Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.0

The Shannara Chronicles: Season One Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman December 2, 2016

Turning books into films or TV shows is hardly a new idea, but recent history has shown the visual entertainment industry capitalizing not only on adult-oriented novels but also from the plethora of Young Adult books on the marketplace. From the supernatural (Twilight) to the dystopian (The 5th Wave, Maze Runner, The Hunger Games), it seems a new YA book is brought to life on the screen every few months. The Shannara Chronicles differs from the filmed form, bringing an entire series to life as a TV show instead of a single title as part of a feature film or series. It also brings life to an epic Fantasy originally written for an Adult audience -- actually beginning with book two -- as a TV series aimed at an MTV teen audience. This series also alters the norm for the Fantasy genre with a setting on a futuristic Earth instead of a distant world or long-lost bit of Earth. In that way, The Shannara Chronicles blends elements of both the Dystopian and Fantasy genres together into an interesting mix with Tolkien-ish characters and quests against a backdrop viewers are more accustomed to seeing in a Science Fiction film like Planet of the Apes.

Official Synopsis: Welcome to the Four Lands. It's not on a planet in some distant galaxy. It's right here on Earth. Thousands of years in the future. Human civilization is no more, wiped out by a holocaust of its own making. But now, decades of peace are threatened by the death of the Ellcrys Tree. Every fallen leaf unleashes a new demon from a supernatural hell. And so begins the impossible quest of three outsiders against a dark and terrible force. In a world of beauty, destiny, and magic. This is 'The Shannara Chronicles.'

The Shannara Chronicles is an interesting show that blends together some concepts that may not be individually novel but that in the aggregate are, at the very least, something beyond the normal realm of standard-fare Sci-Fi and Fantasy forms. The show pieces together a landscape that feels both intimate and wide, something familiar but at the same time radically different. That's a hallmark of both genres -- Sci-Fi in particular -- but the show uses elements of both styles, which are not necessarily all that disparate to begin with, to commendable advantage. The plot carries a nice enough balance of approachability on the surface and complexity below and enough entertainment value up front and dramatic detailing at its core that there's enough of a balance to hold it up on both action-heavy and character-driven extremes.

Production values are decent enough for a series that's clearly well behind the industry's big players both on film and television, but it scrapes by on concept and fair execution thereof. Environments and set pieces occasionally look a little too obviously digital, but scope and complexity are commonplace and many of the beautiful location settings more than make up for, though they certainly don't mask, the situational shortcomings. The show's acting leaves some room for growth among some of the younger cast members. The characters are nevertheless brought to life in a believable manner. Austin Butler's performance as Wil Ohmsford appears stiff and choppy in places while Poppy Drayton as Amberle Elessedil and Ivana Baquero as Eretria demonstrated moments of inconsistency, soaring in certain situations but lacking in others.

With the New Zealand backdrop and plenty of Elves comprising a large part of the cast, one can't help but to watch the show and be reminded of larger budget film series like The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Beyond even the characters and setting, the show's plot bears remarkable similarities: a group of almost unwilling companions set forth on a seemingly-doomed quest to save the world. While the special effects are not as well realized as one might find in a full length film, they are certainly passable for a TV series. Costumes, likewise, lack the opulence seen in larger Fantasy epics, but as with the rest of the material, they work well enough for the show and represent a clear step above some of the lesser programs of the past, and even some of its contemporaries.

The Shannara Chronicles: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Shannara Chronicles: Season One's Blu-ray transfer holds up nicely, though its somewhat more limited production values become clear under the 1080p microscope. Source noise is fairly prevalent, running rampant in darker corners at times but, on the whole, it's not a serious distraction. Contrast seems to vary wildly throughout the show. It occasionally looks sickly green-tinted while at other junctures it pushes warm, bronze, or blue. Neutrality is rare, but that doesn't prevent bright red blood or natural greens, as varied as the latter can be sometimes within the same sequence, from looking fairly true. Saturation is certainly never a problem, even under some poorly lit interiors or overcast exteriors. Detail is quite good, with skin in particular showing off fine freckles, scruff, pores, and imperfections with impressive easy and clarity. Environments are nicely textured, too, perhaps not quite as finely as one might find on a top-shelf digital source but there's not a lot of room for complaint. Black levels can be a little soupy but never to the point of excess crush. Flesh tones switch about with the changes in contrast. Overall, given the show's look, the Blu-ray impresses much more than it disappoints.

The Shannara Chronicles: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Shannara Chronicles: Season One features a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack that pleases but never approaches the top-shelf audio of the finest releases. Dialogue is by-and-large acceptable, though the program does occasionally struggle with bursts of noticeable murkiness and shallowness, a mild garbled sensation than doesn't render the spoken word unintelligible, just less than lifelike. Positioning in the center and prioritization are largely fine, however. The series' opening title music presents with what sounds like some deliberate scratchiness for effect, but front end width is fine and clarity is otherwise excellent. Surrounds carry some environmental ambience and action scenes open up the stage nicely enough. The low end kicks in with a good bit of rattly and rumbly force when called upon, and action scenes yield positive definition through the range of elements presented.

The Shannara Chronicles: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Shannara Chronicles: Season One contains its supplemental content on disc two. A UV digital copy code is included with purchase.

• The Shannara Chronicles: Behind the Scenes (1080p, 18:09): Cast and crew examine the creation of the show, including the designs behind Elf ears, designing the Ellcrys, creating the reaper, making the Codex, and filming various scenes.
• Making the Dagda Mor (1080p, 4:50): Cast and crew take a closer look at the creation of the season's primary antagonist for the season with emphasis on costume and make up.
• Exploring New Zealand (1080p, 1:23): Cast and crew discuss set designs and filming in New Zealand's natural beauty.
• Terry Brooks Interview (1080p, 1:55): An interview with the author of Shannara book series, interspersed with behind the scenes footage.

The Shannara Chronicles: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Everything about The Shannara Chronicles cries "mediocre." Mediocre acting, mediocre visuals, mediocre production values, mediocre story. It's fine for what it is, a second-rate TV show that's boosted only by the fairly unique combination of elements that drive it forward. Otherwise, TV watchers aren't missing much, particularly considering the deluge of TV shows on today's grossly oversaturated marketplace. The Shannara Chronicles: Season One features solid video, good but occasionally troubled audio, and a few decent extras. Worth a look.