Legend of the Seeker - Das Schwert der Wahrheit

Filming of Wizard's First Rule, the first book in Terry Goodkind's popular The Sword of Truth books began this week.

But the 22-episode series has been renamed Legend of the Seeker - apparently to avoid religious concerns among American audiences about scorcery.

Executive producers Sam Raimi and Robert Tapert told a comics and fantasy convention of the name change, and announced the New Zealand actors, Entertainment Weekly reported.

The syndicated series from Disney-ABC Domestic Television and ABC Studios, will premiere in the United States on the weekend of November 1. The series marks ABC Studios' first foray into broadcast syndication, and has already been sold into stations covering 95 percent of the American market, according to TV Week.com.

Each one hour episode will have a New Zealand director and the series will be shot in the Auckland region over 36 months. One of the episodes will be directed by New Zealand actor Michael Hurst who starred in the original Hercules TV series.

The series is based around a backwoods guide, Richard - played by Australian actor Craig Horner - in Westland, the only part of the world which contains no magic. While investigating the mysterious murder of his father he rescues a woman, Kahlan Amnell, (played by American actress Bridget Regan) who has crossed over from the "magic" side of the world, and does battle with an evil dictator.

Raimi said Australian actor Bruce Spence will play Richard's best friend Zedd, Jay Laga'aia will play a boundary warden Chase, and Craig Parker will play the series' villain, Darken Rahl.

Parker spent four years on Shortland Street after being cast as Guy Warner in 1992, and won international attention after being cast as Haldir, one of Lothlorien's elves in the first two parts of the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Laga'aia played David Silesi in four series of the television drama Street Legal and Captain Typho, in two Star Wars films, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith.

Tapert, who filmed Hercules and Xena, Warrior Princess in New Zealand and married his star, Lucy Lawless, in 1998 showed people at the convention a clip from the show's filming around Auckland.

So how is the Legend of the Seeker? What do people think so far? Looking at the comments we get a load of onestars from people saying it doesn't follow the books to the letter, people that can't understand how Goodkind could "sell his soul to Hollywood" (really... wow), and people that make untrue claims about inaccuracies in the TV-series apparently without having watched it themselves.

So is the Legend of the Seeker that awful? Nah, not really. It's a fun series, a bit heavy on the comedy on some occasions, and it's taken a while to get the story rolling, but its good fun to watch, beautiful scenery, good main actors that feel believable. It doesn't take itself too seriously and in my opinion, neither should the viewers.

In conclusion: The naysayers say, No! Horrible! Goodkind sells his soul to mammon! But I'm sure after an honest viewing without preconceptions most will agree that its a nice example of a good, old-fashioned fantasy story with all the sword slashing, magicking, and vanilla romance to make it a recurring theme in the rss-downloader.

I loved this show, I catch is by chance on the CW this past Sunday (saw the third and forth episodes) and was instantly hooked. I missed having a great adventure, swords blazing, fantasy including and hero adoring show on TV. I immediately looked up the first two episodes that I missed online and watched them.

I loved the fire that lingers between Richard and Kahlan, the Confessor (I love that title/name). Zed is perfect, he adds that hint of humor while still maintaining his powerful presence. Now the action....it was great and captivating. I am a fan of taking bits of slow downed fighting snips within a fight that just make the scene grander (alla 300), and I adore me some sword play. I think people who liked Lord of the Rings, Zena, and just plain fantasy adventure stories will love this series.

I personally have read the books but never became an obsessed fan (I have enough obsessions) and I have been reading a lot of hating from fans of the book , saying that the show gets away from the books' story line and that Richard's character has been dumped down a little and he is also physically smaller. Both these things I do not have an issue with. I to thought he was stupid at times in the first two episode, but I think that they did that to show character progression and growth. He will learn in his journey (by the fourth he already seems much wiser). I like him smaller as well because is makes him a character to root for even harder, he may not look like a all menacing warrior ( alla Hercules) but don't underestimate him. He comes off more as a young man that destiny has chosen to become a hero but a hero that was bond to have a great destiny.

Although, as an obsessed fan of other books that have been adapted I understand the fans feelings, but I am also one that lets things go. When adaptations are not all I imagined, I take it as a separate thing. The show is just inspired by the novels and does plan on keeping the main story line. However, it is not a movie or a mini series but a TV series it will not follow the book to note and can not be expected too.

All and all I thought it was a great action adventure show to satisfy the fantasy lovers in all of us, just enjoy it. I recommend people to go watch and see if you'll loved it like I did. Additionally, Craig Horner and Bridget Regan are great eye candy and welding swords and kicking butts just makes them hotter.

I heard about this series by a friend that said "Just don't read the comments before you see it". Of course, that was the very first thing I did, and let me tell you how afraid was after I read them!! I though this series was going to suck big time, but had to see it by myself and guess what - I loved it! OK, it's not phenomenal, but it's quite good. I was kept interested, the photography was awesome, the costumes, too. I've only just seen the first two, but I sure am going to see the others and if they continue like this I'll be a fan. I'm not sure if I'd would of liked it had I read the books that this series is based on, but I think I would have. I've always been good at separating the books from their interpretations to the theater or television. When I watched "Legend of the Seeker" I watched the show for itself and therefore I enjoyed it very much. It's good entertainment for a fantasy series and I was actually quite surprised by the excellent performance of the actress Bridget Regan.

Legend of the Seeker is action packed, there is romance, magic, stunning locations, great cast and movie quality special effects. This is the best show on TV. If it is given proper promotion and permanent time slot it will be a huge hit!!! So many people are just finding out about the show and are falling in love with it. I just happened to run across it one Saturday afternoon by chance during season 1 and was immediately hooked. It is now the only "must watch" on TV for me. I bought Season 1 as soon as it came out and have ordered Season 2. This show is epic and deserves to go on. I have read the books and love the series. I know it doesn't follow the books exactly, however I have yet to see ANY book brought to the screen (big or small) that does. I am not a fan of the so-called "reality" shows. I have enough reality in my own reality. Give me Fantasy and take me away for awhile. This show is perfect. We need to have Seasons 3,4,5...