Jonathan M. Shiff created the children’s fantasy drama “The Bureau of Magical Things”, where a girl named Kyra Glen becomes half-fairy, half-elf after touching a book. The show stars Kimie Tsukakoshi, Mia Milnes, and Elizabeth Cullen, and it aired on Eleven in Australia from 2018 to 2021. Its second season premiered on 10 Shake in July 2021, and it streams online on 10 and 10 Shake.
A girl named Kyra, a perfectly normal teenager, finds herself drawn into a hidden realm of magic when she touches a strange book. This contact turns her into a Tri-ling, a being composed of human, fairy, and elf traits, while also granting her remarkable magical abilities. The setup of the story is straightforward: long ago, the human and magic worlds lived side by side in peace. As technology grew, however, the magic world was forced into retreat, and fairies and other magical creatures were driven to the point of becoming endangered species. Someone hopes to reverse that decline and bring magic back to its proper standing.
Trailer, via Nickelodeon.
The Premise
Kyra discovers a danger that threatens both the human and magic worlds, and she must work to bring together humans, elves, and fairies in order to save all three realms. The central question of “The Bureau of Magical Things” concerns the identity of the mysterious figure and how they plan to carry out their scheme. As the Bureau digs deeper into the case, they unearth secrets from both the human and magic worlds that no one could have anticipated.
The core premise is what drives the whole series. It gives Kyra a purpose that goes beyond her transformations, and it gives the Bureau a clear objective beyond merely battling monsters or working through puzzles. The show reaches its peak when it focuses on that central tension, and it falters whenever it wanders from it.
The Cast and Characters
Kyra Glen is played by Kimie Tsukakoshi, who leads the cast as the woman whose life turns upside down after touching the book. Mia Milnes takes on the role of Lily Reegan, and Elizabeth Cullen plays Imogen Blackwell. Julian Cullen plays Darra Blackwell, Rainbow Wedell plays Ruksy Tevala, Jamie Carter plays Peter, Christopher Sommers plays Professor Maxwell, and Nicholas Bell plays Sean Reegan.
This fantasy series targets a young audience with a light tone and heavy reliance on comedy and adventure to hold their attention. The stakes are high throughout, yet the show hardly ever takes itself too seriously.
The Two Seasons
Australia’s Eleven carried the show first, with its premiere landing on 8 July 2018, and it ran until 2 November 2018. In the United States, Nickelodeon picked it up, debuting the series on 8 October 2018, before shifting it to TeenNick, where it aired from 15 October to 8 November 2018. A second season renewal arrived in November 2019, and that return engagement began on 10 July 2021 on 10 Shake, concluding its run by 8 August 2021.
| Season | Network | Premiere Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | Eleven | 8 July 2018 | 2 November 2018 |
| Season 2 | 10 Shake | 10 July 2021 | 8 August 2021 |
The show’s total runtime spans 40 episodes across two seasons.
What Works and What Doesn’t
The show’s strengths are its premise and its cast. Kyra’s transformation is the kind of magical origin story that works for children, and the show handles it with warmth and wonder. The relationships between Kyra, Lily, Imogen, and the others feel genuine, and the show invests time in building the Bureau’s dynamic as a team of friends working together.
Building the world between humans and magic is where the show truly stands out. It takes its time looking at both sides, showing how technology has forced magic into retreat and put magical creatures in danger. This context makes the central mystery carry weight, even during stretches where the plot drags.
Not everything about the series works perfectly. A few episodes move slowly, especially those that devote extra time to monster-of-the-week adventures instead of pushing forward the bigger mystery. The pacing isn’t always consistent, and some storylines don’t get as much development as the main thread does. The show also depends a great deal on its premise, so once Kyra’s transformation is set in stone, there is less room left for surprise.
Here is a ranking of the show’s strongest elements:
- The premise and its central mystery
- The chemistry between Kyra, Lily, Imogen, and the others
- The world-building of the coexisting human and magic worlds
- The comedy and adventure aimed at young audiences
Final Verdict
“The Bureau of Magical Things” is a solid, if uneven, children’s fantasy series. It has a strong premise, a likable lead, and a dedicated group of friends, but it struggles with pacing and occasional filler. The show is at its best when it stays focused on the central mystery, and at its worst when it wanders into side quests.
The series reflects the era in which it was made and the viewers it was built for, and it accomplishes its goals within those limits. Families searching for a cheerful, fanciful show to enjoy together will find “The Bureau of Magical Things” suits their needs well. It has a clear sense of what kind of story it wants to tell and carries out that plan with assurance, though the results sometimes fall short of the ambition.
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