Legend of the Seeker - does it get better? [season 1]

I’ve been meaning to give it a shot, even though I heard it got canceled. Apparently there is a fan campaign to save it.

Anyhoo, I’ve watched the first three eps of season one. It reminds me of Hercules and Xena, except without the wit, charm and humor. Herc & Xena had serious, dramatic and maybe even poignant moments, but they never really took themselves too seriously, and the dialogue was pretty clever at times.

Seeker? Not so much. Does it get better? So far, I’m kinda liking the bad guys more than the good guys. They’re better looking and don’t seem to take being evil too seriously. They’d probably be fun to hang out with if they didn’t, you know, kill you and stuff.

Well, the creators specifically were trying to avoid following in the not-taking-it-too-seriously footsteps of Hercules and Xena. So you might be out of luck. But Cara shows up at the end of Season 1, and she’s pretty damn hot.

I gave up on this show quite early, when it became obvious that they hadn’t an original idea or plot line anywhere. Dirivitive is an understatement.

It’s basically The Cleavage & Swords & Sorcery Show. Oh sure there are some little bits of story here and there, and grand quest to stop the X from doing Y to the Z, but it’s all just loose justification for corsets and interesting camera angles.

Not that this is necessarily a bad thing mind you.

I love it, but I really loved the pilot episode, so I’m obviously not in agreement with you.

It stays more or less the same, I guess.

I enjoy the show. It is not on my “must-watch” list, but I do find it entertaining. Plus, Bridget Regan is very easy on the eyes!

I think that it has been cancelled, however…

I’ve liked season two better than one. YMMV.

Isn’t this based on crazy whatshisface’s pseudo-Ayn Randian fantasy novels?

You guys know what I mean.

It’s based on Terry Goodkind’s Sword of Truth series.

Yeah, that. Do the characters go on about free will on the TV show as much as they do in the book?

Seriously, that series went so far off the rail in such a short time. The first couple books were like “la la la entertaining fantasy series” and then it was like “A=A” all over the place. How disappointing. But maybe the TV show is being cancelled before we get to the Randian speechifying.

Haven’t read the books, but they do not go on about free will much at all.

In the first episode the Wizard guy and the Confessor argued over the Seeker. The Wizard’s position was the boy should choose his own destiny, etc. and the Confessor was all about preparing him for his destiny whether he wanted it or not.

Sounded like a pretty normal argument, but if I watch any more I’ll pay attention to that.

Well, I’m kidding a little. I’m sure they left out the bizarre objectivism ranting the ruins the books out of the TV show.

Goodkind dedicates one of the books to CIA operatives, too. Yeah, I stopped reading them after that.

Yes, it does get better - a lot better. I think in the first season the series took itself a bit too seriously and struggled finding its identity. In season 2 Legend of the Seeker consistently delivers humour, epic action, and cleavage in large doses every single episode. They even did an episode written as a police procedural, and it worked!

This show has much higher production values than Xena or Hercules (neither of which I ever really enjoyed). The cinematography is often beautiful and whatever colour/light filters they use really deliver a gorgeous picture.

You cannot take this show completely seriously, but it is always entertaining. I do remember struggling through parts of the first season, but the second gets much better. The addition of Kara as a permanent cast member did wonders for the show and allowed it to find its centre.

EDIT: I am most emphatically not a fan of Terry Goodkind, the fantasy writer. But I enjoy this show, which is based on his Sword of Truth stories.

It has an often shirtless Crag Horner, what more do you want? Seeing him chopping wood in the pilot had me hooked for life.

I caught the show midway the first season. Amongst all the detective, medical and sitcom show, it was different. I was soon a fan. I have to agree that the show is better than the books.

I watched the porn episode. Episode 8 I believe, the one with the torture mistress in red leather B&D gear who trains her victims with a pain-inducing dildo? Yeah that one.

My goodness, this ain’t a kids’ show.

Well, it got better. Or grew on me. I’m almost all caught up on season two now. The addition of Cara was a great move. It’s too bad they couldn’t have kept the alternate Seeker around.

Was last night the series finale? I’ll probably watch that today.

Crap, that’s a bummer. I love the TV series, and have just started the first book, and so far it’s been great entertaining summer reading. I was hoping to have a few of them to read!

When does it get seriously bad? (I’ll stop reading before then).

And why the heck can’t there be a good fantasy series out there that doesn’t jump the shark and the author actually finishes?

Well, at least the show didn’t jump the shark. The finale was great!

I never did detect any heavy handed philosophizing about free will. There is the theme of the Seeker not believing in prophesies, but no more than any other show that has prophesies in it.

I haven’t read the books and probably never will. I"m not a big fantasy buff, but it’s fine for TV.

Who saw the finale? You can talk about it here if you want, since there isn’t another thread.