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The Shannara Chronicles "S1E10 " - Review: A cheesy but epic concluding conflict


The Shannara Chronicles "S1E10 " - Review: A cheesy but epic concluding conflict
8 out of 10

The end will justify the means has been the mantra of many a suspect deed. It’s a similar pledge from some TV shows that seem to going nowhere or not delivering enough audience fulfilment to reassure people that they are playing the long came towards something like the season finale. That’s all well good as long as when that day finally comes, the show does reward viewer patience with something worthwhile. The Shannara Chronicles has been building up to its big bad demon invasion all season. Now, in it’s finally episode that battle has finally arrived. Was it worth sticking out the season low points? For the most part, yes.

Ellcrys – Inside the Bloodfire, Amberle learns that she was the seed of the Ellcrys all along and must choose between her feelings for Wil and saving the world. The demon army lays siege to Arborlon: can the Elves and Gnomes hold out long enough for Amberle to return?

Throughout the first act, Shannara shows some real signs of falling on its own sword in its final episode by dunking everything in more cheese than fondue night. In many cases, the intent is clear: to build emotional stakes and significance going into the final battle. It even has the odd moments of doing this well like a tender exchange between King Ander and Commander Tilton. The rest is less matches made in heaven and more drive thru weddings by stinking bishops. The episode makes a big play on the Wil/Amberle relationship upon the idea of our heroine choosing between being with him or sacrificing herself to save the world. This would be fine if the love triangle with Eretria wasn’t still up and running, resulting in a very forced severance between Wil and Eretria. It does give the later a good heroic moment but Wil and Amberle’s escape goes rather too smoothly, you can’t help thinking it was all for nothing. Then, there’s Bandon and Catania who once more we’re asked to care about and really don’t. While Bandon’s inconsistencies have a later purpose it’s revealed far too late to save his earlier scenes from feeling flat and awkward and Catania adds nothing to proceedings. Then top all that off with a musical travelling montage by heroes and demons, and you’ll really be worrying that MTV is going to rip the heart of this finale...... but it doesn’t.

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While the setup act has a lot of problems, when Shannara finally gets down to business and pits the armies of good and evil against each other, the results are thrilling and visually gorgeous. The pitched battles we get boast some high numbers of extras for a good epic feel and the use of night and fire really compound the peril and threat of evil. There’s some excellent use of familiar settings. Even the ditch Amberle had to leap during the Gauntlet becomes a dividing point of the two battle lines. The fantasy elements are also mixed into the fighting including a terrific showdown between the Dagda Mor (yes, he’s finally doing something!) and Manu Bennett’s Allanon looking to deliver a death stroke. We even get a couple of great mid-fighting emotional moments. The bets see Ander and Tilton discoveries a possessed former prince Arion among the demon ranks. It delivers good shock value and a really hard hitting resolution. Furthermore, it climaxes well. We get to see Ander really commanding and leading as King including the mandatory moral boosting speeches. From a season long perspective, he’s become by far the show’s most developed character, journeying from carefree party boy to a man worthy of his crown. The final showdown raises the stakes nicely with fates hanging in the balance before Amberle manages to plant herself (.... well she becomes a tree, how would you describe it?).

While a second season has not been commissioned, Shannara, at time of writing, its departure leaves the door wide open as certain faces set off on a new quest and a new evil gets a tease. Should it get another go? Overall, I think it should. It had its problems and several poor moments but did deliver a real sense of visual style and a genre mashing world that worked superbly when used well. The world is left in a damaged and vulnerable state, so there is a story to tell in its recovery, especially having a new evil capitalize on their weakened position. And hey, it’s not like running any direct competition in its January-March scheduling so give it a chance and see if it can remedy its problems into something truly great. For now, as Spring arrives, Shannara departs, and we all know another fantasy show Spring brings with it!

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