2.04 – Touched – Legend of the Seeker Review

Posted by Samuel Walters

“Touched” is an exercise in nonsensical melodrama. Really, for as far as this series has come, it takes a significant step backward with an episode that, for all intents and purposes, is centered around the whimsical, selfish and naive impulses of a young girl who wants the world and is suddenly realizes that she has the power to take it. I suppose the premise itself isn’t all that bad, but the manner with which the episode executes the idea leaves a whole heckuvalot to be desired — despite the rather important plot developments for the series as a whole.

The episode is centered around Annabelle — a young woman who has spent her entire life locked away in a tower by her father — a man who fears what her Confessor powers might do to the world. The father’s fear is plausible enough — himself a victim of the power of a Confessor (until she died giving birth to Annabelle). And, to be fair, Annabelle’s longing for a romantic life is likewise plausible considering her lifetime spent in a tower. But one has to wonder why this would be the best possible premise for a story. More to the point, Annabelle’s insecurities and issues become the primary source of conflict of the episode, eventually enveloping the love shared between Kahlan and Richard.

After being rescued by Kahlan and Richard, Annabelle inadvertently confesses Flynn — the wayward young man who had joined our heroes because of the rune marked onto his hand. For Annabelle, the sudden and unadulterated love she receives from Flynn is something like a dream come true. And so when he promises to keep her safe, and to do everything within his power to please her, she is, understandably, entranced. The problem is, the manner with which all of this plays out on screen is exceptionally cringe worthy.

Worse still, in order to keep her dreams of living with Flynn from harm, Annabelle will ultimately confess Richard. It’s a development which leads to pure melodrama. Richard, who had been in love with Kahlan, is suddenly completely in love with Annabelle — to the point where he’ll fight Kahlan. We know that (seemingly) the only way to release someone who has been confessed, is for the Confessor to die. And so Kahlan’s one objective is to kill Annabelle. Admittedly, this leads to the episode’s best scene: the one in which Cara offers to kill Annabelle because she believes Kahlan is unwilling to do such a dirty deed herself.

Richard, though, proposes an alternative: to use a special crystal, in the possession of a wizard, to take Annabelle’s power away from her … after which both he and Flynn will be released from their confessions. The plot goes as it should … until Annabelle has an offer for Kahlan: to order Richard to make love to Kahlan, and father a child for her, while he is still confessed to Annabelle. He’d be protected from Kahlan’s power, Kahlan would get to love RIchard and bear his child and, after the crystal was used, Richard would return to normal. It would seem to be a foolproof plan …

… if it wasn’t for the fact that it’s hopelessly melodramatic (to put it politely … if I was less polite, I’d call it frakking stupid).

Yeah, it forces Kahlan to have to decide whether or not to make love to Richard — even though he doesn’t love her. But really, is it that difficult of a choice to make? If you’re in love, it’s not all that difficult to choose not to make love to someone who doesn’t love you (to do otherwise demonstrates a fundamental weakness of character — which Kahlan has not shown at all). Worse still for the episode is how incredibly melodramatic the whole thing plays out — complete with commercial break that is meant to imply that she goes through with the act.

Overall Grade: D+

Ultimately, “Touched” will be best remembered for how Richard found a compass that will lead him to the Stone of Tears and for how our heroes were finally able to rid themselves of Flynn. But otherwise, the means with which the episode accomplishes these details leaves a whole lot to be desired.

Rating: 3.7/5 (3 votes cast)

Rating: +1 (from 1 vote)

Topics: Fantasy, TV Reviews
Filed under: Legend of the Seeker