balance very well; we’re learning some important lore in between getting scared by monsters. The darkness one from MAG86 still haunts me, its “the blanket never did anything” line was so cold, it would’ve terrified me particularly bad as a kid.
That’s all for now! I’ll do another one of these around season 4, probably.
TMA general update:
Okay so I’ve finished season 2 and now I’m almost done season 3, so we’ve got a lot to cover.
There have been so many death flags for Tim, even before he asked Elias to kill him :((( Finding out about Sasha really broke him, and then we find out The Stranger took his brother from him too. I have a feeling he will not survive the third season, rip. I’m putting off listening to the ‘Masquerade’ episode cause my guess is that’s when he’ll die, or something worse will happen to him while they’re trying to stop The Unknowing.
Jon’s character development has been truly masterful. He’s gone from a paranoid wreck to an avatar getting used to his burgeoning powers, I’m proud of him tbh, even though he’s literally becoming a monster. I like the new style in S3 where Jon travels around collecting statements and Martin reads more back at the Institute. The reappearing characters are great to see too! MAG111 was so interesting, we finally got an explanation and names for ‘The 14’ entities that have been behind all the spooks and abominations! And of course we met Gerry, another assistant Gertrude fed to the horrors without hesitation. Michael’s statement in MAG101 was also a big piece of lore, considering he’s a main antagonist/meddler. Finding out about the Impossible Altar, the Watcher’s Crown, (Eye-pocalypse?) and the other rituals was so exciting! I sense the overarching plot at work here…
Elias finally getting his hands dirty with some good old-fashioned pipe murder for the S2 finale was something else. He’s certainly been showing his true character in S3, snarky and devious but also has powers and knows how to use them. And ya’know, I thought it was fanon, but from the two Peter Lukas visits I’ve listened to so far, they really do act like an old married (for convenience) couple. Speaking of, the second time he showed up, Martin got transported to The Lonely when Peter Lukas talked to him!! Not his first time in an entity’s realm/domain, and luckily not his first time escaping from one. I’m so glad he got let go, I was really scared for him for a sec there.
Melanie and Basira have joined the team, (Elias’s prison), and it’s nice to have more pov characters to follow! I love how they made Basira a bookworm so much, it warms my nerdy heart! I was sad when Elias revealed Melanie’s father was a victim of The Corruption at that old folks home, (something-Ivy?), although I do appreciate her attempts at offing Elias, and I want to see where her research into war ghosts leads her. (We finally found out how she got shot by a ghost!)
This is the “oh yeah, it’s all coming together” point in the story and I am living for it! TMA is doing the mystery + horror balance very well; we’re learning some important lore in between getting scared by monsters. The darkness one from MAG86 still haunts me, its “the blanket never did anything” line was so cold, it would’ve terrified me particularly bad as a kid.
That’s all for now! I’ll do another one of these around season 4, probably.
Y’all are cooking with this! I’m so glad I’m not the only one with TMA + OP brainworms
I haven’t assigned all the Strawhats entities yet but my thoughts are:
Luffy as The Spiral cause I think it’d be fun if his smile was scary, and gear 5 design like you said. Also the “all his bones are in his hands” could apply since Luffy is literally boneless and can change/distort his body.
Zoro as The Eye because hear me out he’s really afraid of not being able to fight the monsters or save his friends. So forcing him to just watch horrible things happen would be his hell. He’s also green, so he fits the color scheme.
Usopp as The Stranger since he can only be brave by putting on a mask/persona of some sort. Metaphorically ‘wearing someone else’s skin’ becoming not-so-metaphorical.
Franky would also have affinity with The Stranger, although in a different way.
Sanji as The Lonely becase his fears and insecurities would trap him, although I do always love cannibal aus for him. Orrr The Vast perhaps? Like an evil version of the All Blue with only empty, endless sea and sky.
Robin as The Web bc I do think she’d be great at manipulation, also her devil fruit giving her multiple arms. But she fits so well with The Eye too, maybe she could be a double-agent and use the powers of both.
This is what I’ve been thinking about for like a month now so it’s cool to hear other people’s ideas! I just listened to MAG111, where they explain/name all the entities and we meet Gerry. :’)
Not sure how much crossover there is in the Magnus Archives, and One Piece fandoms but...
Robin would for sure be an avatar for The Eye right? Like, she actually manifests eyes in various places to spy on people and gather knowledge. Plus shes always studying ancient ruins and has a hunger to know the secrets the goverment wants locked away
As for the others,
Luffy would be a victim of The Lonely
(Gear 5 Luffy could be an avatar for the spiral if he wanted 🤷♀️)
Zoro would be an avatar for The Hunt
Nami could fall prey to The Desolation - specifically 'the destruction of potential', and it would be arlongs doing
Usopp ...victim to anything really. Going to say The End just to cover all bases
Sanji terrorized by The Web not feeling in control of his life, stuck in the designs of his birth family
Chopper The Corruption, making him fight a losing battle against disease
Franky and Brook i have no idea. An argument could be made for them as avatars of The Stranger?
Very curious to see different takes on this though!
TMA season 1 finale!
Just finished listening to season one of tma! Holy shit!! I was not expecting Sasha to get replaced/distorted so soon. (Yes, sadly I’ve been spoiled by the beautiful fanart). I wonder if we’ll ever get the real Sasha back… It will be interesting to see what Not!Sasha does and if anyone figures out something’s wrong. Doesn’t help that I couldn’t understand which artifact Sasha said she found right before it happened. That might’ve been on purpose though, idk.
And omggg Jon is beginning his descent into madness disguised as a quest for knowledge! 🎉 I love how they set up his paranoia for next season, it’s understandable but I also suspect he’s gonna accidentally hurt people who care about him.
Speaking of!!! As of season one’s ending, I think the jonmartin ship is still one-sided with Jon being oblivious to Martin’s feelings. I’m sure it’ll get worse before it gets better.
I might make an actual pin board for tma S1, I really might. For now I have tumblr lol.
P.S. I really like Tim, he’s silly. He should burst through drywall Koolaid Man-style more often.
So I’m 30 episodes into The Magnus Archives so far and while I do miss being able to go to bed without fearing for my life, I’m gonna keep listening.
I have thoughts on one of the creatures we’ve met so far, the worm hive/nest specifically. The source being ‘Plight of the Living Dead’ by Matt Simon, a book I’m currently reading about parasites that zombify their hosts. I’m not an expert on parasites, I just think they’re cool and I wanna share my thoughts.
Unlike the fungus ophiocordyceps, (the zombie ant one), the worms don’t bother trying to be sneaky; they completely decimate their host making their presence obvious to uninfected individuals. Similar to how Massospora cicadina eats away at cicadas’ abdomens until they’re almost completely hollowed out. This unconcern for appearances probably means the worms don’t have a predator/threat to hide from.
Also, I’m wondering if this parasitic behavior of spreading themselves like an infection is part of the worms’ life cycle, like how real life nematodes need to get themselves into different animals’ guts to reproduce. If they are actually worms this could simply mean finding a new host, laying eggs and multiplying their numbers within the body until they’re ready to find another host. Or if they aren’t worms but grubs/larvae instead, that could mean that they have a mature adult form they could metamorphose into. Which would be so awesome and make for an episode with more insect/worm body horror! Anyway, it’s fun to analyze the ecology of fictional monsters.
flipaclip doodles of pathetic little men
watching some Fireball Friday streams completely out of order and when they have Jack on him saying that he really likes horror but is more interested in the unnerving/uncomfortable side compared to the "scary" side and how the concept of evoking those emotions also fascinate him oh my god please answer my calls i have the podcast of a lifetime for you
what date is it ... ?
lots of doodles and drawings i'm not too much of a fan of cause while i drew like my life depended on it during some months (July, August, September, fucking OCTOBER, jesus), on others it was kinda like i forgot how to hold a pen,, regardless !! it's over. happy,, uh,, January,,,, 16th. yeah.
••
((closeups below ,,
ocs
oc
c!Tommy
oc
Law n Luffy
Grian (my beloved)
Grian and (s3) Jon Sims (Head Archivist of the Magnus Institute, London)
GRIAN
pride duo ((PlanetLord and SpokeIsHere
ocs
prideduo :((
submission for 1vy's (@/1vyballs on youtube) xmas art contest, character by 1vy ((wanted to put my Hatsune Grian art for this month but this was the only thing i rendered ALL FUCKING YEAR good job smartass so i felt obligated
woah what a year. i'll drink to the next one being ABSOLUTELY NOTHING LIKE IT. okay yeah that's all.
huehuehue agnes my love,,,,
Jon n co doodles from ?? a couple o' months ago ?? idk guys i'm tired
also !! for this last one: Jon is short and we all know it okay but if he turns into a Legitimate Monster then i think he (at the very least) deserves to grow a bit so here we are
billsona but it's not a sona at all it's just an accident prone homeless man with a bad habit of shaking the wrong people's hands
cw: mild blood (the triangle bastard Does Not care for Jon's wounds correctly. or at all.)
((season 3 btw
i love how the tma fandom came up with "lonelyeyes" which is one of the most creative ship names ive ever heard and then created "jmart" that sounds like a fucking supermarket
I’ve heard so much about this episode and I finally got to the bit!
..damn
Fairy!Reader Masterlist
Main Eddie Masterlist
Fairy Circles
Names
Jon, distressed: If I kill a killer, the number of killers in the world stays the same-
Martin, pretending he doesn’t find it kinda hot: Kill two
This makes me feel normal feelings
Absolutely stunning artwork!! I love the poses and the style they work so well for Jon and Martin .
After a week of drawing "spooky scary shelley-tons" I took today to draw some jmart fluff instead. Vaguely season two-ish vibes.
Audio from the "Gaming and Giving" charity stream where Jonny and Alex did requests.
Statement ends. long sigh. Another vampire statement. At least this one was a little more... unconventional, though, given the way it appears to have been written, I, ah, do not know whether to count this as a blessing or a curse, as it were. We will have to do more digging into the statement giver, this "Ebony Dark'ness Dementia Raven Way",
Added some fun fog to the gays eyepocolyps adventure
Adds some fun funky depth to them wooooo
POV: Martin said something silly and flirtatious and Jo(h)n got all flustered
Look at that WIP of our bois being gay
The literal love of my life
everyone cheered
Entering this piece of TMA fan art into an art show
Here’s to hoping the judges appreciate some fun semi horror art
Hello! Has anyone written a fic inspired by your kid!Jon time travel AU? (if you allow that kind of stuff? Or are you planning on writing for it?). I'm obsessed with the AU, it's so lovely and unique! Love the idea, love the art, everything, perfection *chef kiss*. If such a fic exists, could you maybe tell us where to find it/drop a link? Thank you for your art, it always brings a smile to my face. Have a great day!
I'm gonna be honest,, I just read fics of the kid!Jon time traveller theme and I got a bit shook when they were all unfinished and I was craving for more. I just started doodling my own version to cope, one with a much more light-hearted and funny tone
And hoping that maybe my drawings might inspire tma fic writers to write more "jon time travels to his 8 year old self" fics,, i love the theme so much i dont mind reading it again and again
ALL IN ALL THIS IS JUST ME HOPING PEOPLE CAN GET INSPIRED BY MY DOODLES SO I CAN CONSUME MORE KID!JON HEALING FICS BAHAHHA IM SHAMELESS I KNOW
(i cant write my own because my thoughts are all over the place ksdjLKSKJDL i prefer drawing short snippets through comics)
ANYWAY, here are the fics that got me hooked:
1.) Too much time by Hix (180k+ words) - angtsy as fuck,,, super slow burn when it comes to jon’s relationships with others,, my fave one so far. Jon has his memories intact but elias doesnt 2.) Time is Hard by Serazimei (130k+ words) - a bit more light hearted than the first fic,, friendships are formed faster and there are a lot of sweet moments. Elias is forced to remember what he did to jon but has no plans to end the world after
3.) The Timeline of Theseus by Applea (90k+ words) - Jon doesn’t remember anything at all but is still powerful. Elias keeps him around because of his abilities 4.) A break in the clouds by Ash_ Rabbit (107k+ words) - here the real Elias keeps his body and Jonah is in James Wright. His interactions with Jon are so adorable hngg
So about the Magnus Archives-
Here’s day 24, Nikola! I love and hate this mannequin lady.
I struggled to decide a hair color for her, I imagine she has several “wigs” that she wears.
Here’s day 23, burn scar, my interpretation of Jon’s burn scar.
The scar looks far darker in the picture but I still like how this looks.
I missed a few days so I’m getting everything in order.
This is day 23, Helen Richardson.
