SaveOurSeeker.com - The First Confessor CONTEST!!

[dalton]

What I find most compelling about the 'Legend of the Seeker' is that it gives me a further avenue of enjoying the books and the general world. I get to see all of my favorite characters come to life. I also understand that it's very hard to translate a book into film, because authors use a lot of description and internal monologue to make you feel something and producers have to translate this visually. I think the show is more light hearted than the books, but I still really enjoyed it and watched it every week.

As for what seens to include, I'd say any of the powerful scenes. For me this would be ones such as where Kahlan told the young soldier they were dead and wouldn't be reborn till the enemy was gone, where Richard tore apart Jagang's Ja'La team, or any of the scenes where Richard went generally, 'war wizardy'. These are all emotional and powerful and suplement the lighthearted moments.

[katiegate000]

1) What is it about Legend Of The Seeker that I find so compelling that I would support the Save Our Seeker campaign? While the story lines, and characters deviated from the Wizard's First Rule series in more ways than one, the actors were both believable and engaging. I saw the tv version of Richard start off as a rather boyish young man, willing to go the extra step to do a job well, and with humility, to a man worthy of wielding the Sword Of Truth. Kahlan was portrayed as strong, intelligent, and a force to be reckoned with into THE Mother Confessor, overflowing with compassion, wisdom, and resolve. And then there is Zed. He evolved from a grumpy old neighbor masquerading as a 'cloud reader' to The First Wizard. The tv show should be given a chance to evolve into what the books are...Classic Storytelling that engages the mind, and touches the heart.

2) What scene(s) from the novels are a must for future seasons of Legend Of The Seeker? The pat answer is all of them. However, the ones that I feel would make the most impact are when Richard walked away from the victim on the side of the road, but then goes back to help knowing that if it were someone he loved, he would wish help for them (Soul Of Fire). His thoughts and actions can and should be presented as an example in this day and age, even if on television. Kahlan also portrays a strength of character and integrity in Phantom, as she tried to protect the young girl from the Sisters Of The Dark. She also proved her metal as she stoically endured being Jajang's captive, all the while plotting the deaths of her 'special guards', one by one, and not letting her situation overcome her. These are just a few of the scenes that can teach viewers what it means to wield The Sword Of Truth, and be The Mother Confessor.

[awright6]

My essay is attached. I hope I'm doing this right...I never do posts or forums, but I LOVE this series, so I'm giving it a try. Please let me know if I did this right.

Attachments:

[awright6]

Here is the text of my Word doc just in case...

The title “Legend of the Seeker” (LOTS) initially caught my attention. Seeker. Seeking what? When the first episode revealed that it was about seeking truth, I was intrigued. Truth is fundamental. After a few episodes I was hooked. The characters, while set in a different time and place, were easy to relate to and their struggles, universal.

About the time I found out LOTS would not be renewed for a third season I was looking for my next good read. Since I knew the series was based on novels, I decided to look into them. In that way, LOTS first introduced me to the “Sword of Truth” books (SOT). Both present common themes that, while timeless, are particularly relevant today. Reality, truth, and reason seem to be falling by the wayside, dragging confidence, trust, and creativity along. Moreover, the value of the individual is suffering, falling prey to the tyranny of the “common good” as defined by those with the loudest voices.

However, as I read SOT, I came to regard LOTS as a separate story in its own right (like how prophecies fork and deviate in both versions), yet one no less dear to my heart. As wonderful as the books are (and I admit I am partial to books, in general), the TV series is equally special and in some way more accessible. LOTS is much less graphic than SOT and, thus, more appropriate for certain audiences. Moreover, not everyone is the bookworm that I am, and some who are have obligations (e.g., long commutes, young children, etc.) that limit their reading time. Thus, LOTS reaches many people that otherwise would never meet Richard, Kahlan, and the rest.

If we are fortunate enough to have a third season of LOTS I would love to delve into the Wizard’s Keep (past and present) and some scenes from history. There are so many wonderful things written about the Keep and, I am certain, many more that remain unwritten. With all the history and future tied to the Keep, I cannot imagine the series continuing without some scenes there. As for history, perhaps some scenes could be Zed’s recollections, and others could be of the ancient past (by means of a reverse psychic, contact with a constructed magic, etc.).

It is always easier to give advice than to take it, even when it is one’s own – after all, it is easier to be objective about a situation when one is not subject to the outcome. Through both LOTS and SOT, we see situations unfolding that are far enough removed from real life that we have no fear of making rational assessments along the way; yet, when we take a step back, we realize that the struggles and “adventures” the characters face are not so far removed from our world after all. The intricate braid of beautiful stories, insightful themes, and poignant relevance woven throughout both the novels and the TV series has been both a joy and an inspiration to me.

[n7exile]

1. What is it about 'Legend of the Seeker' that you find so compelling that you're willing to support the Save Our Seeker campaign (example: character, a theme, the story line, etc.)?

I love the "The Sword of Truth" so very much... the characters, the settings, the lore, the magic and the messages. LEGEND OF THE SEEKER was able to capture an essence of that and apply it to an alternate universe. I am willing to support SAVE OUR SEEKER because so few shows today are able to exhibit that golden standard of quality that Sword of Truth possesses. The show was not treated properly, not given the right time slot, not given the right opportunity to become a 7 or 8 season show like it deserved. Character? I loved Darken Rahl in the show, he was sinister but had an almost child like glee for what he did and you have to love that. The music was legendary... I could listen to the songs for hours, over and over, so amazing. LEGEND OF THE SEEKER deserves more seasons, deserves a chance and to that end I would support SAVE OUR SEEKER. Also, the episode "Princess" from Season 2 has to be the best episode of any show I have seen in a long time, hilarious. When Richard said "Spirits be with me" as he went to "bed" the chick that made him cringe... to save Kahlan... that was priceless.

2. What scene(s) from 'The Sword of Truth' novels is/are a "must have" should 'Legend of the Seeker' come back for a 3rd season?

I would love to see Jagang but I realize that rape, along with the other horrible vile acts the imperial order did would be beyond their ability so... I would say that I would love to see Gratch and Richard realizing that he could not give his powers away and that he was a War Wizard, finding his new attire, traveling to the Wizard's Keep... There are so many wonderful, terrifying moments yet to have. Also, I want to see the Sliph, the battle with the blood of the fold, the temple of the winds, returning Darken Rahl to the underworld, defeating the sisters of the dark... There is so much I want to see from this show.

[megeng]

1. What is it about 'Legend of the Seeker' that you find so compelling that you're willing to support the Save Our Seeker campaign (example: character, a theme, the story line, etc.)?

I would love to see more about Shota and Just exactly how Richard defeats Darken Rahl! I hope they continue this series, my son just LOVES the episodes that have already aired!

2. What scene(s) from 'The Sword of Truth' novels is/are a "must have" should 'Legend of the Seeker' come back for a 3rd season?

I would Love to see when Richard and Kahlan get married!! that would be a must have absolutly!!

[ravensburg]

The best fantasy not only entertains audiences, it also illuminates and inspires them. Disney's series Legend of the Seeker, based on the best-selling books of Terry Goodkind, is that sort of fantasy. Stalwart and sexy Seeker Richard Cypher is a great role model for today's youth. While adept with a sword, it's ultimately his head (not any Herculean heroics) he uses to defeat the menagerie of monsters Darken Rahl (played by the super suave Craig Parker) unleashes on him. The show's complex conflicts explore sibling rivalries, the power of forgiveness vs revenge, and sacrificing one's immediate desires for a greater good. Each week the series emphasized the importance of such traits as honesty, integrity and compassion. These are all invaluable lessons for young people to learn.
Assisting the Seeker on his quest are wise woman Kahlan Amnell (beautifully portrayed by Bridget Regan), the clever, comical wizard Zed (the delightful Bruce Spence) and the courageous Cara (the tart-tongued Tab Bethell). Like the Seeker, these are complex, well-drawn characters and I anxiously turned in each week to find out what new perilous predicament that mad, mercurial (yet always mesmerizing) monarch Darken Rahl had thought up for them.
Both the Mord Sith Cara and Confessor Kahlan empowered young women to take charge of their destiny. They demonstrated that women weren't made to wait and be rescued, but were capable of rescuing themselves (thank you very much). In the book, Kahlan rallies the troops and outwits the Imperial Army during the snow storm by pretending to be ghost riders. Cara repeatedly comes to Richard's rescue in the course of the series, valiantly battling a sadistic serial killer called Drefan (who wanted to make her rat food) and socking it to a sorority of sinister sorceresses. And of course, where would Richard and Kahlan be if Cara hadn't kept that noodle headed nuisance Nadine from breaking up their true romance?!?
Cara also illustrated another of Goodkind's major themes which is that men and women are not born evil, but are a product of their education and experiences.. Rahl's Mord Sith army struck fear into the hearts of all the people because they were viewed as cruel killers who had no conscious and whose sole purpose was to decimate all opposition to the demented despot Darken Rahl.
However, the Mord Sith themselves were victims and deserved the people's compassion not contempt. Kidnapped at an early age, they were subjected to a fierce training regime that robbed them of their innocence and joy. Cara was proof that a person could change their fate. Once Lord Rahl's most loyal and lethal Mord Sith, she joined forces with Richard, the Seeker of Truth, and became a powerful warrior for truth and justice.
In Season 3, I would like Cara to find her bliss with the blonde haired, blued eyed Benjamin (and of course have more action packed adventures as outlined in the marvelous books by Terry Goodkind)

[claire]

i would like to save legend of the seeker show because it was a fantastic show full of meaning, suspense and laughter. i was devstated when the show was cancelled and e-mailed whoevever i could to ask if it could be reinstated but got no replies. This show introduced me to the sword of truth books and to the fantastic written word of Terry Goodkind. I would like the series to continue with the same people and have their stories develop more. Richard to marry Khalan, to meet berdine and more of shota. I would especially like to see Nicci develop from the evil character portrayed into the helpful caring one she is in the books. I liked Jensen and wished we had seen more of her in the series as well. The concept of the series is good and there is nothing really like it on tv at present and it left a hole when the series ended. there is still so much of the storyline to produce not only on old characters but new ones as well including Jagang.
I would like to see in the series elements from the book Faith of the Fallen as there is a very profund message in the pages. i especially love the section where everyone is viewing the statue in the square.
Having said that though i think most people will pick that scene so i would like to see Richard discovering the Sliph for the first time and understanding what, who she is and how to use her, as i feel she plays an important but understated role in the books.

[ravensburg]

Critics of the fantasy genre often question its relevance. In a rapidly changing world, with its mantra of "If you snooze, you lose," immersing yourself in epic fantasy is considered an epic waste of time. What these critics of the fantasy genre are too obtuse to understand is that fantasy actually offers audiences a lens to view the world from a new, and stunning perspective, and readers return to their own humble abode reinvigorated, and better able to battle the beasties in their own lives (even if they have conveniently disguised themselves as bureaucrats in business suits).
Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series is the sort of fantasy that truly challenges readers tackling some of today's tough issues (corruption in politics, religious freedom, the rise of socialism, same sex marriage, the ethics of scientific research). His are enlightening viewpoints and well worth consideration.
Some of the reasons I support the series and continue to support the Save Our Seeker campaign is because it taught us that we have the power to change our fate, we have the power to choose. It's our precious life, we must rise up and live it.
When trapped at the Palace of the Prophets, Richard constantly tested his teachers and questioned the validity of their beliefs, instead of blindly accepting anything. While he lived by a moral code, he felt that the Creator also gave him free will to forge his own path. During the course of the novels all the machinations of the different religious groups (Sisters of the Dark, Blood of the Fold, Jagang the Just's Army) ultimately lead to all out war and the cost to the populations of both the Old and New World are devastating.
This parallels many of the problems fundamentalist religious groups of all denominations have caused. Honesty and integrity are essential to the functioning of a civilized society, but fanaticism is not. A religion that teaches hatred of others and hatred of self is crippling. The case of Lunetta, a gifted "witch" who spent her entire life having to pretend to be someone she is not, the mutilation of the sorceress Adie and, of course, Sister Nicci's journey from darkness to light all illustrate these issues in a profound way.
In the Sword of Truth series, Goodkind approaches magic almost as if it is a science, talking in-depth about concepts such as additive and subtractive, verification webs and parallel realms. He also explores the ethics of the Wizards who used magic to turn people into war machines (The Slyph, the Dream Walkers, the Chimes, Nicholas the Slide, etc….) Our culture is at a point where science can do magic similar to that in this "imaginary" universe and I believe Goodkind's words of caution are timely.
In Season 3 I'd wish to see the concepts I mentioned in the last two paragraph explored in more depth. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to voice our opinions.

[ravensburg]

Legend of the Seeker's finale "Tears" was aptly named since fans in Italy, Germany, France, Great Britain and the United States have had wet and weepy eyes ever since we were told this fabulous fantasy series would not be renewed. The last few episodes literally blew viewers' minds with astonishing revelations from the past (Cara and Darken Rahl had a child? Omigod!!!!) and tantalizing twists and turns. (Kahlan trying to kill Richard because she was spelled by Nicci was a huge shocker) And, of course, who can forget the Season 2 cliffhanger when our devilish, yet darling despot Darken Rahl finally caught up with naughty necromancer Nicci. Rub-a-dub-dub, looks like Nicci's going into the hot tub! Who knew baths could be so dangerous
I want to thank the talented and hard-working producers, scriptwriters, crew, and charismatic cast (Craig Horner, Bridget Regan, Bruce Spence, Tabrett Bethell, and, of course, my personal face Craig Parker) for taking us along on this epic journey. It was a wild ride. I especially appreciated producer Mike Sussman listening to Darken's devoted disciples and bringing the ravishing, red robed Rahl back to roam and rule D'Hara once more. The Walter episode was a comic tour-de-force and the alternate universe episodes (thanks to Zedd's unpredictable spells) were share brilliance.
I know there has been some feuds between fans of the show and fans of the Sword of Truth series due to changes from the original source material. I discovered the TV series first and enjoyed it so much I couldn't wait to read Terry Goodkind's series. I admit I was at first surprised by the differences but then I realized the formidable task the writing team had been given. They had to take a series of 12 books and condense it, cutting out the violence and mature themes so it would be appropriate for all audiences. This was a gargantuan undertaking and I think they did an admirable job considering the budget, time constraints, lack of advertising, etc.
As we plan for a renewal/reboot, I think executives should look at how HBO approached Game of Thrones. That's the sort of budget and commitment that would be needed to do justice to a series of this magnitude. Like Game of Thrones, branching into comics might also be a shrewd marketing move.
In this way the show's more mature themes could be explored at leisure. There could even be a cartoon version for younger audiences.
In Season 3 I'd love to see
1) More of the Palace of the Prophet intrigue (Verna & Warren, Ann and Nathan, Sister Ulicia and company)
2) Richard's rescue of Scarlet's baby Gregory
3) The rise of Blood of the Fold and Jagang the Just's army (Perhaps Darken joins their cause because he no longer has magic?)
4) Jenssen's love triangle with Tom and Sebastian
5) All the epic magical creatures (Slyph, Slide, Chimes, Gars)
6) The happily ever after wedding (for real this time!!!!)

[gavinrose]

Entry 1. Magic and adventure

1. I love how The Legend of the Seeker brought back the kind of swashbuckling that made the classic swords and sorcery genre so great and took it to another level, making fast-paced small-band battles into a thing of beauty. I think I would’ve been captivated by the action sequences even without the slow-down special effects that gave us spectacular swirling hair and cross-bow near-misses. I liked the really athletic range of movement and how gracefully and dramatically the principles (and their doubles) performed the complex fight choreography. (Which they happily congratulated themselves on in a deleted scene on one of the DVDs! But they earned it.)

But I wouldn’t have enjoyed the action sequences nearly as much if not for the way physical prowess complements feminine class for the women in Richard’s band. Kahlan and Cara are magically powerful, openly intelligent and firm in their convictions, but none of those qualities rule out sweeping success in hand to hand combat for either of them. And being able to fight for what they believe in doesn’t make them look or feel mannish at all. (Corsets and shiny skin-tight leather certainly help keep their curves obvious, but they have more devious feminine charms up those sleeves.) Eowyn’s stand for a woman’s right to see battle in The Lord of the Rings seemed so tight-lipped and angst-ridden, it almost robbed her of the glory. It’s really refreshing that Kahlan and Cara never feel the need to explain themselves to anyone for choosing adventurous and independent lifestyles.

2. I’m hoping it’s not too late to squeeze in a few scenes involving the Mud People from Wizard’s First Rule. Or if they would have to be recreated in a different context, I’d like to see that terrible moment when Richard places his faith in magic and chooses to let the fate of others – life or death – be decided by the magic of a sword that seems to be governed purely by rage and subjective threat assessments. It seems crazy, but it works out, and that’s an interesting lesson.

I can think of a famous quote that hints at why it worked: “The tigers of wrath are wiser than the horses of instruction.” – William Blake

To put it in my own words: sometimes you have to trust that your feelings are welling up from the strength of convictions that a reasonable person couldn’t contest no matter how coldly they looked at the facts, and that you need those feelings to take radical action, because of what’s at stake.

[gavinrose]

Entry 2. Richard and Kahlan

1. I don’t usually take much interest in the romantic side of epic adventures, because the ladies involved tend to exist for the gratification of the heroes trying to earn their respect and love by saving the day. But the love story at the center of The Legend of the Seeker and the Sword of Truth series is different. The women in Richard’s life are without question action heroes in their own right. And the relationship between Richard and Kahlan is special for many other important reasons.

“To know Richard, is to know Kahlan.”

This line captures the payoff for having a love story between people who can see each other as equals who have a lot to teach each other about life (and not just about the secrets of the opposite sex). Instead of obsessing over the obstacles to being together as lovers, they focus on supporting each other as friends while putting their responsibilities to help others first. The sweetness and angst of unfulfilled desire is there, but the drama between them has adult qualities that are quite unusual in a story about a forbidden love. These are non-teenage protagonists who don’t see every setback or hormonal surge in their day-to-day lives as cataclysmic in proportions.


2. A love story like this one hinges on knowing how to be best friends as well as lovers, but Kahlan’s past should imply she doesn’t have much experience treating anyone as an equal. The Legend of the Seeker has already shown that Kahlan can take her role as an authority figure for granted and make mistakes, and the early episodes also showed that she had to learn to let Richard make decisions on his own despite his lack of formal preparation or experience in a world with magic. But Kahlan doesn’t usually have to struggle with the novelty of relating to someone in an intimate way while holding in her power and resisting temptations to lose control, the way she sometimes does in the books.

The episode “Torn” gave Richard some opportunities to be understanding when Kahlan’s feelings got away from her, but that involved cheating – in the books, the characters have to deal with the way emotional reasoning is always looking for ways to complicate our judgment, not just when we’re magically split between our rational and emotional selves. So I think Richard and Kahlan should both get opportunities to develop and dramatize the insight and self-awareness we all need to cope with being prone to emotional bias at all times and still having the use of reason. Symbolizing that struggle with magic is fun, but accepting it as a normal source of human error in day to day life is one of the strengths of the writing in the books.

[gavinrose]

Entry 3. Villains and Redemption

1. I’m not often a fan of the villain, but The Legend of the Seeker has a host of irresistible evildoers I can’t wait to see in action again. I didn’t really appreciate how outmatched Richard and his friends were until I caught myself letting out a sigh of relief whenever Craig Parker’s Darken Rahl made an appearance. Watching him soak up the benefits of being evil, I tend to fall under his spell and momentarily slip out of fellow-feeling with the underdogs. It’s as if he can tap into my instinctive loyalty to the forces of inertia and convince me that there’s something ridiculous about a small band of heroes trying to change the world, no matter how over-the-top outrageous his tyrannical excesses in brutality become.

Darken Rahl’s talent for making evil charismatic sets up the introduction of the Mord Sith warrior culture of women used as ruthless killers and experts in torture. In the books the purpose of the Mord Sith had been perverted under Darken Rahl, and their depravity is quite evident in The Legend of the Seeker, taking the gravity of the Seeker’s sacrifice for his quest to a whole new level in “Denna”.

But possibly the best excuse for inventing a world with women this dangerous is to have a misfit character like the Mord Sith Cara join the Seeker’s band. Nothing breaks the tension like her delicious show of disgust over the endless sentimentality of her new companions (just Google “epic eye rolls”). And as she begins to soften, it’s great fun to see the embarrassment with which she juggles gleeful wickedness fighting on behalf of a good cause and the beginnings of a sense of normalcy and freedom to be true to her kind inner nature.

2. Cara’s painful journey from uncompromising pride in her identity as a warrior to redemption is also one of the strengths of Season 2 of The Legend of the Seeker, because it hints at the well-hidden human qualities of the other villains that could come to light in future episodes. Richard’s role in making this transformation possible for Cara is obvious in Season 2, but there was an element of rage and darkness to the way he looked at her sometimes that I didn’t fully understand before reading further ahead. For me, a must-see in the continuation of The Legend of the Seeker would be the way she eventually has to face the explanation for those mixed feelings in her most trusted friend. Cara had hoped to conceal from him the fact that she had been one of the many Mord Sith who tortured him when he was a captive being trained by Denna, but only later in their adventures does she find out that Richard knew all along and forgave her despite the fact that she had been counting on the possibility that he didn’t even know.

[gavinrose]

Entry 4. Pedagogy and inspiration

1. I love the way The Legend of the Seeker neatly straddles the light fantasy and dark fantasy sub-genres, with more depth and intensity than Hercules and Xena, but an abundance of mundane silliness and “good clean fun”. At times the story gets darker, much darker, and the heroes face hardships more brutal than they’d anticipated when they committed to the cause. But unlike the conventional approach to dramatizing the psychological aftermath of extreme violence with signs of emotional shut-down like “blunted affect”, the heroes of The Legend of the Seeker go to these dark places and then bounce back with their sanity intact. Not just the ability to function, but the ability to smile again, over the little things that make life fun. That strength to bounce back into fully realized humanity (instead of developing a thick outer shell in response to trauma) is pretty inspiring. I think that’s what makes this show an obsession of mine.

2. The one thing about the books that I really miss in the film adaptation so far is the way Richard chews through a puzzle in his head with the fate of the world on the line. The Sword of Truth narrative isn’t shoehorned into a superficial reading of the practical implications of these abstract guidelines for saving the world; Richard has to think creatively, stay grounded, and evaluate the abstract principle’s relevance to various aspects of each of the confusing situations it might help him figure out.

I know he can’t just stand there talking to himself out loud like I probably would to work it all out, but I would challenge the screenwriters to find a way to dramatize some of Richard’s special truth-seeking skills more explicitly and recreate some of the pedagogical illustrations of critical thinking in the books, because real life is this complicated and critical thinking is a skill set no one can really live well without. For me it’s helpful and inspiring to read passages in which Richard is mentally juggling the need to reflect on his own biases and evaluate the credibility of all his sources of information at once to arrive at a good enough idea of “the big picture” to make a decision with incomplete information. I know pedagogy isn't usually a network television priority, but I don't think Disney is a stranger to trying to include valuable messages in their stories. For me, reading these books is slow going because I keep stopping to jot down notes about how the critical thinking skill in play at any given moment applies to my own research.

[koloblicin]

1. What is it about 'Legend of the Seeker' that you find so compelling that you're willing to support the Save Our Seeker campaign (example: character, a theme, the story line, etc.)?
A show that is based off my favourite books, yet is family friendly is the best kind of television. I remember watching ‘Hercules: A Legendary Journeys’ and ‘Xena: A Warrior Princess’ when I was younger with my father.
These fantasy shows, where good defeated evil were so meaningful to me and one of the main reasons I have wanted to help create film and television. I have just finished a bachelor’s degree of Film and Digital media and dream of working on a fantasy show about a regular guy/girl who has to make a choice for good or evil.
The Sword of Truth series is my favourite, and has meant a lot to me. I first read the series when I was 18 and I believe it did help me define who I was. Having characters to admire, to cheer on or to aspire to be like. The strength and the heart of these novels are incredibly meaningful to me, and having it adapted for Legend of the Seeker is a perfect way to show other people who haven’t read the books, a world where good can triumph.



2. What scene(s) from 'The Sword of Truth' novels is/are a "must have" should 'Legend of the Seeker' come back for a 3rd season?
A MUST have scene from ‘The Sword of Truth’ novels would be for Richard to don his War Wizard Outfit. Richard truly grows when he accepts that he is a Wizard who has the power to help, so he has the responsibility to help.
That and also the Mud People. This was a big step in Richard’s story about accepting people from the midlands. It’s also an integral part of the Richard Kahlan story in SoT. Although they have been left out of LotS, I believe introducing the Mud People would create a more diverse and truthful landscape for the show.