11 - Confession

Information

Title: Confession
Episode number: 11
Production number: 110
Director: Garth Maxwell
Writers: Barry Schkolnick
US Air date: 31st January 2009
UK Air date: 17th September 2009
Gallery: View Confession images

Synopsis

Zedd seeks out a relative in his quest to secure a safe hiding place for the Box of Orden while Richard and Kahlan investigate a series of murders among members of the resistance. Believing she has caused an innocent man to be executed, Kahlan begins to doubt her ability as a Confessor.

Review by Tracy Casebere

Episode 11 brings us exactly half way through the series. It also brings us a whodunit murder mystery seeped in magic. It starts with Kahlan being contacted by a friend within the resistance against Darken Rahl, who is concerned about a recent spate of murders. By the time Richard and Kahlan get there, the friend is dead.

The thing to note about nearly all murder mysteries is that the murderer is usually shown on the screen within the first five minutes. That should give you a clue at the very least and help relieve the twisting and turning which is yet to come in this episode.

They're quickly pointed towards a suspect thanks to Richard's keen senses as a woodsman. Kahlan, who is probably more biased on this occasion than she should be considering the justice she is seeking is for her friend, decides that the suspect is lying to her and ends up confessing him. Richard however believes otherwise. But you can't argue with a Confessor's power can you - or can you? Just as well the confessed-suspect admits to killing the man then otherwise it would have been highly - what's the word - immoral to confess an innocent. At least that is what Kahlan has been telling us these past few episodes.

The confessed man is put to death and all is right in the Midlands again. That is until another man stumbles into the scene proclaiming the guy they just hanged is in fact the guy who robbed him that very morning - the very same morning Kahlan's friend was killed.

Confused? If you are, just imagine how I feel writing this!

I won't spoil it for you (not because I'm nice, it would simply be too much hassle to explain, no really - just keep watching!) but the suspect number goes up as the episode progresses. And although the ending is hardly surprising, it does show us that Kahlan's power isn't foolproof. It shakes her confidence and rightly so.

This is yet another instance in the series where Richard's naivety about the Midlands and magic in general helps him. So he was right all along then. Kahlan may have been born with her magic but Richard ends up teaching her that instinct should never be discounted in place of it. At least the television series mirrors the books in this respect. Richard may be the young hero being guided by two magical know-it-all's, but he's the one dishing out the lessons.

Starring

Craig Horner - Richard Cypher
Bridget Regan - Kahlan Amnell
Bruce Spence - Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander

Co-Starring

Stephen Lovatt - Declan
Barnie Duncan - Niles Braggindor
Caren Pistorius - Luna
David Mackie - Rames
Jon Brazier - Thaddicus
Lauren Porteous - Nella Greenleaf
Phil Brooks - Conor Greenleaf
Justin Curry - Tor
Stephen Moore - Bosin