The story takes place in the world author Terry Goodkind created in
his The Sword of Truth
fantasy novel series. The three main provinces are Westland, the
Midlands and D'Hara. Westland is separated from the Midlands by a
magical boundary, which was created to prevent any magic from entering
Westland. On the other side of the Midlands is D'Hara, which is ruled
by Darken Rahl. The Confessors
oversee the welfare of the people of the Midlands.
The first 22 episodes are loosely tied to the first book
of The Sword of Truth series Wizard's First Rule.
Some of the stories feature events and characters not encountered in
the books, while other loosely adapt events from the book. The story
begins after the invasion of Darken Rahl's army into the Midlands. Kahlan Amnell (Bridget Regan),
a Confessor, ventures into Westland in search of a wizard and the
Seeker, who has been prophesied to defeat Rahl. Kahlan finds the
wizard, Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander
(Bruce Spence), and the
Seeker, Richard
Cypher (Craig Horner), who is forced
to accept his destiny. Together, they set off on a journey to seek out
Rahl and his minions.
Season 1 (2008-2009)
Season one premiered on 1 November 2008 and aired until
23 May 2009
in the United States, where it was broadcast via syndication. It
introduced the main characters of the series: Richard Cypher (Craig Horner), Kahlan Amnell (Bridget Regan) and Zeddicus "Zedd" Zu'l Zorander
(Bruce Spence).
Richard is a woods guide who discovers that he is the Seeker of Truth,
a sacred post that has the responsibility to uphold justice in the
world. He also learns that an ancient prophecy names him as the person
who will defeat Darken Rahl (Craig Parker),
a tyrant hell-bent on conquering the world. As he journeys in search of
Rahl, Richard is aided by Zedd, an old wizard, and Kahlan, a young
woman who has the magical power to make others do her bidding.
Darken
Rahl, a tyrant who wants to expand his empire into the Midlands, sends
soldiers to obtain the Book of Counted Shadows,
which is in the possession of a Confessor named Kahlan Amnell. Kahlan
crosses the magical boundary into Hartland, a land of no magic, in
search of a wizard. In Hartland, Kahlan meets Richard Cypher, a
woodsman who helps her escape the soldiers. Kahlan finds the wizard,
Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander, and insists that he take her to the Seeker.
Richard, who was sent by his father to Zedd, meets them and discovers
that he is the Seeker, the person prophesied to defeat Rahl. One of the
soldiers, Fane, kills Richard's father and takes the Book of
Counted Shadows from Richard.
2 (2)
"Destiny"
Mark Beesley
Ken Biller & Barry Schkolnick
1 November 2008 (2008-11-01)
After
accepting the role of the Seeker, Richard formulates a plan with Zedd,
Kahlan and his friend Chase to find Fane. Darken Rahl attempts to bring
down the magical boundary that separates the Midlands and Hartland,
which will allow Fane to return with the Book of Counted
Shadows.
Fane kidnaps Chase's daughter and forces a sorceress to give him the
Night Stone to cross the boundary. Richard and Kahlan pursues Fane to
the boundary, where Richard kills him and retrieves the Book.
Meanwhile, Rahl's soldiers destroy the boundary. Richard throws the Book
into a fire to stop the soldiers from taking it. Together with Kahlan,
he defeats them. Having recovered from his injury, Zedd joins Richard
and Kahlan as they set off into the Midlands.
3 (3)
"Bounty"
Jesse Warn
Chad Fiveash & James Stoteraux
8 November 2008 (2008-11-08)
Richard,
Kahlan and Zedd are attacked by a band of mercenaries, one of whom,
they find, was carrying a map that tracks Richard's location. Soon
after they discover that Darken Rahl is offering a reward for capture
of the Seeker, a woman named Lily asks for their help to save her
brother from the Shadrin, a mythical monster. When the group finds yet
another map tracking Richard, Zedd sets off to find the mapmaker
Sebastian (Ted Raimi).
Richard and Kahlan follow Lily to find her brother but it turns out to
be a trap. Lily wants to exchange Richard for her brother, who is to be
executed by the Rahl's soldiers. Meanwhile, Zedd warns the mapmaker not
to make any more maps to track the Seeker. He returns in time to save
Richard and Kahlan from capture. Richard helps Lily's brother escape.
In return, Lily helps to spread word that the Seeker is here to help
them.
4 (4)
"Brennidon"
Jonathan Brough
Erin Maher & Kay Reindl
15 November 2008 (2008-11-15)
While
Kahlan performs her Confessor's duties, Richard returns to his
birthplace Brennidon but is unnerved to find it under siege with
D'Haran soldiers. A woman named Brigid claims to be Richard's birth
mother and that her son Mark is his brother. After witnessing a woman
almost getting killed for defying Darken Rahl, Richard is determined to
save his village despite the D'Harans' intention to capture him.
Meanwhile, Zedd convinces a woman that he is not the father of her son
and reveals to Kahlan that Richard is his grandson. When both find out
where Richard is, they rush off to Brennidon. They arrive in time to
help Richard and the villagers fend off and kill the D'Harans. Brigid
reveals to Richard that although she thinks of him as a son, she is not
his mother and that his real mother is out there looking for
him.
5 (5)
"Listener"
Mark Beesley
Stephen Tolkin
22 November 2008 (2008-11-22)
Upon
witnessing Darken Rahl's soldiers capturing a Listener, who has the
ability to read others' thoughts by looking into their eyes, Richard,
Kahlan and Zedd devise a plan to rescue him. After the rescue, Zedd
uses the soldiers to find Rahl as Richard and Kahlan set about
returning the Listener, a boy named Renn, to his step-father. Renn
grows to trust Richard and Kahlan after they risk their lives to
protect him. Using his abilities, Renn discovers Richard and Kahlan's
secrets including their feelings for each other and reassures each of
them that the feelings are mutual. Not wanting them to be harmed, Renn
leaves with his step-father and is sold off again to Rahl's soldiers,
who have captured Zedd for helping a D'Haran traitor escape. Richard
and Kahlan find Zedd and Renn, and help them fend off the soldiers.
They journey to Thandor, where Renn is then left in the care of the
Sisters of Light.
A
boy named Jack steals Zedd, Richard and Kahlan's horses and sells them
to Rymus, a magic peddler,
in the village of Drendril. While tracking Jack in the village, Richard
is aided by a bartender's magic potion that allows him to see Jack's
precise location. Jack takes them to the peddlers, who start a fight,
forcing Kahlan to use her Confessor's power on Rymus and Zedd to expose
himself as a wizard. They discover that Drendril is being corrupted by
a wizard's magic potions. The wizard captures Zedd and is revealed to
be Jeziah, a past student of Zedd. Richard learns not to rely on magic
and uses his woods guide skills to find Zedd. Richard, Kahlan and Rymus
defeat Jeziah and the peddlers in a fight, but Rymus dies protecting
Kahlan. Noticing Richard's feelings for Kahlan, Zedd reminds Kahlan
that she has yet to tell Richard of her Confessor's power and how that
will affect their relationship.
Richard
ignores the warning of Shota, a sorceress who has had a vision of his
death, and proceeds with his plan to capture Demmin Nass, Rahl's
right-hand man, in Kalabra. Hence, Shota uses magic to temporarily
exchange Richard's identity with that of a merchant's son, Gryff.
Kahlan and Zedd leaves for Kalabra with Gryff, who they think is
Richard. On the way, Kahlan reveals her feelings for Richard to Gryff
and how they can never be together because of her Confessor's power.
Meanwhile, Richard is forced to marry Gryff's betrothed, Bronwyn. When
Bronwyn is eventually convinced by Richard that he is not Gryff but the
Seeker, she leads him to Kalabra, where he reunites with Kahlan and
Zedd, and saves Gryff's life. They learn from a document Kahlan took
from Nass' tent that Rahl is looking for the boxes of Orden. Shota
reveals to them a prophecy that foretells Kahlan betraying
Richard.
Fearing
that her feelings for Richard may compromise his mission to stop Rahl,
Kahlan leaves Richard and Zedd to find another Confessor who can help
them. Shortly after, Richard is captured by a Mord'Sith named Denna (Jessica Marais)
who can manipulate any form of magic directed at her; Zedd is powerless
to help. Denna reveals to Richard of Rahl's plan to torture him into
submission. As she tortures him, Kahlan locates Lara, a Confessor who
has abused her power to gain control over an entire settlement. Upon
learning from Zedd that Richard has been captured, Kahlan goes to save
Richard. Lara is killed by Rahl's soldiers and the people she confessed
are freed from her control. Richard and Kahlan escape from captivity
after killing Denna, who is brought back to life by another Mord'Sith.
When Richard tells Kahlan that he knows of her secret, she reaffirms
that they must focus on their mission and cast aside their feelings for
each other.
9 (9)
"Puppeteer"
Mark Beesley
Nicki Paluga
17 January 2009 (2009-01-17)
As
Darken Rahl plans to obtain the third and final Box of Orden from Queen
Milena of Tamarang, Zedd poses as a puppeteer at her daughter Princess
Violet's birthday party while Richard and Kahlan attempt to delay
Rahl's emissary from reaching Tamarang. Zedd befriends Rachel, a
ten-year-old girl enslaved as Princess Violet's playmate. With her
help, Zedd steals the third Box of Orden and replaces it with a
look-alike. Meanwhile, Richard and Kahlan intercept a small party of
Rahl's soldiers and discover that Rahl is travelling to Tamarang
himself to retrieve the box. Rachel helps Zedd smuggle the box out of
Tamarang with the assistance of a cook named Martha, and takes it to
Richard and Kahlan. Rahl realizes that the box is a fake but fails to
capture Zedd; he kills Queen Milena as a result. After Zedd rejoins
Richard and Kahlan, Rachel is taken in by Martha.
10 (10)
"Sacrifice"
Michael Hurst
Chad Fiveash & James Stoteraux
24 January 2009 (2009-01-24)
Richard,
Kahlan and Zedd encounter a group of Confessors and their leader,
Mother Confessor Serena, who are on their way to an island called
Valeria to hide from Rahl. After discovering that her sister Dennee is
alive and is being held at a D'Haran prison, Kahlan rescues her by
disguising as a Mord'Sith and Richard as her prisoner. The Confessors'
happiness at finding Dennee pregnant is short-lived when she gives
birth to a boy. As part of their tradition, all male Confessors are
killed at birth because they are unable to control their power. Serena
confesses Zedd and retrieves Dennee's son from Richard, who does not
want the boy to be killed. Deciding to help Dennee save her child, the
remaining Confessors confess Rahl's pursuing soldiers with Richard and
Kahlan's help and use them to distract Zedd while they confront Serena.
Dennee's mate kills Serena, releasing Zedd from her control, and leaves
for Valeria with Dennee and their son. The remaining Confessors name
Kahlan as their new Mother Confessor.
11 (11)
"Confession"
Garth Maxwell
Barry Schkolnick
31 January 2009 (2009-01-31)
When
two resistance fighters against Darken Rahl die under suspicious
circumstances, their leader, Connor, requests Kahlan's help. Zedd set
off on a separate mission to retrieve the key to a crypt where they
will hide the third Box of Orden from Rahl. Richard and Kahlan arrive
at Connor's home to find him dead. Kahlan uses her Confessor's power on
a thief named Niles, who tells them that he killed Connor. They
discover too late that Niles, who was hanged for the murder, was not
responsible. When Kahlan finds Niles' sister dead and Richard convinced
that he is the murderer, they believe that magic is being used by the
real killer to give others the memories of killing the victims. The
town's constable, Declan, brings forth evidence that Connor's wife,
Nella, had committed the murders, but he himself is revealed to be the
murderer and a follower of Rahl. Zedd rejoins Richard and Kahlan after
obtaining the key and repairing his relationship with his
brother.
12 (12)
"Home"
Charlie Haskell
Stephen Tolkin
21 February 2009 (2009-02-21)
Using
a rare astronomical alignment, Darken Rahl has his wizard, Giller, cast
a spell that places Richard under a dreamlike trance in an attempt to
reveal the hidden location of the third Box of Orden. Under the spell,
Richard believes he is home in Hartland and begins to tell of his past
months adventures. Darken Rahl, under the guise of a childhood
infatuation, pushes him to disclose where he hid the Box of Orden. Zedd
is powerless to break Rahl's hold over Richard so a desperate Kahlan
admits the truth to Richard — she loves him. Kahlan's tears break
through to Richard's dreams and he is able to at last see the truth and
the face of Darken Rahl. He rips out of his dream state in time to
recover the Box of Orden before it falls into Darken Rahl's hands. This
episode is a clipshow.
13 (13)
"Revenant"
Geoffrey Cawthorn
Erin Maher & Kay Reindl
28 February 2009 (2009-02-28)
Zedd
leads Kahlan and Richard to the tomb of a past Seeker named Kieran,
where he plans to hide the third Box of Orden, but they find Kieran's
remains missing from his sarcophagus. After they are led by the spirit
of Kieran's Confessor, Viviane, to his remains, Zedd undoes the spell
that had been keeping Kieran's spirit from going to the underworld.
Kieran's spirit possesses Richard and expels Zedd from the room, and
Viviane takes over Kahlan's body. Zedd meets Kieran's former wizard,
Amfortas, who explains to him that the thousand-year old legend of
Kieran and Viviane is not as it really was. After Viviane committed
suicide to release Kieran (whom she had confessed while making love to
him) from her power, Kieran turned into a violent killer, forcing
Amfortas to kill him and to keep his spirit from entering the
underworld. With Amfortas' help, Zedd re-opens the door, and after
putting a stop to Kieran and Viviane's passionate encounter in Richard
and Kahlan's bodies, Zedd convinces them to release their counterparts
and depart for the underworld together. Zedd decides that the tomb is
not a safe place to hide the Box of Orden and that he will take it
somewhere secretly by himself.
14 (14)
"Hartland"
Mark Beesley
Mike Sussman
7 March 2009 (2009-03-07)
After
reuniting with Chase, Richard and Kahlan return to Hartland to find
that the D'Harans have taken control of everything. Despite the fact
that most people in Hartland seem to think that the D'Harans are
helping them, Richard, Kahlan, and Chase discover that the D'Harans
have been taking dissenters prisoner, and feeding them to gars. Even
though Michael, Richard's brother, first resists their efforts, he
finally is convinced and helps them. Michael helps them, in particular,
after the D'Harans discover that Richard is in Hartland by giving up
his life to help them escape back to the Midlands.
15 (15)
"Conversion"
Andrew Merrifield
Chad Fiveash & James Stoteraux
14 March 2009 (2009-03-14)
Giller
attempts to recreate the Confessor's magic for Darken Rahl by
experimenting with ancient magic on Rahl's prisoners. Dismayed by
Giller's slow progress, Rahl decides to pay a visit. Richard, Kahlan,
Chase and Devlin, a resistance fighter, rescue the prisoners from
Giller's keep. Chase is struck ill when his wife Emma, whom Giller had
performed one of his experiments on, unknowingly unleashes a form of
Confessor's power on him. Upon discovering that Rahl will be arriving
at the keep, Richard and Kahlan head there in hopes of killing Rahl and
capturing Giller. They are captured when Giller proves resistant to
Kahlan's Confessor power and Richard is defeated by Rahl in a fight. As
Giller works to take Kahlan's Confessor power, Rahl reveals his plan to
use it on Richard, triggering Kahlan into the "Con Dar" or "Blood
Rage". She kills Giller and confesses Rahl's minions, forcing Rahl to
retreat. After returning to Chase to give him Giller's potion, which
will keep him safe from Emma's power, Richard and Kahlan receive a
message from Zedd, who tells them to meet him in D'Hara.
16 (16)
"Bloodline"
Garth Maxwell
Nicole Paluga
21 March 2009 (2009-03-21)
Zedd
reunites with Richard and Kahlan in D'Hara after hiding the third box
of Orden near the People's Palace to lure Darken Rahl out. Rahl's
minions locate the box but are unable to retrieve it due to a magical
shield. Rahl sends Denna to recruit a young woman named Jennsen, who is
pristinely ungifted, which means she immune to magic, and she cannot do
magic of her own. Denna forces Jennsen to retrieve the box by
threatening to kill her mother but loses the box to Richard, Kahlan and
Zedd. After Denna escapes with Jennsen's mother, Richard discovers that
Jennsen is his sister and Zedd is their grandfather. In exchange for
the third box, Denna helps Richard and Jennsen to steal the two boxes
in Rahl's possession. When she attempts to take all three boxes,
Richard assembles them and obtains the power to command others. Finding
his mother dead, Richard is overcome with vengeance, and commands
Kahlan to kill Denna and Rahl's soldiers to kill each other. Jennsen,
horrified by Richard's actions, separates the three boxes to cease
their hold over him. To keep the boxes apart, Zedd gives two boxes of
Orden to Jennsen to protect, while they protect the third.
17 (17)
"Deception"
Chris Martin-Jones
Raf Green
28 March 2009 (2009-03-28)
Richard
and Kahlan return to the Midlands and come to the aid of a group of
rebels whose homes have been destroyed by a new weapon created by
Darken Rahl called the "Whisperer". Kahlan manages to confess a D'Haran
soldier named Carver Dunn, who helps them to deduce that the Whisperers
are being stored at a fort nearby. Richard infiltrates the fort using
Carver's identity and discovers that a cargo of Whisperers is being
sent from D'Hara to replenish the fort's supply. As Richard befriends
the fort's captain, Kahlan becomes protective of Carver, who is later
killed by one of the rebels. When Kahlan learns of the rebels' plan to
use the intercepted cargo of Whisperers on villages loyal to Rahl for
revenge, she goes to the fort to inform Richard, and together, they are
able to stop the rebels in time. As Richard and Kahlan destroy the
Whisperers, they reflect on the choices they made to save the innocent
D'Harans.
18 (18)
"Mirror"
Jonathan Brough
Story: Michael K. Sheeter Teleplay: Stephen Tolkin
25 April 2009 (2009-04-25)
Gwildor,
a common thief, uses a magic mirror to change his appearance to that of
a D'Haran captain. He also causes two other thieves named Clayre and
Frytss to appear like Kahlan and Richard in order to rob the people of
Midlands. Upon seeing Richard and Kahlan, the thieves hatch a plan to
steal the Sword of Truth. Clayre and Frytss succeed in stealing the
sword but are captured by D'Haran soldiers after Gwildor betrays them.
Clayre and Frytss escape only to be found by Zedd, who discovers that
they are not Richard and Kahlan. Meanwhile, Richard and Kahlan are
captured by D'Harans after being tricked by Gwildor's lover, Bianca.
Zedd uses the mirror to pose as Bianca and attempts to trade Clayre and
Frytss for Richard and Kahlan. When that fails, he tricks the D'Harans
again by having Bianca appear as him, while they escape. Zedd changes
Frytss and Clayre back to their original appearances before continuing
on his journey with Richard and Kahlan.
19 (19)
"Cursed"
Mark Beesley
Chad Fiveash & James Stoteraux
2 May 2009 (2009-05-02)
King
Gregor, an ally of the Seeker, allows Shota to curse him with magic
that transforms him at sunset into a beast called the Calthrop in order
to protect his kingdom from Rahl's army. However, he is unable to
control the Calthrop as it preys on the innocents, forcing Richard and
Kahlan to kill him. Meanwhile, Zedd discovers from Shota that without
the Calthrop, the D'Harans will be able to take over the throne. Upon
the D'Harans' invasion, Zedd and Shota use magic to darken the sky,
unleashing the Calthrop. Corah, who inherited the throne and the
Calthrop curse from King Gregor, turns into the beast herself, driving
the D'Harans away. Just as Corah decides not to hide the identity of
the Calthrop from her people, Kahlan realizes that she must accept and
learn to control her magic. After returning, Zedd reveals the existence
of a second Book of Counted Shadows and that they
must find it before Rahl.
20 (20)
"Sanctuary"
Garth Maxwell
Mike Sussman
9 May 2009 (2009-05-09)
Richard,
Kahlan and Zedd arrive at the library in which the remaining copy of
the Book of Counted Shadows
is hidden. To find it, they seek the help of a librarian named Livia,
who suddenly disappears. A painter named James had use magic to
transport her into a world he had created through a magical painting,
where she reunites with her missing son, Aidan. After James explains
that he was keeping Aidan safe, Livia informs him that she is needed at
the library. James promptly returns to the real world to paint the
library into their sanctuary, transporting everything inside it along
as well. He is found by Richard and Kahlan, who he also transports into
the painting. With Livia's help, Richard finds the Book.
At
first unwilling to return them to the real world, James is forced to
when Rahl discovers the painting and burns it, but he himself is unable
to escape. Richard begins reading the Book to
understand the magic of Orden.
21 (21)
"Fever"
Jonathan Brough
Nicki Paluga
16 May 2009 (2009-05-16)
Darken
Rahl raids a village where Jennsen is living, looking for the Boxes of
Orden. Jennsen, pursued, throws them into a lake. When Rahl's soldiers
find her, they beat her mercilessly causing her to lose her memory. As
Jennsen is nursed back to health, Rahl convinces her that Richard is
evil in order to obtain the location of the boxes. Meanwhile, Richard,
Kahlan, and Zedd enter a camp which has been struck by a plague,
created by Darken Rahl. In exchange for the Seeker's head, he will
provide them with the cure. As Zedd sets about healing the sick
villagers, Richard retraces Jennsen's steps to the lake and is able to
retrieve the missing boxes. Believing in Rahl's story, Jennsen follows
her orders to steal the boxes from Richard. She succeeds but Richard
captures her and manages to restore her memory. Rahl is out of options,
so he sends orders for his army to pull back and to have Cara and her
sisters of the Agiel summoned, as Richard sets about using the magic of
Orden with Kahlan's help.
22 (22)
"Reckoning"
Michael Hurst
Ken Biller & Stephen Tolkin
23 May 2009 (2009-05-23)
Richard
puts together the three Boxes of Orden, while Kahlan confesses him.
However, Rahl's Mord'Siths find them just as this happens. In the
middle of the confession, Cara, the lead Mord'Sith, uses her Agiel on
Richard. This combination of the powers of Orden, Confessor and Agiel
results in a magical explosion that sends Richard and Cara 58 years
into the future. Meanwhile, in the ensuing conflict, Zedd is killed by
his own wizard's fire, and Kahlan is taken prisoner by Rahl. When
Kahlan learns from Shota that the only way for Richard to return is to
replicate the magical combination of Orden, Confessor and Agiel, she
decides to conceive a child with Rahl. Kahlan gives birth to a son,
Nicholas, who grows into a merciless tyrant. In the future, Richard
joins forces with Cara to destroy Nicholas. They meet up with Shota,
who tells Richard about the magical combination required to travel back
in time. Nicholas fails to deter Cara and Richard from returning to the
present, where they save Kahlan and Zedd, with Richard finally
fulfilling the prophecy in defeating Rahl. The Boxes of Orden are
destroyed.
Season
2 (2009-2010)
#
Title
Director(s)
Writer(s)
Original
Airdate
1 (23)
"Marked"
TBD
Ken Biller & Stephen Tolkin
7 November 2009 (2009-11-07)
Richard,
Kahlan and Zedd are attacked by a skreeling (an underworld beast) while
celebrating the fall of Darken Rahl, Richard also learns his true
ancestry. Richard finds out he inadvertently opened an entry to the
underworld, unleashing a terrible evil. Meanwhile, Cara is betrayed by
her fellow Sisters of the Agiel and left to die. Richard, Cara, Kahlan
and Zed begin their quest to find the Stone of Tears to repair the veil
between the underworld and the world of the living.
2 (24)
"Baneling"
TBD
TBD
14 November 2009 (2009-11-14)
Richard,
Kahlan, Zedd, and Cara arrive at a D'Haran death camp. The tear in the
veill allows the dead to come back to the world as Banelings in
exchange for killing for the Keeper. As well, young Hoodlum
accidentally becomes the key to the Stone of Tears. He is killed but
before he is brought back to life by Cara, Darken Rahl sees the marking
on his palm and orders an army of the dead after the key. Richard burns
the army and they continue their quest for the Stone of Tears.
3 (25)
"Broken"
TBD
TBD
21 November 2009 (2009-11-21)
Cara
is put on trial for past crimes, and finds her fate in Kahlan's
hands.
Calendar
