Watching this series debut this weekend? It's based on the "Sword of Truth"
novels by Terry Goodkind. I've never read them, though I have several of the
books in that "gotta read this someday" stack. Seems they're taking it
seriously: filming is primarilty down in New Zealand, with Raimi and Tapert
("Hercules", "Xena") as two of the executive producers, and Disney-ABC behind
the distribution deal. iTunes is offering a free 30 -minute downloadable
preview of the series, and Lucy Lawless has done a video hosting spot too.
Check out the web site, it's pretty nice, with lots of video trailers you can
click on, including the first ten minutes of the pilot, as well as video shorts
featuring each of the major characters. In the upper right hand corner is a zip
code link to let you know when it will show in your area. It debuted Saturday
in many cities, and will debut today in others (Premieres at 6 pm today on WATL
in Atlanta, Martin). Like the old days of "Xena", the "Action Pack", e
tc., apparently the syndication deal will have it showing in different time
slots and channels around the country.
Don't know if it'll be just okay like "Beastmaster", or rise to the level of
"Hercules" and "Xena" when those shows were at their best, but hey--it's new
spec fiction on TV, so I'll give it a shot! Gotta be better than that new
"Crusoe" series that debuted last week!
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http://www.legendoftheseeker.com/characters.html
Richard Cypher was once but a simple woodsman, an expert tracker and explorer
of the trails that run through and around his home town of Hartland, located in
the province known as Westland. He was well liked by the townspeople, and
looked up to his older brother, Michael, the First Councilor. Their father,
George Cypher, raised the two boys after the death of his wife.
Life was an uneventful series of tasks and duties for Richard, until fate
brought him together with a mysterious and captivating female, Kahlan Amnell.
From a seemingly crazed old man, Zedd, the truth was soon revealed to Richard.
He is a child of prophecy, the first true Seeker the world has known in a
thousand years, destined to wield the powerful Sword of Truth and defeat the
evil tyrant Darken Rahl.
Kahlan Amnell. She is one of an ancient order of magical women known as
Confessors. Her people are sworn to find the truth, no matter how hard someone
may try to hide it. But Kahlan herself is a woman of many secrets. And her
mission was to locate the Seeker, the one prophesized to defeat Darken Rahl, an
evil ruler trying to enslave all in his dominion. Kahlan risked everything to
find Richard Cypher. But what she didnt expect was to develop feelings for
him.
With a single touch, Kahlan can make anyone confess the truth. And she can
command any man to do her bidding. However, those who confess to Kahlan also
fall hopelessly in love with her. It is her power. It is what makes people in
the Midlands respect Kahlan. Fear her. And it is Kahlans curse, for she finds
herself drawn to Richard, as he does to her. But theirs is a love that can
never be fulfilled. For Kahlan must endure the lonely life of a Confessor. And
her purpose is to make certain Richard realizes the destiny of the Seeker, to
stop the ruthless Darken Rahl. Nothing else matters for Kahlan, not even her
own happiness.
This is the embodiment of pure evil, in the face and golden form of a handsome
young man. Darken Rahl wants nothing less than total dominion over all of the
free world. He has expanded his empire of tyranny far beyond his homeland of
DHara and into the Midlands, town by town, person by person. In the words of
the wizard Zedd: "Rahls cruelty, his joy in the agonizing pain of others, is
equaled only by the mask of gentleness he wears to draw his victims into his
spell, and then enslave them forever."
Through the use of dark magic and sorcery, evil wizards, duplicitous
collaborators and legions of soldiers, Rahl has stopped at nothing to achieve
his ultimate goal. And nothing stands in his way, except the prophecy of the
Seeker. This is the one man who can take down Darken Rahl, free the people
enslaved under his rule and restore peace to the world. Now that Richard Cypher
is revealed to be the true Seeker, Rahl has targeted him for death. Two men on
a collision course with destiny. Only one will survive.
