BeastMaster

As some might think this Beastmaster version not dark as or enough considering the original movie it comes from I must disagree feeling it has very good and thought provoking points in relation to the movie and that the movie could not explore.

Daniel Goddard is perfectly cast as a new model Beastmaster a little more officially muscled while Marc Singer muscled enough the original and movie Beastmaster was also just plain imposing in such a way you might feel he could defend the toughest tiger or lion. Daniel Goddard makes up for this in the muscle of his build in relation to the animals he cares for and tries to save from harm avoiding conflict if possible.

Beastmaster, the series, is worthy to be called so in relation to the movie and Marc Singer if for no other reason than the complimentary to each other comparison and the exploration of love, care, and issues of animals and man in the resistance of evil for the cause of good. The series is also well filmed and looks great too, a style all its' own. I for one am sorry it could not get a couple of more seasons into the can much is missing those seasons might have included.

My son, Simon Burnett, is the stunt double for Daniel, so we have been watching every episode. It comes across as at least two shows in one. The out of doors, walking in the woods and fighting. And the other, the mystical- fairy one, with special effects and clothing. It would work better if the mystical world was only at night, a dream scape for the characters and story line.

To begin with, I like this show, I own all three seasons on DVD. It is a fantasy show, utterly lacking any need for higher level thinking. This is not "Farscape" or "Star Trek" which might require the viewer to actively think about what is going on, or even "Xena" and "Hercules" which actually stuck to one major plot line. But it is good aimless fun. And Monikka Schnarre would look good reading a phone book.

What surprised me however was the lack of any sense of time. The show started the first season in the stone age. Bones, wood and stone consisted of the materials available to create tools and weapons. Okay, I'll buy it. Darr's Halbred could have been created of two leg bones of an extremely large animal, the metatarsals or metacarpals of an elephant would suffice (or is it the phalanges?). Season two rolls around and we've got bronze. Initially only the Nords had it, until the middle of the season. After the half-way mark, everyone was learning to extract bronze, independently of each other. Tao was developing ways to fly. The crossbow was invented. I still wasn't thrown, the liberties hadn't truly been taken yet. That's when season three rolled around. The first two seasons were thrown out the window. Everyone had iron weapons. Darr's sword appeared to be a Katana made of steel. STEEL!!! Zad had Knights running around. We went through roughly 7000-8000 years of evolution in a short three year span. None of the actors even aged discernably. The animals even took a back seat to him finding his family.

It seems to me the people pulling the strings decided to take the show different ways from episode to episode. The Sorceress would show up in black leather trying to be evil in one week, and then be wearing clothes straight from the runway the next. Not that I'm complaining. She can wear leather, dresses, skirts, bikinis or even nothing and I still would watch.

Oh well, I still watched and bought the show. They succeeded in what they wanted to accomplish. Just don't watch the show with a critical view and you'll do fine.

It's hard to find good shows on regular TV that deal with the supernatural. I am so glad I discovered this show even if it is no longer being made. The only other good supernatural TV show I could find before was Buffy The Vampire Slayer which I love and it's spinoff Angel is OK, but lately both shows have been dissapointing me and I started looking for others.

Coming across Beastmaster has been good for me and I am sure it has been/will be for others. The actors are great and play their characters perfect. The direction is good as well and hardly misses a beat. Also there is beautiful scenery and great dialoge and storyline. It has everything people look for in a good show. I hope others will discover it an enjoy it as much as I have.

I really enjoy this show. As an Environmental Studies major I enjoy the nature aspect of the show. The location is so beautiful and when the animals are used for a scene you can't help but smile because the animals work so well with the actors. Daniel Goddard and Jackson Raine are great actors who play their characters perfectly. If you are looking for a show to make you laugh and with enough action to satisfy you, this is it.