Practical Magic
An Exploration of Love. Through Romance, Sisterhood, & Family
Introduction:
The Practical Magic books and movies are very different. But I really like that they share the same thematic core. The strength of sisterhood, the evil and darkness found inside of people, the exploration of love as joy as well as pain, and how our family affects us. Both the book series and the films do a good job of presenting these themes in their own unique way.
Sally & Gillian (by Sarah Billingham)
Mild Spoilers
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Mild Spoilers -
What’s Inspiring about Practical Magic Books?:
Pretty much everything is inspiring about Practical Magic. From the recipes, to how magic functions, to how witches are treated as strange outcasts that are still integral to the community to the pride of man and pain of love. It is so interesting to see how the social norms of each era inhibit and enhance each love story, romantic and familial. How wishes hold power and how intentions hold weight. How they all learn to live with, forgive, and work together despite the family curse. It is so very impactful and truly profound meditations on what love is and how it functions. How it is an unavoidable part of our lives and if you try to deny it it will only harm you.
One thing that I adore about the book series is how they show that love exists in non-standard families. In the first book you have Jett and Franny raising Gillian and Sally, as well as Gillian, Sally, Ben, and later Gary helping raise Antonia and Kylie. Then in ‘Rules of Magic’ you have Jett, Fanny, and Vincent all lose their parents early, try and raise themselves, and find love in ways that work for them. The biggest example in that book being Vincent’s relationship with Willaim, becoming a truly touching example of LGBTQ+ representation in a series all about love.
Continuing non-standard relationships, in ‘Magic Lessons’ you have Maria Owens, who is raised by the spinster Hannah Owens, later raises her daughter Faith Owens as a single mother. Because of the curse on the Owens family they all never really thought that most people would find it strange. However the series does show how all of these relationships, romantic and get married without severe consequences. So they all build familial relationships, are no less loving, impactful, or difficult than those found in the nuclear family.
‘The Book of Magic’ the series’ conclusion brings together all of the threads, emotional, magical, and plot wise so beautifully. Antonia and Kylie are adults in this book having grown up and now having their turn figuring out how they’ll approach romance with the curse hanging over their heads. While the book explores Sally, Fran, Vincent, and Kylie’s emotional worlds the most my favorite part of that book was Antonia’s story line.
What I love about Antonia’s story in this book is that she’s rediscovering herself. She’s going to medical school, recently separated from the father of the child she’s carrying because they both discovered that they aren’t straight and now magical shenanigans are happening. At first it seems like she’s going to be forgotten from the storyline because she stays behind, because she’s pregnant. However, the story returns to her repeatedly as she discovers magic in her own right, learns to fall in love with Ariel, and feels beautiful while being pregnant. It is so touching and beautiful. The most heartbreaking scene being after she bakes the apple pie and Kyle calls her, lost and confused. Just, Curse You Good Writing.
Easily Antonia is the best pregnant character I have ever encountered just purely based on the fact that the story doesn't shift her involvement or development in the slightest. My most favorite part is the reveal in the epilogue when it’s shown that her child is going to have four parents. Antonia and Ariel, as well as Scott and his partner. Just pique representation of non-standard families and how they work, with love and dedication. This was a highlight for me in a book series full of incredible moments.
Practical Magic Movie Poster (By store_visions_art)
What’s Inspiring about Practical Magic Films?:
First things first, ain’t no way you could fit everything from four books into two movies. It's simply impossible. So, Sally Owens is the main character in both of them. And rightfully so, she loses the most love interests and has the most difficult relationship with her magic and her family. She is a compelling protagonist. The films capture this really well, especially her relationship with sister Gillian.
The first Practical Magic movie is definitely a product of its era but still manages to really sell you on the relationships that make the first book so special. While the movie changes a lot I feel that it captures the message and the vibes of the book really well. Plus it is just a beautiful movie and you can tell that it was crafted with a ton of care.
The second Practical Magic movie, whose story is based off of ‘The Book of Magic’, does a good job of carrying over the vibes from the first film. Including Sally and Gillian’s relationship, and it does make some of the best plot points from the book hit really hard. The film really does sell you on how important Gideon is to Kylie and the lengths she is willing to go to save him.
However, it chooses not to explore any other types of love or relationships beyond sisterly and heterosexual love. Vincent and Antonia’s storylines exploring LGBTQ+ love are excluded beyond one ambiguous line saying “You are now free to love whomever you chose”. It was such a crime to exclude my personal favorite storyline of a pregnant queer woman kicking butt and taking names.
Not to mention Gillian’s odd way of approaching her romantic relationship with Ben in the book to avoid the curse is also conveniently dropped. Including her working to overcome her relationship trauma and insecurities. It feels like Practical Magic 2 wanted to play it safe so while it hit some beats really well it also suffered from excluding all of the supporting arguments to the thesis of its themes.
The last thing that I’ll gripe about Practical Magic 2 film, despite it making me tear up at several points, is this. They chose not to include the only black witch in the book series. The author of the Book of the Raven in the book series is an ancient African woman who wrote her book to help women in need at any cost. She is renowned as a very powerful witch and is explicitly black. The film doesn't even try to allude to her. It feels as if they were scared to upset a specific group of people who refuse to practice what they preach. A specific group of people who fancy themselves witches while thinking the same way witch hunters of old and the villains of the book series thought.
Anyways, despite these awful exclusions the second film made, I really enjoyed the first one! It was really progressive for its time. The second film, while being very conservative for today, carried Sally’s storyline and emotional journey very commendably and is a beautiful film. I personally, and as the Conductor, just think that the books are better, in many ways. Although the first Practical Magic movie is rightfully considered a classic.
Final thoughts:
The generational story of Practical Magic is a testament to love; its joy, its pain, and its strength. I have enjoyed every version of this story, about these different generations of Owens sisters and their struggles with and against love. I really resonate with the message of ‘love whenever you can’. If you’re looking for a wholesome slice of life IP to dig into this is the series for you.
What is your favorite part of the Practical Magic series! There are so many good parts that this series just nails! Like when in ‘Magic Lessons’ the moment Samuel changes fate when he visits Maria in her cell after being charged with Witchcraft. PEEK storytelling that is immaculately set up and gave me chills!
Please read this series if you haven’t already! Also, talk to me if you have, I’d love to discuss all of the amazing things this book series does. Especially how it portrays women’s experiences throughout the ages. It is just so cool! It really made me fall in love with Witchcraft and magic used practically in everyday life.
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