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.