Legend of the Seeker Returns
Friday January 9, 2009
Jessica Marais guest stars as Denna alongside Craig Horner, who portrays Richard, in "Denna," this weekend's episode of Legend of the Seeker.
© ABC Studios
In its first week on the air at the very beginning of November, Disney-ABC's Legend of the Seeker scored a 2.9 rating (live plus same day household), with more than 4.1 million viewers tuning in the for the two-hour premiere.
That was half-again as much as the premiere rating of syndication's last major first-run action hour, She Spies, which debuted at a 1.9 in 2002. (Xena: Warrior Princess, the last major action/fantasy series, went off the air in 2001.)
By December, Legend had slid down to more mundane levels, with ratings 2.1 and 1.9 its last two first-run episodes before hiatus. Then in the week ending Dec. 21, Legend scored its highest ratings since its two-hour premiere--with a repeat. Legend's encore "Destiny," the bottom half of the series premiere, hit a 2.2 rating.
So far, then, Legend seems to performing okay, particularly for a show that's not on in all markets and lacks star-power names. For comparison, sci-fi syndies Mutant X (2001-2004) and Andromeda (2000-2005) were performing similarly, around a 2.0, late in their runs (Fall 2003), though individual episodes might dip lower.
More importantly, the show is, relatively speaking, well-enough made that it's likely to slowly build viewership over the balance of its freshman season. The effects are fine, there have been some interesting guest stars, and the crucial balance between veteran actor Bruce Spence and newcomer Craig Horner (who's still a little green but seems to be finding his feet) just carries the show.
It's not brilliant television by any means, and it's more serious and less campy than Xena, Hercules, Beastmaster, and its other direct ancestors. But if you haven't seen it it may be worth tuning in, to see if you go for its brand of whimsical fantasy drama.
Star Bridget Regan, meanwhile, said recently she's happy to be playing a role that's more demanding than she's used to. "It's amazing to play a character where I've literally had to transform who I am as a person, where I had to do more then blow dry my hair for an audition," Regan told H Magazine.
Comments
It’s an okay show. I’m not in love with some of the changes they’ve made from the books. A few of them just seem unnecessary but its worth a watch. Hope it gets renewed.
i love this show i hope they keep airing it on the CW OR KWKB and i also think the actors are doing a great job
It’s a great little show that works so well because the leads are all so likable, the stories nicely crafted (Ok, so it’s neither ultra highbrow nor so tongue in cheek), and the fight scenes coolly choreographed. Both the recent Puppeteer and Denna were awesome
The series is starting to grow on me. Like other fans of the books I wa s perplexed by some of the changes but I can see how some aspects are too dark to delve into. Overall it is a compelling story. I hope that the CW sticks with it. Too many times I find myself getting into a series only to have the suits in charge pull the plug before it is given a real chance(a la Serenity).
Valid attempt, yet nothing to the actual books. Much of the acting is second-rate and it seems to have been made for 10 year olds.
This series has butchered the true storyline and ravaged the relationships between the characters to peices. It would have been better to have made a movie series rather than a cheap T.V show, where many of the lines are uncomfortable and tedious to watch.
Hiring a director who wants the series to be remembered and enjoyed rather than one who wants short term success ,with a very very young audience, would help this series.
Good show and I look forward to every episode. As others have said, it is not as intense as the books but compensates with more action. I wonder if each season will represent a book?
Great show, I soon became addicted to it. The “good guys” are all such likeable people. The forbidden love between such a good looking couple is so cool. Of course, Bridget Regan is such a beautiful woman and that always helps keep things interesting, love her!
I just discovered this show and absolutely love it. I don’t know why I have never heard of it until I was browsing Hulu and found it on there. I will be tuning in to watch the latest episodes. I hope this one keeps running.
Why is Legend of the Seeker never on at the right time on KWKB? Mediacom says its on at 9, but then its “Everybody Hates Chris.” I can agree with this because I hate Chris AND his show, and it is not Legend of the Seeker which is what I get myself prepared to watch.
I don’t know who it is to blame for this atrocity, but they should be shot. I pregame for at least 30 minutes every week only to end up utterly disappointed and this week is the same thing (thats 21 weeks!). Either its Mediacom or http://www.legendoftheseeker.com incorrectly informing me, but someone should repay me for my sufferings over this entire season.
I love this show. I hope they keep it coming. I look for this every Sunday night. I would like to know more about the stars of the show.
Entertaining show. The books were rather long winded and dull… watching adaptations is more to my liking, even if it seems to stray a lot from the writers ideas.
I’m a bit annoyed that I didnt even know it was around until I ran across it on hulu. But that seems to be the way of it. Don’t hear or see the good series until they are a few seasons in.
Hurry with the new series.
I dunno… the Aussie productions always end up looking a bit cheap; the Canadians, British and even Chinese have some better production values, though hot good as American. Mutant X wasn’t bad, and while Andromeda was a Roddenberry creation, it never had a chance of being as successful as the Trek franchise. What they do seem to have in droves is a tons of gorgeous, muscled guys to fit in those costumes, and some fun S&M-ish scenes. On network tv, a shirtless musclehead gettin sum soft-core torture is about the best you’re gonna get!