5 - Wizard

Information

Title: Wizard
Episode number: 5
Production number: 205
Director: Jonathan Brough
Writers: Stephen Tolkin
US Air date: 5th December 2009
UK Air date: 25th February 2010
Gallery: View Wizard images

Synopsis

Zedd falls victim to a mysterious spell that strips him of his memory - and his old age. Emboldened by his newfound youth, the once-wise wizard is convinced he must replace Richard with a new Seeker to find the Stone of Tears and save a town threatened by a rift to the Underworld. Now, it's up to Richard, Kahlan and Cara to rescue a powerful and arrogant young Zedd from a lethal showdown with Darken Rahl and the Keeper of the Underworld.

Review by Tracy Casebere

It's all in the name... of Thursday's episode, which centred quite predictably around a wizard, Zedd in fact. Only most of the screen time was taken up by a much younger looking Zedd. Is Legend of the Seeker turning ageist? Of course not. This has obviously got something to do with magic, and when I say magic, I mean Shota.

And despite Zedd not being able to DO WHAT MUST BE DONE, he manages to find it within himself to DO SOMETHING ELSE WHICH MUST BE DONE, and eat. It's while the group are walking through the Midlands that Zedd finds a piece of fruit, his favourite fruit and being, well, Zedd (and hungry) he eats it all to himself without sharing even a bite.

Almost instantly, Zedd's memory begins to fade, until eventually he no longer recognises his own grandson, Richard; or worse - himself.

Afraid of pretty much anything and everyone, Zedd flees the group and ends up in a town seeking comfort and when I say comfort, I literally mean comfort: he heads straight for the local brothel. I knew that Zedd was an old corn dog!

He falls for the charms (hey - don't they all?) of a prostitute named Salindra, who turns her nose up at Zedd's wrinkles and says he reminds her of her grandfather. And knowing Zedd, he probably IS her grandfather... but we won't go down that road as its all kinds of wrong.

Shota then makes her wicked stepmother appearance... you know, she poisoned the fruit... anyway, and declares she was the one who made him lose his marbles, sorry memories, so that he may DO WHAT MUST BE DONE, and name a new Seeker. More worryingly perhaps, she also states that Zedd was the love of her life, with "was" being the operative word: when he was young and handsome. And who needs a bottle of Oil of Ooh, la, la, when you have a woman like Shota? After performing a bit of hand waving over Zedd and restoring his youth and a selection of memories, he's all set to finally DO WHAT MUST DONE.

Only he's still got Salindra on the - ahem - brain. And he all but sticks two fingers up at Shota and disappears from sight, complete with the Sword of Truth he summoned away from Richard and that compass.

The rest of episode plays out with Zedd becoming more and more self-absorbed, to the point of being annoying - er, naming himself the Seeker of Truth. It seems that in losing his memories, he's lost all likability.

Richard and the gang eventually locate Zedd 2.0 with a co-operative (after being threatened by Cara and her poking stick) Shota in tow. But Zedd isn't finished. Thanks to his bit of fluff Salindra, he thinks he can smite the Keeper of the Underworld with nothing but the Sword of Truth; if it was that easy Richard would have done it way back in episode one. As it is, he goes running like a crazy man into the Keeper's lair, with Richard hot on his tail.

Being in the Underworld isn't good for the soul, nor is it good for the skin, as Zedd magically transforms back into his wizened self, while Richard transforms into his unusual wizened self. An old Zedd and an older Richard make a mad dash for the Overworld, after realising that Zedd's plan was STUPID and just in time too. For a minute there I thought their hearts might've given out with the exertion of running.

Shota restores Zedd's memories; Salindra justifies her betrayal to Zedd with the excuse of just being a "practical girl"; Zedd makes Richard handsome again and Cara continues to pout. I'd mention Kahlan but she was hardly in the episode. Give the girl some decent screen time, please!

It seems the only plot advancing that went on in this episode is Richard and the gang now know of Shota's prophecy. And perhaps just maybe, Zedd will finally be able to DO WHAT MUST BE DONE - stop channelling Miss Piggy's voice.

Oh and name a new Seeker.

Until next week!

Starring

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

Guest Starring

Gabriel Mann - Young Zedd
Craig Parker - Darken Rahl
Danielle Cormack - Shota
Helena Mattsson - Salindra

Co-Starring

Craig Hall - Drago
Stephen Papps - Barkeep
Sascha Moore - Monica
Adam Gardiner - Captain of the Guard
Mark Clare - Ogilby
Peter Webster - Old Richard
Jed Brophy - Shadrin