via Syfy release:
SYFY PRESENTS “LEGEND OF THE SEEKER” MARATHON EVENT
Thursday, November 5, 6 pm – 12 midnight ET/PT
Fans of Epic Adventure Series Can Relive Six Thrilling and Action-Packed Episodes
New York, NY – October 27, 2009 – Syfy has partnered with Disney-ABC Domestic Television to present a special “Legend of the Seeker” marathon event on Thursday, November 5 from 6 pm – 12 AM, ET/PT. The marathon will give fans a chance to catch up and relive six favorite episodes from the first season of the epic fantasy series, and also serve to introduce the show to Syfy viewers who may not have experienced it. Combining elements of fantasy, adventure, magic, mystery and romance with state-of-the-art visual effects and a high level of action, the series is an adaptation of internationally best-selling author Terry Goodkind’s Sword of Truth book series.
The marathon begins with the series premiere, when Richard (Craig Horner, “Monarch Cove” and “Blue Water High”) first discovers his destiny to stop the sinister tyrant Darken Rahl (Craig Parker, “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” and “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers”). Richard partners up with the beautiful and mysterious Kahlan (Bridget Regan, “Sex and the City” and “The Best and the Brightest”), and a wise and powerful old wizard named Zedd (Bruce Spence, “Mad Max 2” and “The Matrix Revolutions”), who have both sworn to assist Richard in his mission. The six episodes featured in the marathon are “Prophecy,” followed by “Destiny,” “Denna,” “Puppeteer,” “Conversion” and “Fever.”
Shot with the exotic and rugged New Zealand landscape as its backdrop, “Legend of the Seeker” is produced by ABC Studios and distributed by Disney-ABC Domestic Television. Ken Biller, Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert, Ned Nalle and Josh Donen serve as executive producers. The second season of “Legend of the Seeker” will premiere the weekend of November 7th in national syndication.
Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in 95 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. (Syfy. Imagine greater.)
I cannot wait for the two-hour season two premiere. After a summer of encores and the SYFY marathon, the second season premiere should get a hefty number across the syndicated network that ABC-Disney has assembled.
Is the TV show any good? I hate the books but I had heard that the show was better.
HeroesforGhosts, at the beginning it’s mediocre, but entertaining. Then it starts getting really really good. One of the best shows on TV.
HeroesforGhost,
It’s up and down. If you have free time, watch the marathon but I wouldn’t tell anyone to force themselves to make time. It’s silly fun.
Unlike so many tv shows on today this show still has a moral direction and it makes a viewer remember that sometimes we must choose a better, higher calling even if it requires a personal price to pay for making that decision. I have read this show was more for a teenage audience ( not sure that is true) but it is still a nice series for all of us. I noticed it in the program guide on Syfy and hope they add it to their rotation of marathons during the week days. I also hope it will be in HD. New Zealand is a beautiful country and this show has some beautiful locations where it was filmed.
I don’t know the books at all but that didn’t really affect me watching it. There’s an overriding theme of the Seeker and his quest but most episodes are pretty self-contained. Reminds me a bit of the new Robin Hood that the BBC did in recent years. I initially came in about episode 8 but had no problem figuring out who was who. That said I found the earlier episodes very mixed and some were pretty poor.
It improved fairly quickly and is definitely watchable once the characters lose their early stiffness and the scripts got better. The obvious chemistry between the two lead characters helps a lot. Don’t let Zed’s really bad American accent put you off.
For those unsure about it I’d suggest watching episodes from the second half of the season, especially the last 5-6 to get a feeling of its quality. If that doesn’t do it for you then the first half will probably put you right off. Will definitely check in on Season 2.
It’s a pretty well-done fantasy series. I actually enjoy watching it, and I typically don’t like fantasy because I don’t like magic and supernatural things as story elements. (I typically find that they’re a huge crutch for bad writing.) But this show uses magic fairly well.
I’m looking forward to Season 2.
Fantastic show. I’m not sure about the episode selection for the marathon though (not a fan of Puppeteer or the pilot for that matter). But the other episodes are great. They left out a couple of my favorites, but I’ll still watch. Can’t wait for S2.
I am glad to see Syfy doing this. Perhaps they will prove that they really don’t intend to gut the channel of its “soul” after all.
Finally – SyFy is programming something that actually belongs on its network! LOS starts off pretty weak and derivative, but later gets darker and more interesting and the back half of the season gets better. Craig Horner is wonderful as Darken Rahl. I agree with others that they could have swapped out a few for some better episodes, but perhaps they will do a second marathon with the later season episodes.
Robert, Bill. I have a question pertaining to first-run syndication shows like Legend of the Seeker.
Are there any benefits to selling a dramatic or comedy show through this method? I get why game shows/talk shows do it, but I don’t see how profitable it can be for a company to sell dramas and comedies.
Aaron, beyond “it must make sense for ABC Domestic Television in the case of LEGEND OF THE SEEKER” I have no idea. We’re not privy to the economics. While back in the day frequently see first run scripted content syndicated, LEGEND OF THE SEEKER is the only show I can think of off the top of my head that is currently doing that.
I tried to watch the show but WGN here in Chicago moved the time so often I couldn’t keep up.