Some of the CGI effects aren't too shabby, and I was pleased to note that with a few violent scenes that this isn't a production entirely aimed at the kids. There's a fantastic role for the reliable Manu Bennett (Crixus from SPARTACUS), who is undoubtedly the best thing in it and who automatically raieses the interest.

Not that THE SHANNARA CHRONICLES is all bad. What we do get is a dumbed down script that seems to have gone for the young adult market, so most of the cast is populated by bland youths who simper around and spend far too much of the time navel gazing instead of getting on with stuff. The storyline has been condensed down so that there seems to be a lack of material to fill the episodes. At times the set-bound adventures look like they should be taking place on a stage in some cheesy theatrical production certainly the costumes and in particular the look of the monsters is quite ridiculous. This is closer to IN THE NAME OF THE KING than LORD OF THE RINGS, and in every single episode the lack of a decent budget is more than apparent. What I got was a TV series that verges on the amateur. I'd hoped for something intelligent and authentic, maybe along the lines of GAME OF THRONES, although of course I wasn't foolish enough to expect anything approaching the quality of that production.

The stories haven't stayed with me so it was as if I came to this series feeling fresh. Review of Season One: I watched THE SHANNARA CHRONICLES mainly because I'm a fantasy fan and I vaguely remember reading the books some twenty or so years ago.

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