Legend of the Seeker: Marked
6 Comments: Join In!
Over the summer and the early part of the fall, I decided to catch up on what is effectively the only high fantasy series currently on TV, Legend of the Seeker. Given the generic sword and sorcery plot and the Sam Raimi production label I went in assuming Seeker would be a latter-day Hercules or Xena venture, which is to say campy and thoroughly disposable. What I discovered is that, while the show still leans heavily on genre conventions and has a mostly limited cast, Legend of the Seeker is actually a fairly entertaining series with a more engaging sensibility than its pulp origins suggest. Season 2 premiered this weekend, either on Saturday or Sunday depending on local broadcasters. I plan on covering the show every week, if only because I don't think Seeker really gets the critical attention it deserves.
So, let's get the super-condensed recap out of the way. There's this sword-wielding hero named Richard Cypher, aka The Seeker, who was destined to kill his half-brother, an evil sorcerer named Darken Rahl. With the help of his grandfather, the great wizard Zeddicus Z'uhl Zorander (Zedd) and a woman named Kahlan who has the ability to magically pry the truth from people, Richard spent the first season fulfilling this destiny. Now what?
Well, now star Craig Horner has an awful beard and Seeker has a second season that I seriously doubt anyone thought it would actually achieve. There are few recipes for ratings more toxic than a high fantasy serial featuring mostly no-name actors that airs on a chain of UHF stations on one of several weekend afternoon slots. Without the Internet and DVR, I'm sure Legend of the Seeker would have died an unmourned death a year ago, if it would have aired at all.
Now that the show that should have failed has a whole season to fill even though the sole purpose of its protagonist was fulfilled at the end of Season 1, it's time to tie some knots. First, Craig Parker has a new contract as the ghost of Darken Rahl, now an agent of a vague, evil entity called The Keeper who rules the underworld and has a yen to consume all that lives. Also joining the cast is Tabrett Bethell as Cara, a still sorta evil warrior/witch who pretty much stole the show in the finale. She's going to be joining Richard on his journey for a new magical MacGuffin that will supposedly close the new rifts to the underworld. Also, she'll be upping the sexy factor of the show and generally making Kahlan look like the disapproving schoolmarm that she is.
We've got a new bad guy, a new sidekick and a new prophecy, which is to be expected. As an added bonus, Seeker seems to have retained its tenuous hold on philosophical quandaries, too. Seemingly doomed to be a curse on everything he touches, Richard gets a friendly reminder from Ghost Rahl that, however good his intentions, he's still just a guy who kills a good dozen people every week. It's nice to see the writers haven't ignored that issue.
Best Moment: When Cara killed the snippy Mord'Sith played by Charisma Carpenter, if only because I've never understood why anyone ever cast her in anything. She was insufferable on Buffy, easily the weakest part of Angel and she can't act her way out of a paper bag. Seriously, even her death scene was wooden.
Notes: Craig Horner's beard is the worst thing to happen to this show since the clip episode, but Tabrett Bethell is the best thing to happen since Bridget Regan's skinny dipping scene, so it all balances out.
Episode Rating: 4/5- Like any good premiere, we have a season's worth of plot points jammed into 42 minutes of show, only about five of which were devoted to talky exposition. The fight scenes are still impressive and it looks like the effects budget has been increased, so I think Season 2 has potential. I hope you'll all watch along with me.
Comments
Um, the writers didn't have
Um, the writers didn't have to come up with a general plot for season two. And Richard's sole purpose was not to kill Darken Rahl; his destiny is bigger than that (excuse the awful cliche). For future reference, Legend of the Seeker is based on the Sword of Truth books by Terry Goodkind. That's where most of the plotlines come from. There are eleven books; Darken Rahl dies at the end of the first one. So there was never a "so what now?" question.
Cara is not a witch; she is a Mord Sith. Mord Sith can control magic that is directed at them. They are not born with this power; it is given to them as they are being tortured out of their minds.
And Kahlan doesn't magically pry the truth out of people. She takes the basic spark of love that is inside all human beings and makes it explode. This "explosion of love" obliterates the person's soul. So they become a slave to their confessor. The confessor can make them tell truth, or in Kahlan's case make them drop dead of cardiac arrest on the spot with a simple command.
But I agree with you on Craig's beard although his character does grow one in the second book.
Prophesies
How did you take the fact that Richard is now prophesied to fail?
New prophecy
First off, I'd like to thank everybody for their comments. It's always nice to see a lively group of readers. I'd like to respond to some of the questions and concerns in this thread.
Concerning any inaccuracies in my review, chalk it up to not having enough space to completely unpack the mythology of the Sword of Truth series, or for that matter having faith that the screen adaptation will always follow the action in the books (and it has strayed here and there).
As for the new prophecy that dooms Richard to fail, I wholeheartedly embrace it. My biggest problem with the story in the first season was that Richard was a can't-lose stereotype of a hero who always assumed he was doing the right thing. Adding a layer of doubt and darkness to his character can only be a good thing.
Thanks again to everyone for your comments. Keep reading and participating.
Cara
After reading the books...Cara, to me, is the best character...so loyal..a true friend...and Tabreth is the PERFECT person to portray her...lookng forward to Season 2!
The Plot
The series is actually LOOSELY based on a series of books called "The Sword Of Truth". Now, let me emphasize the "loosely based" part. The book series is actually MUCH better than the show, though the show is entertaining. Much like a movie based on a book, the plot is considerably different, though somehow hinged together, and reading the books almost ruin the show because the show changes so much of the story and characters. Example" Darken Rahl was actually Richard's father in the books, not his half-brother. Kind of a big deal. Just something to note. The show is great though! LOL
Great series, great episode
I thought the season premiere was one of the best episodes of the series so far and hope that they can carry this momentum throughout the rest of the season. As for ratings, Syfy channel needs to pick this up and give it a primetime spot. They've already aired season one episodes so it's really not too big of a leap and could really give this show the shot in the arm it needs to continue on with a third and fourth season.
As cheesy as the writing and acting can be at certain brief moments throughout an episode, Legend of the Seeker is still one of my favorite shows on television. The characters and environments are what really draw me into the series, and I'd be really saddened to see it canceled before getting a few more seasons under its belt.