5 - Listener

Information

Title: Listener
Episode number: 5
Production number: 106
Director: Mark Beesley
Writers: Stephen Tolkin
US Air date: 22nd November 2008
UK Air date: 27th August 2009
Gallery: View Listener images

Synopsis

Darken Rahl's D'Haran soldiers capture Renn, a ten-year-old boy known as a Listener, a person with the ability to read anyone's thoughts, and a very valuable tool for those who control him. When Richard and Kahlan take Renn from his captors, the mind-reading child threatens to reveal their deepest of secrets to each other.

Review by Tracy Casebere

Another day dawns and with it, brings more obstacles. In Richard's case, this obstacle is in the shape of a child. Not just any child though, a chained, captive child called Renn. Because Richard has this little thing called a heart (Darken Rahl take note) he decides to put on hold his killing quest and rescue the boy. It's not kidnapping if you're stealing him away to freedom, is it?

It turns out that Renn is a Listener which means he can hear the thoughts of others around him. With a power such as this, Darken Rahl wants to recruit (buy) the boy for his own evil plans. And quite frankly, we don't blame him. It would give him an awesome advantage in taking over the world.

Anyway, the genius behind the freedom bid is Zedd, who thinks a little hair dye and an oddly matched beard will fool people into thinking he's not THE first wizard, but another one who just so happens to be idly wandering around the forest, as you do. His disguise looks like a do-it-yourself attempt at hair colouring after watching one too many episodes of The Raccoons. (Darken Rahl would totally be Cyril Sneer but with better hair, obviously.) But it's enough to fool the D'Haran soldiers who are keeping the boy captive and that's all that counts.

With the distraction in place, Richard and Kahlan are free to do a bit of rescuing. And soon after, probably wish they hadn't bothered. Ok so the boy has a sob story and yes it would probably win the heart of millions on any episode of X factor - except this is Legend of the Seeker, and no amount of hardship could warm you to this kid. Believe me, none.

I truly merit Renn for his acting skills. I've never wanted to make a kid shut the hell up before, as much as I did him. Quite how Richard restrains himself from lopping his head off I don't know. A gar in comparison makes far less fuss (and noise) yet is instantly killed by Richard. You almost feel sorry for the poor creatures.

If there is one sure way to test Richard and Kahlan's budding relationship, then it's to stick a child into the mix. At times it's both funny and painful to watch this episode unfold. Funny because Richard losing his temper and then watching Kahlan keep it in check reminds me of an old married couple; and painful because when the kid comes onto the screen I just want to rip my eyes out. And ears. And then his too just because Richard didn't.

Eventually Renn does warm to Richard (but only after he gets sliced in the arm from a sword wielding soldier) and he becomes more co-operative and less annoying. Only fractionally though. And just when you think, finally! Hallelujah! We can now send the kid off to boarding school (that's the Sisters of the Light between you and me - and no don't get me started on that particular book-butchering-storyline) Renn's father suddenly appears out of nowhere, and I mean nowhere, and demands for the kid back. Really. If it was that easy to find someone who's been sold/stolen about a bazillion times over in the last five years, then how come it's taken Richard and Kahlan five episodes to look for Darken Rahl thus far? His horse must have had GPS, yes that's it.

Reluctantly, Kahlan and Richard hand the boy over but as they are walking away, they both know they've made a mistake. They should have run away instead. Only kidding! The father looked a little dodgy, although that might have been his acting, it's hard to tell. Fearing the worst (as all pretend parents do) Kahlan and Richard rush back after the boy to rescue him from his evil father. The End.

Well, not really. Renn ends up rescuing Zedd, who ends up rescuing Richard, who ends up killing some soldiers, who were holding Zedd captive, who were also holding Renn captive - deep breath - and then they live happily ever after. Or at least Renn does once he gets whisked off to the hidey-hole world that is the Sisters of the Light. Zedd, Kahlan and Richard still have to find themselves an evil Lord to kill. A Disney ending to be had by all, sort of. Until next time!