I’ll admit, I never had any great expectations for Legend of the Seeker — a weekly television show based on Terry Goodkind’s Sword of Truth book series. In fact, I almost didn’t start watching the show in the first place because it seemed like it’d be little more than a mindless diversion. And, initially, that’s just what it was: lightweight, entertaining, but ultimately disposable. And then, halfway through its first season, something happened. The stories began to mature. Oh, sure, there were some growing pains and a few rather glaring missteps. But by the time the second season rolled around, it featured a fresh new approach to writing that has literally transformed the series into a meaningful, worthwhile show. No longer are its stories simply mindless or shallow or empty. No, Legend of the Seeker has become a show worth watching. I eagerly await each new episode. And I am waiting on bated breath to hear of the show’s renewal for a third season.

And here is why you should, too.

First, let me provide some context: More than anything, I value shows which are *about* something. This is why I’ve been drawn to the Star Trek franchise, the early seasons of Ron Moore’s Battlestar Galactica, and so forth. These are stories that mean something beyond what the characters care about — they provide thoughtful commentary or insight into the human condition, giving us a lens through which we can evaluate our own world and our own lives. As Samwise Gamgee would say, these are “the great stories … the ones that really mattered.” And this is why, early on, Legend of the Seeker never really resonated (at least with me). But the transformation in the series is undeniable. Without question, this show tells stories that “matter” to *us*.

Very early on, the series established a very compelling dynamic between its three main characters. There was the main hero, Richard Cypher, destined to be the Seeker and hopelessly in an unrequited love with The Mother Confessor. Kahlan, The Mother Confessor, was sworn to protect Richard, but her love for him transcended her duty and, like Richard, she was caught between her personal desires and the consequences of acting on those desires. Helping them was the powerful wizard Zeddicus Zu’l Zorander, a quirky amiable fellow whose connection to Richard was as deep as Kahlan’s. This trio formed the backbone of the series, providing a solid chemistry which fueled the episodic stories which comprised much of the first season.

Through them, there were adventures aplenty, filled with magic and evil, as Richard rushed headlong toward a fateful confrontation with his mortal enemy: Darken Rahl. The episodic nature of the first season certainly kept the series from deeply exploring character and thematic development. And yet, with such developments as familial conflicts to inner turmoil, to battles with D’Haran soldiers and Mord’Sith to the plights of common folk, there was enough substance to the first season to keep it interesting — if not exactly profound.

But there were glimpses of what was to come. Episodes such as “Revenant,” “Conversion,” and “Deception” all point to an evolution in storytelling that treats characters as something more than pawns of good and evil, but rather as people whose desires have a rationale, even if we disagree with them. This finds its most fully-realized expression in the season finale, “Reckoning,” in which Richard and Kahlan must stay true to their love for one another across both space and time. That Richard finds an unlikely ally in a Mord’Sith, named Cara, only reinforces the notion that people tend to live beyond strict loyalties and act more on principles and self-preservation. In retrospect, it’s clear just how important this episode is to the evolution of the series in its second season. The fact that Cara becomes a series regular merely emphasizes this idea.

And Season Two is where Legend of the Seeker truly shines.

It’s easy to point to Season Two’s attempts to make its characters “sexier” as a superficial ploy to drum up viewers. In fact, it’s impossible to argue against the point. But for viewers to see only the revealing outfits and makeup would be a shame — a tragedy, really — because alongside an attempt at sex appeal, the series has made an even more concerted effort to appeal to the intellect as and the heart. Indeed, Legend of the Seeker has become a series that is designed to stimulate the mind and the soul … as well as whatever physical reactions one might have to beautiful people wielding swords and sauntering through the panoramic landscape of New Zealand (the real-world stand-in for the Midlands). Put simply, this is a show that has managed to hang on to its “entertaining” roots while also evolving into something much more meaningful.

In fact, Season Two is a remarkably consistent season in terms of this balance. As one might expect, not every episode is perfect. But considering just how nuanced and enjoyable the season has been, it’s easy to see why this is a series that simply cannot be dismissed as “mindless” or “shallow.” No, even its most whimsical episode to date, “Princess,” is a smart, provocative story which, in between wizards in drag and slapstick humor, finds enough time to provide salient and worthy social commentary about not only gender roles, but blind obedience in long accepted dogma. It is the most whimsical tale, but it’s also the best episode of the series thus far.

The most recent episode, “Bound,” isn’t free from mistakes, however, it is not only entertaining, but also manages to humanize its “villains” in ways that are plausible and meaningful. Understanding the differences we have with those we may detest is an important concept. And, if nothing else, this episode goes a long way to demonstrate the positive consequences of finding at least some measure of common ground.

But that’s not all.

“Fury” deals with how we can control and channel our inner darkness and rage into constructive ends. “Hunger” deals with similar themes, but couches them in a story about how far one will go in the name of duty and sacrifice. “Torn” is a deeply personal story, showing how our darker and more noble natures are inseparable and invaluable to who we are. “Resurrection” deals with the nature of power, and how it can corrupt those who wield it (or seek it). “Broken” explores how and why we might follow a path in life that many might call “evil.” And all of these episodes have been part of the not-yet-completed second season.

Imagine what this series could do if it had the opportunity to continue to evolve?

Really, what makes this second season so interesting is the purposeful and provocative writing.  Legend of the Seeker has always had the chemistry of the characters. The addition of Cara, the Mord’Sith, to our regular heroes underscores just how evolved the sensibilities of this show have become. She has a history of “evil” and yet she may be the most “human” character on the series. There’s no question that there’s plenty of dazzling fight scenes, plenty of skin, plenty of almost-campy humor. But much like many of the characters (like Cara), the series also has a dark side, a serious side, which cannot be ignored.

And that is the brilliance of the series thus far. It has managed to find a balance between being entertaining and being profound. It may not reach the depths of Deep Space Nine or the darkness of Battlestar Galactica, but it can no longer simply be dismissed out of hand. Those who do so simply aren’t willing to look into the depths of these episodes and see what’s really there:

“Great stories … the ones that really mattered.”

And here’s the kicker. As of this article, the series has not yet been renewed for a third season. At this point, it’s a far more important and meaningful tale than, say, Fringe (which has been renewed for a third season of its own) and it’s a far more entertaining show than Caprica which looks poised to be renewed for a second turn. If there is a show out there worth saving, worth giving the opportunity to grow, it would have to be Legend of the Seeker.

Head to www.theseekercast.com for information on how you might do your part to keep one of the best shows on television … on television …

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

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