by Deidra Kathleen Sunday 30th October 2022

Fate: The Winx Saga Season 2 – Yay or Nay?

For those who did not read my review of the first season of Fate: The Winx Saga – suffice it to say that it left me wanting more. As someone who excitedly woke up Saturday mornings to watch the cartoon that inspired this series, the first season was undoubtedly a slight metaphorical twisting of a knife to my nostalgic fangirl heart.

Yet I found comfort in the change of format from season one to season two. Season two was transformed into a more ensemble-esque tale – for the better. I think it incredibly smart of the storytellers to have leaned into that format. The supporting characters were my favorite part of the first season and the animated show definitely made use of the other characters a lot more as well. My only disappointment lays in the depiction of Terra and perhaps how many times Bloom says, “Dragon flame.” We get it.

In regards to Terra – to put it bluntly, just because she is plus-sized and her powers are earth-related does not automatically mean her costume design must be homely. It is bad enough that there seems to be a rule in most TV shows that there only need be one plus size person in each ensemble – i.e. Criminal Minds, Gilmore Girls, Seinfeld, Lost, The Nanny, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, The Bold Type…etc. And there are many more shows without any plus-sized main cast members or regulars at all: Friends, Bones, Gossip Girl, Angel, NCIS…etc.

So for the second season of Fate: The Winx Saga to have the only plus-sized person have the homeliest costuming is frankly nothing short of disappointing and a bit cringey. The entire rest of the cast – including that of Flora, who mind you also has an earth-based power – get to wear fashionable costuming that still fits their character. No, not everyone need have fitted fashionable attire – but I do not think it a coincidence that Terra happens to be the only plus-sized actress in the main cast and is given the homeliest costuming.

Look, I am so incredibly ecstatic about the formatting changes Fate: The Winx Saga has done into making it a more shared inclusive show – but there is work to be done still. We can do better – show-wise and industry-wise. Putting a plus-sized actor or actress in non-form-fitting clothing is as inventive as putting a redhead in green clothing. It’s just more than a bit overdone.