SyFy's Legend Quest

Cafe Society
1

I was flipping through the channels when I came upon SyFy’s “Legend Quest.” From the onscreen TV guide description, I was sort of expecting “Destination Truth” minus the ghosts. Something that was only a little sensationalistic. That flew out the window…fast.

The first segment was about the Ark of the Covenant supposedly being in Ethiopia. So, the host goes to Lalibela to speak to a priest and see the churches hewed from rock (Why can’t we have a special on them?). Right away, he sees symbols, such as the double headed eagle and Maltese cross, for the old Knight Templar trope. He never gives a thought that double headed eagle might be related to the Orthodox Church and the Byzantine Empire. Also, he goes off to Italy and France to search for the Ark, totally ignorant to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church belief that the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion in Axum has the Ark. Nope, every rectangular shape in the floor was a hiding place for the Ark. One got the impress he’d jumped at the floor tiles at the local eateries.

I wish SyFy would would stick to regular science fiction shows such as Warehouse 13 and Eureka and just forget about these types of shows.

2

I found it rolling on the floor hilarious. I love a good juicy conspiracy theory, or whack woo theory. Usually I have to get my fix on the Hitler Channel with something like Ancient Aliens, this was refreshing =) That nutjob has never cracked a book on symbolism in his life.

3

I thoroughly enjoyed it! It isn’t tenure-worthy scholarship, for sure, but it is a fun frolic with plenty of historical details and pseudo-scientific jargon. I learned two new words: cenote and plinth. Can’t argue with that! And all those drums on the soundtrack were bitchin!

I guess it goes into the “guilty pleasure” category. I’ve set up a series recording.