By Mike McCarthy
In the land of fantasy there are two authors that come to mind when it comes to Elf-kind: J.R.R. Tolkien and Terry Brooks.Tolkien’s books have become classic films and I am expecting the same to be said for Brooks’ books in the world of television. When you add in might and magic like what you would see in Star Wars regarding the Force, then you get the phenomenon that is The Shannara Chronicles. This is the first big budget episodic show that MTV has taken on, and it is already worthy of being put next to some of the great shows of this nature like Game of Thrones and Vikings.
We saw the first trailer for this epic show back at New York Comic Con and immediately were hooked on The Shannara Chronicles. During their panel, the love and support that the cast showed towards this show really shined through, especially the bond that co-stars Manu Bennett and Austin Butler had, on and off screen. Manu shared a very emotional story about the two of them that really showed that they were like brothers and how being on a show like this is not about work at all, but about camaraderie and a deep love of life, and for each other. This shows through with the on-screen chemistry these two have and makes it even better to watch and more powerful and meaningful.
Right from the very beginning the visual effects are breathtaking. You see what the Seattle Space Needle lying on it’s side. Moving in out of the beautiful rolling hills and boats that have run aground. The Stone birds that Amberle stands upon and that are scattered across what is known as Arborlon are glorious. Throughout the land there are rusted cars and helicopter parts from what seems like hundreds of years. The centerpiece of Arborlon is just as majestic, The Ellcrys. Game of Thrones has the stone throne, Lord of the Rings has Rivendell, Shannara has the Ellcrys. The Ellcrys is a tree that towers above the treetops and has the legend attached to it that as long as it survives, darkness and demons are kept away from the lands.
Princess Amberle ( Poppy Drayton) is training to become the first female to ever finish the Gauntlet to join the Order of the Chosen, the protectors of the Ellcrys. Amberle’s boyfriend, Lorin (Mattias Inwood) also finished the Gauntlet and becomes part of the Order, and was generally surprised that Amberle competed in the event. While being anointed into the Order, each Chosen much touch the Ellcrys to feel it’s power. When Amberle touches it she gets visions of the future, mostly about the Ellcrys being destroyed and everyone being killed by demons that have arisen. During the Gauntlet, Amberle was receiving types of visions that helped guide her to the end. That night there is a party for the Chosen and Amberle continues to get visions and goes back to the Ellcrys to see if the same thing happens as before. She gets another vision, this time of something else, of her stabbing Lorin in front of the Ellcrys. Once the visions start to occur of the Ellcrys dying, we meet the last Druid of Paranor, Allanon (Manu Bennett).
A half-human, half-elf, Wil Ohmsford (Austin Butler) is introduced when his dying mother hands him a bag of Elf Stones that once belonged to his drunk and depressed father. We learn later on that Wil’s father was a friend of Allanon’s and also a druid and one of the last Shannara, he kept the darkness away for many years prior. Allanon tells Wil that, “magic always comes with a price.” The price for Wil’s father was his sanity, and no one truly knew what he had done for the land. His father had mastered the Elf Stones that Wil has in his possession that has in actuality lead him to Allanon.
After Amberle’s visions she leaves the castle to escape and go off to see her Aunt who had been cast out of Arborlon for loving a human; Allanon. While Amberle is traveling to her aunt’s, back at the castle, for the first time in many, many years, leaves from the Ellcrys begin to fall. What this signifies is for each leaf that hits the ground a demon is released into the world. Allanon appears at the castle at this point, and uses a sort of Force Push ( yes, Star Wars Force) to remove the guards from his way, to see his old friend, King Eventine ( John Rhys-Davies) and explain why he has awoken from a long frozen slumber. The visions that Amberle had received from the Ellcrys had also woken him from his sleep, and brought him back to help save the lands.
The first demon that emerged from the falling leaves, Dagda Mor was also a druid from the past who was corrupted by the darkness. As more leaves fall, more demons emerge, including one that can shapeshift, and she does so…into Amberle. The vision that Amberle saw of herself killing Lorin, was true, but was actually the shapeshifter who also killed the rest of the new Chosen, except for Amberle. Dagda Mor invades Allanon’s thoughts and attacks him mentally while him and Wil are trying to find the Druid Codex at Druid’s Keep. While trying to find it, Allanon uses magic which disfigures his hand, the price of using magic, as we have learned.
This weekly episodic is of epic proportions and it’s only two episodes in. There is nothing not to like about Shannara Chronicles, from the cast to the effects, to the world itself, they are all amazing and exquisite in their own ways. The only part that I don’t like about this show is that I can’t binge watch the entire season right now. At the end of the second episode we have Wil protecting Amberle from a demon that had just killed her great-aunt. I am looking forward to seeing how the dynamic of the show will change with having Allanon, Wil and Amberle traveling together through the wood against world of darkness. Make sure to watch The Shannara Chronicles on Tuesday nights at 10 on MTV, and the first four episodes are on the MTV App to watch right now. If you aren’t watching it, get on your couch, phone, computer and watch The Shannara Chronicles and show your support to what this cast and crew have put together, I know I am.