The Shannara Chronicles: Season One

I had not heard great things about the series. So, I went into it with low expectations.The series easily beat my low bar.First, there is an amazing set of actors and actresses in the film including: Manu Bennett (played Killshot in Arrow), John Rhys-Davies (played Gimli in LotR, and starred in a zillion fantasy computer games), Jed Brophy, and the list goes on.Second, it truly is an ensemble production. No single character dominates the series. There are journeymen actors playing the principal roles while legends play the supporting cast. It worked and worked well.Third, some of the other reviews had a negative view of the teenage angst filling the series. I did not find it overwhelming. It is there, but the teenage characters are facing life and death situations, largely without supporting adults.Fourth, the scenery is absolutely gorgeous. The props and sets are incredible as well as the natural shots in New Zealand.Finally, yes, it is very different than the books. The first season spans several books. Some plots are handled, and some are ignored or truncated. That is OK. Unlike Game of Thrones where the plot twists were telegraphed in the books, the main elements were clear to everyone from the first episode, but how they got to the results varied some from the books.** Minor Spoilers Follow **The premise of Shannara flows from a school of fantasy and science fiction from the 1960s-70s when the threat of nuclear Armageddon was real and ubiquitous. Writers tend to deal with real world problems by subsuming them into the plots of their novels. Fred Saberhagen, Terry Brooks, and a host of others took the view that if nuclear war occurred (and most thought that it was a matter of when, not if) then the world zeitgeist would respond by unleashing its "magic."In Shannara, nuclear exchange took place, released magic, and transformed the human genetic tree into a bevy of mythical humanoids. The last remnants of the nuclear, destructive energies are the demons.Naturally, the other races, knowing that humans nearly destroyed the mother Earth, do not treat the humans well.If the demons are all released then the Earth will finally be destroyed.In the books ... this reveal did not occur until well into the series and even then was largely a behind the scenes, world building secret. (And, while cool, you could safely read the books without realizing this and still enjoy them.)In the series ... it is on the nose with the viewer from the opening credits. This leads to a few, tough to suspend disbelief moments when you jump from finding things that look about two years old to finding that they are thousands of years old.Still, the writing is good, the acting is superb, and the props and sets are simply amazing.Well done!

For those uninitiated into the Shannara saga, I'd recommend reading the books if even to get the setting and history upon which this series is based. I, for one, like the modern twist to this series. Great job on the casting as the dialogue has quite a blend of modern humor and flipancy that makes the characters believable was well as easy to relate to. It's amazing what set designers and costume designers have done in creating this netherworld based off of Terry Brooks' much loved books. I'll be watching the series unfold on a weekly basis.

A story placed in the future of a world after man has somehow destroyed what we see today, when elves and trolls and demons live among men.I think it's worth a 9, but since that's not available, I went higher rather than lower.I have not read the books, so have no opinion on the transition. But I've enjoyed the storyline so far, the characters, most of the acting. So far the FX have not been distracting, altho I expect more challenges as the episodes move along.Obviously aimed @ Y/A, but enough substance for all audiences. All in all, a decent answer to our hunger for fantasy/romance. I hope the quality doesn't diminish and that it goes on for a few seasons. Thankfully mostly absent of the "don't go into the basement alone! while they do just that" moments.Slightly better than some other current offerings along the same lines.

I liked the books, read the first three a long time ago and like the series. great casting, acting and scenery/ special effects. they really worked hard to recreate a fantasy series and bring it to life. great job 5 stars.

Not a bad whimsical fantasy, Lord of the Rings kind of a genre , but nice CG and a story line that did not have to get down into the sewer to be entertaining ...hopefully they keep it that way

Absolutely LOVED this series!! Looking forward to the next one....which I hope they continue!!

After watching the entire season I downgraded the series the bloodfire and deserted high school? really .. guns and a truck?

My huaband says its a bit "teenager" but he likes it- so i think thats why we both like it haha

One of the best fantasy ersies that I have seen, I wish mythica had the same treatment. Its no game of thrones, but they rarely are that good.I don't understand why this was randomly cancelled after 2 full seasons. This was definitely worthwhile viewing, and I wish they filmed more.It could have easily ended with 2 seasons, however, stating "to be continued" indicates that a 3rd season was planned.

Welcome to the Shannara Chronicles,the latest LOTR rip-off to come down the track,complete with CGI enhanced New Zealand landscapes,cheesy anachronistic dialogue and recycled Tolkien tropes. I'm really selling it,aren't I? Actually,it's pretty good fun(ish)and it does have one intriguing twist. This imagined world,The Four Lands, is set in a post-apocalyptic Earth,thousands of years hence,rather than in some distant, mythic past. Rusting relics of 21st century civilization litter the landscape,including the wrecked Golden gate Bridge and a supertanker lying on a hill! Mostly though,this Earth has returned to a medieval past,where magic has supplanted science(with a few exceptions),a world inhabited by humans, elves,trolls and gnomes. The forces of darkness-demons and the like-are kept at bay by a giant mystical tree which must be protected.Now it has started to die,and heroes must rise and go on a quest to find the new seed,restore the tree and yadda yadda. Lead character is Will,last of the Shannara,played by lightweight blond pretty-boy Terry Austin,who will keep the teenage fangirls happy,and is adequate. Opposite him is as elven princess Amberleigh(a name that sounds like a Radio 4 soap opera)is the rather pallid Poppy Drayton. Her character is "The Chosen"(yeah I know,I know). Adding much more heft is Manu Bennett from Spartacus,playing the obligatory cut-rate Gandalf,namely The Druid,a magical mentor awoken from a decades-long sleep to initiate the quest and guide the young heroes. The producers clearly wanted gruff,stern but sympathetic and gravelly-voiced Manu certainly delivers. Completing the main players is uber-babe Ivana Baquero as Rover(outlaw)Eritreia. You might have seen Ivana as a young girl starring in that wonderful Spanish film Pan's Labyrinth. Well ,she's grown up in a most delightful way-complete with perfect US accent- and is now officially an Eleven(that's eleven,not elven). She's also spirited and athletic and thoroughly outshines MIss Drayton. These four are given stalwart support by stalwart supporting actor John Rhys-Davies as the Elf King. There's also a nice turn from James Remar who plays the rascally Rover chieftain. Together the questers face many perils,forge relationships and well,you know the drill. Be warned that this show has a sometimes alarming propensity for killing off major characters at regular intervals-often at the business end of a large demon sword-so don't get too attached to anyone. Except for Ivana,naturally. Also be advised that there's a revelation near the end that will make you wonder whether the great quest was strictly necessary,but I won't spoil that delightful surprise for you. Apart from Miss Baquero's leather-clad awesomeness,what elevates Chronicles from complete banality is the aforementioned landscapes,which are truly breathtaking and mythic,and the music,a lovely blend of well-chosen folky pop and a stately,rather haunting electronic score. What else? Let me see. Oh yes,did I mention that Ivana Baquero is awesome? So there it is-Shannara Chronicles or chronic shenanigans? See it and decide for yourself. Or not. Call me,Ivana(no,not call me Ivana.....)

I bought this from amazon uk so assumed it was suitable but it is for region A only and the UK is region B. Don't buy this unless you have a blu ray player that plays all regions.

the story was goodI had watched first few episodes on TVand liked it so got the dvd,s

Perfect condition, good service, thanks