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The Rules Episode 3 - Magic
Magic: The Management Would Like To See You
Magic is everywhere in fiction. But it's never free, never equal, and never as simple as waving a wand. In this episode, Neil breaks down the unspoken rules that govern every magical world you've ever visited. From Hogwarts to the crossroads at midnight to a coven in a California shopping mall.
Because the magic system isn't a fantasy. It's just the class system in a cloak.
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
Harry Potter series - J.K. Rowling. Referenced throughout. Referencing is not endorsement.
Bewitched (1964-1972) - ABC. Samantha Stephens, the most powerful witch in the room, hiding it to keep the peace.
Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996-2003) - ABC/WB.
The Craft - dir. Andrew Fleming (1996)
The VVitch - dir. Robert Eggers (2015)
Wicked - book by Gregory Maguire (1995) / musical (2003) / film dir. Jon M. Chu (2024)
Agatha All Along - Marvel/Disney+ (2024)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer - created by Joss Whedon (1997-2003)
The Wizard of Oz - dir. Victor Fleming (1939)
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood - anime series (2009-2010)
What We Do In The Shadows - FX series (2019-)
Wyrd Sisters / Granny Weatherwax - Terry Pratchett, Wyrd Sisters (1988)
Dennis Wheatley - The Devil Rides Out (1934) and the Duke de Richleau novels
Faust - Christopher Marlowe (1592) / Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1808)
Robert Johnson - blues musician (1911-1938). The crossroads legend.
The Monkey's Paw - W.W. Jacobs (1902)
The Sorcerer's Apprentice - orig. Goethe, Der Zauberlehrling (1797) / Fantasia, dir. James Algar (1940)
Jack Parsons (1914-1952) - rocket scientist, occultist, co-founder of JPL. Full article on the Substack.
THE COMPANION PIECES
Essay: The Rules - Episode 2 - Magic - The Management Would Like to See You Now - the full non-fiction essay - Click here
Fiction: A More Comfortable Cage - the companion short story - Click here (after 30th May 2026) *fair warning this link is cursed if you click early
Further reading: Jack Parsons: The Man Who Launched America Into Space With Magic - Click here
The Rules is an independent podcast from Pegasus Podcasts. New episodes drop weekly. If you liked this one, the best thing you can do is tell someone.
View all episodes
By Neil ChapmanMagic: The Management Would Like To See You
Magic is everywhere in fiction. But it's never free, never equal, and never as simple as waving a wand. In this episode, Neil breaks down the unspoken rules that govern every magical world you've ever visited. From Hogwarts to the crossroads at midnight to a coven in a California shopping mall.
Because the magic system isn't a fantasy. It's just the class system in a cloak.
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
Harry Potter series - J.K. Rowling. Referenced throughout. Referencing is not endorsement.
Bewitched (1964-1972) - ABC. Samantha Stephens, the most powerful witch in the room, hiding it to keep the peace.
Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996-2003) - ABC/WB.
The Craft - dir. Andrew Fleming (1996)
The VVitch - dir. Robert Eggers (2015)
Wicked - book by Gregory Maguire (1995) / musical (2003) / film dir. Jon M. Chu (2024)
Agatha All Along - Marvel/Disney+ (2024)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer - created by Joss Whedon (1997-2003)
The Wizard of Oz - dir. Victor Fleming (1939)
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood - anime series (2009-2010)
What We Do In The Shadows - FX series (2019-)
Wyrd Sisters / Granny Weatherwax - Terry Pratchett, Wyrd Sisters (1988)
Dennis Wheatley - The Devil Rides Out (1934) and the Duke de Richleau novels
Faust - Christopher Marlowe (1592) / Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1808)
Robert Johnson - blues musician (1911-1938). The crossroads legend.
The Monkey's Paw - W.W. Jacobs (1902)
The Sorcerer's Apprentice - orig. Goethe, Der Zauberlehrling (1797) / Fantasia, dir. James Algar (1940)
Jack Parsons (1914-1952) - rocket scientist, occultist, co-founder of JPL. Full article on the Substack.
THE COMPANION PIECES
Essay: The Rules - Episode 2 - Magic - The Management Would Like to See You Now - the full non-fiction essay - Click here
Fiction: A More Comfortable Cage - the companion short story - Click here (after 30th May 2026) *fair warning this link is cursed if you click early
Further reading: Jack Parsons: The Man Who Launched America Into Space With Magic - Click here
The Rules is an independent podcast from Pegasus Podcasts. New episodes drop weekly. If you liked this one, the best thing you can do is tell someone.