Television Series: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, other

[Raven]

But I wanted to put this up in case others didn't know about this. My lady just found this series: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redwall_(TV_series)

It's a Canadian television series that tells the stories of three of the Redwall books. So far, I have watched a portion of the third season, and I've actually enjoyed it a fair bit.

I figured I'd start a thread, as this could open up a whole new discussion. . .

I've been more into TV series in recent years than I have been movies, to be honest.

[Philosoraptor]

It helps that television has dramatically improved in recent years, discovering things like good writing, excellent photography, and compelling character development.

I had no idea Redwall had been adapted. I've read about twelve of the Redwall books, and went through nine of them again this summer. My mouse hovers on the link, hesitant to try or not...

Something I've gotten into again recently has been....anime. And without too much hyperbole, this series is better than most of the Shakespeare I've read. The best enfleshment of leadership in community I've ever encountered. Shinsekai Yori (Japanese for "From the New World", also a Dvorak symphony) takes place a thousand years from now after telekinesis appears in people. 25 episodes at about twenty minutes each.

http://ww2.kiss-anime.me/Anime/shinsekai-yori

[Raven]

That sounds like an interesting series. May have to check it out.


Believe it or not, I've really enjoyed the Redwall show. It's a Canadian production, and they seem to have allowed the story to be the story, by and large.

Another series:
Here I will write about it, one of my favorites of all time, the 10th Kingdom. Found in company with original Lostpathway forum member from years ago, Jhae, this film/series quickly became a favorite. It was released as a series on TV, but got rolled together into a ca. 7 hour film. It's quirky, sometimes absurd, and a lot of fun. It takes place in the land of classic fairy-tales, about 75 years after it's prime, a place where one might need a questing permit. It is a portal show, where fairytale land makes a connection to New York.

[Coír Draoi Ceítien]

I like The 10th Kingdom as well. Actually, I would recommend all the miniseries by Hallmark Entertainment that appeared on NBC for a while, which include:

-Merlin, starring Sam Neill in the title role, retelling Arthurian legend through the wizard's point of view as he tries to prevent the faerie kingdom's Queen Mab from dragging England back into "the Old Ways."

-Gulliver's Travels, starring Ted Danson as Lemuel Gulliver, in what may be, due to the format, the most accurate and complete dramatization of Jonathan Swift's novel put to the screen (it still takes some liberties)

-Arabian Nights, a fascinating and sometimes comic adaption of a handful of the ancient Arabian stories, told with the frame story of Scheherazade attempting to cure a troubled King Shahryar of his woes.

Alice in Wonderland, probably the most accurate adaptation of Lewis Carroll's work, telling both the original story and its sequel meshed together in a wonderfully madcap, all-star presentation; add to that animatronics and puppetry by Jim Henson's Creature Shop (woefully underused today, to my knowledge) coupled with digital effects made to resemble John Tenniel's legendary illustrations

The Monkey King, a.k.a The Lost Empire, in which an American businessman is transported into the world of the legendary Chinese fantasy novel Journey to the West. It appears that this one didn't do too well compared to the others, but I really enjoyed it.

I'm not usually a fan of TV movies, but these are some pretty wonderful exceptions. I encourage you to check them out if you haven't already.

[Raven]

Wow, some of those sound interesting. I may have to check into them. . .


Since you mentioned Jim Henson, I have to include one of his series in this discussion.

Fraggle Rock. Fraggle Rock follows the lives of a few Fraggle friends, creatures who live in fantastical caves and sing. It is a musical kids show, but it is remarkably enjoyable and there are some really fun episodes and elements to the show, all told through the Henson puppetry that is so amazing to watch.

[Coír Draoi Ceítien]

Based on my 16th entry in the MASTERS OF FANTASY series, I have something else that I would like to sell you on.

If you were to read it, you would see I make mention of Susanna Clarke and her novel Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, an alternate history where magic is real and two English magicians try to take control of it. Well, the BBC released a wonderful adaptation of it in 2015, and it's currently on Netflix. I HIGHLY encourage you all to check it out - it's not one to miss!

Here's the trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iE1nsOoTJos

And if you need more to whet your appetite, here's some previews from the first three episodes.

Episode 1:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDujirtX8U4

Episode 2:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tk5Hf6hkvY

Episode 3:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KQ79BoKw9o

And just for good measure, here's some magic for you:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxtyM9mFMQQ

[Raven]

I don't have Netflix, but if my lady seems interested in it, we might add it to our watch list and splurge on getting a used copy off of Amazon or something in the future. Thanks for the heads up!

[Raven]

I have to add a plug here for the si-fi show the Expanse[/]. I've watched the first two seasons and it is quite a high quality and engaging story. The world it develops is fascinating and it's treatment of space travel is more gritty and less fantastical, though obviously it is fanciful by sheer genre. 
It is based on books and I've enjoyed the show enough that I may put the books on my reading list.