The Shannara Chronicles 2x10 "Blood" - Great character work helps bring the finale of season two to a strong finish

With the final episode of Shannara, the last hour of season two takes time to again re-examine all the themes of season two that made it such a strong television series. It's completely appropriate in many ways the finale is titled "Blood", as it actually holds its worth in many ways, helping the season come to a cohesive conclusion.

In many ways, "Blood" is not necessarily the strongest single episode of the show (I still give that to this season's "Graymark") but it succeeds in the ways a finale is supposed to work. I don't think that it was a coincidence that the Warlock Lord's form being a mirror of Allanon was anything but a happy accident (having not read the books, you can correct me). The final showdown, though fairly low-key and relegated to alternating from Wil and Mareth to Cogline and Jax in relatively small settings worked much better as those scenes helped to complete many of the arcs brought up through the season.

For Wil and Mareth, facing down the Warlock Lord in the guise of a father figure/mentor felt much like a final test for the two of them. For Wil, much of the emotional resonance in the confrontation was built up from the season as it explored much more of his father's legacy and failure to make a sacrifice in a similar situation. The show executed an interesting idea in telling us about a final sacrifice Wil would have to make, but doesn't spell it out to anyone until the needed moment when it's clear magic can't fix everything. It's not entirely out of left field but it does make sense in the text of the show and through Wil's characterization. Mareth on the other hand, has to take on all her self-doubt as she realizes she's the last of the Druids with the death of her father. Add to that, she is also the heir to Arborlon, and has been granted the Elfstones from Wil as he leaves her a little too soon.

Jax somewhat breaks the pattern here in "Blood" as much of his transformation is reliant less on any legacy he carries like the other characters, and more contingent on his personal development from a lone wolf back to a leader of men. It's fairly underused as we see shots of him leading the former Crimson in the defense of Leigh, only to have the Warlock Lord basically walk in from the back to poison Heaven's Well, and the Warlock Lord doesn't really have much in the way of armies of demons to speak of.

It's also an interesting decision backed by a strong performance (despite the hamminess of it, occasionally) of Cogline, who quickly (re)assumes the mantle of the Druid guide following Allanon's demise. There's not much spoken to Cogline's leaving of the order despite being of fairly great importance in events like crafting the Sword of Shannara or assuming the care of a young Eretria. Cogline initially seemed like a fairly unimportant role in the overall events but has comfortably assumed Allanon's role. It will be interesting to see how a possible third season will put him to use. Especially because he is the only strong signifier of the show's post-apocalyptic setting we don't see very often (yes, even despite the fact Leigh is built on a concrete, hydroelectric dam) with his mix of science and magic contraptions.

While Wil and Mareth are set on a path that is one more of righteousness and purpose (as typical in standard hero's journeys), Eretria is set on a path that has her question her place in the world. She spends most of the hour possessed by the Warlock Lord's wraith because of her ties to the darker, demonic aspects of the show. Eretria spends much of the season allied with the protagonists, but she also recognizes that she must try to forge a path away from her fate than to simply accept it. It gives her character some interesting nuance in a show of characters who seem to have their destinies and fates written for them in some shape or form.

Finally, and unfortunately, Lyria proves to be a completely underused actor in the season. I'll be curious if a returning season three would feature her in any capacity. Lyria's arc was mostly the standard runaway princess, with an attempt to become a court player, ultimately ending it unfortunate plot device, as possessed-Eretria and the Warlock Lord take here away to get access to Heaven's Well, and simply discard her. Even after Wil and Mareth find her and set her on a path to warn them of Eretria's betrayal, it's not her who helps in the final moments to help stymie any attempt at sabotaging the floodgates or anything. Jax is the one who mentions Eretria and Cogline is the one who reacts; the well is poisoned regardless and it spreads out into the wider world meaning that Wil's prophesized sacrifice must take place. At the end of it, Lyria just stares dumbfounded as the waters are cleansed with Shannara blood, and she's crowned Queen of Leigh in the aftermath. Maybe she'll forge a more interesting story, but there was barely one to begin with in season two.

I'm not in the business of knowing if there will be a season three, but with the subdued ending and conclusion for every significant character this season, it will be fascinating to see where a potential season three would go in the wake of such a strong finish to the show's characters. I do hope there will be one, as it has won me over unlike the first season which had many stumbles on the way. I'm a sucker for fantasy-adventure shows, of which there is a dearth of, so hopefully the show returns. The unfortunate fact is that the show began to double-run its episodes near the halfway mark, so that seems like a poor sign. But hopefully I'm wrong.

Miscellaneous thoughts:

• Absolutely loved the intentional Ghostbusters homage with Jax and Cogline
• Again, the show is at its best when it is post-apocalyptic, so hopefully more aspects of that part of the setting make a return
• It will be interesting to see if the show will try to manufacture a return for Manu Bennett or if it will keep him dead and have Mareth carry on. It would arguably be a stronger decision to, as that was mostly the whole point of season two, though it means Manu Bennett is out of work here and on Arrow for the moment

The Shannara Chronicles 2x09 "Wilderun" - The penultimate episode has its characters looking toward the future, even as danger looms over them

 
As The Shannara Chronicles nears the finale for its second season, a good amount of time in "Wilderun" is spent as the characters look inward and forward, optimistically in a future they hope to forge, if they survive. Although the fight with the Warlock Lord is far from over for the heroes, they hope that in the wake of a victory, they can put the pieces together to continue on in a better world.  Well, everyone except for Bandon. Once again, there's some fantastic character work that's laced with the right amount of the themes Shannara relies on time and time again.
 
For Bandon, it is a bit of a tragedy that he basically meets his end impaled on the Warlock Lord's blade. He was always very much that young man that the show introduced us to in the barn, tied up by his parents for being cursed with magic. Not content to be humiliated or to feel powerless again, the training from Allanon eventually led him to seek out the Warlock Lord and to learn from him and eventually become more powerful. It's a relatively simple answer to his question on his search for power the show provides - if you serve a master, you're still a slave because true power can never be shared. So in his haste and reasoning, if he could bring back to the Warlock Lord, he could put that genie back in the bottle. Bandon died as free as he could be, by his standards.

Lyria - or at least the show - finally exhibits some self-awareness as she tells Cogline she should be doing more than sitting and hiding and acting as nothing more than a plot device. It's relatively short lived and Lyria goes back to not doing much afterward. She shares a scene or two with Eretria and gets to do something by basically proposing to Eretria and pining for a more hopeful future together. By the end she's divorced from the one thing that she needs to keep Leigh, Heaven's Well, and the Four Lands safe, so it'll be curious what lengths she'll go to in order to help save the day, if Cogline is willing to label her as much a hero as Wil, Allanon, Mareth, or Eretria.

Eretria takes on most of the burden of the episode as she finds it harder to accept her fate or destiny. Whereas Wil is almost entirely single-minded in purpose after his visit to the Ellcrys, or Mareth who will be assuming two mantles (and with Allanon making his peace), Eretria's connection to the darkness finally bears fruits in "Wilderun". Although I still find it somewhat poorly executed on the way there, by this episode, Eretria does finally experience the effects of her heritage as the Warlock Lord and his wraiths battle to take control of her. It's almost entirely expected given Cogline's warnings, though for Eretria, she refuses to simply accept her fate to exclude herself from the fight and wishes to battle for some semblance of self-determination. She's probably the most burdened of all the heroes on Shannara as she herself muses on what might happen if her connection to the darkness and evil could ever consume her like Bandon. It's an interesting thought experiment and hopefully there will be further exploration into the other path, as it seems the final showdown is mostly contingent on Eretria acting both as a beacon for the Warlock Lord as well as the proverbial fifth column in our heroes' plans.

Wil is mostly at peace though the visions from the sword are brought up again and makes me wonder if that will be something he'll refuse to accept in spite of the need for some finality. Allanon on the other hand seems to be completely at peace and has realized that Mareth might be more important legacy to leave behind than his duties as a druid, while Mareth herself struggles to reconcile her duties to continue the druidic order and being the last true heir to Arborlon.

With the finale to follow, it will interesting to see what hopes and dreams our heroes have will bear fruit, and which will be dashed and discarded away.

Miscellaneous thoughts:

• There are some definite influences from other hero's journey stories to be found in Shannara. It's interesting to see Allanon come to terms with his duty and his own personal development, something very (prequel) un-Jedi about it. The master/apprentice relationship for Bandon and the Warlock Lord are Sith-like as well but with a somewhat Harkonnen-esque twist to it too.
• Not much to say about Jax, Slanter, and the Crimson remnants, though I can imagine the plan was to put the Crimson to task to fight the Warlock Lord being the intended end result. Just surprised they didn't parade Riga's head on a pike is all.
• Finally with the return to Wilderun and mostly with Cogline's appearances does the show feel more in the post-apocalyptic fantasy than simple fantasy. The combination of information-age science and fantasy magic seems to be only present when Cogline is around this season, and I find the show stronger for it by remembering that even if it isn't very often.

The Shannara Chronicles 2x08 "Amberle" - A focused episode asks their characters to face the truth in order to move forward

In what feels like another mostly transitional episode, more groundwork is established as characters focus mostly on themselves as they steel themselves for the finale. "Amberle" is centred much on Wil himself as the past finally catches up with him. In order for him - and for the show - to move forward, he has to finally accept his fate that he is a Shannara, and that the world needs him to stop the Warlock Lord. Central to the Shannara/Druid relationship is also Allanon and Mareth, who also contemplate their situations while the evil parallel found both in Bandon and Eretria follow suit. One of Shannara's strengths is its worldbuilding and strong character work. It's a show and setting that relies strongly on its sense of time and place, and of heritage and legacy. It's all around in the setting as the ruined post-apocalyptic world (which goes sorely unused, in my opinion) reminds us of a world left behind, or even in how events shape entire peoples rather strongly, and it's always fantastic when Shannara knows exactly how to hit those beats.

The titular episode brings back Amberle in what is her most significant appearance since all of season one. It's a bit of a shame that Poppy Drayton is underused in service of the plot of the show, as this episode finally shows her range as she's asked to play the familiar Amberle that Wil loved, and the incarnation of the Ellcrys in her image. Ultimately, it is in her reappearance that helps guide Wil back on his path. He's been rather reactive this season, as his journey was mostly dictated by the whims of those with more ambition than him. As he notes as he speaks to a figment of Shea, Storlock and his dreams of being a simple healer were all he wanted before the heritage of the Shannara was thrust upon him. He's been towed around by Bandon in attempts to help Flick, and he has mostly been reticent about his destiny despite Allanon's guidance. It's only until "Amberle" when he's asked to finally accept his fate, as well as let go of Amberle is he able to move forward. Having the Sword of Shannara become mended is as about as unsubtle as it gets, but it helps link together Bandon's shattering of the sword earlier back in "Crimson" to Wil's acceptance as a hero.

Allanon and Mareth also spend their time together musing on the role of the druids as we learn Allanon's time is slowly coming to an end and Mareth will have to assume his place in very little time. It's fantastic work that mixes well with world building as we learn why Allanon and druids seem to have to appear in a time of peril, and then have to disappear just as soon as the danger is over. It's with the guilt of Bandon that ultimately leads Allanon to his demise. There's a bit of the hint of the Jedi of Star Wars to the Druids in Shannara, seeing as they seem to follow similar tenants of a subset of people who are devoted simply to the safety of the world at large and must forego personal attachments. Of course, it's not as simple as we watch the father-daughter discussion unfold over Eventine's sister - Allanon's one love and Mareth's mother - and how she is the one thing that brings these two people together. It's also through the familial bond that causes Allanon to re-evaluate his life, even as he continues the burden that a druid must carry, ending in a powerful confession at the end of the episode as the Crimson send them to their deaths.

On the other side, Bandon faces similar hurdles as he establishes a connection with the newly revived Warlock Lord. Asking for him to revive Catania is an interesting request and despite his best intentions, it quickly turns into a lesson by the Warlock Lord instead to ask Bandon to kill what he loves (but also doesn't love him back). Catania was pretty much the last link to any humanity that Bandon had left since his mission. There's almost a glimmer of hope when you think he'll turn on the Warlock Lord for turning a newly-revived Catania into something of a thrall for his amusement. It's interesting that after his advances are rebuffed that Bandon doesn't do much to beg for his new master to return Catania to the woman he remembers, implying he's ready to leave behind his humanity.

Having Eretria's heritage come into play seems a little odd at this moment in the season, but it was bound to come to a head sooner or later since Cogline finally revealed what she was. There's little reason given to why a wraith or whatever kind of dark spirit murders all the Crimson soldiers as they descend on Eretria and the remainder of the Chosen, but it quickly turns wrong when Eretria tries to control the malevolent force. It's clear she's been possessed by the time Wil reunites with her, though for what remains uncertain. It would be odd if the show wanted to play towards similar beats as it did previously for Bandon's downfall, though much of it lines up as we're watching as a character attempts to wrestle with the darker elements of magic and come out from it changed for the worse. 

And seemingly for the worse, it's a shame that Lyria is absent for this hour where the characters are forced to face the truth or their pasts. In a way, her mother had done so earlier an episode ago before her demise, but there's again little work on that front, especially for someone who seemingly has an important role to play in the events ahead. Even Slanter and Jax get a word in edgewise about the episode's focus. Riga of course, ends up having to face off with the Warlock Lord and losing his head over it despite his immunity to magic. It seems that for now the Crimson have come to an end, but hopefully rather than acting as a minor threat prior to the Warlock Lord's arrival, they persist as a force and perspective in the world of Shannara. Otherwise it would be a shame to see them disappear as the plot demands it, because despite their usual over-the-top villainy, they added some extra depth to the world.

Miscellaneous thoughts:

• Really surprised to see Tamlin's head guard got more to do of significance. Considering he would probably be most at fault for letting the Crimson (much less anyone else) slip through into the palace. How does he still have a job?
• I thought the show had established that Cogline was also a druid, though it seems that Allanon doesn't know much about it, or that he doesn't seem to care about it at all.
• In an interesting twist, it seems like Wil and Mareth's trip to Shady Vale in the past and meeting Shea were in fact real, as Shea reveals to Wil his reason for not making the ultimate sacrifice to kill the Warlock Lord was so he could see his wife and son again.
• On that above point though, I do wonder what the show is trying to say, if plunging the sword into the Warlock Lord is all you need to do, why did Shea decide to not do it?

The Shannara Chronicles 2x07 "Warlock" - a transitional episode where everyone is in the search for parental guidance

It can be argued that there is a lot that happens in "Warlock", but most of it is just interstitial things that serve to move the overall season forward. Sure, there is the part where Bandon finally revives the Warlock Lord, but that's mostly left to leave a vague cliffhanger at the end more than anything, and the scene only helps to transition the season into its final act by having the main villain finally appear. It will be from there where the show will have to deliver, having spent most of the time building him up. "Warlock" is not a bad episode by any stretch, but much of it is character work that is laid down in this hour will hopefully be a good foundation as the season reaches its big climax.

One the huge issues I had with season two of Shannara was the Leigh story, and it continues to somewhat falter. There was some of the usual attempt at Thrones-esque court intrigue, but many of the characters involved in the court are rather boring. Queen Tamlin is not as powerful as a schemer as the show would like you to think and completely pales in comparison to Game of Thrones' Cersei Lannister or even Reign's Catherine di Medici. She eventually meets her end by this episode, after Riga and the Crimson show up and ruin her daughter's wedding; if anything it seems rather a weak turn for Leigh in general, if not her rule, if the Crimson can simply walk into a kingdom with little effort. I can't quite seem to parse what the show ultimately wanted to do with Queen Tamlin, as the constant back and forth between shrewd queen and someone who had no choice in her matter made her characterization felt inconsistent at times. Whereas sometime it seemed she held all the power in her court, it only needed a single sentence to turn her afraid of the consequences of her past actions. I suppose she was always in over her head, though the show failed at times to show those quieter moments. At least her final scenes gave her back some sense of agency as she robbed Riga of the opportunity to properly execute her in front of her subjects.

Leigh also acts as a mirror of season one's Arborlon in a sense. The Warlock Lord is hoping to come to Leigh to corrupt Heaven's Well, an interesting parallel to the evils the Ellcrys holds back in Arborlon. Running from that comparison, it stands to reason that Princess Lyria is supposed to act almost as plot device as Amberle did. The unfortunate fact is that Lyria - up until now - still only works as a plot device. One of my main concerns was that Lyria had lacked much agency throughout the season and it seems to continue through "Warlock" and likely will remain so (though I hope otherwise). Whereas Amberle was still ultimately integral as a plot device at the end of the first season, the show explored her character and gave her agency, so that her final sacrifice in the season one finale felt earned. In the case of Lyria, she feels less like a person - and now with her large stone necklace - and rather more of a prop that has to be carted around until some final confrontation dictates her use (or as Cogline would prefer, that she avoid it altogether). It remains a bit frustrating that Lyria simply exists to be a confused bystander to events that involve her.

It creates an interesting contrast seeing as Mareth, another new character introduced in season two, has so much more agency in her storyline in her search for Allanon and ultimately taking on his role in the future. I didn't particularly like the execution of Mareth entering Allanon's dream state, only to ultimately end up being a short trip in which Allanon was never in any danger of dying anyway, and the real reason was for him to speak to his former mentor just so he could be corrected on the matter of Bandon vs. Mareth. But the fact that she takes action to move forward even when surrounded by other powerful figures feels already leagues ahead from what Princess Lyria is subjected to.

Again, the idea of legacy and heritage is at the forefront with Mareth and Allanon as the two come closer as the show seems to signal that Allanon's time is at an end and that she will have to take up his mantle. At the same time, with Ander's untimely death, it also puts her in a position of being the next ruler of Arborlon, which actually feels like an interesting development, as the show seems intent on shedding away the older generation and paving the way for the new. Although it might be hard to imagine the show trading Allanon for Mareth, the show has proved it has the right stuff to see it forward, if it comes to that.

Miscellaneous thoughts:

• I found it a rather bold move for Ander to basically be killed off in little to no fanfare, and then discarded like that. I guess they really were trying hard to mimic as much of the Red Wedding as they could.
• Not much movement really with Wil or Eretria, as this is the first time I'm even mentioning them, but the fact that Allanon and Mareth basically held most of the episode together is an interesting one at that.
• I feel like I should be surprised the Warlock Lord looks like evil-Allanon, but to be fair, Bandon used his blood that he took from the cut he made with the Warlock Lord's sword, so it stands to reason the blood caused him to return in the guise of Allanon.

The Shannara Chronicles 2x06 "Crimson" - the end to the season's second act doesn't mask poor plotting, sadly

"Crimson" almost feels like an episode that was partially stitched together, held only together by the show making a point of telling us in no uncertain terms in the final minutes that this is the second act of the season. There's a lot of talk about destiny and fate, but poorly executed. It's usually part and parcel in a genre like fantasy, especially when talking about the hero's journey style of adventure. Part of what makes it feel discomforting to me when I watch this theme being trotted out is that it is a theme that attempts to rob certain characters of their self-determination or progress, because it's down to simple "it was fate, nothing more", without exploring the facets of fate vs. free-will, or something in-between. "Fate waits for no man", as Wil puts it; more like a word we just repeat to sound deep, or in character because of the fantasy setting, unfortunately. It's in the execution of it that bothers me, especially in "Crimson", or perhaps everytime it's used in Shannara. Although it means that the inevitable will happen (which is not the problem itself), it leaves very little leeway for characters or the world at large to change or make something for themselves if mostly everything is predetermined. Again, this is a scripted TV show, so forgive the metaphysical crisis I'm having.

On the subject of "Crimson", it is struck by some fairly poor pacing and plotting. For instance, whereas Valcaa (Riga's lieutenant) is captured by Jax in the previous episode, the Crimson easily break him out, with only a word of dialogue from one of Tamlin's guards (I assume he is the captain of the guard, though either unnamed or uninteresting and uninvolved enough to remember). This development barely lasts a few scenes from the previous episode to the current to have much impact. It forces much of the Leigh storyline in this episode to have its big scenes, while the parts inbetween are filled in by exposition instead of visual storytelling, which is a shame. Although I don't particularly like the Leigh story this season, it was usually just a matter of the subject at hand, but now the poor pacing I found in Shannara season one seems to have reared its ugly head as well.

Jax is hired again by Tamlin to hunt down Valcaa and Riga, but there's no real substance or real subtext in the scenes where Tamlin acts on the Crimson. It's almost as if the show decides she has to be a complete cypher to see if she really has changed sides or not. Not that pissing off a homicidal warlord to crash your daughter's wedding is a good idea, even if you don't like your choice of groom any more. The fights with Jax, Valcaa, and Riga are serviceable but they exist almost to show action than anything else and give Jax something to do that he probably would've done already - which makes the scene where Jax and Tamlin speak on the subject feel particularly worthless.

The final scene in "Crimson" is clearly an homage to one of TV's more recent infamous scene by playing to the major beats. But the problem is the danger doesn't feel as insidious or calculated as the Red Wedding ever was. This is a bold, brash, and loud attempt at one. Riga reveals himself at the heart of the wedding, and then Crimson men just instantly spill out from the stands in full uniform, making the suspension of disbelief a little hard to bear. And as violent as it will get, it's Ander who probably gets murdered (of course the show leaves his fate uncertain for now), though the show hasn't put much work in making us care for Ander as much as say Wil, Eretria, Allanon, or even Mareth and Jax.

Wil and Mareth's journey to Shadyvale continue into this episode, though like last episode's review argued, having an episode devoted to this would have been better. The continual talk of fate, fate, and fate, really only affected this story, as it places the idea of fate against the fear of causality. But the show can't seem to confirm if the vault truly existed to take a Shannara and druid back in time as a hiding place for the skull, or just a pocket reality that exists solely as a prison of sorts. The show didn't have to dive into either subject in depth, but it never took a stance on the subject. Perhaps it's left vague enough to allow some leeway into how the world all connects in the case of Wil and his family. By the end, it's really just left to Flick to die because the show - through Allanon - implies it's his fate to be sacrificed, just like it was Shae's to become a hero. Unfortunately it leaves untouched the subject of whether or not Shae's madness later in life and death were also part of his fate, or because of his denial of it. That would at least provide for some interesting ideas to work from.

Of course, by the end of "Crimson", the show would prefer to just leave us with a world on the brink of true misery and despair as it shows all the heroes set on the backfoot - like any good end of a second act. Bandon has the skull and races away with it, Allanon is slowly dying probably because the prison affected his ties to magic, and Ander is likely dead along with any hopes for an alliance between Arborlon and Leigh. The only problem is for much of the latter, they didn't feel like earned defeats. Perhaps it was fate for much of the characters that the story just threw defeat at them because that's what was needed at this part of the story, instead of showing us their villains really are just that capable of tearing them down.

Miscellaneous thoughts:

• Not much to say about Eretria, who only really has a scene or two. It's unclear if she just sucked up the mordwraith or someone reached in while she was killing it - probably the latter though.
• Again, I really want to stress I wish the Leigh storyline was more interesting but it really feels like there's never really any depth there except possibly in the set and costume design. If it's trying to ape Game of Thrones' King's Landing kind of court intrigue, it's failing pretty badly.

The Shannara Chronicles 2x05 "Paranor" - the past is what matters, and always a strong theme in Shannara

Legacy is a recurring theme in Shannara, as the show takes place in that moment in time where everything seems to be the effect of some cause years ago. But that is how history works, even after the world has been destroyed in nuclear fire. Although prior to "Paranor", much of the season's musings and talks about the past have been mostly talk and mysterious second meanings, this episode forces its characters to confront their pasts in real and tangible ways. In many ways, this is the best of Shannara when its characters confront the past - whether they be real, imagined, or through time travel.

After reaching Paranor, Bandon is trapped by Allanon into a prison in the hopes of keeping him contained forever. But Bandon's contingency by infecting Flick is what leads to Wil and Mareth disobeying Allanon to retrieve the Warlock Lord's skull. Allanon himself denied himself that he could be Mareth's father, but the results say otherwise when access to the skull definitely requires a druid and a Shannara. I had some reservations about the show sidelining Allanon again during the start of the season, but having Mareth at Wil's side makes the decision to do so easier to swallow as Malese Jow shares as much chemistry with Austin Butler as he does with Manu Bennett. Part of it is how the show wants to present itself - beautiful young people adventuring in a dangerous, fantasy world - but part of it is also that theme of legacy in this show. It's probably not by simple choice or need for bombast (or more beautiful people sitting near a watering hole looking more beautiful) to have Wil and Mareth travel back and meet a young Shae Ohmsford, nor is it an accident for Wil to have so much influence in his past as he searches for the skull. Given how much more of this season is about Wil trying to reconcile what he knew about his father's memory and legacy, there is bound some substantial developments in the future.

Eretria's past also surfaces as we learn that Cogline is also a druid, mirroring Wil and Allanon's roles of protector and ward. Whereas Wil is a descendant of a legendary hero, Eretria on the other hand is almost a dark mirror of Wil, with her fate more tied into the realm of demons as part of her family history. It's also with Eretria and Cogline that the show returns to the small glimpses its post-apocalyptic setting since the premiere, something that was sorely missing and almost felt that, in my opinion, was nearly excised at the expense of the show's overall increase in quality. There's something odd but settling seeing Cogline having set up a prison for a wraith by mashing together druidic magic and good old fashioned jail bars coursing with electricity. In any case, it will be interesting to see as the show continues not only to divide Eretria from Wil, but starts to cause them to diverge in completely opposite ways.

Jax, meanwhile, has remained somewhat nebulous, though we learn his bounty hunting career and his old soldier days are more connected than expected. It's a little odd for him to hold a particular connection to one soldier under his command (unless he's dropping off his gains to other widows of the border legion), but it drives home the point nonetheless. It's only when the Crimson arrive and kill a little boy (a little too cartoonishly evil even for justifiable fanatics like the Crimson) that forces Jax to rethink his worldview. For Jax, the intrusion of the Crimson into his memory of what I assume are better times and better friends eventually drive him to draw a line in the sand against the Crimson than to merely use them as a means to an end. On the flip side, Queen Tamlin is the one character who doesn't really have much in the way of active development. Her legacy is just as important as a major political player in the world, but at an individual level, much of what we learn about her is simply told to us. If it's not from Lyria or Tamlin's her words herself, it is from the words of Bandon or Cogline, repeating the course of the last war and her decisions. Whereas Jax receives the less wordy explanations interspersed by vague flashes or the past, Tamlin is the one that feels like we're reading a history textbook, having facts recited to us.

Regardless, whenever Shannara leans heavily on the past and thoughts of legacy, it generally shines brighter. "Paranor" is a strong showing as it brings to surface a lot of the mystery of the characters and the world, and the way both are influenced by the recent and distant past. In a sense (though I haven't read the books), Shannara is a show about a generation of people and how they want to forge a future, but with a past that sometimes keeps them from doing so. Whether it is some family pedigree, or some ancient and malevolent evil, they are all sort of the same. Sometimes a little too similar.

Miscellaneous thoughts:

• Not simply interesting to learn that Cogline is a druid, but he's definitely a different kind of druid. He has this affinity for technology and/or electricity that was hinted at in the premiere, and even his magic attacks have this electrical feel to them. This is even before his steampunk-esque getup.
• I'm not entirely one for time-travel stories (you'd have to best 12 Monkeys), so I feel like Wil and Mareth in past-Shadyvale feels more like idyllic-dream-world-unforunately-invaded-by-wraiths as a prison for the skull than an actual time machine. But we shall find out.
• I liked the framing of Allanon and Bandon on opposite sides behind the cage, as if they were the angel and devil speaking into Wil's ears.
• I'm not entirely a fan of the episode hanging on that cliffhanger despite the fact that the remainder of the season is being aired two episodes at a time. The Shadyvale jaunt could definitely have been a single episode if planned for.

The Shannara Chronicles 2x04 "Dweller" - family woes abound on a detour through the season

According to "Dweller", family issues will mess everyone up, and that's pretty much the gist of this episode. As the adventurers take a necessary detour after the events of "Graymark", many of the cast try to come to terms with many issues of family that have shaped them. It's a similar play on themes found in "Graymark" but with a different focus as the episode explores the world and its characters through this particular lens. It's a particularly interesting move after exploring the pasts of some of their characters,it focuses on the characters that were left somewhat untouched or behind in "Graymark". 

With Wil, we are shown glimpses of the past and more concrete evidence of what his father, Shae Shannara, left behind in his son. I much prefer the flashback method for this form of character exploration and exposition but it has never been a necessary format; sometimes a well delivered monologue and some priming is all you need. It almost makes the titular dweller (an amped up giant spider that feeds on fear) seem like an almost perfunctory and mechanical element. It exists almost solely to show us the last moments Wil and Shae had before becoming obliterated with almost no fanfare by the Elfstones.

The detour into the dweller caves proves to be more interesting when Wil attempts to pair off Allanon and Mareth who spend the course of the episode sparring; Mareth says she doesn't need a father and merely a teacher to hone her magic, meanwhile Allanon refuses to accept the fact he could've even fathered a child. The episode finally allows the audience to delve into the real reason for Mareth to seek out Allanon, and it helps to give some much needed depth for Mareth. It may prove likely she might fall under the sway of Bandon, which would provide both Mareth and Allanon interesting avenues for character development. For Allanon, it seems that extreme overbearing care (Bandon) or absolute negligence (Mareth) might prove to be equally problematic.

As for the characters in Leigh, there is some talk about Queen Tamlin's early days and the problems left to her by her mother's untimely death. This does help explain her a few things including her need to ally herself with the Crimson, as well as explaining the state of the human kingdom under her rule from allying with the warlock lord. Lyria is still a bit of a blank slate though she does gain some more agency with the help of Eretria and finds her way out from her mother's thumb. Lastly, with Ander, though Edain was not family but a close friend, he has to deal with the betrayal nonetheless while trying to investigate Tamlin's links to the Crimson.

For Bandon, it is an interesting trip down memory lane as he takes Flick to his childhood home, now inhabited by another family who strangely could not care less about the legacy of his cursed home, but care enough to hate magic users and the ills they have told they bring to the world. Regardless, there is a small wrinkle in the world building that is much appreciated more often than not. It is simple to see some kind of peasant simplicity to the unnamed elven family, and their superstitious views behind magic informed by ignorance, amplified by Crimson propaganda. That is the way the show seems to draw the scene with Bandon and Flick at the dinner table, though it is Bandon who finds an another meaning and takes it too far, murdering the young elven boy in front of his parents and Flick.

Miscellaneous thoughts:

• I would think as an execution method, throwing someone down a dam would work but I sort of wished the would-be victims fell and cracked their skull on the rocks before plummeting to the watery depths. Perhaps I've simply watched too many movies where a dive into the water means survival.
• Part of the show is begging for a kind of training montage with Allanon, Wil, and Mareth.
• Part of me wishes also the actual dweller was a more conscious threat for Allanon, Wil and Mareth, and not simply a one-act obstacle. There were many things that could be mined from its use, one being seeing both Allanon's and Mareth's most painful moments to help flesh out character.

The Shannara Chronicles 2x03 "Graymark" - Adventurers Reassemble!

There is no doubt that I will be happy to see what happens after "Graymark." With this episode, there seems to be a doubling of efforts to send our adventurers on their way to Paranor for what seems to be a final showdown of everyone involved. Although "Graymark" acts almost as a transitional episode, it does so in a strong, simple story that takes advantages of the strengths of what The Shannara Chronicles has learned in the last season. There's a hope in me that some of the structural strengths found in this episode continue through the rest of the season as it provides a strong reminder of what episodic television can do. It's one of the other things I've bemoaned about the show during its first season and witnessing "Graymark" makes me happy that I've stuck with the show to see it improve; part of the fear I had coming into the second season was that it would inherit some of the poor pacing and structure that had been present in the first season.

"Graymark" acts as a fantastic self-contained story, likely due to Javier Grillo-Marxuach involved in writing the episode. Part of the main conceit is quite simply to have the gang break Allanon out of Graymark - which looks a bit like a Cold War-era Soviet fortress complete what looks like appropriated symbolism that the Crimson could have taken on. It could be very well the opposite, that the Crimson has used what looks like a red eagle in a Soviet bloc-style design; the hammer and sickle being the only thing missing from it. Regardless, the jailbreak conceit of the episode takes up much of the proceedings, having everyone involved contribute to breaking both in and out of the fortress.

There is a strong notion of the past catching up with all of the characters in this episode, as everyone seems to have some troubled past that they can't seem to shake. For most, the recent past is more than enough to have turned Jax into a bounty hunter, and Riga and the men of the Crimson towards their anti-magic stance. Riga and Jax especially, their problems lie with the demon invasion of the Dagda Mor and the damage it did to what seemed like background characters as Wil and Amberle completed their mission in Arborlon to restore the Ellcrys. Interestingly, one of the two men finds meaning in the chaos and horror that ensued while the other loses theirs, allowing some additional depth in the world that Shannara has created. It's also what helps make Jax's sudden turn away from simple mercenary to regain some purpose feel satisfying despite an obvious signaling he would eventually find himself alongside Will and his friends.

The reunion with Wil and Eretria itself feels well deserved, as the two actors communicate a great relief between two characters who have been through much and separated by a gulf that is a year of remorse. It's between those two we learn though Wil and Eretria eventually forged new lives after the events of the first season, they never felt completely satisfied in what they had created, with Wil using revealing that he used the Elfstones for understandably selfish reasons, furthering his self-harm. It's with the two reunited in this episode that forms much of the emotional core of the episode, though Wil and Allanon's eventual sit-downs will likely prove just as powerful. On a similar note, it is Allanon who reveals to Wil his regrets at how he handled Bandon last season, and the reason why the two men are in their current predicaments.

Other thoughts:

• Once again, the plotlines in Leigh are kind of in a holding pattern for now, which is fine because Wil and Allanon's quest to stop the warlock lord is much more interesting unless things change. Especially if Tamlin and the Crimson seem tied somehow.
• With Mareth being able to sense Allanon - or his staff at least - it somewhat does make that claim that she is Allanon's daughter that much stronger
• I do wonder what other magic relics Riga holds in his safe, unless they've all be taken by Mareth.
• I'm not a book reader, but it seems like an interesting concept for what seems like this world's rendition of a vampire to also be magic immune. Certainly helps explain why Allanon was so quickly dispatched in Leigh.

The Shannara Chronicles 2x02 - "Wraith" sends its characters on search for their purpose

At the risk of repeating myself, part of the charm of The Shannara Chronicles is seeing the evolution of a certain style of adventure show set in the context of this era of TV. For myself, there's always some lingering hope that having the show's disparate principal characters come together and head out on their journey together, so it's a bit of a shame to see that as the story starts to develop in that direction, decisions are made to once again divide them. It was one of the things I bemoaned in the first season, especially with the need to quickly separate Allanon from Will, Amberle and Eretria's travels. Near the end of "Wraith", the show begins to signal a grand showdown in the future, but for now, it seems the intervening episodes will quickly involve everyone in the act of reassembling the party. Fortunately they are all drawn to Allanon as a device, but it begs to wonder if that means Allanon himself will be a minor player in the episodes to come.

A lot is spoken about purpose in this episode, and much of the runtime is spent on giving the characters a clear path towards something, especially for those seemingly bereft of one since the events of the first season. Will, especially, is the one who learns of his father's madness was a result not from the price magic exacts from its user, but from an abandonment of purpose. It's an interesting choice, but it lacks any substance behind it when Will has witnessed time and again the opposite - that to him, using magic has always exacted a personal price. By the end though, a purpose is given as Will will have to ally with Allanon's daughter to help rescue his uncle from Bandon's clutches. It's the pairing of Will with Mareth that makes the proceedings interesting, pitting someone wary of using their magic and someone who is on the search to master the art, with the both of them inextricably tied to one man.

Though Eretria never forgets her mission to find Will, she is conveniently sidetracked as the bounty hunter Jax absconds with Lyria after murdering a band of rovers singlehandedly. It's oddly convenient and again, made me hopeful it would band much of the cast back together but it's quickly pulled apart again as Allanon is kidnapped by Riga - who also conveniently strolls into the stables of the human kingdom without anyone batting an eye. It's likely we'll see Lyria again after she summons enough courage to follow Eretria again on her search for Will, though it will likely mean that her mother will have need of Jax again. Lyria on the other hand, I'm a bit more wary about, as the worn-old trope of royalty that wants to mingle with the lower classes seems overplayed. It could be that Lyria just does not seem to display as much agency as the other characters that would ultimately make her interesting, though I do hope for more.

Ander has always been a more interesting character, even though he also falls into the worn-old trope of royalty that shirks responsibility until it is thrust upon them in a moment of utter despair. Perhaps because he's a more familiar face with more history and charisma, that helps carry the character into more interesting heights. There's a kind of underdog feeling to his participation in the show as he now finds himself under attack from all sides and needing to learn quick to keep from going under. Ander is mostly in a holding pattern in "Wraith" as he's mostly reacting to Tamlin's agenda, but will likely have to react as the Crimson threat intensifies and he discovers agents working against him in his own entourage.

• Somewhat sad to see Catania to get murdered, likely to spur Ander getting some motivation and acting as a spark for some political intrigue by the elves, humans, the other races, and the Crimson. Not sure how I felt about pairing the two characters together since it seems the show decided to pair them off in the year between, then quickly killed it off just as it had begun to show.
• Interesting to see where they go if they decided to show the face of Will's father, or if that appearance is fleeting and will never really be followed up on.
• Bandon is interesting as he still has some humanity in him for someone who seems like someone who's about the summon the apocalypse.

The Shannara Chronicles 2x01 "Druid" brings forward a rich setting ripe for exploration

As someone who has never read the Shannara books, it is not really my place to speak about how the show is attempting to adapt the book material into a visual medium. That being said, the season two premiere of The Shannara Chronicles certainly has grabbed my attention by catapulting what seemed to be a fairly standard hero's journey from the first season into something that seeks to be a bit more refined in their character arcs and setting.

Even as someone who has never read the books, the setting of Shannara is fairly interesting and rarely executed on-screen. Placing the usual fantasy tropes and settings in a post-apocalyptic Earth is one of the reasons that drew me to the show in the first place. When that stark contrast is brought into relief during the first season, that is when the show shines. The show seems duller when it focuses more on the gilded halls of Arborlon and more interesting when it involves our heroes trudging through ruined information-age buildings like high schools and having little to no clue as to the significance of that structure.

After a quick epilogue to show Eretria's fate at the end of season one, the second season jumps a year into the future and places the world in an interesting new set of circumstances which I hope will prove as the basis for an interesting and more varied season. Although Amberle appears to have moved from central figure to the sidelines now, many more allies appear in the form of Lyria and Mareth for Eretria and Will respectively, as they find themselves worlds apart after the events of the first season, and by the episode's end, it seems like they must leave their worlds of relative safety and comfort to reunite again.

It remains to be seen what the true journey for Will shall be until he reunites with Allanon, but it seems that it will likely be related to Bandon's fairly creepy dark magic attempt to resurrect some 'warlock' figure. That, mixed with the background developments of General Riga and the Crimson hunting down magic users through the land will likely provide some interesting situations where our heroes will have to fend off two antagonists with opposing viewpoints on their journey. Although Bandon's attempt to bring a dark evil into the world seems like a fairly standard fantasy plot, the fact the Crimson are running around trying to persecute magic users might provide for some more fruitful and nuanced storytelling.

• Liked the small nod to Rey in The Force Awakens as Eretria was working inside the ruined aircraft carrier.
• Hats off to the effects team who did a fantastic job with Bandon's snake disciple after he drank the warlock blood. 
• I'm not sure but it seems like the move to Spike from MTV could be for the better? It does not seem the budget seemed to have dropped at all. Although it does keep a lot of the DNA of beautiful people being framed as gorgeous very often.