Janet, a character originating from The Magicians book series, is called Margo in the television adaptation primarily to avoid confusion with several other characters whose names also begin with the letter "J."
When the show premiered, this name change was one of the most immediate and noticeable adjustments for fans of the original books. The decision was made to streamline the viewer experience and prevent characters like Janet from being mistaken for others such as:
- Julia Wicker: A prominent and central character throughout the series.
- Jane Chatwin: Another significant character from the Fillory lore.
This strategic renaming to Margo Hanson helped create clearer distinctions among the main cast, ensuring that each character maintained a unique auditory and thematic identity within the narrative.
The Character Naming Distinction
The table below illustrates this specific naming convention change from the source material to the television series:
| Original Book Name | Television Show Name | Primary Reason for Change |
|---|---|---|
| Janet | Margo Hanson | To differentiate from other "J" names (Julia, Jane) |
This simple yet effective alteration highlights the production's effort to enhance clarity and accessibility for its audience, especially given the complex and expanding world of The Magicians.
