Legend of the Seeker (LOS) is one of those boats that I missed the first time around. I mean it’s on Syndicated television and these days it’s not so easy to find syndicated programming. Whenever I turn on DC20, DC’s local indie station, the only thing on are bad tv movies on the weekend. I watched one episode of the Season 1 DVD set and was hooked. Who says swashbucklers are dead? LOS is probably the best television show that I’ve watched in a few years, it has everything – action, adventure, romance, magic, mystery and it all makes for a perfect mix.
The producers of the show market it as being from the same people behind Xena and Hercules, I’ll admit I’ve never seen an episode of either of those shows but from what I’ve heard those two shows are camp, LOS is many things, campy is not one of them. The thing that amazed me about LOS is how surprisingly brutal it is, it definitely pushes the envelope of television standards. The swordplay and fight choreography is outstanding, every time our hero Richard "The Seeker" Cypher (Craig Horner) and his sidekick the Mother Confessor Kahlan Amnell (Bridget Regan) go into action it’s truly a sight to behold.
Sam Raimi is one of the Executive Producers of this show so you know the production quality is going to be top notch. The two leads in this are ridiculously hot and they have great chemistry together. LOS is based on the popular Terry Goodwin’s "Sword of Truth" series and is about a simple farm boy (why are farm boys always simple?) who discovers that he’s destined to free the world from the tyrant Darken Rahl (Craig Parker). Season 1 is based on the first volume, Wizards First Rule, and the upcoming season 2 will be based on the 2nd volume. S
The Seeker is gifted a magical sword called "The Sword of Truth," which is supposed to give Richard special powers, but the series is never too clear on what these powers are – I’m assuming it’s his sudden ability to be able to kick ass. To help him in his quest is his Confessor, Kahlan a woman who is gifted with the power to make people confess and to bend them to her will and an old Wizard named Zeddicus Zu’l Zorander (Bruce Spence). Yes the series is filled with "clichés," but in this day and age what fantasy or literary work is "original?" There were several episodes that I found really shocking like this one where Richard was captured and brutally tortured and the season finale also came as a surprise.
I never read the Novels this series is based on so I can’t say what’s changed from the books, but based on reviews of the series it is significantly different and is a "pale" imitation. This show is a fine example of what I always say about adaptations, they should be able to stand on their own and work without any prior knowledge of the source material. If they work, they should make you want to go out and read the books. LOS did just that, after being obsessed with this show on DVD last week, I went out and purchased the first three volumes of the Sword of Truth series – these are some hefty tomes!
The DVD includes all 22 Season One episodes, but is light on the extras it includes a little making of featurette, deleted scenes, some episode commentaries and an interview with Terry Goodkin who gave me the heeby jeebies. I’m down for Season Two which starts in November.
Grades
- TV Show Grade – A
- Video Quality – A
- Features – C
Final Overall Grade – A
EM Review by
Michelle Alexandria
Originally posted 10.31.09