The Shannara Chronicles reviewed
The Shannara Chronicles is a popular TV show based on The Sword of Shannara trilogy written by the author Terry Brooks. Here, we’ll review the show and mention the book series that inspired it.
A review of The Shannara Chronicles
The Shannara Chronicles TV show features two seasons. The first season premiered on January 5, 2016, while the second premiered on October 11, 2017. The cast includes Austin Butler, Poppy Drayton, Ivana Baquero, Manu Bennett, Aaron Jakubenko, Marcus Vanco, and John Rhys-Davies.
Executive producers of the Shannara series are Jon Favreau, Dan Farah, Miles Millar, and Al Gough. The first season of the TV series debuted on MTV, while the second one premiered on Spike TV (Paramount Network). Both networks belong to Viacom.
The first season sets the story and introduces us to the main characters. We learn that human civilization has been destroyed. Thousands of years after the destruction, the Earth is divided into Four Lands.
The Four Lands are inhabited by elves, trolls, dwarves, gnomes, and some humans whose descendants survived the Great Wars. The focus is on the Shannara family, whose members possess ancient magic powers and are always embarking on adventures that reshape their future.
In the very beginning, we learn about the dark forces that threaten the Four Lands. We meet Amberle, a young elven princess; Wil, the last descendant of the Shannara family; and Eretria, a human rover. The three learn they’re the only ones who can stop evil from destroying their world and form an unlikely alliance.
The quest to save the world also becomes a road to self-discovery for the characters. They must face doubt and fear and use their inner strength to accept their destinies.
In the season’s last episode, we see Amberle and Wil Ohmsford rushing to reach and save Ellcrys, a magical tree that keeps demons and evil forces away. Ander and Allanon lead the Elvin army, and in the epic battle, they must face the Dagda Mor and his horde of demons.
The second season occurs a year after the events from the first season’s last episode. Some of the new cast members are Vanessa Morgan (Lyria), Malese Jow (Mareth), Gentry White (Garet), Caroline Chikezie (Queen Tamlin), and Desmond Chiam (General Riga).
In the first episode, we see Eretria living in San Francisco and looking for Cogline with her girlfriend, Lyria. Eretria’s wondering why Wil and Amberle haven’t looked for her.
The re-emergence of magic has everyone scared, and an organization named Crimson is coming after all magic users. Wil, who suffers due to losing Amberle and being separated from Eretria, is in Storlock and training to become a healer.
After a mysterious woman named Mareth saves him from a Crimson attack, Wil rejoins the fight. He reunites with Eretria and looks for Allanon, the last remaining member of the Druids of Paranor.
Wil learns that Bandon, the Druid’s former protégé, wants to resurrect the Warlock Lord, an evil creature that could threaten the entire civilization. The heroes must reunite to prevent Brandon from unleashing unimaginable evil.
The fantasy series was filmed in New Zealand.
About the source books and their author
Terry Brooks is a fantasy fiction writer. He was born in Sterling, Illinois, in 1944. He earned his BA in English literature at Hamilton College in 1966. Brooks also obtained a JD degree from Washington and Lee University and practiced law until he decided to become a full-time writer.
Brooks began writing in high school, mostly focusing on western, non-fiction, and science fiction. After reading Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, he chose one genre. Brooks stated that William Faulkner’s work inspired his writing style.
The author’s debut novel was The Sword of Shannara, which he published in 1977. The second part of the series, titled The Elfstones of Shannara, was published in 1982. The final part is named The Wishsong of Shannara and was released in 1985.
The three books belong to the original Shannara trilogy. The storyline from the second novel inspired the first season of the trending TV show. The second season features elements from the book series, but it also goes off-book.
Terry Brooks has written several Shannara series that offer insight into this fantasy world and its characters. Some of the series are Genesis of Shannara, Legends of Shannara, The Heritage of Shannara, The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara, and High Druid of Shannara.
Over the course of his long career, Brooks has written over 30 New York Times bestsellers.
Listen to great fantasy titles with Speechify Audiobooks
If you want to listen to audio versions of great fantasy titles, Speechify Audiobooks is a great option. The platform features more than 60,000 titles from a wide range of genres, including fantasy, romance, and sci-fi, among others.
With Speechify Audiobooks, you can listen to audiobooks wherever you go, including other fantastic novels by Terry Brooks, such as Running with the Demon, A Knight of the Word, and Angel Fire East. You can also use convenient features to improve your experience, like adjusting playback speed and setting a sleep timer.
Try Speechify Audiobooks today and enjoy your first listen free.
FAQ
Why did The Shannara Chronicles get canceled?
The series got canceled due to high production costs and low ratings.
Was Shannara Chronicles removed from Netflix?
It was removed from U.S. Netflix in January 2022. However, the series is still available in some regions.
Is Shannara Chronicles worth watching?
If you enjoy The Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, and other movies and TV shows based on fantasy books, you’ll find The Shannara Chronicles worth watching.
