The Shannara Chronicles

7.7/ 10

41 min

Description

Runtim:

41 min

2016 - 2017

The Shannara Chronicles is an American fantasy series on Paramount Network. The series premiered January 5th 2016.

A young Healer armed with an unpredictable magic guides a runaway Elf in her perilous quest to save the peoples of the Four Lands from an age-old Demon scourge.

Awards: The Best New Series of 2016

This column is intended to give some extra information regarding the nomination for the best new series of 2016. From Thursday, 5 January until Saturd...

5 January 2017, 08:26

Popular comments (21)

anonymous

7 February 2016

The Young Adult mafia has struck again. If they had all their hands around the graceful waists of Jennifer Lawrence and Shailene Woodley, now they also lurk on the small screen for careless teenagers. At least, actors who are supposed to be teenagers. The Shannara Chronicles could well be called The Catwalk Chronicles. MTV clearly hasn't shopped in Ugly Town. The series is based on the Shannara books by Terry Brooks. Mister isn't much of a reader, so those books haven't been near my eyes. That's why I'd like to hear if this first episode (there are actually two packed in one, just like a Twix) is true to the source material. The spectacle begins when Princess Amberle (Poppy Drayton, Plebs) of Aborlon, an elf, is one of the lucky ones counted among the Chosen (the chosen ones). For that she had to participate in a race, which was actually only intended for men. But Amberle has eaten girl power (or a lot of Danoontje) and can now join six other chosen ones. The chosen ones are the guards of the Ellcrys, a tree that has banished an army of demons to The Forbidding. Let's call that hell for demons. Not long after, Amberle has visions when she touches the tree. She sees her people being slaughtered. After a new vision, she decides to leave Aborlon. Not long after, a Druid named Allanon (Manu Bennett, Spartacus) (at least he's someone who masters magic) wakes up from hibernation. His hair is combed and there is instant gel in it. He goes to Aborlon and warns the king of the disaster ahead. The big tree is dying. That means that a demon army puts on their shoes and polishes their weapons to go to battle. We are also introduced to ten-thirty Wil (Austin Butler, Switched at Birth) and a robber named Eretria (Ivana Baquero, Pan's Labyrinth). Wil, in particular, is essential to the story, as he descends from little guys who have played rescuers before. So it's up to our young heroes and old hand Allanon to save the world from the demons. There is more going on, but I don't want to get my feet in spoiler terrain. For those who see the name MTV stuck on this one: yes, the series clearly focuses on young adults, but the story is certainly interesting. The powerhouses among us shouldn't be ashamed if they secretly like this (I see you). Certainly no new story is being told. When you put on your critical glasses (not available at Specsavers), you can really grab your pencil and draw out where this is going. However, the series looks good and very nice locations are used. The camera therefore searches for the most beautiful places. The series, like The Lord of the Rings, was shot in New Zealand. The budget of the first episode is almost always higher than regular episodes (except sometimes the midseason / season finale), so it remains to be seen whether the series continues to look like this. The CGI can also be called solid. The acting gets better as the episode goes on. Leading actress Poppy Drayton is not really convincing yet, but Austin Butler and Ivana Baquero are doing much better. Both are talented young actors. Manu Bennett is a valuable addition to every series he appears in, and The Shannara Chronicles is no different. The rapport between Wil and Allanon is the most interesting relationship on the screen. Of course this is the prototype 'apprentice-will-be-teacher-eventually-surpass' story, but the actors complement each other nicely. The lightness that Wil tries to keep in it is particularly striking. The story and characters clearly follow a tried and tested formula, but it doesn't disturb you (yet). Now as a viewer you can only hope that MTV will succeed in telling the story in a permanently interesting way. In that respect I hope that the makers have watched The 100. A series with 'teenagers' in the lead who are confronted with terrible choices and dare to make them. Love troubles are to be expected in a series like this, but I hope the series will be careful with that. The series is already on familiar territory, so you should definitely not saddle the viewer with teenage annoyances. Then it becomes more difficult to condone the downsides. As I type this I realize that this series is of course aimed at viewers who might be interested in it. In that case, Mister has not said anything. Excuse my French! Whether The Shannara Chronicles will fill the void that Katniss has left behind is still unclear, but the beginning is certainly there. www.meneervevie.com

anonymous

10 January 2016

I've seen the first 2 episodes now, it looks good. acting is certainly not wrong so far. In the beginning I had my doubts whether I would start with this. But fortunately the actor Manu Bennett made this choice a lot easier. Already well worth a look!