The Shannara Chronicles: Season One

Based on the epic fantasy series by novelist Terry Brooks, the MTV-produced The Shannara Chronicles attempts to present a sweeping adventure fantasy in the Lord of the Rings vein (like Jackson's trilogy, the show is also shot in New Zealand), only with a limited budget and a cast of attractive young heroes and heroines. The source books conjure up a Tolkien-esque fantasy world of humans, elves, trolls, and gnomes, with prophecies, magic, and heroes fated to go on epic quests. In this series, a half-elf outcast (Austin Butler) with magical Elfstones, a royal elf princess (Poppy Drayton), and a human thief (Ivana Baquero) are tossed together to overcome their differences and save a dying tree that protects the world from demons who want to destroy every race on Earth. The first episode throws magical words and lore at the audience as a Druid (Manu Bennett) arrives to warn the Elf King (John Rhys-Davies) of the demon uprising, kicking off the action. Unfortunately, the show plays like a 1990s cable fantasy series revived in the era of Game of Thrones, relying on clichés espoused by young stars who have limited talent and charm. And despite the gorgeous New Zealand locations and CGI enhancements, the series lacks a requisite sense of scope. Still, given the popularity of the novels and the current interest in fantasy TV shows, this may find an audience among teens and young adults. Presenting all 10 episodes from the 2016 debut season, extras include behind-the-scenes featurettes and a brief interview with Brooks. A strong optional purchase. (S. Axmaker)