Shannara Chronicles (Netflix)
Summary
In The Shannara Chronicles, an old tree called
the Ellcrys is dying, and as it dies, it releases demons from the
Forbidding where they were imprisoned. Will (the half human, half elf heir of
Shannara), Amberle (the elven princess and last of the Chosen who care for the
Ellcrys), and Eretria (the human rover without a family) must carry the
Ellcrys' seed to the Blood Fire, then bring it back to heal the tree before the
last leaf falls and a demon army is released.
I was unimpressed with Brooks’ first book, setting it aside
out of boredom and frustration with its poor writing style, so I never read the
book this series is based on. The author's stilted writing style and heavy
reliance on dialogue over action carried over, but credit must be given for the
legacy it began of Tolkien imitation.
Tolkien Imitation
And it is imitation. There are references to Aragorn and Gandalf in the
nobler characters (especially Allanon, the wise druid), and the demons, other
than the changeling and the harpies, are orcs by another name. The dialogue is
stilted, full of stereotypical fantasy lines such as Eretria: "Did you
hear that?" Will: "I don't hear anything..." Eretria:
"Exactly."
Plot
The plot was intriguing. I like the idea of carrying a seed.
It was certainly a beautiful prop. The "plot twist" where Amberle
herself becomes the seed probably worked better in the book. As it was, I
didn't care about the characters enough to be invested in their shock, only
mildly upset that the prop I like so much went unused!
Characters
I have no respect or sympathy for Will. He slept with both
girls and never faced consequences for avoiding making a choice between them.
As a result, the relationship among the three of them was always tenuous and
there was no sense of fellowship. The girls were constantly pitted against each
other and Will never stopped playing the field. The characters themselves had
difficulty committing to the quest. As a viewer, I held back emotional
investment in their teenage angst and became disinterested in their fates.
Setting
The show's best aspect is the setting, but even here it
lacked continuity. Usually it seemed the whole story took place within a few
acres of land, but then the characters would fall off a snowy mountain and land
in a shallow river without a mountain in sight. However, Alfred Gough and Miles
Millar, the show's creators, managed to craft a fantasy world among the ruins
of our own. The Four Lands are visually impressive.
Conclusion
The show has been signed on for another season, and, despite
my criticisms, I look forward to it. There is a great deal of potential if the
characters grow into something more substantial!
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