The Witch from Mercury Secreia is a captivating tale of mystery and magic. Set in a small village on the planet Mercury, the story revolves around a witch named Seraphina and her journey to uncover the secrets behind her hidden powers. Seraphina, a young and innocent girl, becomes aware of her ability to manipulate the elements at a very early age. However, instead of embracing her powers, she is shunned and feared by the villagers who label her as a witch. Determined to prove her worth, Seraphina embarks on a quest to find the answers she seeks. As she delves deeper into her quest, Seraphina discovers that her powers are linked to an ancient prophecy.

They Call Me Magic review – Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson is calm, pleasant and lacking a sense of humour

This drama-free, non-gripping documentary on the basketball star’s career sees him chuckling at banal anecdotes and breezing so easily through life that there’s only one winner – and it’s not the viewer

I n the fourth and final episode of They Call Me Magic (Apple TV+), Earvin “Magic” Johnson – one of the finest basketball players of all time – sits comfortably, smiles widely and assesses his own merits. “All the things I was on the basketball court, I am as a businessman. Disciplined. Focused. Building a strategy.” While these may well be the qualities needed to become a multimillionaire sporting hero, they are not the traits that make for a gripping sports documentary.

They Call Me Magic is a story of obstacles overcome, but Johnson hurdles them all so easily that no drama develops. He grows up in an honest, blue-collar family in Lansing, Michigan, his mother working in a school cafeteria while his father does long shifts at a car plant. Honing his basketball skills in pickup games against grown men, Earvin Johnson Jr soon has scalpers trading tickets outside his high school matches, is given the nickname “Magic” and proceeds smoothly to college level, where he leads Michigan State to the 1979 NCAA championship. The cloud of his unglamorous upbringing clears.

Johnson skips the final year of college and turns pro, joining the Los Angeles Lakers and helping them reach the 1980 NBA finals. When star player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar gets injured and is absent for the crucial Game 6, the 20-year-old Johnson takes over, operating out of position at center instead of point guard and turning in one of the greatest single-game performances in NBA history. The Lakers win and go on to dominate the 1980s, with Johnson coming out on top in his rivalry with the Boston Celtics’ Larry Bird. Meanwhile, Magic enjoys the celebrity lifestyle, refusing for years to commit to childhood sweetheart, Cookie, although in interview this doesn’t seem to have caused Cookie Johnson – so we know how that story ends – any great distress. Magic is worth dutifully waiting for: he’s busy being the best.

It’s not obvious as to how exactly Johnson ruled his sport since, although it has plenty of cracking archive footage of the media hoopla around the Lakers, the series features hardly any basketball action. Perhaps it’s afraid of alienating those with little knowledge of a game that, because it is high-scoring and based on gradually asserted supremacy rather than spectacular moments, is hard to sum up in clips. Combine basketball’s opacity with the blandly pleasant positivity of the interviewees, and you have a documentary where everything seems to just happen naturally.

Johnson is a calm, pleasant presence throughout, often laughing heartily at the end of the most banal anecdotes, in the manner of someone who has never failed for long enough to sharpen a sense of humour. The way serious issues pose virtually no threat to him does, however, border on comical. The NBA at the dawn of the 1980s is a ratty spectacle blighted by violence, scant live TV coverage and racial tensions, but Johnson’s arrival seems to fix all this overnight. The shock of him being diagnosed as HIV positive in 1991 leads only to a brief period of introspection before he cheerfully embraces the challenge of destigmatising the condition. Even the Rodney King riots in LA serve mainly as inspiration for Johnson’s post-retirement entrepreneurialism, giving him the idea to open cinemas, gyms and Starbucks franchises in previously desolate inner cities. This goes so well that he ends up buying the LA Dodgers, who duly win baseball’s World Series. Which is nice.

Any personal demons are soon straightened out, while Johnson’s enemies are charmed or easily vanquished, or both. The closest the Magic story has to an antagonist is probably Isaiah Thomas, the Detroit Pistons point guard who is Johnson’s practice buddy in the off season for years, until the Pistons face the Lakers in the 1988 NBA Finals. Johnson remorselessly smashes Thomas on the court, their friendship ends, and the Magic carnival moves frictionlessly on. You long for him to display the childish inadequacy of Paul Gascoigne, the cold supervillain vibes of Tom Brady or the addiction to conflict of Michael Jordan. Not that Jordan has any conflict with Johnson, despite helping to end his career by succeeding him as the NBA’s most dominant player: they hug after matches and then team up as the USA flatten all comers at the 1992 Olympics.

The makers of They Call Me Magic can essentially get whoever they like to appear, such is Johnson’s pull, giving the show a rich, luxury feel. The Lakers superfan celebrating how the team lit up life in his tough LA neighbourhood? Snoop Dogg. The old guy who remembers how big a deal it was when the NCAA regional final saw his local team, Arkansas, take on Larry Bird’s Indiana side? Bill Clinton. Barack Obama pops up a couple of times to say nothing of note.

Earvin “Magic” Johnson is the cream, the best, on a level above the A list – but when there’s such an overwhelming winner, there’s no sport.

They Call Me Magic

Common Sense Media reviewers include writers, editors, and child development experts. They're trained in creating high-quality parenting advice based on best practices in child development.

Docuseries depicts a superstar's incredible life blandly.

As she delves deeper into her quest, Seraphina discovers that her powers are linked to an ancient prophecy. Legend has it that a chosen one with exceptional abilities will rise to save the planet from imminent destruction. Realizing the weight she carries, Seraphina becomes more determined to fulfill her destiny.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Positive messages about perseverance, activism, an

Focuses on subjects who show leadership, accountab

Focuses on the men in and around Johnson's basketb

Limited to small incidents on the basketball court

A lot of talk about sex as part of the discussion

Consumerism is limited to promoting the NBA and so

Drinking, drug use, and smoking are not shown, but

Parents need to know that They Call Me Magic is a documentary series about NBA superstar Magic Johnson, from his early days on the Lakers to his evolution into an activist for HIV research. Magic's story, and especially his activism and charitable work, are fascinating and worth learning about, even if the…

Positive Messages

Positive Role Models

Diverse Representations

Focuses on the men in and around Johnson's basketball career, with some attention given to his wife, Cookie. Though there is racial diversity among the interviewees, race is not a topic of discussion.

Violence & Scariness

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide. Get started Close

Sex, Romance & Nudity

A lot of talk about sex as part of the discussion around Magic contracting HIV. However, sex is not talked about explicitly. Interviewees and archival footage only talk about sex in generalities and focus on implications.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide. Get started Close

Products & Purchases

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide. Get started Close

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that They Call Me Magic is a documentary series about NBA superstar Magic Johnson, from his early days on the Lakers to his evolution into an activist for HIV research. Magic's story, and especially his activism and charitable work, are fascinating and worth learning about, even if the docuseries doesn't go too deep beneath the story's surface. True to Magic's personal brand, the series keeps profanity to a minimum and only vaguely discusses about sex and other edgy topics.

Along her journey, Seraphina encounters various allies and adversaries. She befriends an intelligent and resourceful young man named Lucas, who becomes her loyal companion. Together, they face numerous challenges, including dangerous mythical creatures, treacherous landscapes, and dark sorcerers. As Seraphina embraces her role as the chosen one, her powers grow stronger. She learns to harness the energy of the elements, mastering spells and potions that aid her in her quest. But as her abilities increase, so does the danger surrounding her. The dark sorcerers, fearful of her potential, seek to eliminate her before she fulfills the prophecy. The climax of the story occurs when Seraphina confronts the leader of the dark sorcerers, a formidable and wicked witch named Morgana. In an epic battle of strength and will, Seraphina uses her newfound powers to defeat Morgana and save the planet from destruction. In the end, Seraphina emerges victoriously, with the villagers now recognizing and celebrating her as a hero rather than a witch. She brings peace and prosperity to Mercury Secreia, using her abilities to protect and heal the planet. The Witch from Mercury Secreia is a tale of self-discovery, courage, and the triumph of good over evil. It explores themes of acceptance, destiny, and the power of belief. Through Seraphina's journey, readers are reminded of the strength that lies within each individual and the potential to change the world..

Reviews for "The Witch from Mercury Seceia: An Unlikely Heroine"

1. John - 2/5 - I was really looking forward to reading "Witch from Mercury Seceia" as I'm a fan of fantasy novels. However, I found this book to be a major disappointment. The plot was poorly developed and lacked depth. The characters felt one-dimensional and I couldn't connect with any of them. The writing style was also underwhelming, with clichéd dialogue and repetitive descriptions. Overall, the book failed to grab my attention and I struggled to finish it.

2. Sarah - 3/5 - "Witch from Mercury Seceia" had an interesting premise that initially caught my attention. However, as I delved deeper into the story, I found myself growing frustrated with the lack of character development. The protagonist felt flat, and her decisions often felt irrational. The pacing was also inconsistent, with some parts dragging on and others feeling rushed. While the book had potential, it fell short of my expectations. I would recommend it only to readers who are willing to overlook these flaws in favor of the unique setting.

3. Michael - 2/5 - The concept of "Witch from Mercury Seceia" seemed intriguing, but the execution was severely lacking. The writing was average at best, with awkward phrasing and grammatical errors that made it hard to immerse myself in the story. The plot was predictable, and the characters were uninspiring, lacking depth or growth. It felt like a generic fantasy novel that failed to bring anything new to the genre. Overall, I found the book to be forgettable and would not recommend it to others.

4. Emily - 1/5 - I couldn't finish "Witch from Mercury Seceia" as it was simply not my cup of tea. The story lacked originality and I found the writing to be dull and uninspiring. The pacing was slow, and the plot failed to capture my attention. The characters felt flat and uninteresting, with no depth or complexity. I was hoping for an exciting and engaging fantasy read, but this book fell short in every aspect. I would not recommend it to anyone looking for an enjoyable fantasy novel.

The Ancient Legend of the Witch from Mercury Seceia