Fantasy - The True Seeker (Legend of the Seeker)

Member Name: Tingram2012

Product:	Legend of the Seeker
Date:	18/08/09 (38 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good characters

Disadvantages: Strays from the book alot

The Legend of the Seeker is a programme adapted by Sam Raimi based on the Sword of Truth Novels written by Terry Goodkind. The premiere of Legend of the Seeker could be watched on the 13 August 2009.

I am a big fan of The Sword of the Truth books and I am currently reading them for a second time. I saw the adverts for Legend of the Seeker and knew straight away I would have to watch them. I have now watched the first 2 series and plan on watching the next 2 on the 20 August 2009.

Story

Kahlan Amnell the Confessor of the Midlands has fought her away across the boundary to the Midlands in search of the great Wizard to ask him to name the Seeker of Truth. On crossing the boundary she is pursued by D'Haran Soldiers, those loyal to Darken Rahl who wishes to gain absolute power. Richard Cypher, a woodsguide see's Kahlan running from the soldiers and goes to help her. After the Soldiers are defeated she warns Richard to stay out of her way and not follow her where she goes or she will be forced to kill him.

Richard returns home to find that one of the D'Haran Soldiers survived, He has convinced Richard's Brother Michael, First Councillor of the Westlands that Richard has been touched by a witch and no longer is in control of his own will.

Richard escapes and heads to where Zedd lives, unbeknown to him, Zedd is the Great Wizard Kahlan is looking for. This is where Zedd informs Kahlan that Richard is the True Seeker. Richard is forced to accept his destiny and along with Kahlan and Zedd he must cross the boundary with the Book of Counted Shadows and defeat the power hungry Darken Rahl.

Cast
Richard Cypher (Craig Horner)
Kahlan Amnell (Bridget Regan)
Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander (Bruce Spence)
Darken Rahl (Craig Parker)
Chase (Jay Laga'aia)
Michael Cypher (David De Latour)

Richard Cypher is a simple woodsguide who lives in a place where there is no magic. When he meets Kahlan and Zedd his world is turned upside down as he finds out he is to be named the true seeker. He is an honest man that is in complete control of his emotions until he wields the Sword of Truth, magic that flows from his anger.

Kahlan Amnell is a Confessor of the Midlands, no one is equal in power to her. She is even more powerful than any King or Queen. One touch of a Confessors power will take away the will of a man and he will do what ever she commands, even if that is simply to 'die'.

Zedd is the First Wizard hiding out in the Westlands to keep a close eye on Richard as he knows from the moment he saw him at birth that he would be someone very special.

When I saw the adverts to this programme I thought 'I have to watch it' I also thought that the characters that they had picked were just not right. When I read books I usually get a good idea of what each character should look like which i'm sure many of you do.

When I watched the first episode I had to say some of my first thoughts went out the window. Bridget Regan was perfect for the role of Confessor. In the book Kahlan is supposed to be very regal looking and very pretty. Throughout the programme I realised that Regan portrayed exactly that in her character, her looks are not strikingly pretty but gentle.

The same has to be said about Richard, in the book I saw a bigger more handsome looking man to the one in the adverts for Legend of the Seeker and I didnt think he was right for the part at all. But in his first scene I was proven wrong. His first scene showed him chopping wood in the forest with no shirt on........He may not look it but under those clothes was a very nice six pack and I was won over instantly. Other than that he played his part extremely well and i could definitely see why they chose him.

Zedd on the other hand just baffled me. In the book I see him as a fragile looking old man who just looks comical (for want of a better word) but in the programme I found him quite scary looking and intimidating.

Now saying all that the programme is only loosely based on the book and when I say loosely I mean there is a lot thats different. I spent the whole first episode irritated and repeating the same three words, NO, NO, NO.

I was hoping that the programmed would not stray from the book too much but in my opinion it really did. I think they could have made a much better job of it as they had 22, 1 hour episodes (including breaks) to do just that.

I have to say though that anyone who hasnt read the book and like fantasy then you will really like this programme. I definitely will be watching it again as I live in hope that they will follow the book abit more closely, if not then I will try to enjoy it and not pick it apart as much as I already have. If you have read and loved the books like me then you may need to think twice about watching it, unless your completely open minded and know that what you see is not what you will have read.

I have only recently finished reading Wizards First Rule again so its very fresh in my mind which is what clearly fuelled my irritation.

The Legend of the Seeker is on on a Thursday evening at 8pm on the Sci Fi Channel.

Summary: You'll either love it or hate it