Les Maîtres des sortilèges

This is one of the scariest kids shows ever made. At least for me as a kid. Lost in other dimensions these kids were far from home, and Ashka is one of the best villains ever. She was so scary! I used to have nightmares about her! My memories of the show are dim but I remember being scared to death of her. The special effects were not too bad either, but then this was in the days before computer generated images. It had really good plot twists though, and was open for another series or two. I never saw the telemovie though.

Anyway I wish they would repeat the series on channel nine, or at least give it to the ABC, they're always airing old shows.

I enjoyed Spellbinder as a kid, and I realize that most of its viewers are either children enjoying old shows, former children who loved it when they first saw it, or sci-fi lovers stuck with this program's world. Anyway, I recommend it to all of those who want to see an unforgettable, epic adventure. The leads (Paul and Rianna) are adorable (played by two young, unknown actors), and the main antagonist, Ashka, is mesmerizing. There is no other show like this, not even the spin-off "Land of the Dragon Lord". In fact, it is amazing the fact that it is a short, concise story with a heavy-storytelling style. Bottom-line: If you feel in the mood to watch a sci-fi show meant to take you to a parallel universe, or if you want your kid to stop watching the latest TV garbage, do not miss this show.

When a prank goes wrong this Kick ass story follows. Great if you are into a bit of quality Sci Fi which is also in our world (sort of). I first saw this on CITV and when they got to the end they said this will be back in the autumn and that autumn never came I never found out what happened to Rianna and the others.

Plain brilliant. Quite well acted from most of the cast, especially the leads, kids and adults. Lost in a parallel world, Paul Reynolds must find a way home, while dealing with deepening crises in his new land. The key to the story is the way the plot builds, with Paul meeting various intriguing characters who constantly escalate the plot. It is at times nothing short of riveting. The downside is that it is a bit slow in the middle, with a basic dynamic of getting into some sort of trouble, then getting out through some clever ruse, and into the next snare. It begins to wander around in parts, going somewhere, but not all that quickly. Still, this is essentially brilliant writing. I love kids shows, and this was always a favourite. Constant cliffhangers and non-stop action.

A very good children's program contains a suspenseful plot and situations on a level where children would be able to comprehend the storyline. An excellent children's program contains all these things and yet, captivates an older audience. Spellbinder definitely is an excellent children's program from my perspective.

Paul reynolds is a boy in his mid-teens who opens a world-portal by playing with electricity and is lost in a world of civilization where the industrial revolution never happened, and science never advanced. A a person of the 21st century, he becomes hunted by the world's leaders: spellbinders for his chemical knowledge on how to make gunpowder on top of his attempts to get home. He finds a friend, Riana who helps him throughout the storyline. Much of the story involves Pauls plight and in returning home, but is also extended, when Riana becomes lost in our world therefore putting the storyline in reverse. The story picks up in pace when one of the spellbinders, Ashka realises that she can use the science of our world to dominate hers, and the main characters are now faced with trying to stop her.

(That is the most brief version i could come up with to summarise the enormous 26 episode long series.)

What really proves captivating is the cinema art used to create the parallel world and the way the audience learns with the characters about each others worlds. There is very good acting by both the young and old cast and a lot of credit must be given to the shows artwork designers.

Overall, "Spellbinder" is a highly recommended Australian television program which has very good ideas to excite the imagination of both children and adults alike.