Legend of the Seeker: Episode 1x08 - Denna (POSSIBLE SPOILERS)

[TheSeeker]

So, did anyone watch this one? I finally did and thought I would briefly share my thoughts.

When I found out this episode would revolve around Richard's capture and torture I had high hopes. In my opinion this is a pivotal moment in Richard's life and should be considered a "core episode" which needed to done right.

Up to this point I have been pretty forgiving with the show but I have to say that their extremely loose approach to adapting the story for TV is really starting to get to me.

This should have been a multi-episode arc to really explore how Richard dealt with the torture, how he manged to survive it, and how he managed to forge such a strong connection with Denna. They hinted at it but in the end it just fell flat.

Here's another thing that bugs me. I know they want to have Zedd and Kahlan in every episode but they're doing it in the wrong way. Why do they need to keep them all together in every episode? Doing so really mangles the story. How hard would it be to more closely follow the original story and just use cuts to tell each person's story?

I'll keep watching to see how they develop the story but so far I feel this series has fallen far below its potential.

Finally, I have to say that I am really having a hard time buying Craig Horner has Richard. I've tried to give him a chance, and maybe it's just the directing, but he just seems too impetuous and not like the mostly level headed character I remember from the books.

 

[Barbados Slim]

I'm not into the books so I loved this one.

 

[TheSeeker]

I will say this, they really nailed the look of the Mord Sith, although I pictured the Agiel as being a little bit smaller.

 

[BenRoethig]

That was Legend of the Seeker? I thought I was watching S&M. That explains the lack of nudity and why it was on broadcast TV now that I think about it. I think we will be seeing Denna again. The cliffnotes to the books say she i supposed to sacrifice herself for Richard or something.

 

[Othello]

I really enjoyed this epiode and the one that came after it. Not sure why you are a week behind. While I agree ideally a multi episode arc would be the way to go I can understand why they didn't. Thats aid I enjoyed it immensely and jut liek the other poster thought they nailed the look of the Mord Sith and the woman played her role to perfection.

I think the criticim about Richard is a bit off base as he was rather impetuous and overeager in the beginning when he was finding his footing in a worl that is very foreign to him. Kahlan had to constantly remind him that this was a world with whic he was all too unfamliair with.

 

[Othello]

BTW- I watched Denna and another new episode, whose title eludes me at the moment, saturday on WGN supertaion.

 

[Tal Celes]

Not sure about anyone else, but the latest two episodes were aired out of order. I watched episode 8 today, while episode 9 aired yesterday.. I didnt have any new episodes last weekend.

In any case, I agree what episode 8 [Denna] could have easily been drawn out to 2 episodes to show just how much the ordeal with Mord Sith changes Rrichard. I also think its a core part of who richard is.

Still, I enjoyed the episode very much. I liked the effects they used with the Agiel to show the blood vessels when it was being used. (subtle but interesting that they did that) When I was reading the books, for some reason I always though the "breath of life" was just something akin to CPR. I guess it makes sense that it was magic. I can understand leaving out the way that Richard kills Denna (turning the sword white) but doesnt that become a key part of how he learns and uses the sword in the future?

Also different from the book is that Constance brings Denna back to life. Will Denna return in future episodes for some sort of revenge? I wonder~!

 

[Lt. Trull]

I was also disappointed that they didn't show how his forgiveness of Denna made his sword turn white and overcome her magic hold on him.

And your right It's the most important thing... the very last thing in the last book revolves totally around the fact he turns his sword white so he can save everybody...

I do love the dancing though... those sword fights are pure poetry in motion.

 

[DWF]

I kind of liked this one even though there were some strange edits or cuts and the woman who played Denna was nice enough to look at even though leather usually doesn't do anything for me, but in the end I do like the lesson that Richard had to learn in this one. Zedd seemed alittle useless when Richard was being taken but at least they explained why hee didn't do anything to stop them from taking Richard. I was kind of glad they killed the other confessor to take out her little army, that seemed alittle too easy to use her people to rescue Richard.

 

[TheSeeker]

I liked the effects they used with the Agiel to show the blood vessels when it was being used. (subtle but interesting that they did that) When I was reading the books, for some reason I always though the "breath of life" was just something akin to CPR. I guess it makes sense that it was magic.

Yes, I thought overall they did a great job on the Mord Sith. The Agiel effects were very cool. Like you I also thought the "breath of life" was CPR but I like how they adapted it to be magic. But isn't Denna supposed to have taught it to Richard? I swear he uses it in the future to revive Kahlan.

I was also disappointed that they didn't show how his forgiveness of Denna made his sword turn white and overcome her magic hold on him.

Same here. They should have stressed that it was his love that was able to turn the sword white.

 

[Sakrysta]

I haven't read the books, so perhaps I come at this show from a slightly different angle. I didn't much care for this episode. The whole bondage/domination/sumission/sado-masochism angle felt like a cheap sexual ploy. And the woman playing Denna felt like an extreme caricature.

I agree that the plot felt rushed. I had a hard time buying that Richard was so completely dominated by Denna so quickly. As unpleasant as I found the Mord Sith's methodology to watch, it was unreasonable to expect it to all take place in such a compressed period of time. And it wasn't clear to me at all what happened to make Richard capable of defeating Denna. It looked like Kaylyn confessed him, but then there seemed to be no follow up to that. And I didn't understand why Richard was so sympathetic toward Denna as he killed her.

"The Puppetteer" was much better.

 

[Lt. Trull]

Yes, I thought overall they did a great job on the Mord Sith. The Agiel effects were very cool. Like you I also thought the "breath of life" was CPR but I like how they adapted it to be magic. But isn't Denna supposed to have taught it to Richard? I swear he uses it in the future to revive Kahlan.

Actually... if you remember it was the three mord sith that were responsible for his life after he became

Spoiler: to know or not to know that is the question

the magic against magic, the leader of D'hara, DARKEN RAUL'S SON.

If you remember... they said... Denna shoulda taught you this....

 

[Lt. Trull]

I haven't read the books, so perhaps I come at this show from a slightly different angle. I didn't much care for this episode. The whole bondage/domination/sumission/sado-masochism angle felt like a cheap sexual ploy. And the woman playing Denna felt like an extreme caricature.

I agree that the plot felt rushed. I had a hard time buying that Richard was so completely dominated by Denna so quickly. As unpleasant as I found the Mord Sith's methodology to watch, it was unreasonable to expect it to all take place in such a compressed period of time. And it wasn't clear to me at all what happened to make Richard capable of defeating Denna. It looked like Kaylyn confessed him, but then there seemed to be no follow up to that. And I didn't understand why Richard was so sympathetic toward Denna as he killed her.

"The Puppetteer" was much better.

Nope... that look Kaylyn gave richard or was it richard giving to kaylyn... it was love... those who read/listened to the books would realize that... television and the movies dont alway convey everything books can.

and those who realize what is (supposed) to happen at the end of book one... errr I mean season one... know that that look they gave to each other is of tremendous importance to to the plot... after all...

the sword of truth may have rape; killing; bloodshed... but above all all twelve books were about one thing....

Spoiler: TO KNOW OR NOT TO KNOW THAT IS THE QUESTION

Richard's and Kaylyn's love for each other

 

[Sakrysta]

^I guess I misunderstood, because it looked like Richard's eyes went black like when Kaylyn confesses someone. But I'd have to watch again to be sure.

Twelve books about forbidden love... don't take this the wrong way, but doesn't that get frustrating?

 

[Lt. Trull]

That's the whole sideways twist of the first book... He does get to marry her... the husband and wife thing even with shota telling them if you have a boy child... i'm gonna kill it...

 

[ATimson]

Twelve books about forbidden love... don't take this the wrong way, but doesn't that get frustrating?

Not forbidden, just... unconsumated.

 

[HighteeHeller]

Oh come on now, it didn't go on that long. I think they were married in the third book(?) It wasnt that their love was forbidden its just that they never got a moment alone, or they were being kidnapped periodically. Oh, and there was that case of memory loss that lasted a few books too. Love sucks.