by Annie
A new fantasy mini series hit MTV a few weeks ago and it is a fun escape from the crappiness of winter. The Shannara Chronicles is based on the popular book series by Terry Brooks and, although some book details have been changed, it is very enjoyable and captures the spirit of the novels.
You might recognize some familiar faces in The Shannara Chronicles, like John Rhys-Davis (Gimli from the Lord of the Rings Trilogy) plays Eventine the King of the Elves. Arrow fans will also be excited to see Manu Bennett (Slade Wilson/Deathstroke) playing the ancient Druid elder Allanon. Manu Bennet is also another tie to the LOTR franchise as he plays Azog in the Hobbit movies.
The series was shot in New Zealand - hey, just like Lord of the Rings!- so you know the scenery is beautiful, sweeping and epic. The different dwellings of the elves, Rovers and humans are all varied and have enough detail and realism that you really get a feel for the world of 'Shannara' being vast and dynamic.
| The costumes are interesting because the world of The Shannara Chronicles is supposed to be post-apocalyptic, so it has the expected fantasy-inspired leather belts and corsets, but with some modern-style pants and accessories thrown in. |  |
The special effects are a little above video game quality, they're not terrible but occasionally the demons look computer generated, but let's not forget this is a TV show not a big budget movie.
Overall, this is a very enjoyable show especially if you love fantasy. I have started listening to the audiobooks of the original Terry Brooks series too - they are fantastic and also worth your time.
